COORDINATION SPECIALIST, Maseru, Lesotho

Background

The UN System is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It works with individual countries on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. The UN System in Lesotho supports Lesotho’s development priorities laid out in the National Strategic Development Plan and through that, the achievement of the MDGs. The main focus areas of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework are Food Security; Health; Democratic Governance; Environment and Energy; Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth, with Gender Mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS as crosscutting areas. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Coordination Specialist reinforces capacity of the UN Country Team to monitor and implement the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs), to develop and implement the collaborative and joint programmes, to monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Global Conferences, to establish electronic and other systems for agencies without field representation to access national systems and processes, and for national counterparts to access the expertise of agencies without field representation. The UN Coordination Specialist provides guidance to the staff of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. The UN Coordination Specialist works in close collaboration with UNCT members, programme and operations teams of the Agencies, UNDG staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful and transparent coordination of UNCT activities. The objective of ‘Delivering as One’ in Lesotho is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN as a means of achieving greater development results. The UN will achieve this aim by working better together, and by being more focused, coherent and strategic in its interventions. To this end, a UN strategic framework has been agreed in 2009 as instruments to achieve the ambitious but achievable goal. The UN System is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It works with individual countries on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. The UN System in Lesotho supports Lesotho’s development priorities laid out in the National Strategic Development Plan and through that, the achievement of the MDGs. The main focus areas of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework are Food Security; Health; Democratic Governance; Environment and Energy; Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth, with Gender Mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS as crosscutting areas. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Coordination Specialist reinforces capacity of the UN Country Team to monitor and implement the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs), to develop and implement the collaborative and joint programmes, to monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Global Conferences, to establish electronic and other systems for agencies without field representation to access national systems and processes, and for national counterparts to access the expertise of agencies without field representation. The UN Coordination Specialist provides guidance to the staff of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. The UN Coordination Specialist works in close collaboration with UNCT members, programme and operations teams of the Agencies, UNDG staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful and transparent coordination of UNCT activities. The objective of ‘Delivering as One’ in Lesotho is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN as a means of achieving greater development results. The UN will achieve this aim by working better together, and by being more focused, coherent and strategic in its interventions. To this end, a UN strategic framework has been agreed in 2009 as instruments to achieve the ambitious but achievable goal.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Coordination Specialist will support efforts to promote a coherent approach to development activities by the international community, in particular the members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) seeking to ensure synergies that are aligned with the Host Government's national plans and priorities and will ensure effective support to UNCT in preparation and implementation of country programming processes and products, including strategic frameworks and coordination structures. Within delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of the Resident Coordinator, the Coordination Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties: Partnerships, Planning and Programming: Develop and maintain productive partnerships with the authorities, UNCT members, bilateral and multilateral donors, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders; Lead the development of Joint UN projects or programmes; Support the implementation of UN common planning and programming processes, including the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Common Country Assessment (CCA) Provide substantive and practical support to Steering Committees, clusters and working groups, as well as related activities, meetings and events; Monitor and evaluate actions implemented through these frameworks; Provide support in the implementation of the Delivering As One initiative in Lesotho; Ensure direct supervision to the work of junior staff in the Resident Coordinator's Office. Analysis, Advice and Reporting: Identify and analyze potential issues for a common UN approach through policy, advocacy and/or programming efforts; Support the development of strategies, policies and other measures designed to achieve common objectives; In conjunction with partners, identify and pursue opportunities for specific development activities; Design and implement a resource mobilization strategy in line with national and UNCT priorities; Promote coherence and inter-agency cooperation in implementation; Monitor, evaluate and report on outcomes; Prepare summary and analytical documents, including situation reports, background notes, options papers, code cables and input for reports of the Secretary-General. Information Management and Communication: Maintain an effective system of information management designed to guarantee accessibility and utility of information on UN programming; Facilitate the flow of information between stakeholders; Promote coherence in communication strategies among UN agencies; Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and management; Assist the functional groups (e.g. Operations Management Team (OMT), Communication Group, Harmonised Approach To Cash Transfer  (HACT),  Monitorinfg and Evaluation  Technical Working Group ( M&E TWG) , Disaster Management and Response Team (DMRT), Programme Management Team (PMT), in the planning, implementation and reporting of their annual workplans and ensuring timely report (periodical, annual or ad-hoc when and where required); Assist the development and implementation of a strategy and subsequent action plans/annual workplans that will enhance common services among the UN Agencies in Lesotho, as well as help with the simplification and harmonization of operational activities; Ensure ad hoc reviews are conducted to identify new areas of opportunities where Common Service (CS )interventions could be further developed; Liaise with UNDG in all matters related to HQs’ support to the UN Resident Coordinator Support Unit and the UNCT in Lesotho, and interact with regional actors, UN regional offices and resources; Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy for programme implementation.

Competencies

Functional Competencies: Ability to work with tact and diplomacy, primarily as an enabler of constructive actors and processes. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Knowledge and Learning Management: Shares knowledge and experience from within and outside the UN Country Team. Encourages UN staff to share knowledge Develops deep understanding in UNDAF, UN System reform and MDGs Coordination Effectiveness; Strong writing / analysis abilities;  Ability to lead the implementation of UN programme activities, strengthening of strategic partnerships for UNDAF implementation. Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies. Management and Leadership: Focuses on impact and result for the client Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills; Establishes priorities for self and other members of the RC office; schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources; Monitors performance against development and other objectives and corrects deviations from the course In providing advice to the RC, has the capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations; Evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills; Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior. Communication: Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;identifies priority activities and assignments;adjusts priorities as required;allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Core Competences: Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents ; Building support and political acumen Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation; Building and promoting effective teams; Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication; Creating an emotionally intelligent organization; Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards; Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member; Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education Master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Business Administration or related field. Experience: 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments; Knowledge about the UN and RC systems; previous experience in similar functions required; Experience participating in inter-agency coordination mechanisms at the local or national level is required; Experience working directly on UN common planning and programming processes is desirable; Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages; Previous experience working in the region, ideally in a small country office context and/or DaO country would be viewed favorably. Language: Fluency in English; Knowledge of one other UN language would be an asset.

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