Turkey: Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC) - UN Coordination Officer

Background

Purpose:

The Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC) Programme is managed by the JPO Service Centre on behalf of the UN System.

The objective of the SARC Programme is to strengthen UN coordination and coherence in the field. SARCs are placed with the Resident Coordinator Office. They support a wide range of management and coordination functions of the UN Development System at country level, including among others: UNDAF and joint programming processes, annual reporting and M&E, joint UN communication strategies, and interagency coordination of SDG campaigning and implementation.

Local reporting structure and partners:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the SARC reinforces the capacity of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and supports the coherence efforts through providing support to the Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO). The SARC sits in the UN Coordination Unit and works in close collaboration with the staff members in the RC Office, UNCT members, programme and operations teams of UN agencies, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society for successful and transparent coordination of UNCT activities. The SARC supports the tasks, roles and responsibilities performed by the RC Office under the guidance of the Head of the RC Office.

Content and methodology of supervision:

As part of the SARC Programme overall framework, the SARC will benefit from adequate supervision modalities such as: structured guidance by/easy access to the supervisor, establishment of a work plan with key results within the Performance Management and Development (PMD), etc.

Training and Learning:

As part of the SARC Programme overall framework, the SARC will benefit from the following training and learning opportunities:

• Use of yearly SARC duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
• Other training and learning opportunities offered in partnership with UNDOCO

In addition, the SARC will benefit from the following specific training and learning modalities/opportunities in the receiving office.

The Receiving Office:

Under the supervision and leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), the Office of the Resident Coordinator supports the UN RC in enduring the effective implementation of UN Reform at the country level. The RC Office is composed of Head of Office, Gender Specialist, Human Rights Specialist, Coordination Associate and Coordination Assistant on Syria.

The RC Office is run by the Head of Office and the responsibilities of the RC office consist of providing support to the developmental, humanitarian efforts of the UN system as a whole, including providing support to international conferences.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Ensure effective support to the coordination and planning efforts of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in responding to the national challenges coherently and cohesively focusing on achievement of the following results (35 %):

• Contribution to the work of the RC Office in the implementation of the UN Reform.
• Contribution to the work of the RC Office in the implementation of the UNCT work-plan.

2) Ensure effective support to UNCT on issues related to the Syrian Crisis as well as its spillover effects in Turkey. (35%)

• Participate and support the work of UN teams, task forces established to support the coordination of the UN system response to Syria from Turkey effectively.

3) Ensure effective support to the UNCT in its role in leading the donors’ coordination focusing on achievement of the following results (15%):

• Organization of donor coordination meetings and recording the discussions;
• Following up on the points of agreement of these discussions;
• Preparing briefs, reports and updates on the developments of the Syria Crises.

4) Ensure effective support to the UNCT on Emergency Response and Preparedness. (10 %)

• Provide support to the preparation and finalization of an inter-agency emergency response and preparedness plan.
• Participate and provide support to the inter-agency working group on emergency response and preparedness.
• Interact with UN partners, governmental agencies and CSOs working on emergency preparedness and response.

5) Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and development/implementation of a resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results (5%):

• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on donor strategies and national development strategies, provision of advice to the UN RC on ensuring synchronicity, alignment and complementary approach between these strategies and UN activities.
• Help develop a resource mobilization strategy for the UN system.
• Help implement the resource mobilization strategy at the UN system level.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work
• Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow
• People Management - Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
• Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
• Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Primary Technical Competencies (level 5)

• Job Knowledge - Knowledge of humanitarian assistance, its principles, United Nations Operations and Crisis Center (UNOCC) policies and guidelines.
• Results-Based Programme Management - Knowledge of PM and M&E concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.
• Writing and Analytical Skills - Ability to draft reports, briefs, talking points; prepare analysis, and political reports.
• Organizational Skills- Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships with all colleagues
• Client Orientation - Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns

Secondary Technical Competencies (level 5)

• Knowledge Management - Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge
• Resource Mobilization - Ability to design resource mobilization strategies and to implement such strategies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies or in a related field of expertise

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of paid working experience in a relevant field
• Past experience with the United Nations and/or UN Coordination
• Past experience in crisis and emergency situations

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in both Danish and English

Other desirable education, languages and work experience:

• Working experience in crisis countries
• Computer literacy
• Knowledge of information management systems

Nationality:

• Under the UNDP JPO programme framework, this position is only to Danish nationals and permanent residents of Denmark as well as EU nationals.

For the full requirements and information about the JPO Programme, please visit: http://www.jposc.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home/how-to-join/the-jpo-programme.html

For the full requirements and information about the JPO Programme, please visit: http://www.jposc.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home/how-to-join/the-jpo-programme.html