United Nations, Nigeria
Location city: Abuja (based in the Office of the Resident Coordinator, UN)
Location country: Nigeria
Closing date: 18th October 2006

Post Code:
Post Title: UN Coordination Specialist
Recruitment: ALD (INTERNATIONAL) 4
Location/Duty Station: Abuja
Duration of Assignment: one year (in the first instance with possible renewal subject to funding)
Starting Date: Immediate
Direct Supervisor: Resident Coordinator
Deadline: 5th-18th October 2006

Background
The UN Country Team in Nigeria comprises of 14 resident agencies and is led by the UN Resident Coordinator (RC). The UNCT will be undertaking the CCA and UNDAF process in 2007. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the RC, the UN Coordination Specialist supports the UNCT in coordination in order to achieve a coherent and effective UN. The UN Coordination Specialist supports the development of common UN strategies and programming under the overall framework of the UNDAF and MDGs and with close linkages to national strategies and policies. The UN Coordination Specialist ensures that appropriate follow up is initiated to Global Conferences and Commitments. Additionally, the UN Coordination Specialist is responsible for the coordination of joint and common programmes, strategic partnerships, UN communications/profile and manages the RC Office under the supervision of the Resident Coordinator.


1. Coordinated Support to the RC and UN Country Team
 Co-ordinate and facilitate the preparation, organisation and implementation of UNCT general/annual review meetings and other retreats
 Advise and support the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team on the development of annual work plans, setting and achievement of annual milestones and ensuring up-to-date information is made available to members
 Draft essential documents and policy papers as requested to support the UNCT and RC
 Support the UNCT in aligning the UN with national development processes and ensure systematic, coordinated UN response to national analysis, development plans and strategies
 Advise the UNCT and RC on steps required and opportunities available to create closer programmatic linkages between UN agencies, the government and development partners
 Support the UNCT in the development, documentation, dissemination, implementation, monitoring and review of the UNCT Joint Programming process through oversight of technical working groups, the provision of training, written analysis and documentation, facilitation of meetings and retreats with national and development partners
 Keep the UNCT, and all UN Staff abreast of UN Reform processes, international instruments and developments, and initiate action to incorporate into the UN System work environment
 Support to monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Global Conferences. As part of the follow up to the Millennium Declaration, UN Country Teams will work with national governments to prepare periodic reports on progress towards the MDGs/IDTs, so as to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the national strategies, and the UN System support to those strategies. This can include assisting Governments to establish national monitoring systems; development of national indicator data bases; dissemination of national data: training of civil society groups in use of data for advocacy, etc.
 Review country team activities in the light of UN System Reform and the Millennium Development Goals, and the national development plans, and on this basis advise the Resident Coordinator on opportunities for the development of coordination initiatives.
 Participate in a global practice network on coordination, sharing and learning best practices; keeping abreast of current debates and thinking; exchange experience; seek and provide support on various coordination issues.
 Analyze global best practice and lessons learned on coordination and advice the Resident Coordinator on opportunities and approaches for concerted action by the country team.
 Oversee the provision of secretariat support to the Theme Groups, and UN working groups as indicated by the Secretary General, and support the drafting of relevant documents for annual reporting and ensure feed back to UNDGO
 Liaise with UN Development Group Office (DGO) in New York as required


2. Coordinated Support to the RC and UNCT in the design, management and implementation of joint programmes/common services:
 Liaise with UNCT members to identify joint areas of work in support of national priorities, plans and strategies
 Monitor and coordinate the process of Joint Programme development; facilitate support to lead agencies, partners in the development of a UN M& E plan;
 Advise the UNCT and RC on steps required and opportunities available to minimise duplication of effort and rationalisation of UN support - to ensure cost effectiveness, simplification, harmonisation and alignment of agency policies and procedures – as part of a broader effort to encourage a ‘One UN’ approach and image;
 Identify blockages to development and implementation of joint programmes; suggest ways in which these could be overcome, drawing upon advise from DGO and others;
 Ensure that knowledge and experience of joint programmes is shared with and by the Nigeria country team;
 Support by coordinating technical inputs from UN agencies and providing analysis for proposal preparation for Joint Programmes
 Coordinate joint narrative and financial reports for joint programmes
 Coordinate with national and development partners on joint programmes to ensure complimentary approaches and to avoid duplication
 Attend and input into relevant theme groups, UN working groups, national and development partner committee/mechanisms and on joint programmes
 Oversee support and contribute to Common Services & Operations Working Group and monitor progress towards annual work plans for the RC/UNCT
 Coordinate and ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place to support and monitor specific UN joint programmes and initiatives eg. On HIV/AIDS
 Oversight of, and active coordination in, Avian Influenza joint work and UN contingency planning


3. Strategic Partnership Development
 Assist with the resource mobilisation for joint programmes, including for the coordination function provided by the RC Office, and liaise with donors accordingly
 Advise on steps required and opportunities arising, in the context of the national strategy, for the UN to promote aid effectiveness, strengthen national capacities to manage and coordinate development assistance, and to encourage the alignment of external assistance with national priorities
 Liaise with key Government partners/development partners to identify potential areas of joint support and collaboration from the UN System
 Advocate for joint partnership responses where appropriate and provide support to strategy development, input to committees and maintain formal relations with Government and Development Partners
 To support the national strategy setting and prioritization processes, when requested by national governments

4. Unit Head for the RC’s Office
• Supervise RC office staff; supervise/oversee the work of consultants when required;
• Ensure that all RC Office staff are fully conversant with UN Reform and the coordination role of the RC System;
• Initiate, and ensure implementation of the Annual Work plans of the RC’s Office.
• Network UN staff within Nigeria and build team based approaches and with relevant colleagues in other countries with a view to sharing experience and expertise;
• Ensure timely response to requests for information regarding the UN system’s activities in Nigeria, whether from the Government of Nigeria, the UN system, partners or the public;
• Monitor and report on RC Office expenditure and generate budgets
• Coordinate outputs from RC Team for the Resident Coordinator’s annual report

5. UN Communications/profile
• Provide guidance on the necessary publications and communications prepared in the RC office team and ensure a quality outputs and effective dissemination
• Promote the profile of the Resident Coordinator’s Office through the use of information technology and the coordination of public events and media
• Initiation, coordination and oversight of maintenance of the UNCT and common UN work website
Competencies:
The UN Coordination Specialist must possess an excellent sense of judgment, creativity and innovation if the coordination and management activities;
• Partnering and networking:
- capacity to initiate and sustain relationships with key constituents;
- build and sustain effective partnerships with UN agencies;
- advocate effectively, engaging others to take action in desired directions;
- communicate sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
- seek and apply knowledge information and best practices from within and outside the UN Country Team.
• People Skills:
- Recognize and respond appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others;
- build trust and engender morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
- respect individual/cultural differences; utilize diversity to foster teamwork;
- ensure others’ understanding of, involvement in, adaptation to a change process;
- set clear performance goals and standards;
- execute responsibilities accordingly; provide and respond constructively to feedback (correction or recognition);
- self analyze performance problems seeking appropriate direction and support;
• Strategic vision: strong technical and analytical capacities, sound judgment;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks effectively;
• Dependability, reliability and initiative;
• Sense of confidentiality.

Essential knowledge and experience:
• Excellent writing and oral skills in English are highly desirable;
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in the development/technical assistance field, including managerial positions;
• Good knowledge of the UN system and Resident Coordinator systems. Experience in UN coordination is an asset.
Qualifications:
• A Masters degree in international relations, economics, social sciences, or development studies or demonstrable equivalent professional experience.

Applications should be sent to hr-recruit.ng@undp.org