Overview
The Resident Coordinator (RC) is the highest-ranking representative of the United Nations development system at the country level, responsible for leading UN country teams and ensuring system-wide accountability for the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
Key Responsibilities
- Represents the United Nations at the highest-levels of state and fosters engagement with Government, civil society, bilateral and multilateral partners, academia and private sector.
- Leads the UN country team in the development, monitoring and reporting on the UN Cooperation Framework.
- Coordinates UN system-wide support to Government, taking a preventive approach and identifying and mitigating risks to the achievement of the SDGs.
- Supports, catalyzes and advocates for the work of UNCT member agencies, funds and programmes.
- Coordinates UN entities’ contributions to context and trend analysis, including a high-quality Common Country Analysis.
- Promotes and advocates for the fundamental values, standards and principles of the UN Charter.
- Engages, convenes and forges strategic partnerships at the national and sub-national level with diverse entities.
- Advances regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration, south-south and triangular exchanges, multi-country and transboundary initiatives.
- Identifies, and leverages expertise and assets from across the UN development system.
- Provides governance and oversight of system-wide country financing instruments.
- Leads continued engagement on and pursuance of the UN’s normative agenda.
- Fosters an enabling environment inside and outside the UN, aimed at facilitating collaboration, knowledge and data gathering, analysis and sharing practices.
- Facilitates access to national, regional and global resources to advance new avenues and pathways to innovation.
- Leads and enhances strategic communication that advances UN system efforts and collective results to promote the 2030 Agenda.
- Ensures effective coordination of country-level security and is accountable for the security of United Nations personnel and their eligible family members, UN premises and assets.
- Promotes and nurtures staff learning and the implementation of staff rules and policies.
- Has system-wide responsibility for developing collective protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) strategies and ensuring that action plans are implemented.
- Manages a matrixed dual reporting system with UN country team heads.
- Advances country-specific measures to promote UN common business operations.
- Leads and coordinates the response efforts of United Nations and relevant humanitarian actors, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/182 and related resolutions, and facilitates linkages between humanitarian and development programming.
- Facilitates the integration of the UN Country Team’s work with UN peacekeeping or political missions.
- Manages and provides strategic guidance and oversight to the Resident Coordinators Office.
Required Experience
Minimum 15 years of substantive experience and results in leadership roles at the international level is required (including five years of cumulative experience in development, human rights, rule of law peace-building or humanitarian work at country level outside of one's own country). Previous RC experience is desirable. Previous experience as a senior official with accountability for security (for example UN Designated Official (DO) for Security or equivalent) or previous experience in security decision-making in a complex environment is desirable. Experience in the management and/or coordination of humanitarian programmes, disaster, and emergency response, preferably at the country level is desirable. Excellent judgement and strong diplomatic skills are desirable. Demonstrated ability to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including with government representatives, donors and civil society, is desirable. Experience engaging with or facilitating participation of women’s groups is desirable. Proven ability to analyse structural dynamics with a view to facilitating preventive action or identifying entry points for UN engagement is desirable.
Qualifications
Master's degree – or equivalent post graduate qualification – in development studies, international relations, political science, economics, social sciences, human rights, law or closely related fields (for otherwise suitably qualified candidates, a first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced post graduate university degree).
