Coordination Support Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The 2030 Agenda requires bold changes to the UN development system (UNDS) for the emergence of a new generation of country teams, centred on a strategic UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and led by an impartial, independent and empowered Resident Coordinator. As part of the on-going UN Reform the Office of the Resident Coordinator has been strengthened, through additional staff capacity, to fulfill the function ensuring greater coordination of the UN Development System in the South Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on human lives, disrupting health systems, economies, livelihoods and social protection mechanisms in many countries. While the impact of COVID-19 has been significant across the globe, it has been further exacerbated in the South African context by prevailing systemic and structural challenges which render the country and its people particularly vulnerable to exogenous shocks. Despite being classified as an upper middle-income country, South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, with a gini co-efficient of 0.63. Additionally, 49.2 % of the adult population lives below the upper-bound poverty line[1], with higher levels for women at 52%. The country is plagued by gender inequality and harmful sociocultural norms, which contribute to high levels of violence; high HIV infection rates with 8 million people living with HIV, and high rates of tuberculosis.

Within this context and recognizing the current and future impact of COVID-19 on the South African people and economy, immediate and urgent actions must be taken to save lives, protect livelihoods and save businesses, while supporting early actions to ensure a green, sustainable and resilient recovery. This will ensure that pre-COVID-19 vulnerabilities of poverty and multidimensional inequalities are addressed, in order to help place the country back on track to achieving the ambitions of the National Development Plan, Vision 2030 and

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Resident Coordinator or his designated mandated representative(s), the Coordination Support Officer will work within the Resident Coordinator Office's (RCO) team • To ensure that the Joint Work Plans developed by the Results Groups are aligned to the Covid-19 knowledge products released by the UN (Socio-Economic Response Plan, Needs Assessment, Emergency Appeal); • Support coordination of various national stakeholders to ensure they meaningfully participate in the work of the Results Groups and that UN interventions align to ongoing national Covid-19 activities; • Ongoing mapping of partner interventions to ensure complementarity between UN and partner activities; • Support quality assurance of all performance and programme information received from UN agencies; • Support preparation of Results Group quarterly reports outlining implementation of activities • Collect data to inform review and amendment of UN interventions to support Covid-19 early recovery programmes. • Work with Results Groups to support the mainstreaming of UN programming principles into the Joint Work Plans; • Cultivate and maintain collaborative exchanges with the various government departments for the implementation of the district level interventions in South Africa; • Provide support to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) in strategic coordination through the substantive inputs on the formulation of concept notes for the UN's intervention areas, as well as the office’s strategic role; • Provide support to the UN RC by providing inputs to the development of programming processes and products, including the annual workplan, strategic notes, and programme/ project documents, and other joint programming documents; • Coordination support to the multi-stakeholders of the UN System projects and programmatic integration of all stakeholders working towards programme objectives; • Provide technical support to the RC on inter-agency coordination and joint UN-agency planning processes, as well as provision of technical support in monitoring and reporting and prepare analytical and regular progress reports programme experiences, as necessary. • Provide technical support to the development of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts, managing activities and other promotional events to engage bilateral and multilateral institutions/ donors, private sector, and civil society to expand and/or sustain interest and resources for programmes; • Provide support to the preparation of knowledge and communication products and production of relevant research, background policy papers, talking points, speeches, official statements;
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the RCO team.

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

effective communication, networking and organizational skills and ability to work well in a team.

• At least two years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in a developing country context is an asset; • Experience working in the UN or other international development organization will be advantageous; • Programme Planning, Research and Monitoring and Evaluation, Policy Analysis, and experience in multi-stakeholder coordination and facilitation is highly desirable; • Ability to work well under pressure and in response to rapidly changing needs; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent English drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; • Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; • Familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; Sound security awareness; •Have affinity with or interest in development related work, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.