Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at its core, and in response to the General Assembly resolution 71/243 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the UN Secretary General’s report (December 2017) “Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda: our promise for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet” puts forward a comprehensive proposal on further improvements to the resident coordinator system to ensure more coherent, accountable and effective support for the 2030 Agenda. This was further reinforced by General Assembly resolution 72/729 of 1 June 2018, which gave the Secretary-General the mandate to implement the repositioning.

A reinvigorated resident coordinator (RC) system is at the center of a repositioned United Nations Development System. While the System has been instrumental in driving coherence on the ground over the past four decades, it is now insufficiently robust to respond to the needs of the 2030 Agenda. The report stresses that Resident Coordinator Offices will need to be adequately staffed to ensure sufficient substantive capacities to lead United Nations Country Teams. The core capacity will include expertise in coordination and strategic planning, economics, tailored policy support, results monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships, plus a robust standing communications capacity within United Nations country teams.

This UNV position is expected to support the Office of the Resident Coordinator in MCO Fiji, with the new skillset and competencies required to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. In particular, the candidate will bring substantive experience and knowledge on planning, coordination and management; particularly experience in organizing and managing meetings and preparing written summaries for further follow-up activities. The candidate should have the necessary skills to analytically review information and identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed, including on advising options. Further key areas of technical knowledge and skills required from the candidate include experience in undertaking programmatic analysis, high-level advice, and management.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Resident Coordinator or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Special Assistant to Resident Coordinator will:

• Provide substantive support to the Resident Coordinator (RC) on the planning, coordination and management. • Keep the RC informed on all matters requiring his/her personal attention, assist in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled, and ensure appropriate follow-up, as directed. • In close coordination with the Executive Assistant to the RC, assists in planning the RC’s schedule and mission, participates in relevant meetings, preparing notes for file. • Organize and manage the RC’s meetings and mission events, prepare written summaries and ensure follow-up activities, as appropriate. • Analytically review information received by the RC and the management and identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed, advising options. • Draft and review substantive correspondence for the RC, as well as draft and clear briefing notes and talking points, including communication to inform UN Country Team meetings. • Support RCs communication (both internal and external) efforts, in close collaboration with RCO Communications Analyst and UN Communications Group. • In close collaboration with the RC and Team Leader, facilitate communication and information flow between RC/RCO and UNCT; facilitate substantive preparation for UNCT meetings, draft minutes, follow up on decisions. In close coordination with RCO Team Leader, support coordination of UUNCT engagements. • In close coordination with RCO Team Leader contribute to UNCT reporting requirements within the UN System, following United Nations Sustainable Development Group’s guidelines and annual requirements.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs

• As an active team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNRCO Fiji and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

o Monthly progress reports detailing achievements across key areas of work.

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

PROFESSIONALISM: 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.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

a developing country, preferably in the Pacific Region. Knowledge and experience in the UN and the UN Resident Coordinator System would be a distinct advantage. Understanding of the mandate and role of the UN will be considered an advantage.

The information about living conditions in Fiji can be found in this link: https://un-lesa-fiji.wixsite.com/settling-in-fiji

Fiji is a unique country and the RCO is a unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.