Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator

Volunteering Admin

Overview

Support the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Samoa for UN coordination and development goals.

You have:

• Experience in interagency coordination, policy engagement, and advocacy.
• Proven ability to draft high-quality briefs, talking points, and reports.
• Experience coordinating with civil society and development partners.
• Ability to support interagency initiatives and reporting on cross-cutting thematic areas.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.
• Experience in humanitarian coordination and emergency response.
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive manual gear 4x4 vehicles.

Contract

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This assignment supports the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Samoa Multi-Country Office to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The role is central to strengthening country-level coordination, regional engagement, and executive support for the Resident Coordinator, ensuring coherent UN system delivery aligned with national priorities and the UNSDCF 2023–2027.

The candidate will leverage their experience in interagency coordination, policy engagement, and advocacy to integrate human rights principles across programming and reporting. Their proven ability to draft high-quality briefs, talking points, and reports, manage high-level meetings, and coordinate with civil society and development partners will be critical for supporting UNCT processes and advancing partnerships. Skills in research and analysis, event organization, and communications campaigns will enhance the RCO’s capacity for evidence-based decision-making and public outreach. The role will have a particular focus on oversight and coordination of UN engagement in Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, ensuring alignment with national priorities and regional strategies. The assignment will also advance UN 2.0 transformation, embedding data-driven decision-making, digital solutions, innovation, strategic foresight, and behavioral science approaches into RCO workflows and UNCT coordination.

• Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of UN programmes and projects; supports country-level planning and reporting aligned with the UNSDCF, with a focus on Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau; identifies issues, proposes corrective actions, and ensures follow-up. • Provides strategic and technical inputs for policy integration, including human rights and gender equality principles; conducts research and trend analysis; and prepares evaluations and studies. • Supports interagency initiatives, including international observances (e.g., UN Day, Human Rights Day, World Environment Day), and reporting on cross-cutting thematic areas (e.g., GEDSI, youth) to promote UN values and priorities. • Supports donor coordination and partnership-building with civil society, NGOs, and development partners. • Keeps the RC informed on matters requiring attention; assists in formulating options; and ensures follow-up, including priority issues emerging from Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. • Assists the Head of RCO and Executive Associate in planning the RC’s schedule and missions; manages meetings and events; prepares notes for file and meeting minutes; and ensures integration of foresight and innovation principles in mission planning. • Supports the RC’s communication efforts (both internal and external) in close collaboration with the RCO Communications Analyst and UN Communications Group. • Facilitates communication and information flow between the RC/RCO and UNCT in close collaboration with the RC and Head of Office; ensures substantive preparation for UNCT meetings; drafts minutes; follows up on decisions; and supports coordination of UNCT engagements. • Supports RC/RCO engagement with national and regional bodies, including CROP agencies, through dialogues and coordination platforms; liaises with focal points to ensure alignment with national and regional priorities. • Supports anticipatory action and disaster preparedness in coordination with national authorities and humanitarian partners; and promotes integration of humanitarian principles and human rights across UN programming. • Assists in humanitarian coordination and emergency response, including advocacy and knowledge-sharing initiatives. • Backstops and supports the Human Rights Adviser Team on request, particularly relating to UNCT submissions to Treaty Bodies and UPR, in addition to other duties. • Acts as RCO focal point and collaborates with Country Coordination Teams for Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau to ensure engagement is adequate, comprehensive, well-coordinated, and aligned with respective national and regional priorities. • Promotes innovation and digital tools for coordination and reporting in line with UN 2.0 principles. • Performs other responsibilities as required to support RCO priorities.

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 their 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.

• Development coordination, provision of executive assistance, research and analysis; experience with human rights, disability inclusion, law, management science, public-private sector engagement is an asset; • Experience with the UN coordination architecture in the Pacific is strongly desired; • Experience in similar role would be highly appreciated; • Knowledge and experience in the UN and the UN Resident Coordinator System would be a distinct advantage; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; proven ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; • 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 Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Valid driver’s license and ability to drive manual gear 4x4; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in development coordination, human rights, humanitarianism, multilateralism, international relations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Samoa is an island nation in the South Pacific. The duty station, Apia, offers a modest standard of living, with access to furnished housing, basic healthcare, and essential services. While the pace of life is slower and infrastructure limited, the environment is welcoming and community-oriented.

Furnished and unfurnished houses are available for rent in the vicinity of One UN House and the wider locality. Current prices range from 2,500WST monthly for a more modest dwelling up to and beyond 10,000WST for more comfortable larger properties.

Samoa is generally safe, though petty theft and burglaries occur regularly with increasing frequency, especially in Apia. Drug-related crime is also occurring with increasing frequency. Personnel are advised to secure valuables, avoid walking alone at night, and be cautious around stray dogs. While there is no rabies, dog bites have been reported. Gender-based violence is a concern, and women should remain vigilant. LGB individuals should exercise discretion. Transgender persons may live openly without fear of social exclusion, though caution is still advised. Persons with disabilities should be advised that not all facilities in the country are accessible.

Although a family duty station, quality educational facilities are limited. Many expatriates enroll their children in an international primary school in Apia but often seek secondary education abroad.

Medical facilities are basic, with limited specialist care. Serious medical issues require evacuation to New Zealand. Foreign nationals must pay upfront for services. Preventive health measures are important due to periodic outbreaks of dengue and whooping cough.

Samoa is conservative and Christianity is enshrined as the State religion. Modest dress and respect for local customs (fa’asamoa) are expected, particularly in rural settings. The local diet relies heavily on imported goods, which can be expensive and fluctuate in price. Local produce is affordable but limited in variety.

Internet and mobile coverage are reliable in urban areas. Apia is accessible via international flights from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, American Samoa, and Hawai’i. Roads are generally in good condition in towns but can be rough in rural areas. Purchasing a car is strongly recommended for those staying long-term. Driving is on the left-hand side.

Recreational facilities in and around Apia include gyms, a cinema, restaurants, bars, churches, and schools for art, sport, and music. The island also offers access to beaches, waterfalls, and other natural attractions.

Samoa is located in a cyclone-prone region, with the official cyclone season running from November to April. Extreme weather events, including tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, and flooding, can occur during this period, sometimes causing disruptions to transport, power, and communications. The country is also vulnerable to climate change-related hazards. In addition, Samoa lies in a seismically active zone and faces earthquake and tsunami risks, which require vigilance and adherence to local emergency protocols. Personnel should remain alert to official weather and disaster advisories and ensure preparedness measures are in place. Prevailing conditions outside cyclone season are generally warm and humid, with occasional heavy rains.

In the 2022 classification exercise of duty stations according to conditions of life and work, Samoa has received a B hardship classification. The selected candidate will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials.
You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: unv.org