Transition Coordination Officer- Temporary Job Opening (6 Months)

Overview

Support coordination efforts for resilience and development.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences, or a related field.
• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development or humanitarian settings is required.
• A minimum of two years of experience in the development sector is required.
• Experience with humanitarian work and transitions to development support is desirable.
• Experience in knowledge management is desirable.
• Field experience in development cooperation or mission settings is desirable.
• Experience working on cross pillar peace, development and humanitarian affairs is desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Contract

This is a NO-A contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 1 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 3,022 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. Zimbabwe’s aid landscape is shifting from a predominantly humanitarian model toward a resilience and development focused approach, driven by evolving national strategies (NDS1 and NDS2) and increasing alignment with early recovery and adaptive social protection. To sustain this transition, anticipatory action and joint risk analysis must be integrated into UN Cooperation Framework processes so that development investments strengthen preparedness, reduce vulnerabilities, and empower communities to build long term resilience. The position is located in United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Harare. The RCO in Zimbabwe plays a crucial role in supporting the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team, fostering inter-agency coordination and collaboration on sustainable development programming, advocacy and policy priorities in line with the 2030 Agenda and national development priorities. The position will report to the Senior Development Coordination Officer/RCO Team Leader and supports operational readiness while shaping policy dialogue and donor engagement. The incumbent will be a focal point for supporting cross-pillar coordination. This role strengthens complementarity between government-led initiatives and UN/NGO efforts, facilitating inclusive planning aligned with both the UN Cooperation Framework and national strategies (NDS1/NDS2)

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Transition Coordination Officer, is responsible for the following: 1. Support Preparedness and Response Coordination at Country Level: • Support the maintenance of minimum preparedness and response coordination capacity within the context of a transition setting, ensuring effective linkages between emergency preparedness, development, and resilience planning. • Provide technical and coordination support to national contingency planning and inter-sectoral preparedness processes. • Assist in the organization and facilitation of emergency simulation exercises with UN entities, NGOs, and government counterparts to strengthen coordinated preparedness and response. • Contribute to joint disaster and crisis assessments by supporting data collection, consolidation, and analysis of inter-sectoral impact and needs information, including inputs to resource mobilization processes.. 2. Support Post-Transition and Inter-Sectoral Coordination Structures: • Support the maintenance of inter-sectoral coordination capacity within the RCO within a transition context. • Assist government-led coordination mechanisms by supporting meetings, information flows, and follow-up actions, in line with national priorities. • Identify operational coordination gaps and provide inputs to the RC and RCO leadership on linkages between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors. • Support information management and data consolidation to facilitate coordination and feedback between humanitarian and development partners, working closely with the Resilience focal point and relevant RCO staff. 3. Support Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus Implementation: • Support the integration of a cross-pillar HDP nexus perspective into country-level planning instruments, including the Country Analysis and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. • Assist in the coordination of HDP nexus programming and other cross-pillar coordination initiatives at country level. • Facilitate information sharing and coordination activities that promote coherence between humanitarian and development interventions within the transition context. 4. Support Integration of Cross-Cutting Issues: • Support the integration of cross-cutting priorities— Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), gender equality, disability inclusion, and climate resilience—into coordination tools, processes, and products. • Disseminate relevant guidelines, tools, and reference materials to coordination partners and national stakeholders. • Support the organization of orientation and awareness-raising sessions on cross-cutting issues for coordination actors, in collaboration with technical focal points. • Maintain and update a shared repository of coordination tools and guidance materials. 5. Perform Other Related Duties as Required: • Provide operational and coordination support in response to ad hoc requests from the RC and RCO leadership. • Contribute to teamwork, knowledge sharing, and effective collaboration within the RCO and across inter-agency coordination platforms. • Support reporting, documentation, and follow-up related to coordination and transition priorities.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of wide range of UN operations in complex settings, including humanitarian, development, human rights and peacebuilding nexus issues. Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, to include ability to analyze and articulate the interconnected humanitarian-development-peace dimensions of complex crisis contexts that require a coordinated UN response. Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems. Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work under pressure. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to UN peace operations, and knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. Demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and to formulate conclusions/recommendations. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development or humanitarian settings is required. A minimum of two years of experience in development sector is required. Experience with humanitarian work and transitions to development support is desirable. Experience in knowledge management is desirable. Experience working on cross pillar peace, development and humanitarian affairs is desirable. Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable. Field experience in development cooperation or mission settings is desirable. Experience with inter-agency or inter-organizational collaboration and coordination in the development sector is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. There are no specific desirable languages. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

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LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available for six (6) months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF ZIMBABWE ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, nationals of ZIMBABWE residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to ZIMBABWE in the event of an employment offer. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up-to-date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link. NOTE: While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions