Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Office/Unit/Project Description
The Connecting Business initiative (CBi) project was created by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2016. CBi is dedicated to helping businesses around the world prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters by effectively engaging with the United Nations and the broader international humanitarian and development systems. CBi is a network of independent chambers of commerce, trade federations, business associations and private foundations that are ready, willing, and able to lead private sector disaster management in their countries. CBi empowers local businesses to work hand-in-hand with governments, civil society, humanitarian organizations and affected people to alleviate human suffering while building more resilient societies. CBi is jointly managed by OCHA and UNDP.
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs. UNDP’s policy work carried out at headquarters, regional hubs and country offices, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy.
OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort. With its partners, OCHA contributes to principled and effective humanitarian response through coordination, advocacy, policy, information management and humanitarian
Duties and Responsibilities
CBi consists of a Secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland and Istanbul, Turkey, plus seventeen affiliated Member Networks around the world. The Private Sector CoordinationSpecialist – Southern and Eastern Africa plays a critical role supporting and building the capacity of existing CBi Member Networks, working to establish relationships with new prospective Member Networks, and supporting the mobilization and coordination of the private sector during humanitarian emergencies in the region.
OCHA has launched a new private sector pilot strategy that is designed to (1) mobilize and coordinate the private sector during humanitarian emergencies; (2) increase private sector contributions to system-wide pooled funds; (3) position OCHA as a thought leader on private sector engagement in humanitarian emergencies; (4) provide internal advice and support to OCHA leadership and staff on private sector engagement; and (5) develop and maintain key partnerships to maintain and grow the private sector portfolio.
The Private Sector Coordination Specialist – Southern and Eastern Africa is expected to play a critical role in designing and implementing the new private sector strategy across sub-Saharan Africa and in particular in Southern and Eastern Africa. Under the overall supervision of the CBi Deputy Programme Coordinator, based in Istanbul, Turkey, the Private Sector Coordination Specialist – Southern and Eastern Africa will be responsible for:
a) Development, planning, and implementation of national and regional projects to support private sector engagement in disaster management:
- Lead the development and delivery of national and regional solutions, programmes and workplans for local CBi Member Networks on private sector engagement in disaster risk management and humanitarian response.
- Identify learning needs and solutions, and plan and implement capacity development activities for existing and prospective CBi Member Networks in the Southern and Eastern Africa region.
- Collect and consolidate relevant information on local private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction, crisis preparedness and response, and early recovery at country and regional levels.
- Facilitate landscape assessment and scoping activities to identify and/or partner with prospective Member Networks and other private sector partners in the Southern and Eastern Africa region.
b) Coordination of private sector initiatives during emergency situations:
- As needed, deploy to countries in the Southern and Eastern Africa region experiencing ongoing disasters to support the coordination of private sector contributions before, during and after emergencies.
c) Development of national and regional partnerships and external advocacy:
- Coordinate and work with UNDP and OCHA regional bureaux and country offices, government counterparts, international organizations, and other partners in the Southern and Eastern Africa region on private sector engagement.
- Promote advocacy for private sector engagement in disaster risk management and humanitarian programming.
- Identify specific needs for private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction, crisis preparedness and response, and early recovery, and support partnerships at the national and regional levels to address those needs.
d) Strategy development and operational support:
- Facilitate knowledge development and management efforts through the development of case studies and collection and sharing of information on good practices.
- Ensure documentation and timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all CBi-related activities implemented by existing and prospective CBi Member Networks in the Southern and Eastern Africa region.
- Support the CBi Secretariat and contribute to the periodic progress reporting requirements and other UNDP and OCHA reporting requirements.
e) The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Private Sector Coordination Specialist will work full-time from the OCHA Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (ROSEA) based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Private Sector Coordination Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the CBi Deputy Programme Coordinator with “dotted-line” secondary reporting to the OCHA Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (ROSEA), based in Nairobi, Kenya. An annual workplan will be developed jointly by CBi and OCHA ROSEA to ensure coherence with regional priorities. The Private Sector Coordination Officer will also participate in all relevant ROSEA unit meetings to update on relevant activities and to link these to OCHA’s ongoing preparedness and response work in the region.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction and Strategy – Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
Business Management – Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Management – Communication
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Business Management – Evaluation
- Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks – Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
Business Management – Communication
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in business, political or social sciences, disaster risk management, development studies or other related field of studies is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above mentioned field of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
Experience:
- Minimum of five (5) years (with Master degree) or seven (7) years (with Bachelors degree) of professional work experience in disaster risk reduction / disaster management, humanitarian affairs, or international development, preferably in Southern and Eastern Africa
Required skills and competencies
- Experience and technical knowledge of disaster risk reduction / disaster management.
- Experience writing briefings, reports, policies, and guidance notes.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Previous experience supporting engagement and collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector is highly desirable
- Previous experience working for a private sector entity is highly desirable
- Previous experience working for an entity within the United Nations system is desirable, especially in emergency settings
- Previous experience in implementing and coordinating activities, projects or programs related to disaster preparedness, crisis response, humanitarian coordination, recovery programming, or other related areas with the private sector is desirable.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency (verbal and written) in English is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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