Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)
Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts
Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in more than 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Development challenges in the Pacific Islands Countries are multi-faceted and complex. To respond to these challenges, the UNDP Samoa Multi-Country Office (MCO) concentrates its efforts on building the capacity of the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tokelau to promote inclusive, blue-green, and pro-poor growth, effective governance, and sustainable and resilient development that leverages innovation and digital transformation and seeks to catalyze financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We help our partners in identifying relevant solutions to their most significant development challenges and offer policy and implementation services to address these challenges.

Guided by the UNDP Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories 2023-27, the MCO’s policy, advisory, programmatic, and implementation services focuses on the following areas:
•    Peace: inclusive governance, justice, and peace
•    Prosperity: inclusive, blue-green, and sustainable growth
•    Planet: sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity conservation, strengthened climate and disaster resilience and management.

UNDP’s programme is anchored in the principle of leaving no one behind, with specific focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment including the fight to end violence against women and girls, and empowerment and engagement of youth and Persons with Disabilities. The MCO serves the four countries from its office located in Samoa, where it hosts approximately 40 personnel, however it is planning to establish capacities in the other countries to support programme implementation and strengthen partnerships with local stakeholders.
Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative. S/he will work in close coordination  with the Head of Resident Coordinator’s Office for the UN System for core function ‘d’ above. S/he will work closely with the Treaties, Multilaterals and Oceans Division, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands Government.

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, the core functions of the Programme Implementation Officer will include the following:

a. Support UNDP projects in Cook Islands and promotes/foster programmatic synergies:

• Ensure overall coordination of UNDP projects implemented in the country and follow up on issues of integration and synergy.
• Establish lines of communication and coordination between UNDP projects, to ensure cost efficiency, maximize results and foster a continual learning environment.
• Coordinate with other UN agencies to promote joint UN efforts and raise awareness of shared progress towards UNSDCF and SDG goals.
• Coordinate with government partners to ensure ownership of projects and advocate for mobilization of government resources for scaling up successful UNDP models.
• Organize the collection of data from beneficiaries, focusing on change brought about by UNDP development initiatives.
• Facilitate the collection and alignment of high quality data for country office from projects in area, including but not limited to, the creation and maintenance of real-time data system accessible by UNDP country office staff.
• Conduct monitoring of project activities at the request of projects and/or MCO staff, providing feedback for improvement.

b. Support UNDP’s partnership building in Cook Islands:

• Identify and build partnerships with development actors, government officials, civil society and stakeholders in the country.
• Maintain coordination and collaboration of activities among partner agencies.
• When requested, participate in development related forums.
• Facilitate sharing of relevant data between UNDP and other development partners.
• Liaise as necessary with government and other UN agencies and development partners at the provincial and local level to facilitate implementation of the UNDP Multi Country Programme.
• Promote visibility of UNDP activities.
• Assist UNDP, as needed, in problem-solving at the local level.
• Participate in UNDP annual planning and review processes.
• Provide UNDP with regular updates on local development issues and operating space, early warnings and recommendations.
• Share information, experiences and best practices among partners and other relevant stakeholders.

c. Service provision for the UNDP Multi Country Office:

• Support UNDP to gather relevant socioeconomic and political data and analysis for project and programme planning, programme review and continual evaluation.
• Facilitate field visits by UNDP staff.
• Support the compilation of data for UNDP communications team.
• Lead the preparation and execution of events such as UNDP programme reviews, workshops and launches.

d. Service provision for the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office:

• Support RCO to gather relevant socio-economic and political data and analysis.
• Facilitate field visits by RCO staff.
• Support RCO with UN mission protocol.
• Lead the preparation and execution of events such as UN CIPS reviews, workshops and launches.
• Support the organization of UN/Government Joint Steering Committee meetings for the CIPS.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business management

• Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Result-based management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methologies, instruments, and tools.
• Customer satisfaction, client management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of costumer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond the clients’ imeediate requests. Ability to anticipate clients’ upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Partnership management

• Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

General (external relations and advocacy)

• Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP”s overall brand and mandate.

2030 Agenda

• Inclusive growth: Development planning

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Project Management and/or Policy, Social Sciences or related fields is required, or,
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of experience working at the national or international level in the development sector or in the public sector.

Required skills:

• Relevant experience in project management and coordination.
• Advanced knowledge of computer office software packages (e.g. Microsoft Office)
• Experienced in people management including stakeholder engagement and networking.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Thorough understanding of the development context and institutional set up of Cook Islands
• Experience working with government, donors or the UN previously is an asset.
• Experience in reporting and writing.

Required Languages

• Fluency in English
• Fluency in Cook Island Maori is desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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