UNDP: Regional Partnerships and Coordination Specialist – Panama City

Organization Mission

UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress.

UNDP is the United Nations’ lead agency on international development. We support countries and communities as they work to eradicate poverty, implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We advocate for transformative change, and we connect countries to the resources they need to help people build a better life. UNDP plays a pivotal role in international development as a knowledge broker, capacity builder, innovator, and facilitator of exchanges in the global development debate.

Context

The Regional Collaborative Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean (RCP LAC) was established in November 2020 following the UN Secretary-General’s repositioning of the UN development system. It brings together 24 UN entities across development, human rights, humanitarian and peace and security pillars at the level of Regional Directors.

The RCP LAC provides a light, agile, and demand-driven coordination platform to enhance system-wide coherence, strengthen regional collaboration, and support Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in delivering integrated responses for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Through its Joint Secretariat (Development Coordination Office- DCO, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean- ECLAC, United Nations Development Programme- UNDP), the RCP LAC supports strategic alignment, joint policy engagement, and effective delivery of regional public goods and integrated support to countries in the region.

The role is embedded in a multi-entity secretariat composed of DCO, ECLAC and UNDP. In that regard, while in functional terms, the UN Volunteer will be hosted by UNDP, s/he will serve as part of the RCP LAC Joint Secretariat, and will be physically based in the DCO Regional Office in Panama.

The assignment is regionally focused and will contribute to strengthening system-wide coordination, knowledge management, and partnerships across RCP LAC mechanisms, including Issue-Based Coalitions (IBCs) and Working Groups. The UN Volunteer will support the Regional Collaborative Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean Chair, Vice-Chairs and 24 UN entities at Regional Director level.

The UN Volunteer will support demand-driven assistance to Resident Coordinators and UN country teams, facilitate knowledge flows across the system, and contribute to enhancing the effectiveness, visibility and results orientation of the RCP LAC in line with UN development system reform and UN80 priorities. The role will also support the strengthening of demand-driven coordination across the RCP LAC by contributing to tracking systems that capture and monitor requests from Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams, enabling improved alignment, responsiveness and visibility of regional support.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Regional Development Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean, and operating within a joint matrix supervision framework with the DCO Senior Regional Coordination Officer based in Panama and Team Leader and the ECLAC Political Affairs Officer based in Chile, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Coordination & secretariat support:
• Support the functioning of the RCP LAC Joint Secretariat by providing substantive preparation of RCP LAC meetings and regional engagements, including agenda development, documentation, notetaking, and follow-up on decisions, ensuring continuity and effective implementation of agreed actions.
• Support the RCP LAC and the RCP LAC Joint Secretariat in the operationalization of the regional reset recommendations as relevant.
• Contribute to the implementation and monitoring of the RCP LAC annual workplan, ensuring alignment with Resident Coordinators and UN country teams system requests of support.

Knowledge management & system coherence:
• Strengthen system-wide knowledge management by supporting the development and maintenance of RCP LAC digital platforms, including web content, knowledge repositories, and flagship communication products, to enhance visibility of joint results and regional collaboration.
• Support the development and maintenance of systems to track, analyse and report on demand from Resident Coordinators and UN country teams, contributing to improved responsiveness, prioritization and coordination of regional support.
• Support the expertise-on-demand mechanism and maintenance of regional rosters of expertise to enable rapid, demand-driven support to Resident.

Coordinators and UNCTs:
• Facilitate Communities of Practice across Issue-Based Coalitions and Working Groups.

Regional support to Resident Coodinator system:
• Contribute to the provision of integrated, demand-driven support to Resident Coordinators and UNCTs, including coordination of inputs across UN entities.
• Support cross-border and subregional initiatives led by RCP LAC mechanisms where relevant.

Partnerships & visibility:
• Support RCP LAC engagement with regional and global partners, including participation in intergovernmental and inter-agency forums.
• Contribute to strengthening communication and visibility of RCP LAC results and joint initiatives.

Cross-cutting:
• Participate in relevant RCP LAC Working Groups (e.g. Partnerships, Communications, Knowledge Management)
• Support the consolidation of system-wide inputs from Issue-Based Coalitions and Working Groups into regional results reports and analytical products, strengthening coherence, accountability and visibility of RCP contributions to the 2030 Agenda.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance

Required Skills and Experience

Experience in:

• Knowledge management and coordination in multilateral settings
• Inter-agency processes or partnerships
• Research, analysis and report drafting
• Experience with tracking systems, dashboards or knowledge platforms
• Ability to synthesise inputs from multiple stakeholders into concise analytical outputs

Skills in:

• Structured writing and synthesis
• Stakeholder coordination
• Data/knowledge platforms (desirable)

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Client Orientation
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Empowering Others
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Knowledge Sharing
• Leadership
• Managing Performance
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Vision
• Working in Teams

Living Conditions

Panama City offers high living standards with modern infrastructure, reliable services, and a wide range of housing, healthcare, and education options. The climate is tropical, with warm temperatures year-round (average temperature of 27 Celsius), and a rainy season from April to December. The Balboa is the national currency, equivalent to the U.S. Dollar. All credit cards are accepted.

Spanish is the official language, though English is widely used in professional settings. As a regional hub, Panama provides an enabling environment for a role requiring frequent interaction across Latin America and the Caribbean.

It is recommended to be out to date on routine vaccines, and consider vaccinations for hepati-tis A and yellow fever. Panama City is generally safe, with a vibrant international community and strong connectivity across the region. The country is currently at a low security level, however it is advisable to exercise caution and carry only the necessary cash/credit card.