Overview
The Resident Coordinator (RC) is the highest-ranking representative of the United Nations development system at the country level, responsible for leading UN country teams and ensuring system-wide accountability for the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and coordinating UN support for the 2030 Agenda.
Key Responsibilities
- Represents the UN at the highest levels of state and fosters engagement with Government, civil society, and partners to advance the 2030 Agenda and advocate for SDGs.
- Leads the UN country team in the development, monitoring, and reporting on the UN Cooperation Framework.
- Coordinates UN system-wide support to Government, taking a preventive approach and identifying and mitigating risks to SDG achievement.
- Supports, catalyzes, and advocates for the work of UNCT member agencies, funds, and programmes.
- Coordinates UN entities’ contributions to context and trend analysis, including a Common Country Analysis.
- Promotes and advocates for UN Charter values, including human rights, gender equality, and the SDG commitment to leave no one behind.
- Engages, convenes, and forges strategic partnerships at national and sub-national levels with diverse entities.
- Advances regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration, south-south and triangular exchanges, and multi-country initiatives.
- Identifies and leverages expertise and assets from across the UN development system to improve shared results and address SDG coverage gaps.
- Provides governance and oversight of system-wide country financing instruments and pursues funding for joint UN efforts.
- Leads continued engagement on and pursuance of the UN’s normative agenda in support of national capacity development.
- Fosters an enabling environment for collaboration, knowledge, and data gathering, analysis, and sharing.
- Facilitates access to national, regional, and global resources to advance innovation in financing and new technologies for sustainable development.
- Leads and enhances strategic communication to promote the 2030 Agenda and generate public support.
- When appointed as Designated Official, ensures effective coordination of country-level security and accountability for UN personnel, premises, and assets.
- Promotes and nurtures staff learning and the implementation of staff rules and policies.
- Where the RC is the highest UN official, has system-wide responsibility for developing collective protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) strategies.
- Manages a matrixed dual reporting system with UN country team heads regarding contributions to UN Cooperation Framework objectives and collective results.
- Advances country-specific measures to promote UN common business operations.
- In contexts requiring international humanitarian assistance, leads and coordinates response efforts and facilitates linkages between humanitarian and development programming.
- In conflict and post-conflict settings, facilitates the integration of UN Country Team’s work with UN peacekeeping or political missions.
- Manages and provides strategic guidance and oversight to the Resident Coordinators Office.
Required Experience
Over 15 years of substantive experience and results in leadership roles at the international level is required (including five years of cumulative experience in development, human rights, rule of law peace-building or humanitarian work at country level outside of one's own country). Previous RC experience is required. Senior-level inter-agency coordination experience may be considered in lieu of RC experience. Previous experience as a senior official with accountability for security or previous experience in security decision-making in a complex environment is desirable. Solid experience in coordinating effectively with multiple stakeholders, national authorities, national and international partners, is desirable. Solid experience in the management and/or coordination of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance operations and preparedness efforts at the country level and preferably in a multilateral and complex context, is desirable. Representational and negotiation experience, including humanitarian advocacy at national and international level, is desirable. Excellent judgement and strong diplomatic skills, with prior experience navigating a sensitive environment as a senior official in crisis settings, are desirable. Demonstrated ability to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including with government representatives, donors and civil society, in a sensitive environment is desirable. Previous experience working in or alongside a special political mission or peacekeeping operation is desirable.
Qualifications
Master's degree – or equivalent post graduate qualification – in development studies, international relations, political science, economics, social sciences, human rights, law or closely related fields (for otherwise suitably qualified candidates, a first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced post graduate university degree).
