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 address national needs and advance the 2030 Agenda.
- 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 mitigating risks to SDG achievement.
- Supports, catalyzes, and advocates for the work of UNCT member agencies and supports Country Representatives.
- 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 leaving no one behind.
- Engages, convenes, and forges strategic partnerships with diverse entities around UN’s collective support to the 2030 Agenda.
- 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 practices.
- Facilitates access to national, regional, and global resources to advance innovation in financing and new technologies for sustainable development.
- Leads and enhances strategic communication that advances UN system efforts and collective results to promote the 2030 Agenda.
- 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 PSEA strategies and ensuring action plans are implemented.
- Manages a matrixed dual reporting system with UN country team heads regarding their 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 the 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. Solid experience in the management and/or coordination of multi-sectoral humanitarian programmes, operations and advocacy at the country level and preferably in a multilateral context, is desirable. Previous experience as a senior official with accountability for security (for example UN Designated Official (DO) for Security or equivalent) or previous experience in security decision-making in a complex environment is desirable. Strong political acumen and experience working with senior government officials, diplomats, civil society organizations and other relevant national stakeholders in politically sensitive countries, is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge of the regional political and security dynamics in the Great Lakes Region, is desirable. Demonstrated ability to provide insightful political analysis to senior officials and identify situations that could warrant preventive action 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).
