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, partners, academia and private sector.
- 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 the achievement of the SDGs.
- 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 high-quality Common Country Analysis.
- Promotes and advocates for the fundamental values, standards and principles of the UN Charter.
- Engages, convenes and forges strategic partnerships at the national and sub-national level.
- Advances regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration, south-south and triangular exchanges, multi-country and transboundary initiatives.
- Identifies, and leverages expertise and assets from across the UN development system.
- Provides governance and oversight of system-wide country financing instruments.
- Leads continued engagement on and pursuance of the UN’s normative agenda.
- Fosters an enabling environment inside and outside the UN, aimed at facilitating collaboration, knowledge and data gathering, analysis and sharing practices.
- Facilitates access to national, regional and global resources to advance new avenues and pathways to innovation.
- Leads and enhances strategic communication that advances UN system efforts and collective results.
- When appointed as Designated Official, ensures effective coordination of country-level security.
- Promotes and nurtures staff learning and the implementation of staff rules and policies.
- Where the RC is the highest UN official, the RC 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.
- Advances country-specific measures to promote UN common business operations.
- In contexts where international humanitarian assistance is required, and a separate Humanitarian Coordinator is not designated, leads and coordinates the response efforts of United Nations and relevant humanitarian actors.
- 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 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.
- HC Pool membership is desirable.
- Previous experience as a senior official with accountability for security or previous experience in security decision-making in a complex environment is desirable.
- Strong experience engaging with senior government officials and diplomats, with the ability to provide analysis to senior leadership, assess political developments and dynamics, and identify entry points for UN engagement and possible preventive action, is desirable.
- Demonstrated understanding of conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding, including familiarity with working with United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, is desirable.
- Experience managing risks related to dialogue and governance processes, political reforms and electoral processes, 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).
