Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO/Strategic Planner

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations, and to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN operates in various countries around the world, with a focus on sustainable development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN has a diverse workforce, with employees from various cultural, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, working together to achieve its goals.

Job Overview:
The Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO/Strategic Planner position is crucial for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within Côte d'Ivoire. The role involves providing strategic guidance to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) to ensure timely and quality support for sustainable development initiatives. The Head of the Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) is responsible for managing resources, facilitating partnerships, and overseeing the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). This position requires a strong understanding of sustainable development policies, strategic planning, and the ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder efforts to achieve the SDGs. The incumbent will also be expected to lead knowledge management and capacity development activities, ensuring that the RCO operates efficiently and effectively in support of the RC and UNCT.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UNSDCF.
• Facilitate and oversee the establishment of external partnerships and resource mobilization efforts for the UNSDCF.
• Coordinate the roll-out of the Efficiency agenda, including Business Operations Strategy and Common Premises.
• Manage knowledge management and capacity development activities within the UN System.
• Ensure effective management of the RCO, including resource allocation and performance monitoring of staff.
• Lead the development of policy recommendations and strategic direction for the RC/UNCT.
• Promote engagement across humanitarian, development, and peace domains.
• Ensure quality control over strategic communications and advocacy related to the UNSDCF.
• Coordinate the formulation and implementation of the substantive work programme of the UNCT.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate proven knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts, and approaches, as well as the ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience. The educational background should ideally include studies in business administration, public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, or education, which are pertinent to the responsibilities of the position.

Experience:
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, and program development and management is required. Candidates should have experience in multi-stakeholder coordination within the context of development cooperation, as well as team leadership and management. Experience in UN interagency coordination and in designing and implementing partnership and resource mobilization strategies is desirable. Familiarity with knowledge management in development cooperation is also beneficial.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in both languages is required, with a minimum level of UN Level II for reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in both languages, as they will be essential for collaboration and coordination within the UN system and with external partners.

Additional Notes:
The appointment for this position is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension based on funding availability. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance in its workforce and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is open to applicants from various member states, particularly those that are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat. The UN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities.