Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader

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 countries, and to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN operates in various capacities across the globe, with a focus on sustainable development, human rights, and humanitarian assistance. The organization has a diverse workforce of over 44,000 employees and is committed to achieving gender balance and diversity within its staff. The UN's Development Coordination Office (DCO) plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing the effectiveness of UN country teams (UNCTs).

Job Overview:
The Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader is responsible for providing strategic support and guidance to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Botswana. This position is pivotal in ensuring effective, quality, and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The officer will initiate and coordinate external partnerships, manage knowledge management and capacity development activities, and lead the overall management of the Resident Coordination Office (RCO). The role requires a deep understanding of sustainable development policies, strategic planning, and the ability to coordinate diverse stakeholders to achieve national priorities aligned with the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic support and guidance to the RC and UNCT on effective UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through CCA and UNSDCF.
• Initiate and coordinate external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation UNSDCF.
• Coordinate the Business Operations Strategy and contribute to business innovations.
• Manage knowledge management and capacity development activities in and outside the UN System.
• Lead overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
• Facilitate engagement of all agencies in inter-agency fora and discussions with external partners.
• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the UNSDCF and Joint Workplans, ensuring timely reporting and coherence among UN entities.
• Promote a work environment conducive to innovation and engagement with diverse stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, project/programme management, or related areas. Experience with multi-stakeholder coordination in development cooperation is required, along with a proven track record in designing and implementing partnership and resource mobilization strategies. Familiarity with SDG monitoring reports or cooperation frameworks is desirable, as is experience in promoting knowledge management and foresight in development contexts. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical skills and the ability to conduct independent research and analysis.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education, or a related area is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, project/programme management, or related areas is required. Candidates should have experience in coordinating diverse stakeholders at the country level and in promoting knowledge management and foresight in development cooperation. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable, as well as experience in preparing SDG monitoring reports or cooperation frameworks.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is considered a good to have language, but not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The appointment against this post is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension based on funding availability. The position is full-time, and the United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff, encouraging female candidates to apply. The UN Secretariat is a non-smoking environment, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request.