Provincial Coordination Officer

Background

The United Nations and the Government of Pakistan have signed the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (CF) (2023 - 2027) under which the UN supports the Government with key development priorities. As part of the implementation, the United Nations established provincial-level coordination positions. These roles are aimed at strengthening strategic and substantive coordination between the UN and the Government. Their priority output is efficient and effective on-the-ground implementation of the CF at the provincial levels by preventing overlaps and a more integrated approach to district-level development. These positions act as key intermediaries between the Government and UN Provincial Programme Teams (PPT), ensuring that the CF's objectives are aligned with provincial priorities and effectively deliver across Pakistan's diverse regions. The Provincial Coordinators work hand in hand with the PPT co/chairs. They don't engage in project implementation or technical level exchanges with the Government.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Provincial Coordination Officer works under the supervision of the Head of RC Office and is delegated the following key roles and responsibilities:

1. Provide strategic facilitation and coordination support to the UN Cooperation Framework at the provincial level.
2. Guide the PPT in leveraging the CF as the central strategic programmatic base for UN interventions.
3. Promote Results Based Management in the implementation of the Corporation Framework (CF), maintaining close linkages with the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) Working Group in Islamabad.
4. Liaise with UN Provincial Programme Team (UNPPTs) in joint planning and results reporting.
5. Ensure the PPT is informed, and where relevant, involved in the Common Country Analysis (CCA) formulation.
6. Ensure effective coordination mechanisms are established and maintained on gender, youth, and disability inclusion.
7. Prepare and maintain analytical mapping of UN work in the province with the provincial government priorities.
8. Support provincial Accountability Affected Population (AAP) committees.
9. Coordinate with inter-agency forums (including provincial programme teams) and joint UN-Government forums (including the provincial steering committees) to achieve intended results of UNSDCF.
10. Track progress of decisions of PPTs, PSCs, and other coordination forums.

Engage and partner with Provincial Government on UN-wide priorities

1. Liaise with provincial government counterparts on UN programming to understand the priorities of provincial government and advise PPT co/chair(s); Head of RCO and RC to prioritize strategic areas of interventions.
2. Organize CF Programme Steering Committee meetings at least once a year complemented by regular interactions with the provincial government.
3. Organize meetings between senior UN leadership, Provincial government, and development partners to strengthen the coordination of development programmes.
4. Liaise with the Government and coordinate with wider stakeholders (BOS, inter-provincial coordination, and other relevant ministries and departments).
5. Develop and maintain development partners mapping in the province.

Provide support to RC and UN agencies including UNOCHA regarding humanitarian issues

1. Facilitate the implementation of the PSEAH provincial workplan in support to the PSEAH provincial co-chairs.
2. Plan, prepare and finalize field mission plans of RC to the respective districts of the provinces.
3. Coordinate with UN entities to prepare for high-level missions to the provinces.
4. Liaise with OCHA when required and coordinate with humanitarian actors to bridge humanitarian and development interventions.
5. Serve as the primary focal point for humanitarian issues at the field level, liaising with government authorities and keeping the UNPPT Chair and OCHA Country Office informed of key humanitarian developments, disaster relief efforts, and emergency situations.
6. Engage with humanitarian organizations on the ground, providing relevant information and strategic advice on humanitarian coordination and response.
7. Organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences, and consultations with government authorities (PDMAs), UN agencies, and humanitarian partners on emergency response and relief-related matters.
8. Provide effective support to humanitarian partners in securing humanitarian access by coordinating with PDMAs and local home departments/ministries.
9. In case of an emergency, facilitate and participate in needs assessments to ensure timely and informed decision-making.
10. Develop and maintain an overview of development partners' presence.
11. Promote the work of UN at the province level in coordination with UNIC.

Facilitate knowledge management, advocacy and communications of UN-wide results

1. Set up and manage a TEAMS co-working space for all strategic UN documents.
2. Liaise with United Nations Information Centres (UNIC) to give visibility to joint-up UN work through inputs into articles or social media postings.
3. Enable inter-agency exchange of resources, knowledge management, and lessons learnt.
4. Collect information to improve coordination activities, information products, and inter-agency reports.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies:

1. Achieve Results: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
2. Think Innovatively: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
3. Learn Continuously: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
4. Adapt with Agility: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
5. Act with Determination: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
6. Engage and Partner: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
7. Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management

1. Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
2. Risk Management: Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks.
3. Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
4. Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Partnership management

1. Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
2. Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

1. Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, International Relations or a related field is required, OR
2. A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

1. Applicants with a Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
2. Applicants with a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
3. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), advanced knowledge of automated procurement systems, experience in handling web-based management systems is required.
4. Proven experience in joint planning and result-based management is required.
5. Proven experience in coordinating humanitarian issues at the field level is required.
6. Strong inter-coordination and team management related experience with UN or development sector organizations is required.
7. Demonstrated leadership, managerial, administrative and coordination experiences, preferably on multi-stakeholder projects with the government is desired.
8. Experience in creative and effective work with government, donors, and communities is desired.
9. Experience in project management and project planning is desired.
10. Demonstrated experience in excellent networking, advocacy and partnership building is desired.
11. Proven track record of strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills is desired.
12. Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse educational, professional and cultural backgrounds is desired.

Required languages:

1. Fluency in English and Urdu are required.
2. Knowledge of local languages Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto & Brohi could be an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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