Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is a fixed-term appointment limited position located in the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel (OSCS) stationed in Dakar, Senegal. The position is funded from extrabudgetary resources for 1 year and may be extended subject to the availability of funding and the extension of the OSCS mandates. The Office of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel supports the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2391 (2017) and the ECOSOC resolution 2020 / 2 (2020), which called for strengthening collective and integrated engagement across the Sahel region through the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), which is a comprehensive framework to strengthen governance, security, and development in the Sahel region. The Principal Coordination Officer/Director of Partnership and Resources Mobilization reports to the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel. The incumbent will be responsible to develop partnerships with donors and lead resources mobilization efforts to secure extrabudgetary financing for the OSCS to fulfil its mandates.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Director of Partnership and Resources Mobilization will: • Serve as the advisor to the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Development in strengthening partnerships and leading on resources mobilization efforts, including financing for the office, to further advance the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Sahel Strategy and its Support Plan. • Cultivate strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for successfully achieving the mission of the Office of the Special Coordinator, including with national governments, civil society organizations, multilateral and regional organizations, international financial institutions, bilateral donors, the private sector, foundations, academia and think tanks, the wider UN system, inter-governmental bodies, as well as the media. • Develop the financing strategy and work with other colleagues on the outreach strategy for the Pipeline of Programmes in the UNISS Projects Bank. • Lead the work of the UNISS interagency group on partnerships and resources mobilization and ensure that partnerships building and resources mobilization are done in a cohesive fashion. • Forge partnerships and mobilize resources for the pipeline of programmes under the UN Support Plan. • Develop, implement, and monitor innovative partnership, business opportunities, and resource mobilization strategies for the UNISS / UNSP investment offers, based on latest information on trends, opportunities and ensuring consultation as appropriate with Resident Coordinators and Regional Directors in the countries in the Sahel region. • Provide the Office of the Special Coordinator with strategic advice on advocacy, high level partnership and business engagements to mobilize and leverage resources and trigger investment for the Sahel. • Coordinate and organize high-level advocacy and pledging events on UNISS / UNSP. • Advise on donor interests, opportunities, and modalities, and maintain liaison with strategic- level interlocutors of key donor partners. • Draft public information materials and online content to support current and new partnerships and resource mobilization strategies. • Work with the private sector, development banks, and Governments on mobilizing resources for the Support Plan, including public-private partnerships. • Develop a detailed Partnership Strategy and identify innovative partnering opportunities with the private sector in close cooperation with the pillar working groups. • Support the Special Coordinator with other duties as requested.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the contracting and construction management issues, particularly codes and legal requirements preferably in the host county or a similar environment. Demonstrates ability to implement major capital projects effectively, on time and budget. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Competency in the use of relevant information technology and systems. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Ability to work with people from various cultures and professions. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of product or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, business administration, political affairs, international relations, economics or a related field is required. A first-level university degree with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Extensive knowledge of and working experience in the Sahel region is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in resource mobilization, strategic communications, partnership development, donor relations or related area is required. Senior level responsibility and proven track record of resource mobilization, fund raising, donor relations, and multilateral partnership development is required. Work experience in the UN system and/or multilateral or international development organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another United Nations language is desirable. NOTE: “fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and any extension will be subject to availability of funds, budgetary approval and extension of the OSCS mandate. Candidate selected will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTAlimited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10, who are selected for a position subject to FTA limited will be reassigned to the position without a lien to their parent position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.