Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in Dakar, Senegal in the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) Regional Office for Africa. The DCO Regional Office for Africa ( DCO-ROA) supports 53 Resident Coordinators – covering 54 countries, providing strategic support, oversight as well as improving the capacity, coherence, and effectiveness in delivering integrated support across Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Deputy Regional Director for Africa, to be based in Dakar- Senegal, and working under the direct guidance/supervision of the DCO Regional Director for Africa will be responsible for the following:
-Effective strategic support to the Regional Director in day-to-day management of DCO-operations in Africa, supporting programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the office, including preparation of budgets, work plans, monitoring of performance, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting and programming and evaluation of staff performance.
-Effective coordination and close supervision of the work of Dakar Regional Office team to ensure the effective and efficient management and administration in accordance with established policies, standards, rules and procedures.
-Effective leadership, oversight, coordination and strategic guidance to ensure the achievement of programme goals as well as effective support for the effective functioning of the DCO sub regional office and the RC system in West and Central Africa as well as in North Africa by extending the strategic guidance to the RCs and UNCTs in the region to ensure effective, quality and timely UN regional support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through robust Common Country Analysis /UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, support operational backstopping of RCOs, including for the roll out of the efficiency efforts at the country level as well as in supporting the integration of regional strategies such as the UN Integrated Strategy UNISS in country programming.
-Effective support and coordination to help mobilize provision of integrated and coherent policy advice, at the request of RCs, the deployment of assets and expertise from regional UNDS entities based in Dakar and in Northern Africa, while also supporting resource mobilization efforts for UN Cooperation Frameworks in West and Central Africa as well as in North Africa on a demand-driven manner.
-Effective support to RCs/UNCTs in West, Central Africa and North Africa to ensure that a rapid, coherent and effective response is ensured in support of national efforts to address the immediate health, humanitarian and socio-economic impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic as well as to support transformational programming enabling inclusive and just transitions needed for SDG acceleration.
-Effective representation in key inter-agency fora at the regional level to ensure effective contribution to and integration of programme initiatives in broader UN programme activities.
-Effective strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and policy development at regional level.
-Effective monitoring of programme resources and programme and management performance within the region with a view to supporting actions that improve country programme performance. Competencies
Professionalism: 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.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours 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.
Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary. Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations or public administration, law, social sciences or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
Over fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in programme management and coordination of development cooperation is required.
Experience serving in international and/or multi-lateral organizations is desirable.
Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams is desirable.
Experience managing multi-cultural teams is desirable. Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in both English and French is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice
This position is available for an initial period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to the availability of funds.
Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter.
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 Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
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.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
This vacancy is archived.