UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Job Purpose and Organizational Context
The Joint SDG Fund aims to support governments accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda through the following:
1) Identify and activate SDG “accelerators”: The Joint SDG Fund will identify policy levers, through an integrated and cross-sectoral approach, that unleash rapid progress across different goals and targets, based on data, assessments and analysis carried out by national and international partners;
2) Reinforce the SDG financing architecture and ecosystem: The Joint SDG Fund will support the development of financing strategies for SDG investment. This work will include: i) convening and creating networks with partners, including the Government, development banks, institutional investors and the private sector; ii) strengthening the capacities of the national and sub-national SDG financing architecture; iii) the production of multi-stakeholder financing strategies with the aim of dramatically increasing the scale and improving the focus of SDG investments.
3) Catalyze strategic programming and investments: the Joint SDG Fund will invest in key initiatives that emerge from (1) and (2) above, and that leverage public and private financing in order to advance the SDGs. These initiatives will provide a demonstration of concept and will be scalable both in country and elsewhere.
The Head of Secretariat for the Joint SDG Fund provides strategic, operational and administrative support to the governance bodies of the Fund and is responsible for the coordination and day-to-day management of the Fund. He/she will report to the Director of UNDCO, working closely with the Governing Bodies, UN Resident Coordinators, Participating UN Organizations, and the Administrative Agent.
The Head of Secretariat for the Joint SDG Fund is a member of the DCO Senior Management Team, leads the strategic thinking and thought leadership for the Fund and guides and oversees the operational and administrative support to the governance bodies of the Fund. S/he contributes to development debates and dialogues with a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure the Fund responds with relevant and timely calls for proposals and programmatic backstopping to the field. S/he provides strategic inputs and intellectual contribution to ensure strong, substantive support to the Fund’s Strategic Advisory Group and Operational Steering Committee (OSC) and coordinates and oversees the advocacy work on related sustainable development issues. S/he leads advocacy and representation of the Fund with a range of internal and external partners. S/he facilitates the creation of and manages an integrated multi-disciplinary team within the Secretariat for delivery of integrated policy and SDG financing focused programmes and wider positioning of the Fund.
S/he is responsible for the coordination and day-to-day management of the Fund. He/she will report to the Director of UNDCO, working closely with The Joint SDG Fund Secretariat is administratively hosted by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO), with substantive oversight and reporting to UN DCO.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Head of the Joint SDG Fund (JSDGF) oversees all activities related to the management of the fund, including its programmatic and overhead management. Key tasks include, inter alia, the following:
Managing the Fund and the Fund Secretariat
Under OSC direction, lead development of quality programming and results management of the Fund and project proposals with Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs), including facilitating linkages between UNCT’s and substantive policy experts at regional and global level.
Manage the Fund Secretariat team to ensure effective support for implementation of the Fund’s programme of work, with support from PUNOs and other participating partner entities.
Ensure effective management of the Joint JSDGF Secretariat, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), selection of candidates for job openings, and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
Liaise with the MPTFO on matters pertaining to overall JSDGF fund allocations, administration and delivery, including for the transfer/release of approved project funds, project/ fund extensions and closures, JSDGF overhead budget, and tracking donor contributions to the JSDGF.
Oversee development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system, in collaboration with PUNOs, to track the impact of investments and identify activities with the best SDG acceleration results for promotion and replication.
Oversee development and implementation of JSDGF guidelines and tools, including through the facilitation of inter-UN processes, informed by emerging lessons and present them for periodic review by the DCO Assistant Secretary-General and the Chair of the OSC.
Ensures the monitoring of operational risks and Joint SDG Fund performance.
Ensure timely and robust reporting of results that clearly capture fund performance, including the Annual Report on the JSDGF, in accordance with the agreed results framework and respective indicators, and facilitate annual progress reviews.
Leadership
Ensure high-level support to the Strategic Advisory Group and the Operational Steering Committee on strategic priorities, programmatic and financial allocations, including through organization and preparation of the Groups’ meetings and reports drawing on all relevant sources of information.
Brief senior UN representatives at the country level on JSDGF as appropriate, with targeted outreach to enable effective delivery of JSDGF programmes.
Design initiatives jointly with UN partners to increase the quality of submissions to the JSDGF, including through collaboration with existing initiatives to promote UN integration and coherence.
Advocacy, Communication, Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation
Undertake outreach to strengthen engagement of key partners with the Joint SDGF, including multilateral and bilateral development actors, private sector investors, civil society and individual investors.
Advise the DCO and OSC Chair Assistant Secretaries -General on financing strategies for development and organize collection of critical data on financial contributions through bilateral and multilateral development channels.
Identify and develop strategic and innovative partnerships with UN development system entities and initiatives to support the implementation of projects funded by the Joint SDG Fund.
Undertake outreach to brief Member States on the activities of the JSDGF, actively mobilize resources and monitor current contribution levels, and activate pledges.
Manage senior level liaison with counterparts in development organizations, financial institutions, and regional, multilateral and bilateral agencies in supporting and scaling up JSDGF-funded projects.
Collate and disseminate best practices from across stakeholder groups and promote cross fertilization and exchange.
Represent the fund in various fora as necessary and communicates its work to the public and other stakeholders.
Joint SDG Fund Board and Operational Steering Committee
Advises the Joint SDG Fund Strategic Advisory Group and Operational Steering Committee in all aspects of the Joint SDG Fund, including on policy, strategy, monitoring and compliance.
Coordinates closely with the UNSDG to ensure consistency and complementarity with the overall corporate UNSDG partnerships and donors.
Acts as liaison between the Joint SDG Fund Operational Steering Committee, UNDCO, UN Resident Coordinators/UN Country Teams, the Joint Fund Administrator, UNDG mechanisms.
Provide logistical and operational support to the Joint SDG Fund Strategic Advisory Group and Operational Steering Committee.
Manages delegated authorities for the Fund.
Other duties as requested by the Joint Fund Strategic Advisory Group and the Director of UNDCO.
Competencies
Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow.
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
Technical/Functional
Primary
Management Joint Programmes
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Joint development programmes and projects.
Fund operations
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting for a UN inter-agency Pooled Fund.
Policy Advice
Ability to provide policy advice.
Client Orientation
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
Secondary
Knowledge Management
Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.
Private sector partnerships
Ability to work with private sector.
Advocacy
Ability to efficiently handle advocacy activities.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced University Degree in international development, international relations, public administration, public policy, or other relevant social sciences is required.
Experience:
A minimum of 15 years’ experience in international development in a government, multilateral or civil society organization working in a multi-cultural setting, with a minimum of five years doing so outside of one’s own country, is required.
Experience in fund management (managing Multi-Donor Trust Funds or large-scale multi-stakeholder programmes including results-based management, risk management, finance and operations) and resource mobilization, and knowledge of financing for development is required.
Understanding and experience in innovative financing, joint programming and partnerships, and country level joint UN work, will be significant assets.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required, and competency in another UN language is an advantage.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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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