Locations- New York, United States
Apply Before- 04/22/2022, 6:59 AM
Job Schedule- Full time
Agency- UNDP
Vacancy Type- Fixed Term
Grade- P4
Practice Area- Crisis management / Country Management Support
Bureau- Crisis Bureau
Contract Duration- 2 Year with Possibility for extension
Education & Work Experience- Master’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience
Required Languages- English
Mobility required/no mobility- no mobility required
JOB DESCRIPTION
Background
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.
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience, recovery and peacebuilding work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to regional hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. Peace outcomes are delivered in a coherent manner, working across the GPN that includes the Governance team in Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.
In this context and to prepare for, respond to, and support recovery from major crises, UNDP Country Offices (COs) have often to meet multiple demands and pressures in addition to their usual workload. Under these circumstances, COs often have a critical need for additional capacity to help them meet these demands and facilitate essential roles in these areas. UNDP has, through the Country Support Management Team (CSMT) of the CB, several deployable capacities that can be drawn upon, including SURGE Advisors, external programme and operations experts from the GPN/ExpRes roster and from Stand-by Partners. UNDP periodically commissions reviews of its SURGE support and deployments mechanism to ensure systems remain up to date and new technology and ideas are brought on board.
Under the direction supervision of the Team Leader CSMT, the Programme Specialist will develop and maintain crisis response systems and mechanisms, ensuring compliance of crisis response mechanisms with the relevant corporate policies and procedures
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Develop and maintain crisis response systems and mechanisms
In collaboration with other team members, ensure that the corporate crisis response tools, including SURGE, ExpRes roster and deployment mechanisms, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Fast Track, and the crisis response website and intranet, are continuously updated, maintained and accessible to COs.
Ensure the continuous development of UNDP’s corporate systems, procedures and mechanisms for crisis response including both operational and programmatic tools.
Cooperate with BMS, BERA and Regional Bureaus to address any partnership, operational or procedural issues that may hinder UNDP’s efficient and effective response in emergency and crisis situations.
Cooperate with BPPS and BMS to support the development of the next stage of UNDP’s post crisis Signature Products and Fast Track procedures, monitor their utilization and ensure accessibility to COs.
Collaborate with the CB Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team for the establishment of an effective early warning system and for ensuring that the early warning and the crisis response systems are coherent.
Develop and deliver digital tools in support of crisis response and recovery.
Monitor and provide advice on the utilization of crisis response mechanisms and compliance with corporate policies and procedures
Develop and institute the utilization of crisis response performance indicators. Monitor the indicators in order to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of UNDP’s crisis response mechanisms.
Monitor and advise on the utilization and compliance of the HQ units and COs with the corporate systems, policies and procedures, including compliance with UNDP’s Standard Operating Procedures for Immediate Crisis Response.
Report and analyze deviations from corporate crisis response policies and procedures, and recommend remedial actions and corrective measures.
Provide support to the users of the crisis response systems, to ensure proper training, application and utilization of systems and tools. This includes the development of guidelines and manuals for reference
Knowledge Management and systematic gathering, codification and dissemination of the organizational knowledge in crisis response
Facilitate and manage the implementation of After Action Reviews (ARRs) following major crisis response operations.
Analyze the AARs and evaluation reports and identify best practices and lessons learned.
Maintain and update the crisis response website as UNDP’s one-stop shop for crisis response knowledge and tools.
Oversee the development of knowledge products for crisis response, and their effective dissemination.
Update the SOPs for immediate crisis response; maintain quality control over ownership and content of the SOPs.
Develop tools for systematic sharing of crisis response knowledge across the organization
Provide support to building the organizational capacity for immediate crisis response
Design and implement capacity building initiatives to strengthen UNDP’s institutional capacity in immediate crisis response at HQ, regional and CO levels.
Facilitate and support the organization of crisis response training workshops, SURGE training workshops and other training events for crisis response.
Collaborate with CB,BPPS, BERA and BMS technical advisors for the preparation of training materials for the capacity building workshops.
Serve as a trainer or resource person for the crisis response capacity building events.
Support the organization of simulations to test, adjust and further develop the corporate crisis response systems.
Act as a crisis deployment specialist during level 2 and 3 crises and provide supplementary capacity of the Crisis Bureau’s deployment mechanisms.
Support COs with crisis response coordination “desk officer” functions as needed.
Build partnerships and ensure effective UNDP engagement with relevant partners on crisis response
Support the development of partnerships with emergency response actors within the UN system and beyond, including stand-by roster agreements with humanitarian actors, government agencies and the private sector.
Support the coordination with other UN agencies for ensuring the coherence of emergency response systems, in particular for inter-agency corporate emergencies (Level 3).
Develop and pursue linkages with the UN’s Civilian Capacity enhancement efforts.
Liaise with other organizations and academic institutions specializing in crisis response in support of “best practices” review and development
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:
Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively:
Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously:
Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility :
Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination :
Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner:
Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Crisis management / Country Management Support
Crisis Coordination.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Crisis management / Country Management Support
Crisis Deployment Capacity.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Crisis management / Country Management Support
Crisis Programming.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Crisis management / Country Management Support
Humanitarian inter-agency coordination.
Partnership Management 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:
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, economics, business administration, social sciences or related disciplines.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS:
7 years of professional work experience, including field experience, in the areas of emergency and crisis response, crisis prevention and crisis recovery.
Strong knowledge of UNDP crisis response, prevention and recovery mandate, policy and tools.
LANGUAGE:
Fluency in English, both written and oral. Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
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