Job Description
| Department/Office: | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Posting Title: | External Relations Officer, P4 |
| Job Code Title: | External Relations Officer |
| Duty Station: | KHARTOUM |
| Posting Period: | 05 February 2021 – 18 February 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: | 21-Public Information-UNITAMS-148038-F-Khartoum (M) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace; support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements; assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilisation of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.
The position is based in Khartoum and is located in the Integrated Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General. The incumbent will report to the Senior Peacebuilding Officer.
Responsibilities
Within the limits of delegated authority, the External Relations Officer will serve as a dedicated financing and fundraising specialist to ensure UNITAMS can deliver on its mandate through financing peacebuilding programmatic activities, in support of the United Nations country team, and be responsible for performing the following duties:
Develops and maintains key strategic partnerships with donors in order to achieve a broad donor base for peacebuilding activities by:
•Developing an in-depth understanding of existing and potential donors and their policies.
•Leading and developing fund raising and outreach strategies for governments and intergovernmental organizations.
•Organizing and participating in donor briefings; traveling to capitals to discuss with, interlocutors in the relevant Ministries or partners as appropriate depending on portfolio.
Contributes to ensuring an office-wide consistent and coherent approach to fundraising by:
•Carrying out strategic assessment of and providing analytical and technical support to the peacebuilding financing architecture in Sudan.
•Providing advice to the mission leadership on fundraising policies, strategies and approaches; Accompanying the mission leadership as appropriate in their engagement for fundraising purposes.
•Preparing various written outputs like briefing notes, strategic and position papers for the senior management as requested. Drafting correspondence for donors; researching, compiling, maintaining and updating information on donor relations.
•Ensuring, in cooperation with relevant sections, that UN rules and procedures are duly respected; Providing technical support to programme managers in raising funds for peacebuilding; Monitoring the use of contributions in order to provide accurate and relevant information to donors; Informing donors in writing or orally about implementation of ongoing projects and future planned needs in order to ensure maximum funding stability for peacebuilding activities.
•Undertaking missions to the field offices in order to coordinate fundraising activities with relevant staff members in the offices.
Generates and encourages the highest level of donor contributions by:
•Negotiating contributions and funding arrangements with assigned donors, governments and intergovernmental organizations: preparing funding submissions; coordinating the presentations of strategies and programmes to the donors.
•Reviewing and following-up of funding agreements with all donors.
•Monitoring and evaluating UNITAMS peacebuilding impact.
Contributes to the organizational effectiveness of the Integrated Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General by:
•Representing senior colleagues in relevant meetings, when requested.
•Participating in the planning and preparation of the office’s annual budget and work programme.
•Assisting the Senior Peacebuilding Officer and senior leadership in any of their tasks as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of the international community and familiarity with the UN system, (especially regarding Financial Rules and Regulations). Knowledge of institutional mandates and donor governments. Knowledge of OHCHR’s mandates and activities, project management and methodology. Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and as a team member. Demonstrated ability to analyse problems and present arguments in a clear and tactful manner. Excellent verbal and written communication and strong interpersonal skills. Good negotiating skills. Shows pride in work and 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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 clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in social science, political science, public administration, business administration and management, economics, international relations, or related fields. 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
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in human rights, humanitarian or development work, out of which five (5) years of experience in donor relations and resource mobilization is required.
Experience in relations with donors is desirable.
Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds and programmes), is desirable in a conflict or post-conflict setting.
Certification in project management is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.
Please note that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by national authorities, selected candidates may be required to start the assignment/appointment remotely, in agreement with the hiring manager, and until further notice
This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station specified in the Job Opening.
Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. 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. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
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.
