Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting – NOC

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION OFFICER, DATA MANAGEMENT AND RESULTS MONITORING & REPORTING

Posting Title: Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting - NOC (Lao PDR ), NOC

Job Code Title: DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION OFFICER, DATA MANAGEMENT AND RESULTS MONITORING & REPORTING

Department/Office: Resident Coordinator System

Duty Station: VIENTIANE

Posting Period: 07/07/2021 - 03/08/2021

Job Opening Number: 21-Sustainable Development-RCS-159267-R-Vientiane (N)

Staffing Exercise: N/A



Org .Setting And Reporting

The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Lao PDR and reports to the Senior Economist RCO. With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at its core, and in response to the General Assembly resolution 71/243 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the UN Secretary General's report (December 2017) "Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda: our promise for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet" puts forward a comprehensive proposal on further improvements to the resident coordinator system to ensure more coherent, accountable and effective support for the 2030 Agenda. This was further reinforced by General Assembly resolution 72/729 of 1 June 2018, which gave the Secretary-General the mandate to implement the repositioning. A reinvigorated resident coordinator system is at the centre of a repositioned United Nations development system, and while the system has been instrumental in driving coherence on the ground over the past four decades, it is now insufficiently robust to respond to the needs of the 2030 Agenda. The report stresses that resident coordinator offices will need to be adequately staffed to ensure sufficient substantive capacities to lead United Nations country teams. The core capacity will include expertise in coordination and strategic planning, economics, tailored policy support, results monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships, plus a robust standing communications capacity within the United Nations country team. This post is part of this new generation of resident coordinator office, with the new skillset and competencies required to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting will be responsible of the following duties:

Summary of Functions:

1. Provides substantive support for the development and implementation of UN Country Team (UNCT) data and research strategies

2. Develops and expands strategic research and data partnerships

3. Coordinates monitoring and reporting of UNCT results

4. Supports knowledge management and capacity development

 

Description of Functions:

1. Provides substantive support for the development and implementation of the UNCT data and research strategies

• Plans and facilitates the design and implementation of the UNCT's data and research strategy in alignment with the Country Common Analysis (CCA) and Lao PDR – UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCF)

• Undertakes empirical analysis, data mining and visualization to assist the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UNCT, including results groups, in developing reports and working papers on a range of sustainable development topics;

• Collects information on the latest developments of the use of new types of data sources and tools (e.g. big data) for sustainable development;

• Provides substantive and analytical support to RC/UNCT in preparing and positioning the UN to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country, including the drafting of reports, as well as analytical and position papers;

• Undertakes research and development of data and research UNCT tools and methodologies at the country level;

• Keeps abreast of emerging development issues to optimize UNCT analytical capacity to respond to national priorities;

• Contributes substantively to the development and implementation of peer review and quality assurance mechanisms for UNCT research products;

• Administers UNINFO and facilitates the development of the One UN Country Results Report.

2. Develops and expands strategic research and data partnerships, including with UN entities at regional and HQ level, government counterparts, research institutes, leading global thinkers on development, and civil society, among others.

• Supports the UN's work with national data and statistical systems, facilitating engagement with national entities and data systems, including with the Lao Statistics Bureau, MPI, Department of Planning and Centre for Development Research, and National Institute for Economic Research;

• Communicates and coordinates with existing partners and helps form new partnerships with UN agencies, academia, the private sector, and governmental agencies to further the use of data science for development;

• Communicates and coordinates with internal and external partners on data collection and project/research implementation;

• Supports the convening of key thinkers on sustainable development and 2030 Agenda to provide inputs for, advise and steer the UNCT's research and data agenda;

• Assists in strengthening the UNCT's partnerships with research institutions and similar entities across the UN system through concrete collaboration on areas of the 2030 agenda.

3. Coordinates monitoring and reporting of UNCT results under the Lao PDR - UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCF)

• Supports inter-agency efforts on results and progress monitoring and reporting on the UNCF and Joint Programmes, particularly through UNINFO;

• Facilitates and co-chairs the UNCT Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Group in line with the ToRs developed as part of the UNCF design process;

• Support and facilitates reporting to the Programme Oversight Group in fulfillment of its mandate to ensure strategic programme oversight;

• Provides quality assurance review of the UNCF monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and results reporting to country, regional and global levels;

• Facilitates independent evaluations of UNCF as a key element of the UNCF cycle and other interagency work related to monitoring, evaluation and reporting;

• Serves as country focal point for country-level, regional and global M&E and learning initiatives and networks.

4. Supports knowledge management and capacity development related to data and monitoring

• Facilitates the sharing of best practices within the UNCT and with UNCTs in the (sub)region and globally, based on a solid understanding of the incentives that people need to utilize knowledge;

• Advocates for knowledge sharing, inspiring others within the RCO and UNCT to contribute their expertise through internal and external platforms and tools and working closely with colleagues at the regional level to ensure usable knowledge is shared between and applied by UNCTs.

• Identifies good practices and lessons learned at the different levels of the UN System (national, regional and global) and share findings with HQ, regional and country colleagues so that best practices benefit UN's work;

• Plans and facilitates the UNCT's exchange of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned with external partners;

• Organizes thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate;

• Contributes to knowledge sharing (including through training and peer exchange) amongst UN staff on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks, methodologies and tools;

• Draws upon other UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to provide contributions to strategic planning processes.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis on sustainable development topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Planning and 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.

• 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, information management, statistics, sustainable development, social sciences, education 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

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in providing strategic support to research and data analysis, knowledge management or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. Data management and/or monitoring, evaluation and reporting experience, preferably with a UN Agency or international organization, is desirable. A deep understanding of the national context with knowledge of the national language and culture is required.

Languages

Fluency in English, is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems.

• This is a National Professional Officer (NPO/NO) position located in The Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR). Only candidates with a Lao PDR nationality are eligible to apply to this position.

• 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.

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