19.07.2023

Government Liasion Speсialist

ЗАВЕРШЕНО

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the development arm of the United Nations, UNDP supports strategic capacity development initiatives to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. Through partnerships with national, regional, and local governments, civil society, and the private sector, UNDP strives to support Ukraine in its efforts to eliminate poverty, develop people’s capacity, achieve equitable results, sustain the environment, and advance democratic governance.

In Ukraine, UNDP has been working since 1993 with the Government and local authorities, with partners across the UN system, with civil society and with local communities to help identify and develop targeted solutions to the country’s development challenges. We work in close collaboration with several key ministries, departments and agencies in a robust, integrated manner in three thematic priorities/portfolios:

Since 24 February 2022, complex humanitarian, development, and peace challenges have been emerging in Ukraine, underscoring the importance of programming that responds to the multiple dimensions of the crisis. In April 2022, UNDP launched the Resilience Building and Recovery Framework for Ukraine grounded in working in close partnership with various government and development partner. The need for enhanced crisis/emergency coordination and response planning between the central government, the oblasts/rayons and other stakeholders (international community, CSOs, private sector) is becoming more and more critical for Ukraine to ensure delivery of services and build stronger resilience of the receiving/host communities and of the displaced.

In this context, UNDP within the framework of its Resilience Building an Recovery programme is recruiting a professional with relevant experience and a track record for the position of a Government Liaison Officer.

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance for any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Ensure appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UNDP and particularly with national governmental and non-governmental counterparts to support advocacy and implementation of UNDP programme.

Establishes and maintains close contacts with the Government, sub-national authorities, local NGOs, etc.;
Assists senior management and leadership with strategic planning for known and potential regulatory and policy activities related to the resilience building, recovery and development of the country;
Keeps abreast of emerging development issues to optimize UNDP internal analytical capacity to respond to national priorities;
Assesses implications and make recommendations to UNDP on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives;
Ensures the follow-up work with the Government in support of the UNDP programmes/projects, including providing secretariat support in meetings and events, that are organized by the Governmental counterparts, as well as support with state registration of projects as per government regulations;
Leads t in convening the officials’ meetings and drafts the required documentation in advance of the meetings, including talking points and speeches for UNDP officials
Helps identify entry points for further enhancing UNDP-Government collaboration across different strategic partner institutions;
Coordinates and ensures integration in project design the development of policies, institutions and advocacy that will address the country’s problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
Interact closely with UNDP personnel in preparing summary and analytical documents, including reports, notes, talking points and other official communications

2) Liaise with government institutions to ensure synergy and to promote effective implementation of the projects and communication with UNDP representatives.

Responds to queries from Government Officials, NGOs, individuals, etc. and provides the information required or appropriately refers the queries elsewhere.
Schedules regular check-ins with government counterparts and support in organizing joint events;
Ensures full alignment of UNDP programme with government priorities;
Consultes and cooperates with partners to develop strategies and recommendations to address recovery related challenges, including preparation of the Action plan on post-war recovery of Ukraine, in pursuit of shared objectives;
Contributes to resource mobilization efforts by ensuring inpus on the strategic development priorities of the Government;
Participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on development and emergency relief-related matters as assigned;

3) Perform liaison role in an accountable manner, including timely production of accurate situational update and timely follow-up of identified priority actions.

Maintains effective network with development partners and Government at the national level and sub-national level and where necessary links up with other international development actors.
Leads the implementation of awareness building and advocacy around UN/UNDP events and supports strategic communications work and knowledge management initiatives.
Maintains a contact list of national and sub-national stakeholders and ensure the UNDP CO senior management team is kept updated on any changes to the structures of government at both levels, highlighting also the implication of those changes on UNDP operation;
Facilitates and follow up on all meetings with government at the national level;
Analyzes and select materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
Generates new ideas and proposesnew, more effective ways of doing things;
Drafts official letters in English and Ukrainian to communicate formally with relevant government bodies;
Ensures any obstacles to Protocol services are addressed and overcome

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business direction and strategy	Negotiation and Influence	Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations.
Business direction and strategy	Strategic Thinking	Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
Business Direction & Strategy	System Thinking	Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business management	Partnerships Management	Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business management	Communication	Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
Business management	Risk management	Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Partnership management	Portfolio Management	Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Public health, Political Sciences, Population Studies, Education and/or related Social Sciences field, is required, or
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Public health, Political Sciences, Population Studies, Education and/or related Social Sciences field, with 2 additional years of experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s Degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible experience in the area of political, reporting and/or government liaison in project/programme implementation, at the national or international level, is required.
Proven experience in the field of governmental strategic planning, communication with international technical assistance projects is desirable.
Prior experience with the government institutions at managing positions will be considered as an asset.
Familiarity with UN procedures and working methods, particularly with UNDP’s agenda, policies and procedures is desirable.
Strong coordination and organizational skills.
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
Sound knowledge of the social and cultural realities of the county and region.
Strong research and analytical skills.
Demonstrated experience in building the capacity of national entities in the context of development programme is desirable.

Fluency in English and Ukrainian.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 27 July, 2023.

If you wish to apply for this or other positions, please visit UNDP in Ukraine website, section Jobs and apply:

https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/12072

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.