Private Sector Coordination Specialist – Caribbean

Bridgetown | Panamá | Geneva | Istanbul

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Bridgetown | Panamá | Geneva | Istanbul
Grade: Mid level - IPSA-10, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Sustainable trade and development
- Public, Private Partnership
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2024-12-17

Background

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.

The Connecting Business initiative (CBi) project was created by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2016. CBi is dedicated to helping businesses around the world prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters by effectively engaging with the United Nations and the broader international humanitarian and development systems. CBi is a network of independent chambers of commerce, trade federations, business associations and private foundations that are ready, willing, and able to lead private sector disaster management in their countries. CBi empowers local businesses to work hand-in-hand with governments, civil society, humanitarian organizations and affected people to alleviate human suffering while building more resilient societies. CBi is jointly managed by OCHA and UNDP.

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 headquarters, regional hubs and country offices, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy.

OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort. With its partners, OCHA contributes to principled and effective humanitarian response through coordination, advocacy, policy, information management and humanitarian financing tools and services.

Duties and Responsibilities

CBi consists of a Secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland and Istanbul, Turkey, plus eighteen affiliated Member Networks around the world. The Private Sector Coordination Specialist – Caribbean plays a critical role supporting and building the capacity of existing CBi Member Networks, working to establish relationships with new prospective Member Networks, and supporting the mobilization and coordination of the private sector during humanitarian emergencies in the region.

Under the overall supervision of the CBi Deputy Programme Coordinator, based in Istanbul, Turkey, the Private Sector Coordination Specialist – Caribbean will be responsible for:

a) Development, planning, and implementation of national and regional projects to support private sector engagement in disaster management:

Lead the development and delivery of national and regional solutions, programmes and workplans for local CBi Member Networks on private sector engagement in disaster risk management and humanitarian response.
Identify learning needs and solutions, and plan and implement capacity development activities for existing and prospective CBi Member Networks in the Caribbean region.
Collect and consolidate relevant information on local private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction, crisis preparedness and response, and early recovery at country and regional levels.
Facilitate landscape assessment and scoping activities to identify and/or partner with prospective Member Networks and other private sector partners in the Caribbean region.

b) Coordination of private sector initiatives during emergency situations:

As needed, deploy to countries in the Caribbean region experiencing ongoing disasters to support the coordination of private sector contributions before, during and after emergencies and support linkages with response coordination mechanisms.

c) Development of national and regional partnerships and external advocacy:

Coordinate and work with UNDP and OCHA regional bureaux and country offices, government counterparts, international organizations, and other partners in the Caribbean region on private sector engagement.
Identify specific needs for private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction, crisis preparedness and response, and early recovery, and support partnerships at the national and regional levels to address those needs.
Promote advocacy for private sector engagement in disaster risk management and humanitarian programming.

d) Strategy development and operational support:

Facilitate knowledge development and management efforts through the development of case studies and collection and sharing of information on good practices.
Ensure documentation and timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all CBi-related activities implemented by existing and prospective CBi Member Networks in the Caribbean region.
Support the CBi Secretariat and contribute to the periodic progress reporting requirements and other UNDP and OCHA reporting requirements.

e) The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement
The Private Sector Coordination Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the CBi Deputy Programme Coordinator with “dotted line” secondary reporting to the OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), based in Panama City, Panama. An annual workplan will be developed jointly by CBi and OCHA ROLAC to ensure coherence with regional priorities. The Private Sector Coordination Specialist will also participate in internal ROLAC meetings to update on relevant activities and to link these to OCHA’s ongoing preparedness and response work in the region.

Competencies

Core Competencies

ACHIEVE RESULTS - LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
THINK INNOVATEVELY - 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 Competencies

BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
- STRATEGIC THINKING: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
- SYSTEMS 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 DEVELOPMENT
- KNOWLEDGE FACILITATION: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Technical Competencies

2030 AGENDA: ENGAGEMENT & EFFECTIVENESS
- CRISIS AND FRAGILITY POLICY AND ENGAGEMENT: Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus.
- CRISIS MANAGEMENT / COUNTRY MANAGEMENT SUPPORT: Crisis coordination.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in business, political or social sciences, development or humanitarian studies, international affairs, or other related field of studies is required.

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned field of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years (with Masters degree) or seven (7) years (with Bachelors degree) of professional work experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management (complex emergency or natural disaster), rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
Experience and technical knowledge of disaster management and emergency response mechanisms.
Experience building and coordinating partnerships, multi-stakeholder or inter-agency initiatives/projects.
Experience writing briefings, reports, policies, and guidance notes.

Desired Criteria:

Previous experience supporting engagement and collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector is highly desirable.
Previous experience working with private sector entities or networks is desirable.
Previous experience working for an entity within the United Nations system is desirable.
Previous experience in implementing and coordinating activities, projects or programs related to disaster preparedness, crisis response, humanitarian coordination, recovery programming, or other related areas with the private sector is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency (verbal and written) in English is required.
Working knowledge of Spanish or French is an advantage.

Travel:

The successful candidate will be required to travel frequently to support CBi Member networks and/or be deployed in support of ongoing humanitarian response operations. Cost of travel as deemed necessary by UNDP while performing the outlined functions shall be at UNDP’s expense and in accordance with the applicable UNDP travel policy.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

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.

Workforce diversity
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.

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