Resident Coordinator (Sri Lanka)

The Resident Coordinator is the highest-ranking representative of the United Nations development system at the country level, responsible for leading UN country teams and ensuring system-wide accountability for the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The role involves coordination of UN support to countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda, fostering partnerships, and advocating for sustainable development goals.

Responsibilities

• Represent the United Nations at the highest levels of state and foster engagement with Government, civil society, bilateral and multilateral partners, academia and private sector to address national needs and advance the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.
• Lead the UN country team in development, monitoring and reporting on the UN Cooperation Framework and enable its implementation in consultation with Government and partners.
• Coordinate UN system-wide support to Government, taking preventive approaches and mitigating risks to SDG achievement.
• Support and advocate for the work of UNCT member agencies and support Country Representatives in reaching agency-specific goals.
• Coordinate UN entities’ contributions to context and trend analysis, including Common Country Analysis, sharing findings with Government and Secretary-General.
• Promote and advocate for UN Charter values, human rights, gender equality and the SDG commitment to leave no one behind.
• Engage and forge strategic partnerships at national and sub-national levels with diverse entities including civil society, trade unions, private sector, parliamentarians, academia, media and development community.
• Advance regional knowledge-sharing, south-south and triangular exchanges, multi-country and transboundary initiatives for system-wide results on Agenda 2030.
• Identify and leverage expertise and assets across the UN development system to improve shared results and ensure alignment with national development needs.
• Provide governance and oversight of system-wide country financing instruments and pursue funding for joint UN efforts and initiatives.
• Lead engagement on the UN’s normative agenda in support of national capacity development in normative and operational areas.
• Foster an enabling environment for collaboration, knowledge and data sharing to underpin UN contributions to sustainable development solutions.
• Facilitate access to national, regional and global resources to advance innovation in financing and technologies for sustainable development.
• Lead and enhance strategic communication to promote UN system efforts and collective results for the 2030 Agenda.
• When appointed as Designated Official, ensure effective coordination of country-level security and lead the inter-agency Security Management Team.
• Promote staff learning and implementation of staff rules and policies including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and gender parity.
• Lead on developing collective protection from sexual exploitation and abuse strategies and ensure implementation of action plans.
• Manage a matrixed dual reporting system with UN country team heads regarding contributions to UN Cooperation Framework objectives and collective results.
• Advance country-specific measures to promote UN common business operations for greater efficiencies and coherence.
• Lead and coordinate humanitarian response efforts when no separate Humanitarian Coordinator or lead agency is designated, facilitating linkages between humanitarian and development programming.
• Facilitate integration of UN Country Team’s work with UN peacekeeping or political missions in conflict and post-conflict settings.
• Manage and provide strategic guidance and oversight to the Resident Coordinators Office.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in development studies, international relations, political science, economics, social sciences, human rights, law or closely related fields; a first level university degree with relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced postgraduate degree.
• Over 15 years of substantive experience and results in leadership roles at the international level is required, including five years of cumulative experience in development, human rights, rule of law, peace-building or humanitarian work at country level outside of one's own country.
• Previous Resident Coordinator experience is required; senior-level inter-agency coordination experience may be considered in lieu of RC experience.
• Solid experience in management and/or coordination of multi-sectoral humanitarian programmes, operations and advocacy at the country level, preferably in a multilateral context, is desirable.
• Excellent political judgement and strong diplomatic skills are desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to develop insightful and timely analysis and identify situations warranting preventive action (early warning) and entry points for UN engagement is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including government representatives, donors and civil society, in a context-conscious and responsive manner is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and manage issues related to social cohesion is desirable.
• Previous experience as a senior official with accountability for security (e.g., UN Designated Official for Security) or experience in security decision-making in a complex environment is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening and speaking is required.

Skills

• Development Studies
• International Relations
• Political Science
• Economics
• Social Sciences
• Human Rights
• Law
• Leadership
• International Development
• Human Rights Advocacy
• Rule of Law
• Peace-building
• Humanitarian Programme Management
• Inter-sectoral Coordination
• Inter-agency Coordination
• Political Judgment
• Diplomacy Skills
• Early Warning Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Social Cohesion Management
• Security Decision-Making

Languages

English