Job categories : Partnerships, Programme Management

Vacancy code : VA/2023/B5007/27001

Level : ICS-11

Department/office : ECR, GVA, Geneva

Duty station : Geneva, Switzerland

Contract type : Fixed Term

Contract level : P4

Duration : One year initially, renewable subject to programme need, funding availability and satisfactory performance

Application period : 07-Nov-2023 to 28-Nov-2023

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

Background Information - Job-specific

UN-Water is the United Nations (UN) inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater related issues. The High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) established UN-Water in its meeting held on 18 and 19 September 2003 in response to the need for strengthened coordination of the United Nations’ work on water and sanitation related issues. The Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) endorsed this decision at its fall 2003 session in New York. UN-Water currently counts 35 Members (UN entities) and 48 Partners (non-UN system actors).

UN-Water promotes coherence in, and coordination of, water-related UN system actions aimed at the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant policy frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development and the New Urban Agenda. In so doing, UN-Water complements and adds value to existing UN initiatives by facilitating synergies and joint efforts among the implementing entities and by fostering greater co-operation and information-sharing within its constituency. UN-Water supports Member States through its three main lines of work: 1. Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues; 2. Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation; and 3. Building knowledge and inspiring people to take action.

At its 38th Meeting in August 2023, UN-Water recognised the need to improve its interagency coordination capacity and decided to create a Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer position in the Technical Advisory Unit located in Geneva, Switzerland, to perform this task.

Role of the Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer

The role of the Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer is to lead and implement resource mobilisation for sustainable long-term funding for UN-Water and to establish and maintain strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders in support of UN-Water’s work. The role includes ensuring the sustainability of key UN-Water activities through the development of tailored fundraising strategies, targeted proposal writing and the cultivation of donor relationships with the overall objective of significantly reducing financial gaps that limit UN-Water’s capacity to deliver. 

The Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer will report to the UN-Water Chief Technical Adviser and will work in close collaboration with the UN-Water Management Team.

Functional Responsibilities


Partnerships 

  • Develop and strengthen strategic internal and external partnerships and collaboration in support of UN-Water’s work, and prepare and review partnership plans.
  • Act as Technical Advisory Unit focal point for UN-Water Partners and support Partner efforts to bring their expertise, knowledge and networks to UN-Water activities.
  • Identify and prioritise potential partners such as government authorities, international organisations, Civil Society Organisations, grassroot organizations, private sector entities, and academic institutions that align with UN-Water's objectives.
  • Establish and cultivate strong relations with existing and potential partners such as donors, policymakers, and advocacy groups including through regular communication, meetings, and collaborative activities.
  • Develop a comprehensive mapping of existing partnerships, highlighting areas of collaboration, funding sources, and strategic alignment, in view of identifying gaps and opportunities for further engagement.
  • Support the UN-Water Management Team in relevant discussions with diverse stakeholders as necessary.

Resource Mobilisation

  • Develop a resource mobilisation strategy and plan, ensuring alignment with the UN-Water Strategy and biennial Work Programmes.
  • Implement the resource mobilisation strategy and plan, including proposal writing and liaising with the UN-Water trust fund Administrative Agent as necessary. 
  • Monitor and evaluate the resource mobilisation plan to track progress and adjust as needed.
  • Prepare donor specific reports as required.
  • Liaise regularly with UN-Water Expert Groups, Task Forces and Initiatives to collect information necessary to identify funding needs and collaborate within the UN-Water Management Team to understand strategic priorities and define substantively sound funding strategies that will effectively engage potential donors and partners.
  • Continuously map and conduct trend analyses of existing and potential funding sources.
  • Coordinate with relevant partners, donors, and stakeholders to gather insights, share best practices, and explore potential collaboration opportunities. 
  • Provide substantive backstopping to relevant events, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations on resource mobilisation.

Knowledge management and innovation

  • Develop and maintain an information repository on resource mobilisation and partnership development including tools, templates and guidelines necessary for the execution of the resource mobilisation plan.
  • Prepare and disseminate promotional materials including success stories, lessons, fact sheets with the objective of optimizing the visibility of UN-Water resource mobilization activities.
  • Provide the content to update the resource mobilization pages on the UN- Water website.
  • Incorporate, innovate and develop sustainable approaches to diversify funding sources.
  • Identify, synthesise and disseminate best practices and lessons learned in resource mobilisation and partnership-building.
  • Plan and support the development of resource mobilisation and strategic partnership development capacity, processes, and knowledge within the UN-Water Management Team and the wider UN-Water family.

Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

  • Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.
  • Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
  • Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
  • Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
  • Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
  • Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
  • Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
  • Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

  • A Master's degree preferably in international relations, development studies, business administration, advocacy, communications, political science, public administration, social sciences or another relevant field is required.
  • A combination of a Bachelor’s degree with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Experience

Required:

  • Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in resource mobilisation and/or partnerships or related fields, in an international setting.
  • Within these seven (7) years, a minimum of three (3) years managerial experience.
  • Proven experience of minimum three (3) years working in multi-stakeholder partnerships.

 

Desirable:

  • Experience in working in the water sector at large.

Languages

  • Fluency in English is essential. 
  • Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment (FTA - UN Staff Contract)

Contract level: ICS-11 / P4

Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:

https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
  • Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
  • We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
  • Geneva, Switzerland is a family duty station.

 

Terms and Conditions 

  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
  • All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
  • It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.