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 HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau (CB) guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience and recovery work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. On the other hand, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.
In this context and to prepare for, respond to, and support recovery from major crises, UNDP Country Offices (COs) often need to meet multiple demands and pressures in addition to their usual workload. Under these circumstances, COs often have a critical need for additional capacity to help them meet these demands and facilitate essential roles in these areas. The Crisis Bureau has through the Country Support Management Team (CSMT) Deployments Team, several deployable capacities that can be drawn upon, including SURGE Advisors, and external experts from the GPN/ExpRes roster and Stand-by Partners. UNDP periodically commissions reviews of its SURGE support and deployments mechanism to ensure systems remain up to date and new technology and ideas are brought on board.
SURGE Advisors are UNDP staff with extensive crisis experience in at least one of 18 generic UNDP profiles who are deployed to fill capacity gaps within CO units facing unexpected workload/portfolio requirements due to a crisis. Duration of SURGE assignments usually range from 1 week to 3 months.
The GPN/ExpRes Roster is a recruitment and deployment mechanism which maintains pre-vetted consultants on a roster and contracts them quickly for country office support. The primary purpose of this roster is to deploy technical experts to UNDP Country Offices and units on short notice.
UNDP over the years has also entered into a number of third-party agreements with bilateral organizations, including the Norwegian and Danish Refugee Councils, Canada’s Civilian Reserve, and the Swedish Rescue Committee to provide support to COs or United Nations Country Teams in areas where UNDP does not have in-house expertise available, such as logistics and camp management. These Stand-by Partners provide experts to UNDP for post crisis assignments.
The Deployments Team is also responsible for managing deployment infrastructure and this includes expert databases, deployment tracking systems, automated communication tools, trainings and communications materials.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
Summary of key functions:
Conduct deployment of experts from the Crisis Bureau and GPN Rosters to country offices and UNDP Units globally
Identification and deployment of experts from CB/GPN Rosters to COs globally;
Conduct searches in deployment databases, shortlist and submit candidates for various positions in a timely and efficient manner; Attend CSMT and other crisis response meetings to provide updates on deployments;
Liaise with technical counterparts in UNDP with regard to identifying experts for deployments;
Provide support to experts and country offices during deployments including travel, logistics, and provide troubleshooting as required;
Ensure that Country Offices provide evaluations of assignments and these evaluations are institutionalized
Provide technical support for the development/enhancements of deployment business process, guidelines and data management
Provide reports on deployments when required and ensure that weekly updates of deployments go to all concerned parties;
Follow up to ensure that pre and post mission briefings are generated and conducted by colleagues responsible for their respective regions;
Follow up to ensure that back to office reports are generated and completed by relevant colleagues upon completion of assignment;
Ensure that the Tracking System captures all relevant data with regard to deployments such as contracts, ToRs, back to office reports, evaluations, mission briefings etc.;
Collaborate with ICT colleagues to troubleshoot any issues related to ‘SharePoint’ applications pertaining to the deployment mechanism;
Support the deployments team in ensuring that deployment business processes are shared with and adhered to by all parts of UNDP.
Support the UNDP Roster in the ‘Global Call’ under the umbrella of GPN/ ExpRes
Support the Global Call and consolidation of new rosters and profiles being added to the GPN/ExpRes Roster;
Ensure that any update in UNDPs’ taxonomy for technical roles is adopted into the profiles and sub-profiles of the GPN/ExpRes ‘ONE’ Roster;
Support the training of relevant UNDP staff in the usage of the GPN/ExpRes Platforms;
Support recruitment drives pertaining to the addition of new expertise to the GPN/ExpRes Platform;
Oversee the vetting of new expertise onto the GPN/ExpRes Roster;
Draft and share regular updates, reports on the progress of Glocal Call.
Support the Communications and coordination processes for the Deployments Team
Support CB in Communications on impact stories from deployments through the GPN/ExpRes Roster and SURGE Rosters;
Assist in liaising with consultants and UNDP recruiting units in negotiating and drafting contracts;
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA
Min. Education requirements
Master Degree in Economics, Business Administration, International Relations, International Development, Public Policy, Human Resources or similar fields
Min. years of relevant Work experience
At least 2 years of experience in international development, roster management, deployment mechanisms, human resources, logistics and/or operations at the national or international level is required. Demonstrated experience in project management and communications.
Required skills
Knowledge of Project management, good IT skills and human resources experience
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Knowledge and application of human resources/ Applications Tracking Software and databases (Such as Bullhorn; eva.ai)
Experience in research, research methodology and sampling.
Experience in crisis contexts or development desirable
Experience in communications desirable
Required Language(s)
Fluency in English and working knowledge in French. Understanding of Spanish desirable.
