Trust Fund Coordination Officer (NPSA-9)

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

SEESAC is a joint initiative of the UNDP and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). As such, it is an integral part of UNDP’s work in the Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS) region and has, since 2002, worked primarily to strengthen the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South East and Eastern Europe (SEE). SEESAC also has a distinguished record working closely with the Governments to advance gender equality.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to international peace and security by combatting the threat posed by the widespread accumulation and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in and from SEE. At the same time, it enhances regional stability by working within the framework of the RCC and in partnership with other relevant initiatives. The project is directly contributing to the implementation of the EU Security Strategy, the EU SALW (Small Arms and Light Weapons) Strategy, the Arms Trade Treaty, the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and its International Tracing Instrument, the UN Firearms Protocol, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and will specifically enhance regional cooperation in combating the threat posed by the spread of SALW and their ammunition. Specifically, the project is contributing to the implementation of the South East Europe Regional Implementation Plan Combatting the Proliferations and Impact of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024. The project results are also directly contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peaceful and just societies, in particular targets 16.1(Significantly reduce all forms of violence and death rate everywhere) and 16.4 (significantly reduce illicit arms flows).

On 19 November 2018 the European Union (EU) passed the Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans, entrusting SEESAC with the coordination and monitoring role of the Roadmap.
Two funding mechanisms were established in support of the implementation of the Roadmap: 1) a regional project funded through the UNDP Funding Windows Trust Fund, and 2) the Western Balkans

SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

1) The Regional Project Support to the Implementation of the Roadmap for a Sustainable Solution to the Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their Ammunition in the Western Balkans was developed to contribute to the implementation of the Roadmap through dedicated projects in the field of SALW control implemented by a selected number of UNDP Offices in the 6 Western Balkans jurisdictions. The project is funded by the Government of Germany through its EUR 5.5 million contribution to the UNDP Funding Window Governance for Inclusive and Peaceful Societies for arms control activities, for the period 2019-2021. The overall coordination of the UNDP-implemented projects is performed through the regional component of this project. The regional component, led by SEESAC, facilitates information sharing and knowledge exchange across the region on encountered SALW control measures and challenges and enables monitoring of progress on the 8 UNDP-implemented projects.

2) At the same time, SEESAC facilitated the establishment of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) to ensure a donor coordinated approach in the implementation of the Roadmap. The Trust Fund enables a platform to strengthen coordination, planning and communication among the donors, implementing partners and national authorities, and develop synergies among different players involved in this programmatic area. It also reduces risks to governments and financial contributors through a comprehensive risk and results-based management system. The Governance Structure of the MPTF includes: Steering Committee (chaired by the UNDP); Secretariat (ensured by UNDP SEESAC); Administrative Agent (MPTF Office functioning under the pass-through management modality) and Participating Organizations (UNDP and UNODC). As the Trust Fund’s Secretariat, SEESAC is responsible for the overall coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund, providing technical, management, planning and programming support to it. By June 2020, the Trust Fund had mobilized over US$11.4 million, and had four projects under implementation. A second call for proposals was launched in February 2020, the evaluation process being ongoing.

SEESAC is implementing the Council Decision 2019/2111 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition, and the Council Decision 2018/2356 in support of the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans. Further, with the support of European Union, represented by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II), SEEDAC is implementing the project. Support for enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans. In addition to this, SEESAC is implementing the second phase of the Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project. The project facilitates regional cooperation on gender equality in the military and further strengthens the capacities of the Ministries of Defense and the Armed Forces for implementation of gender responsive policies. These initiatives continue to strengthen safety and security through regional cooperation in South East Europe.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support the implementation and coordination of the Roadmap funding mechanisms (i.e. the Regional Project, and the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund):

Under the supervision of the Chair of Trust Fund Secretariat and the Regional Project Manager, ensure that the decision made by the governing bodies of the two funding mechanisms are implemented correctly and in a timely manner;
Contribute to the effective implementation of calls for project proposals, from preparing the guidelines of the call, to supporting the evaluation process and maintaining communication with the applicants;
Prepare consolidated quarterly and annual progress reports, in line with the relevant reporting requirements;
Prepare the necessary documentation for the meetings of the decision-making bodies governing the Regional Project and the Western Balkans SALW Control Trust Fund;

2. Support the monitoring and evaluation of the Roadmap funding mechanisms:

Monitor the implementation of the projects funded through the Regional Project and the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund, overseeing that the projects are on track with their planned results and highlighting any issues in implementation;
In collaboration with SEESAC team members, provide assistance and guidance to the projects implemented through the Regional Project and the Trust Fund, ensuring that projects respect the requirements of the pooled funding mechanisms, and that they deliver high-quality results;
Support the preparation and implementation of the planned evaluations;
Administer the Regional Project, and the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund by updating the UNDP monitoring and evaluation platform – Evaluation and Resource Center (ERC) and risk log on UNDP ERP platform - Atlas.

3. Provide support to partnerships, communication and resource mobilization:

Maintain communication with all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Regional Project and the MPTF, including UNDP Office in the Western Balkans, UNODC, donors and the UN MPTF Office;
Support resource mobilization activities, including by elaborating information and communication materials for current and potential donors to the Trust Fund;
Provide input on the progress made in the implementation of the Regional Project and the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund for SEESAC organized events, such as the Regional Roadmap Coordination Meeting;
In collaboration with SEESAC’s Communications officer, promote online the activity of the Regional Project and the Trust Fund;
Continually update relevant information on SEESAC’s online knowledge exchange platform and the MPTF Office Gateway.

Institutional Arrangement

Trust Fund Coordination Officer will be reporting to SEESAC Project Manager.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional Competencies

Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Evaluation: Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

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

Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Technical Competencies

Creative direction and copywriting: Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way

Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Digital strategy: Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in political or social sciences or related field.
Bachelor’s Degree in political or social sciences or related field with additional 2 years of relevant working experience can be taken into consideration in lieu of Master`s degree

Experience:

2 years of relevant working experience with Master’s Degree in project implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting, in a multilateral environment with a focus on security, democratic governance, rule of law or related field;
Alternatively, if in possession of Bachelor’s Degree, 4 years of relevant working experience in project implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting, in a multilateral environment with a focus on security, democratic governance, rule of law or related field is required.
Experience in working in international organizations in South East Europe would be desired;
Experience in managing donor relations and in resource and partnership mobilization will be an advantage;
Experience in managing and/or coordinating multi-donor funding contributions or coordinating grants or other competitive funding allocation modalities, including preparing guidelines for calls for project proposals, supporting and overseeing implementation, and monitoring and reporting will be an advantage;
Working experience in area of disarmament and arms control will be an advantage.

Required Languages:

Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English,
Knowledge of another language used in South East Europe would be an asset.

Required Skills:

Good organizational and time management skills;
Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards;
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Excellent information technology skills, including word processing, database applications, presentation software, and internet;
Treats all people fairly without prejudice;
Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.