Regional Director, Arab States

Client of United Nation careers

The Regional Director is a team & thought leader, convenor, facilitator and broker of partnerships and strategic analyst on sustainable development. The Regional Director is also an experienced development practitioner, and an accomplished Representative, with strong strategic and management capacities. The role is primarily outward facing on regional, sub-regional and country-support-led strategic support to RCs and is supported by a regional team.

Within delegated authority, the Regional Director will be responsible for leading the Regional Office in the following areas:

Regional Sustainable Development Thought leadership, partnerships and convening for SDG impact:

• Leads Regional thought leadership on strategic regional issues pertinent to SDG acceleration both regionally and at the country level for countries within the region and across regions (in collaboration with peer Regional Directors and DCO HQ-NY)
• convening the regional development arena and priorities to drive SDG acceleration.
• Convenes and provides strategic direction at the regional level in collaboration with Secretariat entities (Regional Economic Commissions, other regional structures, International Financial Institutions and UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs) both at the regional, sub-regional and country level (the latter in support of RC leadership).
• Strengthens collaboration and partnership with Regional Economic Commissions, other regional mechanisms, and sub-regional bodies, leveraging innovative financing, digital partnership tools and multi-stakeholder platforms to unlock SDG acceleration opportunities.
• Leads the development of regional, multi-country and special partnerships to deliver on regionally-identified priorities.
• Leads the integration of development approaches, taking account of conflict and crises, prevention and peacebuilding, human rights, humanitarian needs as well as other complexities, applying scenario planning, risk analytics and foresight to strengthen organizational resilience and preparedness in close coordination with OCHA, OHCHR and DPPA, as well as providing advice to RCs on the exercise of preventive diplomacy.
• Leads in influencing stakeholders on appropriate actions, deploying UN 2.0 skills such as foresight, behavioral science and data/evidence, that promote innovation and SDG acceleration.
• Coordinates communications and strategic messaging for RC system at regional level including regional efforts on information integrity, countering mis/dis information and advising RCs on strategic communications, in close collaboration with the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division.
• Supports RC efforts for joint resource mobilization and investment and partnering efforts to support joint programmes and pooled funds at country and regional levels.
• Engages in and facilitating links to global and regional joint funding mechanisms, in support of RC/UNCT efforts to link these to country level Agenda 2030 initiatives
• Works with the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division to translate partnership and engagement opportunities at regional and country level into dynamic, co-created initiatives that leverage cross-sector capabilities and digital innovation.
• Supports the Chair of the Regional UNSDG in providing leadership and quality assurance for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) and joint program development, ensuring alignment with regional bodies, supporting cross-border strategies, and driving innovation to accelerate SDG progress.
• Supports country delivery of UNSDCFs, integrating lessons, and integrated approaches across UNCTs.
• Provides strategic guidance to Resident Coordinators (RC) and UN Country Teams (UNCT) to ensure quality and timely support to Member States in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including support to RC decision-making in complex settings, promoting adaptive, forward looking leadership aligned with UN 2.0 capabilities.
• Provides regular reporting on regional results and oversees backstopping support to RCs, UNCTs, and RCOs in the region on planning, monitoring and reporting results.
• Supports, tracks and reports on implementation of UN reform and efficiency initiatives in the region, in line with policies and guidance from the High-Level Committees on Programmes and Management of the Chief Executives Board (CEB), the Secretary-General, and Deputy Secretary-General and Chair, UN Sustainable Development Group.
• Provides a facilitating role with host Governments, donors and counterparts; chairs meetings and seminars on substantive issues; represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences, providing expertise, as needed.

Corporate Management and People Leadership

• Directs, manages and is accountable for the UNDCO Regional office:
• a) Formulates and implements the substantive strategy and work programme and budgets of the Regional office under his/her supervision, determining priorities, allocating and monitoring resources for the delivery of outputs, and reporting on results;
• b) Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Regional office, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Regional office, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, regional bodies and partners;
• c) ensures delivery against all applicable results frameworks, including annual integrated planning and reporting frameworks, and supports delivery on UN efficiency targets (BOS, CBO, CP), ensuring all key performance indicators are met,
• d) drives efforts on digital transformation and process simplification to improve management agility and efficiency in support of Resident Coordinator leadership.
• Supports day-to-day operations of the RC system in the region, including addressing RC/UNCT queries and requests for support, guidance and strategic advice; approves RC travel, mission and leave requests. Managing dispute resolution and facilitates trouble shooting; arranges for Regional UNSDG support missions, and convenes RCs as needed.
• Demonstrates the adoption of systems thinking and integration of UN 2.0 competencies strategic foresight, behavioral science, data, digital and innovative approaches into the content, systems and approaches to DCOs work at regional and country level.