UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Junior Professional Officer (JPO) JOB DESCRIPTION
Please use this format to request a JPO for your office. The Job Description should be specific and comprehensive
and UN/UNDP abbreviations should be spelled out in full.
I. Position Information
JPO functional title: Regional Coordination Analyst
Main sector of assignment: UN System coordination
Detailed sector of assignment: Regional UNDG Team
Grade Level: (P2)
Country and Duty Station: Panama City, Panama
Duty Station status: Family Duty Station
Agency:
UNDP
Department:
UNDG LAC Secretariat located in
the RBLAC Regional Hub
Reports to: UNDG LAC Regional Coordination Advisor
Position Status:
Non-rotational
Duration and Type of Assignment: One-year fixed-term
appointment, renewable at least once
subject to satisfactory performance,
recommendation by respective office
and partner country agreement
II. Job Purpose and Organizational Context
The Job Purpose for the JPO is to provide support to the UNDG LAC with operational and programme support as
needed. Working under the overall leadership of UNDG LAC Chair (who also is UNDP RBLAC Director) and under direct
supervision of the Regional Coordination Advisor, the JPO will work closely with other staff of the UNDG LAC
Secretariat.
The UNDG LAC mission is to enhance UN System-wide coherence at the regional level and support UN Country Teams
(UNCT) in order to deliver as one and achieve sustainable human development for all. The UNDG LAC provides strategic
guidance, policy advice, technical support and oversight to UN’s country level operational activities led by the UN
Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs). The regional UNDG supports efforts such as achieving
national development goals, and helps enhance effectiveness and efficiency of RC/UNCTs’ coordination functions and
UN programming coherence. The work of the UNDG LAC is guided by the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review
(QCPR) of UN operational activities for development, and the global UNDG’s Strategic Priorities for 2013-2016.
The UNDG LAC is composed of the Regional Directors of the 19 UN Specialized Agencies, Funds and Programmes in
Latin America and the Caribbean, which are the following: FAO, ILO, OCHA, OHCHR, PAHO/WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP,
UNEP, UNFPA, UN-HABITAT, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISDR, UNESCO, UN WOMEN, UNODC, UNOPS, and WFP.
Key activities and functions of the UNDG LAC Secretariat are as follows:
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Support the UNDG LAC in implementation of UN reform and coherence policies;
Ensure effective strategic partnerships in support of the UNDG Strategic Priorities and UNDG LAC work plan
implementation and monitoring of results;
Organization of UNDG LAC Meetings and the RC/UNCT Performance Appraisal process;
Coordination of technical support and advice to UNDAF Roll-out countries, in particular, facilitation and
support of the Peer Support Group;
Advices UN Offices, RCOs and other partners on UN reform and coherence policies and priorities, including
joint programming and programmes, QCPR implementation, Human Rights Up Front, SDGs/2030 Agenda, DaO
Standard Operating Procedures, etc.;
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UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Junior Professional Officer (JPO) JOB DESCRIPTION
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Organization of training and learning initiatives, including an annual Coordination Officers’ Workshop;
Support the implementation of interagency regional initiatives and the functioning of the Regional Interagency
Working Groups.
III. Supervision
Name of Supervisor:
Maria Guallar
Title of Supervisor:
Regional Coordination Advisor
Content and methodology of supervision:
As part of the UNDP JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following supervision modalities:
 Structured guidance provided by the supervisor, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the purpose
of gradually increasing the responsibilities of the JPO
 Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
 Effective supervision through knowledge sharing and performance/development feedback throughout the
assignment
 Easy access to the supervisor
 Participation in UNDG LAC Secretariat meetings to ensure integration and operational effectiveness
 Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise, which includes
participation in the Coordination Officers’ Workshop
 Completion of the yearly UNDP Performance Management and Development (PMD)
In addition, the JPO will also be supervised by the Regional Coordination Officer in specific tasks as they relate to
his/her work. The Regional Coordination Officer will be formally delegated with the supervisory role by the Regional
Coordination Advisor for those specific results.
III. Duties and Responsibilities and Output expectations
1) Facilitation of technical and methodological advice on 2030 Agenda/SDGs:
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Analysis on the mainstreaming of the 2030 Agenda in the UNDAFs undertaken
2030 Agenda, and the “Leave no one behind” agenda, at global and country level, is analyzed to the end
of providing adequate support to the UN Country Teams.
Mapping of SDGs implementation tools prepared
Support in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda/SDGs provided to Resident Coordinators and UNCTs
2) Contribution to the support of the UNDG LAC Chair
 Preparation of Talking Points and Briefing Materials for the UNDG LAC supported
 Preparation of Meeting Reports supported
3) Support to the UNDG LAC Secretariat’s support to the Caribbean sub-region:
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UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Junior Professional Officer (JPO) JOB DESCRIPTION
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UNDG LAC support to the United Nations Multy-country Sustainable Framework (UN MSDF) in the
Caribbean provided, in particular in the areas of communications, partnership building, and M&E
Maintenance of the M&E Platform for the UN MSDF
4) Support Knowledge building and sharing around on key UNDG LAC priorities, focusing on the achievement
of the following results:
 Webinars, trainings and annual UN Coordination Officers Workshop supported.
 Analysis and mapping of UNDAFs prepared.
 Annual regional analysis and mapping on Standard Operating Procedures for Delivering as One prepared.
 Collection and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices supported.
5) Contributes to the UNDG LAC Secretariat’s work plan implementation, including the following results:
 Production and publication of the virtual monthly UNDG LAC bulletin coordinated;
 Quality technical papers and substantive analyses, briefings, and support documents drafted as inputs to
UNDG LAC meetings.
 Promotion of innovative ways for exchange of information between the UN Coordination Officers in the
region (i.e. creation to a platform on Yammer).
 UNDG LAC website and virtual Sharepoint spaces regularly maintained and updated as needed for
facilitating the sharing of information.
6) Contributes to the UNDG LAC UNDAF support function
 UNDAF roll-out countries requests supported with timely and quality advice; and technical support and
guidance provided; and provide guidance to Resident Coordinators and UNCTs on SOPs.
 Support the common country programming process upon request from UNCTs, coordinating and
organizing field missions or technical assistance
 Involvement of the Regional Directors (acting as liaisons) in the support to Resident Coordinators
facilitated.
7) Other responsibilities as agreed with the Regional Coordination Specialist/Head of the UNDG LAC
Secretariat
IV. Competencies and Selection Criteria
Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Delivery
Ability to get things done
Description of Competency at Level Required
(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the
competency inventory)
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)
Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
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UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Junior Professional Officer (JPO) JOB DESCRIPTION
Technical/Functional
Primary
Proven track record in process management,
facilitation, and report writing.
Ability to draft official communications and reports
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to
empathize with the various organizational
mandates and cultures of the UN system, including
experience in liaising with senior high level officials
Secondary
Proven work experience related to the mandate
UNDG and/or R-UNDG Teams.
Basic understanding of UN Development System
Proven track record of knowledge and provision of
technical expertise in the areas of programming and
M&E. Experience on UNDAF development and/or
implementation is an asset.
Knowledge on the UNDAF programming principles
(Human
Rights,
Gender,
and
Women
Empowerments, Environmental Sustainability and
Resilience, Theory of Change) and Results Based
Management (RBM) an asset.
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with
demonstrated ability)
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)
V. Recruitment Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
Language Requirements:
Other desirable education,
languages and work
experience:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations,
Political Sciences or related field.
1. A minimum of two years of paid working experience in a relevant field
2. Other desirable education and work experience:
 Experience with country level UN Coordination is an asset.
 Experience from coordination of multi-stakeholder processes and/or working
across institutional or cultural boundaries an asset.
 Working knowledge of English
 Working knowledge of Spanish
 Knowledge of and/or work experience in thematic work areas related to the
UNDG LAC's portfolio, including climate change, gender, human rights, and
humanitarian issues, as well as UN reform, development programming and MDGs
an asset.
VI. Training and Learning
As part of the UNDP JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following training and learning
opportunities:
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UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Junior Professional Officer (JPO) JOB DESCRIPTION
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Participation in a two-week long Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course in New York within the
first 3 to 6 months of assignment
Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
Other training and learning opportunities, as presented in the UNDP JPO Orientation Programme
In addition, the JPO will benefit from the following specific training and learning modalities/opportunities in the
receiving office:
 The Regional UNDG Team organizes and facilitates various trainings with regards to UN Reform and UN
System-wide initiatives such as UNDAFs, Standard Operating Procedures for Delivering as One, Fit for Purpose,
Human Rights Up Front, 2030Agenda/SDGs, and other thematic issues important to professionals in UN
Development Coordination. The JPO will be have the opportunity to contribute, as well as participate, in these
trainings, which will enable him or her to build a solid understanding of these issues.
 In addition, given the UNDG LAC Secretariat's role as the coordinator of the joint activities of regional UN
Programmes, Funds and Specialized agencies, and its role as a link between Headquarters and the country
level, it provides an ideal hub for learning and building solid knowledge about the broad spectrum of UN
development policies and programmes across the UN System. In particular, considering the function of the
Regional UNDG Team with regards to the Resident Coordinator System, the JPO will have a good
understanding of UN Coordination taking place at the country and global level
 The location in Latin America makes for a good point of departure for getting to understand the dynamics at
play with regard to Middle Income Countries (which are prevalent in the region) and the ongoing
transformation of the UN with a view to maintaining the relevance and value-added of the UN organization in
this growing category of seemingly rich countries, which at the same time are challenged by the existence of
pockets of extreme poverty and high levels of inequality. The universality of the 2030 Agenda demands that
the UN System in the LAC region is fit to deliver results in the Middle Income context.
 The UNDG LAC Secretariat is placed in UNDP's Regional Hub, which hosts the unit. This provides excellent
opportunities for interaction with the over fifty professional experts within the thematic clusters of the
Regional Hub (e.g. Sustainable Development, Energy and Environment and climate change, Gender, Crisis
Prevention, HIV/AIDS, Knowledge Management, and Democratic Governance). The UNDG LAC Secretariat
benefits from significant support from the Hub's leadership, and works closely with UNDP's Regional Bureau
for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC), whose Regional Director, functions as Chair for the UNDG LAC.
VII. Background Information
Information on the receiving office: The UNDG LAC Secretariat currently consists of 4 staff members. The Regional
Coordination Advisor acts as head of the UNDG LAC Secretariat, and is seated in New York, while the Regional
Coordination Officer, the Planning and Coordination Analyst, and one UN Coordination Associate are seated in
Panama, physically in the UNDP Regional Hub for Latin America and Caribbean. In September 2016, the UNDG LAC
Secretariat will incorporate a JPO in Jamaica and an UNV in Guyana.
Organization chart: Attach an up-to-date organization chart of the office and indicate where the JPO would be
assigned.
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UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Junior Professional Officer (JPO) JOB DESCRIPTION
Living conditions at the Duty Station:
Officially the Republic of Panama is the southernmost country of Central America, bordered by Costa Rica to the
northwest and Colombia to the Southeast. It is home to the Panama Canal. The expansion of the Canal inaugurated
on 26 June 2016.
On the Human Development Index, Panama was rated at number 60 in 2014.
Panama has a tropical climate, of uniformly high temperatures and relatively humid. There is little seasonal variation.
Its tropical environment supports an abundance of flora and fauna.
Panama's population counted as 3.9 million in 2015, which is mainly mestizo, the largest minorities being Afrodescendants and mulattoes, along with Amerindian, European and Asian. The predominant language is Spanish.
Approved by:
Name of the Head of Office:
Maria Guallar
Title of the Head of Office:
Regional Coordination Advisor
Date of issuance:
22 July 2016
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