Coordinator of Development Partners Group (DPG) Secretariat at UNDP Tanzania

Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Republic Tanzania has sustained robust economic growth of 6–7% annually over the past decade, achieved lower MIC status in 2020, and attracted significant foreign investment. The country’s development agenda is guided by the Five Year Development Plan (FYDP III) in Mainland and Zanzibar Medium Term Development Plan (ZADEP) for Zanzibar, aligned with Vision 2050, alongside ongoing work on the Long-Term Perspective Plan and the next Five-Year Development Plan.

With declining global and national ODA, Tanzania is shifting from aid dependency toward self-reliance through tax expansion and innovative financing such as green and blue bonds, blended finance, and impact investments. In 2017, the Government of Tanzania (GoT) and Development Partners (DPs) adopted a Development Cooperation Framework (DCF) to strengthen dialogue, explore financing opportunities, and enhance mutual accountability. This framework broadened development cooperation to include non-traditional partnerships.

The Development Partners Group (DPG) Secretariat coordinates and harmonizes DP policy priorities, promoting implementation of the DCF to support Tanzania’s growth and poverty reduction goals. It facilitates strategic dialogue between DPs and GoT, primarily through the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) hosts the DPG Secretariat, which plays a key role in coordination and engagement. The DPG is co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and a bilateral development agency on an annual rotational basis.

Duties And Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Coordinator of Development Partners Group (DPG) Secretariat will be responsible for the following duties:

Advisory & Secretariat Support to Development Partners Group (DPG)

• Provide strategic guidance and technical advice to DPG and its Co-Chairs;
• Provide analytical inputs to strengthen DPG engagement with the GoT under the DCF;
• Facilitate high-level & policy dialogues and support the Co-Chairs in preparing briefing notes, presentations and reports;
• Organize DPG and working groups meetings, and ensure timely preparation and circulation of agendas, minutes, and follow-up actions.

Technical Support to National Development Effectiveness Framework

• Advise the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on strategies to enhance development effectiveness;
• Provide technical support to the Joint DPG-Government Secretariat;
• Promote mechanisms for mutual accountability and policy coherence (OECD-DAC standards);
• Liaise with Zanzibar advisors for coordinated development cooperation.

Provide Advisory and Managerial support for programme implementation, with a specific focus on development coordination, harmonization, alignment and effectiveness

• As Coordinator of the DPG Secretariat, ensure effective project oversight and management for the strengthening of the Secretariat. Lead and manage the day‑to‑day functions of the DPG Secretariat, including coordination, planning and delivery of the annual workplan.

Support to UN Resident Coordinator & UN Country Team

• Provide analytical and strategic advice on UN engagement in development cooperation;
• Assist UN agencies in aligning the implementation of the UNSDCF to support the development effectiveness agenda in Tanzania.

Contribution to UN Practices on Development Effectiveness and participate in knowledge management activities

• Strengthen UN capacity and positioning on development effectiveness;
• Offer strategic advisory support on related issues;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.

Work Implies Frequent Interaction With The Following

• Development Partners, senior UN officials, representatives and officials in National Government, technical staff in relevant Secretariat units, and international organizations.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

This position is in the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), and is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Coordinator (RC), the Coordinator of DPG Secretariat is expected to provide technical and advisory support to the DPG co-chairs and DPG secretariat, support the DPG secretariat in coordinating activities and implementing the DCF, enhance communication and information-sharing among DPs & between DPs and the GoT, and contribute to strategic dialogue and policy alignment efforts.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

Business Development :- Integration within the UN

• Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

Business Development :-Knowledge Generation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Management :- Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable result

Business Direction & Strategy :- Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Partnership management:- Emerging partnerships

• Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

Partnership management:- Strategic engagement

• Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Ethics:- UN policy knowledge - ethics

• Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity

Education

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Economics, International Development, or related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in Social Sciences, Economics, International Development, or related field is required.

Required Skills

• Experience in development management, including coordination and effectiveness is required;
• Experience working with donors and government counterparts is required;
• Familiarity with work processes in Ministries of Finance and government planning institutions is required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section

• Familiarity with the UNSDCF and joint UN initiatives is required;
• Experience in global and national debates related to use of national systems to enhance aid and development effectiveness is highly desired.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Swahili is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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