Retreat Process Coordinator
Location : Homebased
Application Deadline : 01-Sep-23 (Midnight New York, USA)
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : Duration of Initial Contract : 10 working days between 6 September– 31 December 2023
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.
Background
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
Part of the Strategic Partnerships Division (SPD), the Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Advisory Services (MPAS) Section leads UN Women’s engagement with the private sector, corporations, philanthropy, foundations, and individuals – both in terms of a substantive components and resource mobilization – and it drives a wide range of UN Women’s global initiatives: HeForShe, Unstereotype Alliance (UA), Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA), and. It also leads the work with all UN Women National Committees, the development of the individual/digital giving and Advisory Services business line for private sector. MPAS’ main aims are to ensure that UN Women develops and sustains high quality and impact focused partnerships to achieve maximum results for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The MPAS team conducted a two-day in-person retreat on 22 and 23 May 2023 in New York with the following specific objectives: 1) team building; 2) vision setting for MPAS team; and 3) agreement on the focus and priority work of MPAS reflecting the final Private Sector Engagement Strategy and the ongoing corporate initiative to pivot to the field. Building on the work initiated during the retreat, MPAS is seeking the support of a Coordinator to facilitate and manage the next steps. This includes implementing a series of virtual MPAS (internal) workshops based on the suggestions, recommendations, and findings from the retreat discussions.
This consultant assignment may be undertaken on a Home Based/Remote basis.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities: Under the supervision of the Chief, the consultant will be engaged to develop the MPAS workshop design, planning and facilitation and will:
- involve all MPAS personnel in the design and planning process, aligning their roles and responsibilities with the broader timeline and specific requirements of the seven main work streams that were initiated during the retreat.
- align the collaborative work of shaping and growing MPAS with existing processes, timelines, and senior management endorsement, maximizing the implementation of the proposed way forward.
- be responsible for the development and implementation of the next phase of retreat work based on decisions made; coordinate, and oversee related virtual MPAS (internal) workshops – 10 working days, estimated breakdown as follows:
Activity
Consultation with Internal Leads on Virtual MPAS (internal) workshops Development (34 hours- 42%)
- Collaborate with internal MPAS thematic leads to establish a strategy for the virtual MPAS (internal) workshops. The strategy follows an incremental and iterative approach.
- Organize additional meetings for consultations on virtual MPAS (internal) workshop development
- Support the preparation of necessary records, materials, and reports for virtual MPAS (internal) workshops.
Virtual MPAS (internal) Workshops Planning (20 hours-25%)
- Organize three virtual MPAS (internal) workshops on a codesign basis, involving MPAS members interested in continuing cocreation and codesign processes. The number of participants may vary.
Conducting Virtual MPAS (internal) workshops (6 hours- 8%)
- Conduct three virtual MPAS (internal) workshops, with each virtual MPAS (internal) workshops lasting approx. 2 hours
Debriefing Virtual MPAS (internal) workshops and Recommending Next Steps (20 hours-25%)
- After each virtual MPAS (internal) workshop, conduct debrief sessions to summarize the outputs. Provide recommendations for the next steps and strategies, documenting the findings. Create documentary summaries for each stage of the process, except for the high-priority task force focusing on biennial work planning from the retreat.
Deliverables: The consultant’s main deliverables/ outputs are:
- Three virtual MPAS (internal) workshops – design, planning, coordination, and facilitation
- Meeting materials, including agendas, presentations, and regular updates to the MPAS team to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
- Documentation and a consolidated report of virtual MPAS (internal) workshop outcomes and recommendations for dissemination to the MPAS team.
Competencies
Core Values:
- Respect for Diversity
- Integrity
- Professionalism
Core Competencies:
- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
- Accountability
- Creative Problem Solving
- Effective Communication
- Inclusive Collaboration
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leading by Example
Required Skills and Experience
Academic Qualifications/Education:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in one of the following or related fields: in social sciences, management, global/international affairs, law, business, communications, or adult education.
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of ten years of professional experience in designing/facilitating workshops, intergroup processes and implementing team building exercises.
- Skills and Proven track record in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, mediation, or negotiation is required;
- Experience in facilitating strategic planning workshops and/or other events for the UN, including UN Women, is an advantage.
- Excellent time management, forward planning, and prioritization skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Language:
- Fluency in spoken and written English required.
