HDP Advisor, P4
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Department/Office: Resident Coordinator System
Deadline: Oct 13, 2025
Job Description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator – the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level – support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and reports to the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO and Strategic Planner.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
1. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALIGNMENT:
• Lead and support the development of the Humanitarian Development Peace (HDP) approach in Ethiopia under the leadership and guidance of the Government of Ethiopia, ensuring alignment with national and regional development plans and priorities.
• Facilitate the development of a shared vision, strategies, and architecture for operationalizing the HDP in Ethiopia among the UN, its partners, and the Government of Ethiopia, including by identifying key shared goals and collective outcomes.
• Work closely with the UNCT, HCT, and other partners to identify entry points for enhancing synergies and complementarities across the development-humanitarian planning cycles (e.g., HNOCCA; HRP-UNSDCF), ensuring alignment with national and regional priorities.
• Report regularly to the RCO Head of Office on progress, challenges, and recommendations related to the HDP portfolio, ensuring that all activities are aligned with the leadership and guidance of the Government of Ethiopia.
2. COORDINATION AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:
• Enhance cross-pillar coordination and collaboration between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors, strategies, and programmes, ensuring alignment with the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities.
• Lead the RCO Nexus team and chair or participate in HDP and other relevant coordination forums as required, ensuring that all efforts are guided by the Government of Ethiopia’s leadership and development agenda.
• Support the Government of Ethiopia in conducting stakeholder consultations with UN agencies, INGOs, development partners, CSOs, communities, and other relevant actors to ensure inclusive and participatory approaches to HDP implementation.
• Work closely with the UNCT, sub-regional UN offices, and other development partners, as well as counterparts in DPPA and OCHA, to identify conflict-sensitive development and peacebuilding interventions that align with the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities.
3. CAPACITY BUILDING AND OPERATIONALIZATION:
• Strengthen the overall capacities of the UN, its partners, and the Government of Ethiopia to operationalize the HDP and collaborate to build resilience, including through capacity-building initiatives and mentoring efforts.
• Facilitate the development of joined-up, area-based HDP approaches in priority regions to enable the UN, its partners, and the Government of Ethiopia to reduce vulnerabilities and humanitarian needs while strengthening resilience at the local level.
• Conduct research and analysis to identify key gaps and opportunities to strengthen HDP collaboration, with a focus on reducing vulnerabilities, addressing humanitarian needs, and building resilience and self-reliance in Ethiopia.
4. RISK ANALYSIS AND ADAPTIVE PLANNING:
• Facilitate joint multi-hazard risk analyses and context monitoring to ensure that the UN, its partners, and the Government of Ethiopia proactively adapt to uncertainty and volatility, safeguarding and supporting progress toward the SDGs.
• Work closely with the UNCT, sub-regional UN offices, and other development partners to identify conflict-sensitive development and peacebuilding interventions that align with the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.
Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
• Government of Ethiopia at federal and regional level: Establish and maintain relationships with counterparts, senior officers, and technical staff to ensure alignment with national and regional development plans and priorities.
• UN System and Partners: Collaborate with UN funds, programs, specialized agencies, and other partners (e.g., UNCT, HCT, DPPA, OCHA) to enhance cross-pillar coordination and operationalize the HDP.
• Stakeholders and External Actors: Engage with representatives and officials in national governments, international organizations, INGOs, CSOs, development partners, and consultants to ensure inclusive and participatory approaches to HDP implementation.
Results Expected:
• Strategic Leadership: Develops, implements, and evaluates effective leadership and management of major projects and teams, ensuring alignment with the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities and the HDP approach.
• Timely Delivery: Demonstrates timely delivery of outputs in accordance with overall objectives and policies, including the development of shared strategies, risk analyses, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Innovative Problem-Solving: Plays a lead role in identifying significant issues (e.g., gaps in HDP collaboration) and develops well-reasoned, innovative approaches to address them.
• Effective Representation: Serves as an effective spokesperson internally and externally, representing the UN and its partners in coordination forums and consultations, while forming strong partnerships with relevant parties.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or another specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, information management, statistics, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area, is required.
- A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in positions dealing with humanitarian affairs, development, and implementation of development policies and strategies in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization context is required.
- Knowledge and leadership in developing strategies with experience in humanitarian coordination, and supporting development processes, including in countries in transition by working with a variety of humanitarian and long-term development actors is required.
- Excellent communication and analytical skills (written, verbal, interpersonal and intercultural) is required.
- Strong knowledge of humanitarian and international development system and UN coordination architecture, and experience working with a variety of humanitarian, peace, and development actors is desirable.
- Previous experience leading transformation processes and proven knowledge of the HDP approaches and strong experience in developing and implementing strategies to support the operationalization of the HDP is desirable.
- Knowledge of United Nations mandates and practices, as well as the programming mechanisms of the United Nations and its partners, particularly in crisis and post-conflict situations, as well as a functional understanding of the international development architecture, is desirable.
- Outstanding research, analytical, response programming and report writing skills is desirable.
- Familiarity with participatory facilitation methods, with data gathering and analysis and the UN five Programming Principles (HRBA, Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability, RBM and Capacity Development) is desirable.
Languages
Required Languages
| Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II |
Assessment
- Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview by phone/Teleconference (MS Teams) or in-person where possible.
Special Notice
This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up-to-date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.
The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.
NOTE: While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
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United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.
The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship.
Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs.
The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.
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Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted.
Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
