SDG Data and Coordination Specialist

The Resident Coordinator (RC) system encompasses all organizations of the United Nations system dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level. Coordinating development operations promotes more strategic support for national plans and priorities, makes operations more efficient and reduces transaction costs for governments. This helps the UN to be a more relevant and reliable partner for governments. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports the work of the UN Resident Coordinator and coordinates activities of the UN Country Team in its engagement with the Government. The RCO in Port-of-Spain is a Multi-Country Office (MCO), responsible for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. The Caribbean is currently implementing the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2022-2026, a roadmap for the cooperation between the UN and the governments of the Caribbean for the next five years. This agreement outlines the development priorities for the Caribbean, and the ways in which the UN Country Teams can support governments in achieving these priorities. Sint Maarten, Aruba and Curacao have already signed on to this agreement. The Resident Coordinator, Ms. Joanna Kazana, is leading and strategically positioning the United Nations Country Team to respond to the current national priorities. The RCO has five core functions: Strategic planning Economic development Partnerships and development finance Data, results management and reporting Communications and advocacy

The United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten was established under the UN Development System Reform launched on 1 January 2019. The reform repositioned the UN to better support countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through more coherent, coordinated, and accountable leadership. The RCO operates under the direction of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) who is the highest-ranking representative of the UN Secretary-General at the country level. The RCO fulfils ten core coordination functions, namely strategic analysis and planning; oversight of the UN country programming cycle; representation of and support of UN Secretariat and UN resident and non-resident agencies; support to national coordination systems and processes; development and management of shared operational support services; crisis management preparedness and response; external communication and advocacy; human rights and development; joint resource mobilization and fund management; and general oversight and coordination of the UN Country Team for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. The RCO plays a central role in ensuring effective collaboration between UN entities, national governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda. Support to the RC and the UN Country Teams is provided by the RCO through a team comprised of national and international staff based currently in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. This UNV assignment is part of the RCO’s broader initiative to strengthen analytical capacity and coordination on sustainable development in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. It aims to improve the monitoring of economic and social development trends, support SDG reporting, and promote stronger linkages between local stakeholders and the UN system. This work is vital to ensuring that the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including middle and high income island economies, are supported through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs and the Antigua and Barbuda Action Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) are fully integrated into UN programming and regional development strategies. More information on the UN’s development coordination work can be found at: https://unsdg.un.org

The SDG Data and Coordination Specialist will be based in Aruba. Under the delegated authority and supervision of the Head of RCO or designated representative, the UNV SDG Data and Coordination Specialist will: - Collaborate and work closely with staff of UN agencies based in Aruba as a liaison, he/she will also ensure linkages of country level efforts, working in close collaboration with, SIDS and SDG focal points and/or national coordination mechanisms in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten and designated counterparts/ ministries and partners in the achievement of the expected responsibilities. - Coordinate and work in close collaboration with SDG focal points and/or national coordination mechanisms in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten to support the preparation of national SDG reports. - Support and maintain an effective dialogue and coordination mechanism with the designated leading Ministry in Aruba and other national counterparts to facilitate a strengthened UN engagement, better positioned in relevant national development processes, leading to the identification of new areas of collaboration and ample stakeholder participation. - Identify opportunities for country engagement in support of key national strategic priorities. - Conduct research and analysis on economic and development issues relevant to Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, supporting the UNRCO mandate and leveraging opportunities for joint action across the three governments. - Prepare concise analytical reports and policy briefs to inform UNCT (United Nations Country Team) programming of the respective Country Implementation Plans and strategic planning under the UN Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. - Promote a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing within the UN system and with external stakeholders by leveraging strategic partnerships to expand access to UN-produced knowledge products on key development issues and facilitate the dissemination of national best practices across regional and sub-regional forums and communities of practice to support coordinated development action. - Contribute to the strategic positioning and messaging of the RC/UNCT and UN joint efforts through communication initiatives. - Support the RC by preparing a package of briefing materials for RCs meetings in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. - Assist in monitoring and evaluation efforts by providing data-driven insights to enhance development resilience and sustainability. - Contribute to organizing high level coordination meetings, strategic dialogues and partnership-building initiatives lead by the RC. - Support maintenance of databases related to economic indicators, funding flows, and partnership opportunities. - Perform other tasks as assigned to advance the RCO’s objectives in the Dutch Caribbean context. - Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: - Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). - Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. - Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. - Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. - Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; - Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs: As an active UN Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support will be rendered to UNRCO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of the functions, including: - Providing accurate and actionable research outputs that inform UNCT strategic planning and development programming for Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten. - Facilitating effective coordination and communication among UN agencies, government partners, and development stakeholders to enhance joint initiatives and resource mobilization. - Supporting timely preparation and dissemination of analytical reports, policy briefs, and monitoring data to track progress towards SDGs and national development goals. - Provide substantive support for effective organization of high-level coordination meetings, strategic dialogues and partnership-building initiatives lead by the RC/UNCT, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, meeting reports, etc. - Contribute substantively to the successful development and implementation of the Country Implementation Plans by the Agencies, provide substantive inputs for the Annual Results Report on the UN’s Joint efforts in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, partnership and financing strategy, developing new engagement with stakeholders, among others to be defined based on RC/UNCT decisions and country context. - Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. - A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed