Duties and Responsibilities
Background The UN in Ethiopia is currently developing its next United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period July 2025 to June 2030. This framework will be informed by the findings of the Common Country Analysis (CCA), nearing completion, and will integrate insights and recommendations from the ongoing end evaluation of the current UNSDCF 2020-2025. The UNSDCF roadmap, endorsed by the UNSDCF Policy and Oversight Board on October 27, 2023, anticipates finalizing and approving the UNSCDF 2025-2030 by the end of 2024. United Nations Country Team (UNCT): The UNCT, led by the UN Resident Coordinator, offers overarching strategic oversight and guidance throughout the process. This includes active participation in visioning, prioritization exercises, and validation sessions. The UNCT will steer the Programme Management Team (PMT) and the consultant in preparing the Cooperation Framework, reviewing, and endorsing both initial and final drafts. Programme Management Team (PMT): The PMT is tasked with providing technical support and input during the Cooperation Framework's preparation. This involves furnishing data, conducting research, and offering necessary analyses. Additionally, the PMT will actively participate in all related consultation sessions and collaborate with the consultant to review and revise draft versions of the Cooperation Framework. Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (RCO): The RCO assumes responsibility for overall coordination and day-to-day management of the assignment. It offers guidance, data, and analytical support, ensuring quality assurance in consultation and coordination with the UNCT and PMT. The RCO facilitates and coordinates inputs from the UNCT and PMT into the Cooperation Framework. Moreover, it manages administrative and logistical aspects, liaising with the consultant and the Peer Support Group (PSG) on behalf of the UNCT/PMT. The UNSDCF 2025-2030 will outline the UN's assistance in achieving Ethiopia's development priorities. Aligned with the nation's vision of becoming an "African Beacon of Prosperity," Ethiopia has adopted a Ten-Year Development Plan (TYDP) titled "The Ethiopia 2030: The Pathway to Prosperity Ten Years Perspective Development Plan" spanning 2021 to 2030. Anchored in the principles of sustainable development—inclusive economic growth, environmental protection, and social inclusion—the TYDP integrates these objectives into its policies, strategies, and plans. While Ethiopia has achieved significant progress over the past two decades, maintaining an average GDP growth rate of 10% from 2004 to 2019, recent crises such as COVID-19, conflict, and drought have endangered these accomplishments. These crises, beginning with COVID-19, have substantially disrupted Ethiopia's development landscape and trajectories. They have exacerbated existing challenges, including sluggish economic growth, the 2016-2017 drought, and the 2019 locust infestation, which severely affected large areas of the country and depleted the resilience of affected communities. Evidence from a socioeconomic impact assessment conducted by the UN in Ethiopia indicates that the cumulative impact of these crises since 2020, some unprecedented in the nation's recent history, has significantly deteriorated the well-being of its people and halted or reversed recent development gains. The analysis suggests that much of the progress made towards SDGs is now at risk of being undone. Looking ahead, despite notable areas of initiative and progress and considerable potential, Ethiopia's development context faces significant challenges. These include restoring and ensuring sustainable peace and stability nationwide, effectively managing post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, addressing macroeconomic stresses and imbalances, and sustainably reducing humanitarian crises and needs. Achieving a shift away from crisis management towards focusing on SDGs and managing multiple structural transitions, such as demographic, economic, and political changes, is expected to be a long-term endeavor. Under the direct supervision of the RCO's Head of Office, the selected consultant is tasked with various responsibilities related to the assignment, including but not limited to: • Reviewing the finalized Common Country Analysis (CCA) with a view to ensuring that it serves as a strategic basis for the formulation of the 2025-2030 Cooperation Framework. • Facilitating and guiding the preparation of the 2025-2030 Cooperation Framework in Ethiopia, aligning with corporate guidelines. • Formulating the Cooperation Framework according to the standardized outline, integrating strategic inputs from the UNCT and stakeholders. • Leading consultation exercises, such as the UNCT retreat for visioning/prioritization and stakeholder validation sessions. • Maintaining regular communication and coordination with the UN RCO, UNCT, and PMT, conducting online discussions and facilitating as required. • Conducting a desk review of relevant UN and non-UN documentation to establish a baseline for the Cooperation Framework's preparation. • Providing quality assurance for the process and inputs from the UNCT, identifying gaps and areas for improvement in line with corporate guidelines. • Undertaking a minimum of two in-country missions to support the assignment's implementation and objectives. • Finalizing editing and formatting of the Cooperation Framework.
Qualifications/special skills
Minimum of a Master's/Specialist's degree in Social Sciences, Futures Studies, Political Sciences, Economics, Business or Public Administration, Mathematical Sciences, Psychology, Innovations Management, or related fields. A PhD or higher degree is an advantage. - A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, specifically in international development initiatives and organizations is required - Extensive knowledge of and experience in applying qualitative and quantitative analytical methods across a range of approaches is required - Technical proficiency in conducting complex analyses involving mixed methods is required - Knowledge of the UN's role, UN reform processes, and UN programming at the country level is essential - Experience in facilitating the development of UNSDCF, including conducting consultations, is required. - Excellent writing and analytical skills, with a track record of preparing strategic and programming documents or similar analytical reports is desirable - Ability to share knowledge and experience, providing constructive feedback and advice is desirable
