Presentation of the SARC Programme

Objectives

The Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC) Programme was initiated to enhance the capacity of coordination of the Office of the Resident Coordinator and strengthening the coherence of the UN System at country level.

SARCs are experienced young professionals (in many cases former JPOs) recruited at the P3-level to provide support to the UN Resident Coordinator. SARCs are placed in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, and in most cases work directly under the supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator. SARCs support a wide range of management and coordination functions of the UN System at country level, including to enhancing interagency coordination, and strengthening the Common Country Programming Processes (CCA/UNDAF/Joint Programmes),advancing harmonization and simplification efforts, supporting the National Development Plan/Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) processes, and follow-up on the UN Country Team's Annual Work Plan. Working as a SARC is demanding, and requires a strong commitment to development, as well as interest in coordination, multi-tasking and facilitation of processes to achieve results.

The SARC Programme was initiated in 2003 with the support of the Danish Government. The Swedish government decided to join the Programme in 2005 and Spain in 2009. Experience indicates that the Programme has made a significant contribution to the implementation of UN reform at country level. It has been successful in providing experienced and talented young professionals, who each have made a strong contribution towards strengthening of the Resident Coordinator function.

Outcomes for the stakeholders

Specifically, the SARC Programme aims at meeting the following objectives:

• for recipient countries, the SARC Programme contributes to the coordination capacity of the UN System at country level, and to enhance the alignment and harmonization of the UN cooperation and coordination as well as strengthening the framework of the national development plan.
• for donors, it represents another form of multilateral development aid through the United Nations System.. It supports the implementation of the UN Reform and the strengthening of the UN Resident Coordinator in the field.
• for the Office of the Resident Coordinator, the SARC Programme provides the possibility to augment staff capacity, thereby enhancing the capacity to advance the UN delivering processes as one in the field.
• for the SARCs themselves, the Programme offers the opportunity to contribute to the development work of the UN and to the implementation of the UN reform agenda in the field. Furthermore, the SARC position gives exposure to high-level coordination processes, and it offers the opportunity to develop hands-on experience and knowledge in the field of coordination of UN development assistance. It contributes to build a career in the field of UN coordination as well as in development management both within the UN System and in the development sector in general.

Some results and experiences of the SARC Programme

Since 2003, 28 Special Assistants have been assigned to the offices of the Resident Coordinators in Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the CIS and at Headquarters.

Results clearly demonstrate that the SARCs contributed to enhancing UN coordination through provision of high-level support to the Resident Coordinator, including facilitation of the initial processes leading up to the One UN pilots; facilitation of Common Country Assessment / United Nations Development Assistance Framework processes; facilitation and coordination of joint UN programmes, including the joint UN Avian Influenza Programme; and elaboration and coordination of joint UN communication strategies and coordination of MDG campaigns.

In Zambia, the SARC contributed to enhancing communications and coordination among the UN, through the elaboration of the first UN Communications Strategy, establishment of the joint UN Website for Zambia, and coordination of MDG advocacy campaigns.

In Viet Nam, the SARC contributed to building a strong Resident Coordination Support Team, and facilitated the initial process for the One UN pilot in Vietnam. The Special Assistant also coordinated the preparation of the UN MDG Campaign in Vietnam, which by the use of innovative communications efforts, was successful in reaching out to a broad audience.

In Nicaragua, the SARC facilitated a highly participatory CCA/UNDAF process and contributed to strengthening the coordination of upstream policy debates and dialogue among key development stakeholders through functioning as the secretariat for donor roundtables and coordination.

In Cambodia, the SARC contributed to enhancing communication and coordination systems among UN organizations, through among other things creating the UN intranet in Cambodia and coordination of the joint UN Programme on Avian and Human Influenza. The latter demonstrated a joint UN approach and resulted in increased allocation of resources.

In Albania, the SARC supported the initial process towards the implementation of the One UN pilot in Albania, and coordinated joint programmes of the UN organizations, including the Avian Influenza Programme.

The Danish Special Assistant to the UN Resident Coordinator Programme

Candidates for the Danish SARC Programme are between 30 and 36 years of age and hold a Master's degree in international relations, international development studies, development economics, social sciences, law or another relevant Master degree. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience and be fluent in English and possess working knowledge of another UN language.

Danish Special Assistants are recruited at the P3-level, and have same entitlements as JPOs. The duration of their assignment is three years.

The Swedish Special Assistant to the UN Resident Coordinator Programme

Candidates for the Swedish SARC are between 30 and 38 years of age and hold a Master's degree in international relations, international development studies, development economics, social sciences, law or another relevant Master degree. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, including three to five years of working experience preferably from developing countries. Candidates should be fluent in English and possess working knowledge of another UN language.

Swedish Special Assistants are recruited at the P3-level, and have same entitlements as JPOs. The maximum duration of their assignment is three years, with the third year being co-funded jointly by Sweden and UNDP.

The Spanish Special Assistant to the UN Resident Coordinator Programme

Candidates for the Spanish SARC Programme are between 30 and 38 years of age and hold a Master's degree in international relations, international development studies, development economics, social sciences, law or another relevant Master degree. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, including three to five years of working experience preferably from developing countries and prior knowledge of the UN System. Candidates should be fluent in English and possess working knowledge of another UN language.

Spanish Special Assistants are recruited at the P3-level, and have same entitlements as JPOs. The maximum duration of their assignment is 2 years with a potential 3rd year extension.

Learning and Networking

All SARCs are invited to participate in the UN Resident Coordination Officers' workshops, which are organized annually by the UN Development Operations Coordination Office (UNDOCO). In the framework of the UN System Staff College, the SARCs have also other possibilities of specialized courses relevant to management and coordination tasks (see also www.unssc.org).

In addition, SARCs may also benefit from relevant learning events organized by the UN System Staff College (see also www.unssc.org).

The SARCs are also invited to take part in the global UN coordination networks, which serve as a continuous learning and networking tool, e.g. Coordination Practice Network (CPN), Millennium Development Network (MDGnet), The Practitioners Portal on Human Rights-Based Approach to Development, and UN Development Group (UNDG) Policy Network for the MDGs. Please visit www.undg.org for more information. Furthermore, SARCs have the opportunity to contribute and take part in other global, regional or country level learning events addressing core areas of their assignments.

UNDP JPOSC recommends that you visit the career management inputs of this webpage (www.jposc.org/career_management), which can inspire the development of professional and personal skills as well as sharing your experiences with other colleagues.

How to become a Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator?

SARC positions are advertised on the websites of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Spain and Sweden, as well as in relevant local media. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Spain and Sweden will shortlist candidates, which are qualified for the positions, and the final selection will be made by UNDP in close collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator of the respective duty station.

Donor decisions on funding and selection of SARC positions are made at the beginning of each year and the number of SARC positions selected may vary from year to year.

Contact Persons

For more information on the SARC Programme, please contact Mr. Pierre Noël, Communications Associate, UNDP JPO Service Centre.

Comments or suggestions? Please contact the Webmaster