Operations and Liaison Consultant

UNCT efficiency agenda, UN80 reform, common services, and operational practices harmonized and strengthened cross agencies.

Background On 1 January 2019, the UN Secretary-General introduced a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at repositioning the UN Development System to better support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO), under the leadership of an independent and empowered Resident Coordinator (RC), supports national development priorities and coordination across the UN system. UNCT Context in South Sudan The UN Country Team (UNCT) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) held a strategic retreat from 10–12 June 2025 to assess emerging challenges affecting the operating environment. With several Agencies, Funds, and Programmes (AFPs) reducing their presence due to financial or operational constraints, the UNCT identified significant opportunities to enhance collaboration, reduce duplication, and increase operational efficiency. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in South Sudan and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) recognize the need to strengthen operational and technical coordination in the implementation of United Nations privileges and immunities. There is a requirement to ensure the consistent and effective application of international obligations, alongside the Government’s rules, regulations, and policies. Addressing these issues is critical to reducing the administrative and bureaucratic burden associated with privileges, immunities, and tax exemptions, which often create bottlenecks and adversely affect operational performance. Moreover, the UNCT is taking forward the UN@80 agenda as part of the system wide transformation and modernization initiative aimed at ensuring the UN operations remains effective, efficient, coherent, and fit for purpose in a rapidly changing global context. Rationale and Purpose of the Assignment. The consultant will as main function facilitate operational, administrative, and technical coordination between UN entities and Government authorities on matters related to privileges and immunities. This includes coordinating tax exemption processes, resolving administrative bottlenecks, and ensuring timely follow up on issues raised by UNCT members. Furthermore, the consultant will support the implementation of the UNCT’s efficiency agenda and will drive harmonization of operational practices, strengthen common services, facilitate cross agency problem solving including to drive the UN80 reform efficiencies at country level. The candidate would additionally support the collective commitments of the OMT’s working groups, backed by analysis. This role would also entail the formulation of business case, oversight of stakeholder engagement, planning and reporting. Scope of Work and Key Tasks. Under the overall supervision of the Head of RCO and in close collaboration with the OMT Co-Chairs, the consultant will be responsible for the delivery of the following Key responsibilities. Strengthening Operational Efficiency Across UN Entities 1. Taxation Issues: o Support UNCT engagement with Government counterparts regarding taxation, bureaucratic and administrative impediments and matters under the SOFA and Host Country Agreements. 2. Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) Issues: o Support, if and when required, the UN Finance Working Group to facilitate coordination between UN Agencies, MoFA, and BoSS to address operational bottlenecks affecting financial transactions and remittances. 3. Operational Harmonization and Common Services Mapping: o Review UN agency operations to identify overlaps, gaps, and opportunities for common services, including shared procurement, logistics, HR, and ICT. o Ensure alignment between PMT and OMT priorities, Strategies and workplans. o Provide leadership (in country and with the respective HQs) to consolidate services under one Agency. 4. Support to UNCT Surveys: o Provide coordination support to surveys such as:  Place to Place Survey  Local Salary Survey  DSA Review  Any additional cost-of-living or operational surveys  Dedicated data analysis 5. UNCT Cost Sharing: o Assist in designing and managing cost sharing arrangements across UNCT entities in terms of pooling resources to fund shared operational and coordination functions o To further integration and coordination among UN agencies. o To monitor and report on agency shares and compliance and to strategies on agencies’ priorities for support.

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. 5–7 years of progressively responsible UN experience in operations, logistics, programme management support, and Inter-Agency coordination at the international or senior national level is required. Experience in facilitating technical coordination on the implementation of United Nations privileges and immunities with Government authorities, especially in support of UN and international obligations under Government rules regulations, and policies is highly desirable. Demonstrated experience in UN operational efficiency initiatives, integrated business process reviews and compliance, common services and UN efficiency and cost effectiveness reforms are desirable. Ability to work at a senior level with senior Government officials and engage diplomatically with Government partners is required. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills is desirable Excellent communication and facilitation abilities is desirable Strong report writing and presentation skills is desirable Data analysis skills is desirable

Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Not available.