Job Description
Background
Job Purpose and Organizational Context
The Global Disability Fund (GDF) (formerly UNPRPD) is a multi-partner trust fund dedicated to advancing disability-inclusive development globally. It supports the implementation of the CRPD and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by providing technical assistance, policy guidance, and financial support to governments, UN agencies, civil society, and businesses. The GDF is hosted within the UNDP Governance team in the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support (BPPS). The GDF Secretariat operates in accordance with its own Strategic Plan and agreed annual work plan approved by its Steering Committee
As GDF expands its strategic reach and portfolio, it is essential to ensure that its impact, effectiveness, and accountability are continuously monitored and evaluated. In 2025 GDF will launch a new strategy building on successes of the unique GDF model to accelerate transformative change at national, regional and global levels on disability inclusion and enhance the leadership of persons with disabilities in development. A key component of the new strategy is to foster catalytic partnerships and collaborative approaches. GDF will strengthen our partnership with the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the global network of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPD).
Duties And Responsibilities
The GDF is seeking a highly organized and proactive Officer to support the Director and Secretariat across partnerships coordination, conducting research and performming administrative/procurement tasks. This role will contribute to maintaining and expanding donor relationships, organizing events and meetings, ensuring workplan tracking, and providing day-to-day assistance to the Director.
This is a level support role suitable for a motivated team player with strong coordination, research, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Scope of Work
Ensure creation of partnerships and donor engagement
- Conduct background research and analysis to identify opportunities for partnerships and donor engagement, including trends in global development and disability inclusion.
- Support the preparation and revision of partnership documents such as MOUs and agreements.
- Assist in donor mapping and profiling, including tracking engagement levels and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
- Maintain and regularly update the GDF’s contact and donor database.
- Support the Director with donor communications, including thank-you letters, acknowledgments, follow-ups, and scheduling.
- Support the planning and delivery of donor-related events such as briefings, webinars, and roundtables.
- Support to prepare background notes, talking points to support donor engagement and visibility efforts
Substantively Contribute To Programme Coordination And Workplan Monitoring
- Support the Director to monitor progress against the GDF annual workplan, tracking implementation timelines and follow-up actions.
- Provide coordination and documentation support for internal meetings and team retreats, including agenda preparation, note-taking, and tracking of action points.
- Support logistical and coordination aspects of programme delivery across the Secretariat.
Provide support to Director and Board
- Assist with Director’s participation in relevant external events and maintain a calendar of strategic opportunities for engagement.
- Administrative and logistical support to the Director, including coordinating travel, preparing mission notes, and maintaining schedules.
- Organize GDF Board meetings, including coordination of dates, materials, invitations, note-taking, and follow-up on actions and decisions.
Provide procurement and administrative services
- Assist with planning and logistics for external events, meetings, and high-level workshops, including venue identification, vendor coordination, agenda development, and participant communication.
- Support procurement processes in line with internal procedures, including drafting Terms of Reference, reviewing applications, and managing correspondence with candidates or vendors.
Institutional Arrangement
The position will report to the UN GDF Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist.
Competencies
Core Behavioural Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively
LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy Entrepreneurial Thinking: Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
Business Management Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with GDF strategy and policies.
Business Management Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication. Tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Communications Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
Administration & Operations Events management and logistics: Ability to manage events, including venue, identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.
Procurement Supplier/relationship management Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Required Skills And Experience
Min. Academic Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Administration, Public Relations, Communications or related field is required, or
A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
Min. years of relevant Work experience Minimum 2 years (with master´s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of relevant work experience in international development, programme coordination, partnerships or donor engagement.
Required Skills And Competencies
Experience in business development and/or donors enagagement.
Experience in communication and supporting high-level events and dialogues.
Experience supporting procurement and administrative procedures within a large organization.
Desired Additional Skills And Competencies
Experience with disability rights frameworks, inclusive development, and multilateral funding instruments.
Experience with multilateral organizations, including UN.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and supporting senior leadership in strategic, operational, and partnership initiatives.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and ability to work with digital collaboration tools.
Required Language(s) (at Working Level)
Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of another UN language, preferily French and/or Spanish, is an asset.
Travel
GDF will cover the cost of any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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