Senior Sustainable Development Officer

About the role

The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Dakar is seeking a senior professional to lead strategic planning and coordination for sustainable development initiatives across the Sahel and Horn of Africa/IGAD regions. The role supports Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and partners in delivering integrated flagship programmes that advance the 2030 Agenda.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic coordination, planning expertise and operational oversight for inter‑agency collaboration.
• Support the design, co‑creation and scaling of regional and national flagship programmes, including the Regional Food Systems Investment Facility.
• Facilitate resource mobilisation, financing activation and risk‑informed development support.
• Coordinate a team of strategic planners at country level and advise on food systems, agriculture, education transformation, energy transition, humanitarian‑development collaboration and stabilization.
• Enhance cooperation with humanitarian action, peacebuilding efforts and civil society stakeholders.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in sustainable development, strategic planning and multi‑stakeholder coordination.
• Proven ability to work with UN agencies, governments, donors and civil society in complex environments.
• Strong understanding of the SDGs, especially in the context of the Sahel and Horn of Africa.
• Excellent analytical, communication and leadership skills.

Required skills

• Strategic planning and coordination
• Program design and implementation
• Resource mobilisation and financing activation
• Risk‑informed development support