Regional Director, Africa

About the role

The Regional Director, Africa leads the United Nations Development Coordination Office’s regional efforts, supporting Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams across the continent. Reporting to the Assistant Secretary‑General, the role ensures strategic collaboration and SDG acceleration throughout the region.

Key responsibilities

• Provide thought leadership on sustainable development, convening regional stakeholders to drive SDG acceleration.
• Strengthen partnerships with Regional Economic Commissions, UN agencies, and financial institutions, leveraging innovative financing and digital tools.
• Guide integration of conflict‑prevention, peacebuilding, human‑rights, and humanitarian considerations into development programmes.
• Coordinate communications, strategic messaging, and counter‑misinformation efforts for the Resident Coordinator system at the regional level.
• Lead the regional office’s strategy, work programme, budgeting, and performance monitoring, ensuring delivery against UN efficiency targets.

Required profile

• Extensive experience as a development practitioner and senior representative with strong strategic and management capacities.
• Proven ability to lead multi‑stakeholder partnerships and facilitate high‑level regional collaboration.
• Experience in guiding UN Country Teams and Resident Coordinators in complex, crisis‑affected settings.

Required skills

• Strategic analysis and scenario planning.
• Data‑driven decision making and digital innovation.
• Foresight, behavioral science, and risk analytics.