In direct response to the call by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to reposition the UN development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and to work towards "a new generation of Country Teams that are tailored to the specific needs of each country", the UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development is organizing executive courses on leadership skills for individual UN Country Teams.
The UNCT Dream Team Leadership Training provides an exclusive opportunity for the UN Country Team (UNCT) to engage in a strengthened dialogue, collaborative learning and peer-exchange. The leadership training provides an open and safe space to unpack leadership challenges and opportunities for the UNCT to drive collective change towards new sustainable development partnerships, and to be an incubator for innovative ideas and joint leadership pilots.
This allows the UNCT to be more effective in its engagement with stakeholders across government, civil society, academia, the private sector and the UN system towards a UN system that delivers impact that is larger than the sum of its parts in support of national priorities.
Introduction
The UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Developmentcontributes to the development of coherent approaches to sustainable development policy and practice through the development of learning tools, platforms for interaction, and a mature set of learning offerings.
It also serves as acatalyst and convener, prompting dialogue and knowledge sharing on issues relevant to the vision and mission of the United Nations, in concert with a diverse set of stakeholders from governments, academia, the private sector and civil society.
Supportinga generation of leaders who are steering the world in a more sustainable direction is an important tool to unlock the transformative potential of the 2030 Agenda.
In this context, UNSSC designs tailored leadership programmesforUN Country Teams consistent with the demand by UN member states for the UN development system to reposition and accelerate its support to countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The training is developed in line with national priorities and covers a wide range of topics regarding UN development system repositioning, integrated approaches to SDG implementation, as well as competencies and skills required to collectively define tailored country responses.
Objectives
Keeping in mind specificities of each country context, the objectives of the UNCT Dream Team Training can include but are not limited to the following.
By the end of the UNCT Dream Team Leadership Training, participants should be able to:
position and engage UN development system entities in country in order to accelerate action and delivery of the 2030 Agenda;
exercise collaborative leadership behaviour, conducive to advancing a ONE UN response, which is greater than the sum of the parts and which advances sustainable development;
identify opportunities for stakeholder engagement and build effective partnerships to support sustainable development in country;
advocate more effectively for the UN’s collective value proposition.
Course methodology
The Dream Team Leadership Training will be tailored to the UNCT's specific needs, and it can be conducted in the following formats:
Face-to-face: duration can be between 2.5 and 3.5 days
Online: flexible format throughout a maximum of 1 week, according to time zones
Inputs, reflections and sessions can include topics such as:
vision and principles of the 2030 Agenda
collaborative and agile UNCT leadership
systems thinking in a post-Covid 19 world
climate crisis and economic
transformation: what role for the UN?
design thinking and innovation
team building
partnerships
negotiation and political acumen
advocacy
executive media training and strategic
communication
contextualized UN development system repositioning and
the collective value proposition
Target audience
UN Country Teams
Cost of participation
The programme is offered at a reduced price of $35,000 USD, thanks to a subsidy of the German Government. For exact modalities, please write to sustainable-development@unssc.org
As a WHO representative, I believe in the transformative power of a harmonious UN presence at the country level. There are many barriers to UN Reform and the UNCT Dream Team training provided a safe space for me to share my views and tackle my skepticism.
This program offered a rich set of resources and tailored solutions to our needs. The experienced trainers and speakers provided valuable knowledge on the topics covered, leading to new skills and commitments to improve performance as “One UN” at the country level.
Matteo Rosati
Programme Officer, UNESCO
The UNCT Dream Team programme deepened my understanding of complex issues through its interdisciplinary approach. The trainers' technical and interpersonal skills created a constructive and enjoyable learning environment.
Notably, the networking opportunities provided added great value, allowing me to connect and build rapport with new colleagues.
The well-crafted and well-delivered program was effective in unpacking the intricacies of sustainable development, and I highly recommend it to those seeking to advance their understanding of this vital topic.
Tatjana Colin
Head of UNICEF Office in Kuwait
As a member of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Kuwait, I participated in the UNSSC's Dream Team Leadership Training in November 2021. The program was excellent, with relevant themes and engaging, dynamic methodologies. The presenters were friendly, technically strong, and highly skilled in promoting active participation.
The training strengthened our UNCT, fostering cohesion, unity, and greater awareness of our sister agencies' programs. It has positioned us to work together more effectively as one UN. I highly recommend this training to all UNCTs and plan to implement my learnings in my current role. The program receives my highest marks!
Dino Francescutti
FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for the GCC States and Yemen
The UNSSC Dream Team program was a highly positive experience for me. The training team possessed excellent people skills and was highly responsible. The well-curated content provided new insights into the SDGs, and I found the participatory sessions particularly engaging.
The facilitators designed and conducted these sessions exceptionally well, making a significant contribution to the program's success. UNSSC did a great job!
Nisreen Rubaian
UNHCR Representative in Kuwait
I thoroughly enjoyed the UNCT Kuwait Dream Training organized by UNSSC. I would like to commend the training team for their exceptional creativity in delivering the information in a clear and easily absorbable manner.
It was evident that the facilitators possessed excellent subject matter knowledge and knew how to engage all participants effectively. I am grateful for their commitment, dedication, and exceptional skills, which contributed to the success of the program. Thank you for the valuable learning experience.
Chakib Nemmaoui
Program Support Officer, IFAD, Morocco
Malgré que nous pensons connaitre ces principes de base du leadership pour mener à bien notre mission, il nous a été d'une trés grande utilité de revenir sur certaines definitions et sur la comprehension et l'analyse communes du role de l'UNCT dans le pays. Le professionalisme et l'engagement des animatrices, que je tiens à féliciter et remercier, étaient à plus d'un titre la clé de la réussite d'une telle formation.
(Although we thought we knew the basic leadership principles needed to carry out our mission, it was very useful to go back over some definitions and the common understanding and analysis of the role of the UNCT in a country. The professionalism and commitment of the facilitators, whom I would like to congratulate and thank, were in many ways key to this successful training.)
Bariz Mehdiyev
Assistant Representative (Programme), FAO
UNSSC’s efforts to increase coherence across the United Nations contribute to a clearer understanding of its added value in achieving the 2030 Agenda and SDGs at country level.
Kanako Mabuchi
Head of RCO Azerbaijan
The UNCT Dream Team programme offered a fun way for the UN Country Team members to get to know each other at a much deeper level in a safe space. Many of the exercises were cleverly done. Full of AHA! moments!
