Background

UNDP Somalia comprises two main clusters: (a) Governance and Rule of Law Programme; and (b) Poverty Reduction and Environment Protection Programme. The Governance and Rule of Law Programme of UNDP Somalia responds to all four outcome areas outlined in the new country programme: capacity-building for peace and human security, strengthened governance and rule of law institutions, systems, practices and services, increased livelihood opportunities and improved natural resources management, and gender equality. Project areas currently include local governance, institution building, access to justice, police and community safety. The Somali Institutional Development Project (SIDP) focuses on implementing the capacity building and institutional development pillar of UNDP Somalia’s governance and Rule of Law portfolio.

The Somali Institutional Development Project (SIDP) was started in 2008. Current support focuses on four areas, namely:

• Policy and legislative development;
• Human resource management and development;
• Public administration and financial management; and
• Rehabilitation of infrastructure and provision of essential facilities and equipment.

UNDP’s Governance Programme with the assistance of the UNDP Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Recovery is developing a new strategy for Governance which responds to the new priorities set out in the new Country Programme Document. In parallel and in accordance with the new direction of the Governance Strategy, SIDP is currently undergoing a redesign process which will set out a clear vision and deliverables for SIDP for the period from Jan 2012 until the end of the Country Programme document in 2015. It is likely that the redesign process will refocus the delivery of the project around three pillars: (i) Public Financial Management, Accountability and Transparency; (ii) Development Planning and Aid Coordination and Management.

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager of the Somali Institution Development Project, the Project Specialist will support the implementation of the Somali Institutional Development Programme in Puntland.

The Project Management Specialist will oversee the delivery of public financial management, transparency and accountability activities, and public sector reform activities, in Puntland; they will spend at least 30% of their time in Bossasso, where the Ministry of Finance is located.

The Project Management Specialist will lead UNDP’s engagement with public financial management and public sector reform counterparts in Puntland, including the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Labour, Youth and Sports; and the Civil Service Commission. The specialist will report to Public Sector Reform Team Leader based in Hargeisa and Public Financial Management Team Leader based in Nairobi, with matrix management by the Development Planning and Aid Coordination Team Leader based in Garowe.

The specialist will work closely with the Public Financial Management specialist based in Hargeisa who will support the implementation of Pillar 1 (Public Financial Management) in Somaliland; they will also work with the Public Administration Reform specialist, who will support the implementation of Pillar 3 (Public Sector and Parliamentary Reform) activities. The specialist will work closely with the SIDP Project Management Team, the Garowe, Hargeisa and Mogadishu Sub-Offices, relevant programme staff in other UN Agencies, and the Nairobi operations team. The specialist works in close collaboration with Government officials, UNDP technical advisors and other experts, ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation. This team leader will promote cooperation and knowledge sharing in the successful implementation of the UNDP’s mandate.

The position is located in Garowe, with at least 30% of time spent in Bossaso.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic, technical and analytical direction to the project in Garowe, Somalia;
2. Contribute to the design, implementation and reporting of project activities in Garowe;
3. Implementation of operational policies to ensure efficient and timely delivery of activities;
4. Implementation of reporting, monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies;
5. Facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Provide strategic, technical and analytical direction to the project in Garowe, Somalia, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to discussions on the strategic direction and priorities for the project in Puntland;
• Ensure that the strategic direction of the project is reflected in workplans and project activities in Puntland;
• Provide analysis to the Project Manager and other team members on the political and operational environment affecting project implementation in Puntland;
• Provide technical advice to Puntland counterparts in the areas of Public Administration Reform, Public Financial Management and National Planning processes together with other technical experts.

Contribute to the design, implementation and reporting of project activities in Garowe, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Oversee day to day implementation of project activities, analyze and monitor progress and advise on timely corrective actions for proper project delivery;
• Identify new areas of support and facilitate implementation of new initiatives, together with project counterparts;
• Liaise with counterparts and preparation of agreements including work plan, budget and schedule of payments
• Ensure, in close consultation with the Project Manager and the Project Coordinator, the effective application of RBM tools, elaboration and implementation of coherent work plans, project and programme documents, preparation of compelling proposals and achievement of results;
• Ensure compliance of operation with UNDP rules and regulations.

• Act as the main focal for implementing partners for project activities in Puntland;
• Act as the main coordination and liaison focal point for implementing partners;
• Coordinate with relevant UN and external agencies and internally with other parts of the Governance and Rule of Law Programme, especially the Joint Programme on Local Governance and the Justice Project to ensure synergies between activities.

• Oversee partner reporting and where necessary help them to improve in line with UNDP and project reporting standards;
• Provide timely inputs to donor reports on implementation, the achievement of outputs as well as contribute to reporting on progress towards outcomes and impact for all Puntland activities;
• Promote information sharing and coordination with UN agencies;
• Prepare presentations to development partners, as required.

Efficient implementation of operational policies to ensure efficient and timely delivery of activities, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Manage performance of national staff, providing effective mentoring and direction.

b) Budgeting and Financial management:

• Oversee and provide quality control of financial reports submitted by counterparts and liaise with counterparts to ensure the transparent and accountable use of funds provided in the framework of LOAs;
• Ensure that capacity building support to counterparts are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner; advise counterparts with workplan development, develop checklists for all counterparts in support of implementation;
• Supervise national staff in tracking expenses and ensuring proper allocation and use of funds.

c) Procurement, contracting and recruitment:

• Identify and implement the proper contracting modalities to be used and applied for the project;
• Prepare project procurement and recruitment plans in Garowe, Somalia.

Implementation of reporting, monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Implement UNDPs monitoring and evaluation framework and ensure that data for SIDP activities in Puntland are delivered in a timely manner and in an appropriate format;
• Contribute to quarterly, mid-year and annual reporting and coordinate reporting input from the field;
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation of the outcome system developed with implementing partners.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to project country goals and activities;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
• Contribute to design appropriate learning strategies for counterparts.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency, and effectiveness of the Local Governance Project operations as it relates to the use of corporate resources in the following areas:

• Analytical, technical and strategic support;
• Liaison and coordination with partners;
• Operational support including, financial services, Human resources and procurement and logistical services;
• Knowledge building and management;
• Monitoring & Evaluation.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:       

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management: Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches: Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations): Implementing resource mobilization strategies

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level. 

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:      

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Public Finance, Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration or related field with 5 years of experience;
• A Bachelors’ degree in the above fields with 7 years’ experience maybe accepted in lieu of Advanced University Degree.

Experience:     

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in governance programming and/ or project management or 7 years experience in the above, with a first level degree;
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in comparative post conflict or emergency settings is a requirement;
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in providing technical or policy advice in at least one of the areas of public administrative reform or public financial management;
• Understanding of UNDP procedures and regulations is desirable;
• Experience working in Somali context is desirable.

Other:

• Applicants are requested to upload a copy of their latest updated and signed P11 Form instead of a CV which can be downloaded from this website: http://www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
• Internal candidates are requested refer to the Rank-in-Post Policy for the Minimum Time-in-Post requirement before submitting applications to ensure eligibility - http://content.undp.org/go/prescriptive/Human-Resources---Prescriptive-Content/download/?d_id=2069041
• Duty Stations A, B and C: 3 years and Duty Stations D & E: 2 years.
• No time- in-post requirement for applicants in the same duty station.
• This position is NOT open to nationals of Somalia.