UNDP Jobs - 38182- Strategic Planner and transition Advisor

Strategic Planner and transition Advisor

Location :

BAMAKO, MALI

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2013

Application Deadline :

18-Jun-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

On 22 March 2012, a coup d’état plunged Mali into a constitutional crisis. At the same time, the north of the country was taken over by extremist groups that are now controlling the area and imposing an extreme form of the Sharia Law. The situation has caused mass displacement of the population and human rights violations and is affecting neighboring countries. In an attempt to address the multifaceted challenges, the Economic Community of West-African States (ECOWAS) brokered a political solution that paved the way for the establishment of Transitional authorities and a roadmap for the transition. In addition, ECOWAS opened channels of communication with some elements in the northern Mali, with a view to peacefully resolving the security crisis. Meanwhile, ECOWAS and the African Union finalized their concept of operation for an eventual military operation in the north of Mali, with the support of the UN and in close collaboration with the Malian authorities. With resolution 2071 of 12 October 2012, the Security Council requested the United Nations to assist the Transitional authorities of Mali in their efforts towards the restoration of constitutional order and territorial integrity.

On 30 August 2012, President Traoré sent a request for UN assistance in building the capacities of the Malian Transitional authorities in the areas of political negotiation, security sector reform and humanitarian assistance. In response, a UN preliminary assessment mission was deployed in Bamako from 1 to 5 October 2012, led by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and with the participation of representatives from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It noted that the situation in Mali warrants urgent action in the following priority areas: i) consolidate the relationship among the three leading government figures of the transition and help them develop a shared vision and roadmap for the transition; ii) conduct broad-based national consultations to generate support for the roadmap of the transition; iii) engage in negotiations with groups who have genuine grievances in the north; iv) reorganize the armed forces, prepare and equip them to re-conquer the occupied territories in the north; v) identify, isolate and combat extremist groups and organised criminal networks; vi) enhance the Malian state’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance; and vii) prepare the elections that will mark the end of the transition.

The political crisis has severely impacted the country, which was hit by the recurrent food crisis in the Sahel. A total of 4.6 million people in Mali are now estimated to face severe acute malnutrition this year due to the conflict in northern Mali and the Sahel and nutrition crisis, and over 1 million children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition, across the Sahel region. The 2010-2011 harvest was characterized by poor rainfall, leading to poor pasture for cattle to feed on throughout the Sahel region. Production is also affected by cross-border migration and pressure from neighboring markets, decrease in money transfers, and volatility of markets (rising grain prices, unstable fuel prices), low domestic food stocks, increasing rural exodus, and returnees from Libya.

Uncertainty currently hangs over Mali's political and economic future. The rebels have halted their advance, and some humanitarian aid has now reached the north, where some 268,000 people have fled their homes. Economic activity has been severely disrupted and the country's credibility with foreign investors and appeal to tourists has been profoundly undermined.

The Security Council unanimously authorized establishment of a UN mission in Mali on April 24th 2013. The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is tasked with protecting civilians, preventing the return of armed groups to population centers, and helping the Malian authorities re-establish state control throughout the country. The mission will also have human rights monitoring component, as well as a political dimension focused on assisting with presidential and legislative elections scheduled for July, and the starting of a national reconciliation process.
The African-led force in Mali, AFISMA, will be integrated into MINUSMA (which will have, at full capacity, 12,000 troops and police).

The Malian government confirmed the date of 28 July for the holding of the presidential elections. However a number of critical administrative and technical issues remain to be resolved.

Organizational Context

The Strategic Planning and Transition Advisor would strengthen the capacity of UNDP and provide support to the RC in coordinating and planning an integrated UN response in the post-crisis and transition phase in Mali. The Strategic Planning and Transition Advisor would support the UNCT and UNDP CO Management on all aspects of recovery, including the immediate and longer-term recovery and transition in Mali. This would include building an integrated and coherent UN response, including in the newly established UN Stabilization Mission in Mali, especially in the North. The Senior Planning/Transition Advisor leads UNCT/UNDP’s involvement in the preparation and coordination of the appropriate recovery and resilience-building strategies and related programmes for reconstruction in the North, in close collaboration with the humanitarian interventions and resilience-building, with appropriate partnerships and resource mobilization in place. The Strategic Planning and Transition Advisor also leads the development of and manages the overall UNCT/UNDP recovery/reconstruction programme portfolio for the North.

The Strategic Planning and Transition Advisor works in close collaboration with Government officials, other UN Agencies, UNDP HQ, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide guidance and support to the RC in assessment and analytical processes for the UN system in the transition from a crisis or post-conflict situation;
Provide input and guidance to the design of UN strategic plans;
Provide policy advice and technical support to the RC and UNCT on UN System collaborative programming and monitoring processes for transition response;
Advise the UN Resident Coordinator on, and to facilitate, planning and management of UN System coordination for transition at the country level;
Support the Resident Coordinator in developing and articulating a sound strategic direction for UN agencies and other humanitarian and recovery actors in Mali. The senior advisor will engage widely with UN agencies and other actors to ensure a Recovery Strategy and Plan for the North is appropriate to the needs of the affected population, contributes to resilience, and is widely supported by international and national actors.

As the designated representative of the Secretary-General, the Resident Coordinator assumes overall responsibility for and coordination of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system carried out a the country level, in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the Government and mandates and objectives of United Nations system organizations.

Under the direct supervision of the RC, and in collaboration with other RC Office staff and, as relevant, joint UNCT/mission planning units, the incumbent's main duties and responsibilities are:

Summary of key functions

Leads and coordinates the work of the RC, RCO and UNCT in assessments and analytical processes for the UN system within the context of the transition;
Leads and provides high level guidance to the design of UN strategic plans within the context of the transition.
Provides high level and strategic policy advice and technical support to the RC and UNCT on UN System collaborative programming and monitoring processes for transition response.
Advises the UN Resident Coordinator on the facilitation, planning and management of UN coordination for transition at country level;
Leads in the development of a sound strategic direction for UN agencies and other humanitarian and recovery actors in Mali.

Leads and coordinates the work of the RC, RCO and UNCT in assessments and analytical processes for the UN system within the context of the transition:

Lead and participate in needs assessment processes and any other analytical work to help determine the UNCT strategy and priorities, reflecting the overall framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
Facilitate and monitor quality of UN contributions to internal and external medium- to long- term needs assessment exercises and other similar analytical work;
Guide and reinforce capacity of the UN Country Team to analyze political, social and economic trends, including support to preparation of key periodic situational analyses;
Lead in the development of the UN’s strategy, role, and common priorities;
Support various coordination mechanisms including support to lead agencies of Theme Groups and Inter-Agency Task Forces;
Facilitate and coordinate at the request of the RC and UNCT, consultations with the Government, donors and organizations of the UN system, and provide technical support for policy and programme development and related strategic initiatives. At the request of the RC or UNCT, represent the RC or UNCT in various national and UN meetings as well as in regional coordination of UN activities;
Where appropriate, the Strategic Planning Advisor will work with the political and/or peace operations in country, to ensure a coordinated and complementary approach to post-conflict recovery.

Leads and provides high level guidance to the design of UN strategic plans within the context of the transition:

Lead support to the RC in the preparation and coordination of UN strategic plans (such as the UNDAF, ISF, Transition Plan or similar), based on needs assessments, analysis and other identified priorities and strategies;
Facilitate and coordinate RC and UNCT in engaging bilateral and multilateral donors, including for resources mobilization, and to direct the initiation and development of related preparatory and follow-up action;
Provide advisory support in the development of appropriate modalities for a multi-donor trust fund and or resource mobilization mechanisms.

Provides high level and strategic policy advice and technical support to the RC and UNCT on UN System collaborative programming and monitoring processes for transition response:

Provide high level strategic and technical support to the UNCT in regards to Integrated Mission planning, as appropriate and monitoring processes for transition response;
Monitor progress of UN system response against the MDGR and/or other frameworks as defined by international conferences;
Monitor relevant developments in the Security Council, and within the Peace and Security departments of the United Nations HQ;.
Support the UNCT in the development of a common work plan ensuring timeliness, coherence and quality of results and the promotion and development of proposals for UN System capacity building initiatives in order to achieve shared results.

Advises the UN Resident Coordinator on the facilitation, planning and management of UN coordination for transition at country level:

Substantive contribution towards the development of synergies of the UNCT on institutional and organizational issues, to promote a united and coherent UN system, consistent with the organizational mandate;
Lead in drawing from other UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to provide contributions to UNCT decision-making and learning;
Lead in the promotion the use of simplification and harmonization strategies, including the opening of UN Houses, common premises etc in order to reduce the burden on national partners and to maximize the effectiveness of an integrated UN operation;
Where relevant, lead in the liaise and coordinate with OCHA to ensure complementarity in policy advice, coordination mechanisms and field presence;
Lead in ensuing close collaboration with the World Bank for complementarity in coordination of development assistance;
Supervise and provide guidance to RC office staff, and ensure effective budgeting, reporting and management of resources;
Lead support to the RC in identifying and managing required resources for coordination; Where the UNCT decides to promote joint programmes in a given area, lead in the elaboration, negotiation and implementation of these programmes through concrete and immediate support on operational and substantive issues as required;
Ensure the establishment of systems to effectively monitor and report progress of UNCT against jointly agreed results including regular reports such as: reporting against conference declarations, producing the RC Annual Report, UN Thematic Reports, Unified UN Development Reports, inputs to the Secretary-General’s Quarterly Reports to the Security Council;
Lead and contribute to knowledge sharing (notably through training) amongst UN staff on issues relating to the UN Reform Agenda and post-crisis transition.

Leads in the development of a sound strategic direction for UN agencies and other humanitarian and recovery actors in Mali:

Thorough sound analysis of the political, social and economic situation in Mali, the advisor will provide high level, substantive and strategic advice to the HC/RC to guide the international response to the crisis, with resilience at the heart of it. He/she will lead in the identification of strategic opportunities and potential recovery programme areas of cooperation, including opportunities for joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners (IFIs, INGOs etc.), based on comprehensive and sound analysis of existing humanitarian and recovery support programmes developed and implemented by stakeholders;
Leads the development of a joint Recovery Strategy to guide programming with the other UN Agencies, NGOs and the Government (where feasible). The Recovery Strategy should look to capitalize on the gains of the humanitarian response, and even base itself on elements of the humanitarian response plan e.g. orienting itself around the 3rd Strategic Objective of the CAP which lends itself explicitly to “resilience and livelihoods….communities affected by food insecurity, political crises, socio-economic and natural disaster”;
Lead in advocating toother agencies and NGOs to include cross-cutting issues in recovery programmes, in particular environment, gender, human rights and disaster risk reduction;
Advise and advocate on the importance of conflict sensitivity in all programming;
Ensure close coordination with national counterparts, the World Bank, donors and other stakeholders to ensure that humanitarian activities support and / or link into recovery strategies, including but not limited to the UNDAF. Advocate for an early involvement/deployment of development actors to facilitate a smoother transition from relief to development;
Lead in the guidance to the design of HCT/UN strategic plans as appropriate. Manage information and produce information and communications products to illustrate the needs of the affected population and how the humanitarian response (and particularly the early recovery elements) is satisfying the needs in a manner that also builds resilience and links to the recovery agenda.

The key results have an impact on the UN’s support to the transition process in Mali. The results will contribute towards the work of the HC/RC, ensuring effective coordination and delivery towards clear and strategic results. The results will also ensure coordination and collaboration with the peace keeping mission, the World Bank, the donor community, other international actors and the Government of Mali.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Conflict analysis and assessment;
Facilitating multi-stakeholder national/local dialogues for conflict management;
Building national capacities to manage/prevent/reduce conflict;
Outstanding knowledge of facilitation/training, process and coordination skills;
Sound knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of post-conflict, peace-building, good governance, human rights and development-related issues;
Knowledge and experience in political, governance and electoral processes;
Experience in providing strategic policy advice (including report writing) and experience of UN inter-agency planning and policy processes;
Ability to work under pressure in a stressful environment.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Strong analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate conflict management, peace-building, recovery and development dimensions and related issues that require a coordinated UN response;
Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to peace-building, recovery and development issues and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Management and Leadership:

Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style;
Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines;
Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations;
Very strong leadership capacities to guide dialogue activities in mixed groups;
Ability to negotiate at decision-making level;
Excellent organizational and management skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects;
Planning and organizing: Demonstrated ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a demanding, multi-stakeholder environment, to priooritise among these tasks, and to work toward short deadlines;
Communication: Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including a proven ability to communicate complex processes or technical information orally and to prepare documents that are clear, concise and meaningful;
Proven ability to represent the United Nations effectively to external stakeholders, such as governments of host countries, and donors;
Teamwork: Superior client orientation and inter-personal skills with a proven ability to work cooperatively with multi-disciplinary teams and staff and managers at all levels.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master degree in development economics, political science, statistics, international development and/or management and coordination or equivalent.

Experience:

Senior grade advisor with at least ten years work experience in humanitarian, development and/or transitional operations. At least four years work experience in the field, ideally in a post-conflict setting;
Extensive experience at the national or international level in providing high-level and high-quality management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development, recovery, livelihoods and conflict prevention/peace building strategies, programmes and projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments;
Experience in working with the UNDP and UN interagency coordination processes, including collaboration with Humanitarian actors, and UN missions;
In conflict/post conflict situations: Experience with conflict prevention, peace building, reintegration and conflict sensitive development;
Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization and partnerships;
Previous experience in UNDAF development or recovery plans will be considered as plus;

Language:

Fluency in French and English is a must.

FC: 04180