Background

In 2011, UNDP Somalia started a new five-year programme that aims to deliver recovery and development assistance to Somalia.   The programme is based on priorities identified by Somalia authorities.   The strategy focuses on making progress towards peace and meeting people’s humanitarian and recovery needs by addressing gender issues, boosting social services, improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, promoting good governance and improving human security.   To implement the UNDP Somalia Country Programme 2011 – 2015 UNDP Somalia comprises two main programme clusters: (a) Governance and Rule of Law (GROL) Programme; and (b) Poverty Reduction and Environment Protection Programme (PREP).

The GROL Programme is based on the Strengthening Governance and Rule of Law in Somalia 2012-2015 programme document and responds to the priorities identified by Somalia authorities through a focus on six inter-related and mutually thematic areas which are all essential to the strengthening of governance and the rule of law in Somalia at national, regional and local levels. These are: fostering inclusive political processes, strengthening core institutional functions and systems, improving access to justice and the judicial system, strengthening police and security sector governance, enabling resilient local governance and service delivery, and enhancing community security and resilience. The overall objective is that Somali women and men benefit from more inclusive, responsive governance that enables improved service delivery and enhances peace. To meet this objective, governance and rule of law programming must work in tandem.

United Nations Security Council resolution 2102 (2013) of 2 May established the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) effective on 3 June 2013. UNSOM will have a Rule of Law and Security Institutions (ROLSI) Group to support stabilization and extension of the Federal Government of Somalia’s (FGS) authority throughout the national territory, with the specific aim of supporting the assumption of the full range of security and rule of law responsibilities. The ROLSI Group will partner with UNDP and other actors in UNCT working in the rule of law area (in particular UNODC, UNICEF, UNHCR,) in order to integrate the UN’s programmatic activities in the work of the Mission that were identified as relevant, and consistent with the Global Focal Point approach.   The Civilian Police Project Manager will manage the policing component of the GROL Programme and operate within the integrated structure of UNSOM.  

The civilian policing component implements activities across Somalia with a differentiated approach responding to the particular political and conflict characteristics that are present.   To facilitate implementation of activities the Civilian Police Project Manager has three international Area Project Managers that report directly.    The civilian police project manager works closely with communities, authorities and the police to develop responsive and responsible policing that conforms to local and international norms and best practice. UNDP’s civilian police project is implemented using a rule of law and governance approach. A rule of law approach prioritizes police reform and development in step with judicial reform and development to ensure that these two essential components of the criminal justice sector develop in a mutually beneficial manner. A governance approach to policing emphasizes principles of democracy and oversight with the police providing a service to the communities in which they are working and to which they are accountable. 

In close collaboration with the Heads of Office of the UNDP in Somalia, the Project Manager provides policy advice to the relevant counterparts and leads policy advocacy in the Programme Area.   The Project Manager supervises the project team and works in close collaboration with the UNDP Somalia projects and programme staff, operations team in the CO, UNSOM, other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.

The Project Manager, based in Mogadishu, is expected to spend a minimum of 30% of his/her time visiting project sites across Somalia. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Strategic direction and leadership;
• Management of the Civilian Police Project;
• Strategic partnership and resources mobilization;
• Advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation, and representation;.
• Facilitation of Knowledge Building and management.

Ensures Strategic direction of project operation, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Provide overall direction and leadership to police development activities throughout Somalia to ensure that UNDP’s support is contributing to a police service that is able to deliver accountable and effective security, in line with local and international standards;
• Coordinate strategic development and direction with Somali governmental and non-governmental counterparts;
• Participate in the UN system wide coordination for the development and implementation of police development programmes, based on International Human Rights standards, Community Policing, contextualized as appropriate to the Somali context, and ensure harmonization with relevant UN programmes;
• Provide advisory support to all stakeholders on optimal strategies for police development within a development and rule of law framework, including expanding formal policing to provide services to more Somalis. Such advice will take into account the Somali context in addition to international best practice and lessons learned;
• Facilitate the development of reform frameworks and processes that can respond to local needs which can guide police development to deliver sustainable, community-based and accountable policing that are appropriate to the local situation;
• Lead the formulation of strategies for the development of effective and independent oversight and accountability mechanisms;
• With partners, develop approaches to policing that prioritize community-based responses to prevent and reduce crime and criminal violence at the local level.

Ensure effective and accurate overall management of the project focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Lead, effectively manage and supervise the implementation of UNDP’s Civilian Police Project, including the supervision of staff, management of resources and development of appropriate linkages with other actors involved in supporting good police practices across the full spectrum of activities;
• In close collaboration with the Heads of Sub-Offices, provide direction and supervision to the civilian police area project teams and area project managers;
• Implement the project activities in accordance with UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations and the Internal Control Framework for UNDP Somalia;
• Prepare project implementation activities and select implementing partners such as government institutions, service providers, and NGOs. Manage calls for bids and proposals and select implementing partners within the UNDP contractual framework for project activity implementation. Design the scope of works and TORs for the bids and calls for proposals;
• Manage day to day administrative matters for the project under the direction of the Senior Police Adviser with the support of administrative staff;
• Ensure full transparency and access to information about UNDP activities in the area of civilian policing;
• Participate in communication and media activities. Ensure project web-site updates. Coordinate distribution of the project related information. Ensure visibility of the Donor and Implementing Partners in all project outputs;
• Prepare the project Annual Work Plan for approval of the Project Board in alignment with national and regional priorities;Account for the achievement of project outputs in line with the approved work plan through the day-to-day planning, management coordination and implementation of activities;
• Supervise regular risk analysis and monitoring activities and ensures the maintenance of the project risk log and issues log.

Establish and maintain strategic partnership and implement the resources mobilization strategy focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Establish and maintain dialog with government officials, both local and national, NGOs, partners, donors and communities to provide knowledge and understanding, ensuring accurate interpretation of the project objectives and implementation;
• Identify areas of cooperation and coordination with UNSOM and other UN agencies for the implementation of joint activities related to the Civilian Police Project;
• Collect and make analysis of information on donor contracts, funding priorities, criteria and processes related to the Civilian Police Project;
• Promote and explain the UNDP projects’ activities and support the UNDP CO cooperation with donors;
• Support CO resource mobilization efforts.

Ensure efficient financial management, advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and representation focusing on achievement of the following results

• Facilitate gathering of information for project monitoring and evaluation processes ensuring compliance with UNDP M&E requirements in reporting on programme results and progress towards outcomes;
• Ensure proper monitoring and evaluation procedures are instituted in all project activities;
• Ensure proper monitoring of project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets;
• Produce and coordinate the preparation of the substantive and operational reports from the project;
• Develop annual workplans, budget reports and other documents for the management and reporting of project activities;
• Develop project budgets and implement the project in accordance with the budget;
• Manage the accurate and timely quarterly reporting on the progress of the project with a specific focus on the activities and funds utilized;
• Produce high quality reports to donors at the standard and timeline according to UNDP’s contractual obligations to donors;
• Facilitate proper monitoring of project inventory, attendance records, filing system. Assure fair and transparent personnel management and procurement of goods and services in accordance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures;
• Ensure overall accountability for the use of project funds as well as the strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations in all project operations;
• Provide leadership in overseeing the effective provision of services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management;
• Ensure the integrity of financial systems and directly oversee the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the project and advise the Senior Police Advisor accordingly;
• Maintain field level financial accountability through regular liaison with field staff, monitoring payment requests from the field and ensuring timely and regular payment.

Ensure Knowledge Building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Promote cross-unit teamwork and skills development for the Civilian Police Project team members through coaching and mentoring;
• Capture and disseminate lesson’s learned and best practices to contribute to learning on policing and development elsewhere;
• Participate in international knowledge networks and other fora to draw on best practice and lessons learned in other similar contexts to apply to Somalia;
• Coordinate project strategies and activities with other UNDP projects to ensure the effective implementation of the Country Programme Document.

Impact of Results 

The results of the work of the Project Manager will help strengthen UNDP’s delivery of effective civilian policing support to national policies and capacity development, in part through the establishment and/or strengthening of strategic partnerships as well as facilitation of resource mobilization. The Project Manager increases the visibility and contribution of UNDP in the subject area. The Project Manager is responsible for daily contact with national counterparts and for recommendations to the Senior Police Adviser when necessary and in response to the changes in the local context in the area of Civilian Police.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
Preparing information required for advocacy for the inclusion of UNDP’s focus areas (democratic governance, poverty and MDGs, energy and environment, crisis prevention and recovery, HIV/AIDS and mainstreaming gender). Devising and communicating strategies. Influencing the public policy agenda. Providing conceptual leadership for UNDP’s advocacy at the global level:

• Advocates for the inclusion of UNDP’s focus areas in the public policy agenda;
• Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
• Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
• Leverages UNDP’s multidisciplinary expertise to influence the shape of policies and programmes;
• Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, fact based approaches/solutions;
• Develops internal organizational policies promoting strategic approaches to UNDP’s focus areas (HQ);
• Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives;
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling disagreements with UNDP’s policy agenda in order to promote and position UNDP in complex environments.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management
Effectively managing core and non-core resources to achieve organizational results. Moving from basic research to programme/project management, to programme design and conceptual leadership:

• Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
• Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it;
• Makes use of a variety of resources within UNDP to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
• Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level;
• Ensures the integration of UNDP’s strategic concern in interagency, other multilateral initiatives and multi-sectoral development frameworks such as PRSPs, SWAPs and MDGs;
• Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results.

Building Strategic Partnerships
Establishing, maintaining and utilizing a broad network of contacts. Building partnerships and strategic alliances.Leveraging the resources of national governments and other development partners:

• Identifies and prioritizes opportunities and obstacles in the political scene (government, civil society, parliamentarians, pressure groups) to advance UNDP’s agenda; identifies common interests and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners;
• Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
• Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UNDP’s agenda into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests;
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations;
• Leverages the resources of governments and other development partners.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
Enhancing existing processes or products. Developing original and innovative ideas and approaches. Influencing others within UNDP and outside, to adopt new approaches. Creating a culture of innovation and change:

• Influences and coaches others inside and outside UNDP in developing and implementing innovative approaches;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources;
• Leverages resources in support of new approaches;
• Facilitates change and influences senior decision makers to implement change strategies.

Resource Mobilization
Ensuring that UNDP has the resources it requires to implement programmes and advance a policy-oriented agenda. Moves from providing basic inputs to resource mobilization strategies, through implementation of the strategies, to conceptualization and design of strategies:

• Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at regional (sub-regional) level (RSC, HQ;)
• Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level;
• Shares information with country offices concerning opportunities to tap potential donors;
• Strengthens the capacity of the country office to mobilize resources.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline. Focusing on the knowledge and skill areas necessary to effectively perform the functions of the post. Identifying and seeking to expand knowledge and improve work processes:

• Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Applies knowledge to support the unit/branch’s objectives and to further the mandate of UNDP;
• For managers: applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignment.

Client Orientation
Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs. Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns. Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs. Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients:

• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
• Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services;
• Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes;
• Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations.

Core Competencies:

• 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
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:          

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in police studies, law, criminology or any other related field.

• At least 7 years of experience in general policing, preferably with a background in community policing;
• Experience working on Rule of Law or Security Sector Reform in development environments;
• At least 3 years of progressive responsibility in project or programme management, including personnel management, budgetary and financial management;
• Detailed knowledge of development process and post-conflict related issues, particularly in the development of accountable civilian policing in a post-conflict environment;
• Extensive knowledge of and experience in crisis and post-conflict contexts;
• Prior working experience within the UNDP/United Nations is desirable.

Language requirements:             

• Strong written and spoken English.

Important:

• Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within three weeks from the date of receipt of offer of appointment;
• The time-in-post requirement is waived for internal candidates who have served a minimum of 12 months in their current assignment.