Background

Somalia is undergoing a historic process of change, moving towards peace from decades of violent conflict, which ravaged the country and resulted in widespread suffering of its people. The Provisional Constitution of the Somali Republic was agreed and endorsed on 1 August 2012. The 275 Members of the House of the People was subsequently selected by a group of 135 clan elders through August and September 2012 and resulted in a parliament widely recognized as representative and credible. The creation of an Upper House has been deferred while the Federal Member States are formed; in the interim, the Provisional Constitution mandates that the House of Peoples to operate as the National Federal Parliament (NFP) by itself.
 
The NFP and its members have a critical role to play in Somalia’s divided context today. If supported to effectively fill its place in the new political infrastructure of Somalia, the legislature will operate as a venue for the debate and discussion of issues of national importance. Potential sources of conflict can be aired, debated and addressed publicly and in a bi-/multi-partisan manner. In order to achieve these objectives, both Members of Parliament and the Parliamentary Secretariat require urgent support. The NFP Speaker has already received support from UNDP (in collaboration with the Association of European Parliaments with Africa (AWEPA) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI)) to develop a Strategic Plan to guide the development of the NFP, but provision of ongoing advice and assistance to strengthen the capacities available to the parliamentary leadership is essential. Significant capacity development will need to be undertaken within the nascent Secretariat to ensure timely and quality services can be provided to MPs, most immediately in terms of legal, research and committee support, as well as outreach and dialogue support. Research facilities are very limited, with library facilities virtually non-existent and e-based solutions also still to be implemented.
 
Under the Provisional Constitution, the NFP has also been tasked with leading the process of constitutional review and implementation, which is required in order to finalise a national Federal Constitution and set in place a framework for national elections. Parliament has set up a Constitutional Oversight Committee, and legislation was enacted in July 2013 to establish a Review and Implementation Commission intended to provide technical support to the Committee. Significant support will needed to be provided to MPs, the Oversight Committee and the Commission, both to build capacities to review and implement the Provisional Constitution and to support a major constitutional public outreach programme announced by the Speaker and Committee Chair. This approach is intended to build buy-in for the constitution throughout the country. The UN – through the UN Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) and UNDP – will work with the Parliament throughout this process to provide support for this crucial work.
 
UNDP Project Results
 
As part of the UN’s overall support to Somalia’s peacebuilding and statebuilding agenda, , in collaboration with UNSOM and UNCT, UNDP is implementing developed a parliamentary and constitutional support programme, which focuses on building the capacities of MPs, Committees and Secretariat staff to discharge the NFPs constitutional mandates:
 
Outcome 1: NFP and Somalia Parliaments capacitated to operate as inclusive, transparent and effective law-making, oversight and representative bodies contributing to national peacebuilding and nation-building goals
  • Output 1: NFP and Somalia Parliaments supported to enact quality legislation and to maintain effective oversight over the other branches of government according to the interests of all Somali people and in support of peace-building and nation-building
  • Output 2: House of the People established as an effective institution, with a functioning administration and infrastructure and leadership supported to discharge their constitutional mandates to fairly, inclusively and transparently manage the business of Parliament and lead the Parliamentary Administration
  • Output 3: MPs are empowered to represent and remain accountable to the Somali people and to provide leadership in a way that promotes national unity for Somalis, including young people and women, participative & representative democracy and more effective contribution to political decision-making.
Outcome 2: NFP capacitated to contribute to the overall national constitutional review process in support of peace-building and nation-building in Somalia
  • Output 4: NFP capacities supported to ensure timely implementation and review of the Constitution.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions
  • Ensuring the sound management of the project's financial, human and procurement resources in compliance with UNDP and specific donor or fund requirements and in collaboration with UNDP Somalia operations;
  • Coordinating the planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities of the project within UNDP Somalia, donors and partners;
  • Under supervision of the CTA, oversee administration staff working and ensure implementation of project according to UNDP procedures.
Working under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor, and in collaboration with other staff the project management specialist will provide the following:
 
Ensure the sound management of financial and accounting, Human Resources and procurement operations for the realization of the project's outputs in compliance with UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations as well as specific Fund/donor requirements, including:
 
Finance
  • Act as focal point for the management of all operational, financial and administrative matters;
  • Issue payment requests and fund transfers, following the CTA’s approval;
  • Prepare project budgets and make budget revisions;
  • Prepare all financial reports for approval of the CTA;
  • Develop terms of reference for audit missions and manage audit support processes;
  • Perform any other tasks requested by the CTA. 
Human Resources:
  • Ensure facilitation of recruitment processes of consultants and national staff for the project;
  • Ensure that human resource planning, recruitment, work plans and work specifications are in accordance with UNDP practice;
  • Constantly monitor and update experts rosters and liaise with HQ for candidates;
  • Establish a performance management system;
  • Perform any other tasks requested by the CTA. 
Procurement:
  • Ensure development of and adherence to the procurement plan;
  • In close collaboration with the Finance/Procurement Staff, ensure efficient procurement and logistical services;
  • Ensure timely mobilization of goods and services to initiate activities;
  • Ensure sound management of programme assets.
Coordinate the planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities of the project within UNDP Somalia, donors and partners:
  • Coordinate the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, and update the plan as required
  • Coordinate the development of knowledge building and knowledge sharing working with the PMU team.
  • Coordinate all internal UNDP and external reporting for donors
  • Develop the annual workplans 
  • Coordinate all workplanning activities as requested by the CTA
Oversee general administration of the projects and supervise project administration, monitoring and evaluation staff.
  • Supervise administration support staff, including M&E officers, Project Assistants, Finance Officers and others as requested by CTA;
  • Oversee mobility of personnel, availability of functioning IT equipment and any other administrative requirement to ensure functioning of the team;
  • Oversee training needs of staff for effective implementation of the project.
Impact of Results
 
The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme and reaching UNDAF/CPD goals. In the short-term, the key results have an impact on the project objective to support the Federal Parliament of Somalia and the Parliaments of Somaliland and Puntland to effectively fulfill its role as a legislative, representative, and oversight body and support the ongoing constitutional review and implementation process.
 
Performance Indicators
  • Delivery of project progress reports and work plans, and review and monitoring systems;
  • Management of human resources including effective performance management and day-to-day guidance of staff;
  • Facilitation of international and national staff and consultants recruited and effectively and substantively managed to achieve anticipated outcome;
  • 0verall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness the project operations as it relates to the use of resources.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility
  • Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Results-Orientation and Development Effectiveness:
  • Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
  • Ability to lead implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects and mobilize resources
  • Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis and reporting
Management and Leadership:
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
  • Sets clear performance goals and standards; executes responsibilities accordingly
  • Able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
  • Applies protocol appropriately;
  • Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time.
Innovation and Judgment:
  • Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems and how they relate;
  • Contributes creative, practical ideas and approaches to deal with challenging situation;
  • Strives for quality client-cantered services (internal/external) when making decisions and taking action.
Job Knowledge & Expertise
  • Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
  • Uses ICT and web-based management systems effectively as a tool and resource;
  • Is motivated and demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development and learn;
  • Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and complex environment;
  • Strong drafting, report-writing skills and oral communication skills;
  • Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people within UNDP, Governments, donors, and UN agencies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:           
  • Master Degree in the field of international relations/post conflict development, management, administration, economics or related discipline.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant and diversified professional experience in programme management;
  • Sound knowledge of UNDP project management and operational rules, preferably by managing multi-donor projects with project teams;
  • Knowledge of UN/UNDP operations and programmes; familiarity with UNDP programme execution rules and regulations is an asset;
  • Knowledge of Atlas and software packages used by UNDP;
  • Excellent computer skills;
  • Relevant experience in Africa an advantage.
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in English mandatory.