UNDP Jobs - 42517- Special Advisor on Delivering as One

Special Advisor on Delivering as One

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

03-Mar-2014

Application Deadline :

25-Dec-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One year, renewable

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

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), the Special Advisor supports and advises the RC on all matters pertaining to the Delivering as One (DaO) approach in Kenya. The Special Advisor supports the RC on the alignment of UNDAF and its funding with the national priorities identified in the government’s second Mid-Term Plan (MTPII), strengthening government ownership and leadership, and ensuring government has access to the experience and expertise of the full range of UN agencies to respond to their national priorities.The Special Advisor supports and advises the RC to ensure DaO principles are adhered to in delivering the UN’s contributions, minimizing transaction costs, and improving management and monitoring for results.

Furthermore, the Special Advisor keeps the RC abreast of the corporate tools and mechanisms put in place, as well as standard operating procedures (SOPs), for successful implementation of Delivering as One.

Externally, the Advisor works closely with government counterparts, other development partners, and civil society to support a more effective, efficient, coherent, coordinated and better performing UN Country Team.

Summary of Key Functions:

Provide policy advice to the RC and liaise with other UN Agencies, government officials, and other relevant stakeholders in areas pertaining to the DaO portfolio including advising on the alignment of UN development activities with national plans and priorities to improve the effectiveness of the UN’s overall contribution, including coordination with other development partners;
Support the RC in spearheading effectiveness in DaO, and advocate for holistic and integrated programming approaches to maximize the effectiveness of the UN’s interventions in Kenya, and advise and support the RC to coordinate UN operational activities for development;
Advise the RC and the UNCT on inter-agency/interdepartmental coordination and management targets, and monitor service delivery. Advise and Support the RC on matters related to the working of the UNCT and jointly agreed work, derived from the UNDAF;
Ensure provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management on DaO.
Proactively identify challenges facing DaO and provide analysis and options for the RC to resolve identified challenges, and ensure the RC is fully apprised on matters related to the working of the UNCT and implementation of the jointly agreed UNCT work programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide policy advice to the RC and liaise with other UN Agencies, government officials, and other relevant stakeholders in areas pertaining to DaO,focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support the RC in the development of an inspiring and integrated vision for the Country Team, including strategies to negotiate and build consensus within the UNCT and the UNCG to pursue a united direction and speak with one voice.
Advise the RC on the alignment of UN development activities with national plans and priorities to improve the effectiveness of the UN’s overall contribution and coordination with other development partners;
Proactively identify and advise the RC on issues that could potentially trigger conflict within the UNCT and advise on steps to mitigate conflict;
Advise and support the RC in seeking and building positive relationships with key Government, donor, and civil society partners, including championing cross-agency initiatives and ventures with external partners;
Gather information on changing needs and circumstances and provide situation analysis briefings to the RC to enable her/him to respond appropriately and in a timely fashion, in accordance with UN System policies, directives and capabilities, strategic objectives, and following appropriate consultation.

Support the RC in spearheading effectiveness in DaO, and advocate for holistic and integrated programming approaches to maximize the effectiveness of the UN’s interventions, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Advise on and support the RC’s efforts to promote the implementation of measures to ensure better coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of developmental activities at the country level;
Contribute to accelerating DaO efforts to increase coherence and effectiveness of the UN programme by providing timely advice to the RC and coordination, on behalf of the RC, to implement the UN’s DaO vision to capitalize on the strengths and comparative advantages of the different members of the UN family, to enhance alignment and collaboration within the UNCT, and to ensure UNDAF priorities are fully implemented through UN entities according to their mandates and in line with national development priorities;
Advise the RC in programme-related areas, including strategic planning, formulation and technical oversight of UNDAF projects, in close collaboration with UNCT, and support the implementation and application of RBM tools to monitor the implementation of UNCT workplans, and facilitate programme effectiveness and the achievement of targeted results;
Participate in the preparation of annual results-based UNCT/RC reports and reports to government on achievements and progress made by the UNCT;
Support the office of the Resident Coordinator in mobilizing resources for joint programmes under the new UNDAF.

Advise the RC and the UNCT on inter-agency/interdepartmental coordination and management targets, monitor service delivery, and advise and support the RC on matters related to the working of the UNCT, and jointly agreed work, derived from the UNDAF, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Advise on and support effective coordination of integrated cross-agency/departmental cooperation and integrated programming to maximize the effectiveness of interventions;
Identify and advise the RC on inter-agency/interdepartmental synergies and on joint requirements for smooth delivery of UN support to Kenya, including streamlining of the UNCT’s Business Operations Strategy aiming at harmonizing the financial, human resources, procurement and logistics services within UN agencies for enhanced delivery of the UN programme;
Support delivery of UN programme commitments within the UNDAF Results Matrix, ensuring effective application of RBM tools, and monitor achievement of results, management scorecard targets and other benchmarks;
Identify trends and challenges that affect DaO and propose actions to improve or sustain overall UNCT DaO performance.

Ensure provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management of DaO, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support the strengthening of quality assurance capacities in RCO;
Identify and articulate, best practices, lessons learned, and experiential sharing emerging from DaO and proposals on its application to Kenya’s specific context;
Actively participate in the evaluation, planning and monitoring functions of the UNDAF, including programme delivery, in liaison with quality assurance teams;
Contribute effectively to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Proactively identify challenges facing DaO and provide analysis and options for the RC to resolve identified challenges, and ensure the RC is fully apprised on matters related to the working of the UNCT and implementation of the jointly agreed UNCT work programme, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support the RC in ensuring the UNCT is fully informed on interactions s/he has on behalf of the UN System, and with the government, the donor community and other development partners, through regular briefings and preparation of talking points;
Identify challenges emerging from the application of DaO policies, joint programmes and joint programming arrangements for effective implementation of UNDAF, and advise the RC on strategies to enhance UNCT accountability, both to the national authorities and to the UN Development System;
Assist in coordinating effective country programme management and cooperation arrangements, resulting in a stronger UN presence, better able to promote its agenda

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Creates effective partner advocacy strategies;
Performs analysis of corporate development challenges in Kenya and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

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.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

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

Innovation and Marketing 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:

Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
Identifies and compiles lessons learned.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

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.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

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:

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.

Client Orientation:

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.

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 UN & 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:

Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Governance, Social or Development Sciences or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level providing management advisory services, working in a programme/policy advisory role, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and the national government;
Knowledge of Delivering as One and the UN systems in Kenya is highly desirable;
Knowledge of UNDG Terms of Reference for the RC, the UNDG Guidance Note on RC and UNCT working relations, the UNDG Dispute Resolution Mechanism for UNCTs, and the UN/RC Management and Accountability System.

Language:

Fluency in English and Swahili are essential;
Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.