Background

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UNDP strategic vision places capacity development for pro-poor growth and accountability at the centre of all UNDP-supported activities in the region, given the fact that lack of capacity in these areas remains one of the key challenges faced by Africa today in its efforts to achieve the MDGs and sustainable human development.  To achieve this goal UNDP has set itself the tasks of:  i) strengthening its strategic thinking and advocacy functions in line with the UNDP Strategic Plan and with Africa’s development agenda; ii) creating in-house capacity to translate corporate support goals into capacity development results; and iii) strengthening its partnerships with both UN and external development partners.  

In order to achieve these objectives, UNDP works through its Regional Bureau for Africa to strengthen capacities of African countries, regional and sub-regional institutions. This support is guided by the Fourth Africa Regional Programme which builds on the Regional Cooperation Framework III’s three strategic key results: (i) Building Effective and Democratic States in Africa; (ii) Accelerating the Pace of Regional Integration,  and (iii) Strengthening Management of Governance Knowledge in Africa.

UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa implements a significant portion of the Regional Programme through its Regional Service Centre for Africa(RSCA), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The RSCA supports the policy, programme and technical assistance activities of UNDP to regional and sub-regional institutions, Country Offices and programme countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Its core responsibilities are to provide policy and advisory services; to manage regional programs; and to provide comparative knowledge and information and referral of technical experts. The RSCA is composed of Development Solutions Teams (DST) that work in an integrated way to deliver on the Regional Programme Outcomes and mandate.

The current Regional Governance Programme is intended to contribute to the four outcomes of the Africa Regional Programme(2014-2017) related to Strengthening systems of Democratic Governance in Africa to meet African Citizen’s expectations for voice, development, rule of law and accountability. More particularly the Democratic Governance team seeks to: (i) Enhance political  and economic participation of youth and women; Strengthen the effective and efficient management of elections; (ii) Strengthen Economic Governance, extractives sector governance ,Anti-corruption initiatives and service delivery; iii) Build the capacities of parliaments , constitution-making bodies and regional institutions/mechanisms for oversight ,participation and representation;(iv) Strengthen governance, rule of law, human rights and justice delivery for peaceful transitions; and (v) Identify, codify and disseminate governance knowledge ,data and statistics in Africa.

The Governance Programme consists of several components ,including : (i) Support to the African Peer Review Mechanism; (ii) Support to the Africa Governance and Public Administration Programme (AGPAP); Support to the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs); and (iv) Joint United Nations Economic Commission Africa (ECA)-UNDP Initiatives.

The programme component in Support of the Africa Governance and Public Administration Programme (AGPAP) is aimed at contributing to the Outcome related to enhancing economic governance and service delivery in Africa. Key  programme component  activities will include:  (i) Implementation of the AU/CAMPS Long-term Strategy for the Ministers’ Programme; (ii)    Supporting Management Development Institutions and Networks in capacity development and knowledge generation; (iii) Strengthening  the Secretariat of the  Ministers’ Conference based within the AUC-DPA; (iv) Supporting the implementation of  the Africa Public Service Charter, Africa Mining Vision and economic governance programmes on public financial management , natural resource management, links between economic and social policies and .(vii) Supporting the integration of cross-cutting youth and gender issues into economic governance and public service programmes

The Programme Specialist is responsible for providing substantive contribution to strategic planning processes in the APRM and AGPAP/Economic Governance programme components. He/she will participate in and ensure effective coordination and management of the implementation of the APRM and AGPAP programs in accordance with the principles of results based management (RBM). Under the overall direction of the Programme Advisors for the APRM and AGPA, the incumbent will be responsible for providing innovative approaches and high quality and substantive technical support to the APRM and AGPAP Secretariats respectively. He/she will report to the Programme Advisors of both the APRM and the AGPAP Programme Components for technical guidance and general supervision and direction on program management and operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Programme design,  planning and  implementation;
• Advisory and technical support and project  monitoring, evaluation, reporting;
• Partnership and resource mobilization;
• Capacity building and knowledge management;
• Representation of the UNDP and RSCA at global and regional policy and programme fora.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Programme  planning and  implementation:

• Submit policy proposals, position papers and/or documents for internal and external strategic discussions, consideration, policy formulation and assessment and/or approval;
• Provide authoritative policy advice and technical guidance on project implementation and delivery;
• Submit an annual work plan for project implementation with activities/components, budget requirements, targets, timelines, objectives and standards in accordance with the principles of results based management (RBM) measuring results;
• Submit materials and other requirements for Project Steering Committee and Project Management Meetings  and follow-up on the decisions for timely action. Guide and advise the PSC to facilitate project management, oversight and evaluation;
• Participate in the process to Identify, select and evaluate candidates. Supervise project staff  and/or consultants and experts through work planning, providing technical guidance and direction, coaching, feedback and periodic assessment, evaluation and performance appraisal;
• Determine, apply and ensure UNDP programming and operational policies, procedures and mechanisms and utilize the Project Management Module in Atlas (Prince2, etc).  Keep abreast and contribute to the improvement and alignment of UNDP programming practices to ensure optimum project implementation and performance;
• Manage, control and oversee the appropriate use of financial, human resources and other assets related to the project. Approve and/or certify use of resources according to delegated authority.

Advisory and technical support and programme, management, monitoring, evaluation, reporting:

• Develop and/or propose a strategy and plan of action to engage national and regional stakeholders, public and private sectors to raise awareness and promote engagement on strengthening capacities of African public services, African economic governance and service delivery, regional integration for sustaibable economic growth  based on the political, social and economic trends in the Region and evolving regional priorities, strategic focus and comparative advantage;
• Undertake an analysis of the political, social and economic trends in the Region and submit reports, analysis and/or conclusions for project management and implementation;
• Propose areas for support and intervention based on evolving regional priorities, strategic focus and comparative advantage;
• Initiate and follow up on requests for financial resources and take action to process payments and other requests for actions and ensure their timely settlement or completion;
• Visit projects, monitor implementation, review progress reports, follow-up on progress, determine approaches and modalities for implementation and evaluate results according to targets and objectives.  Recommend/take action and/or refer issues for timely action and/or decision to ensure delivery of results as planned;
• Provide technical guidance and operational support to clients and stakeholders to enhance performance and quality assurance, share knowledge and build capacity;
• Prepare required qualitative, substantive, financial and procurement/contracting progress reports to keep all relevant parties involved and to facilitate timely and appropriate action;
• Under delegated authority from the Programme Advisors, manage and monitor programme risks and submit conclusions and/or recommendations for resolution to the Programme Management Team for review and decision. Continually update the Programme Risks Log;
• Exercise control and take decisions to ensure full compliance with UNDP programming,  financial procurement  and  administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, application of internal control systems. 

Partnership and resource mobilization:

• Maintain effective partnership with Government and Regional Institutions, implementing partners and UNDP colleagues to exchange critical and technical information and resolve programme/project implementation issues to ensure results are achieved as planned;
• Provide substantive contribution to establishment of partnership with the government and regional Institutions, implementing partners and UNDP colleagues to advocate, promote, discuss and/or share information and policy issues to enhance project efficacy and delivery of result;
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, stakeholders and clients (e.g. Project Teams and Technical Experts, AU and RECs, BDP, BCPR and RBA to advocate for and promote organizational and program issues;
• Establish dialogue with donors, partners and stakeholders to maintain effective working relationship, sustain interests and cooperation;
• Propose and/or contribute to developing the strategy and implementation plan for resource mobilization to encourage donor interests and increase funding. Under delegated authority from  the APRM and AGPAP Programme Advisors manage such funds and prepare reports to donors, ensuring transparency and integrity of information.

 Capacity building and knowledge management:

• Support AMDIN and AUC-CAMPS to develop capacity development materials;
• Support training of trainers process (ToT) for AMDIN ,AUC-CAMPS and APRM;
• Design and roll out capacity development processes for CSOs and media on APRM and/or economic governance;
• Support the process of synthesis of data and information on governance;
• Support the production of the Africa Governance Report(AGR) and AU Democratic Governance Trends reports;
• Support the production of the State of Public Service in Africa (SOPSA) report;
• Identify, codify and disseminate best practices and lessons learned to build capacity and knowledge;
• Develop knowledge products and ensure its application and wide use through technical support and other planned training and learning activities;
• Organize and implement training activities and events for the operations/ projects staff;
• Submit and/or present policy, briefing and other position papers to mainstream, enhance and improve on activities/interventions, practices, methods, systems and tools;
• Organize and implement training activities and events for the operations/ projects staff.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
• Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures.  Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools is a must.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

  Client orientation, Management and Teamwork:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.  Remains calm, in control and good humour even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

  Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results-Based Management, including support to design,  planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting;
• Ability to provide inputs to business processes, re-engineering, implementation of new systems, including new IT based systems;
• Ability to establish and maintain contacts with senior-level officials of the APRM Secretariat and Panel, Secretariat of the African Public Service Ministers’ Conference, regional and sub-regional institutions and African governments required. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential part of the job; 
• Ability   to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret   factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents. 

  Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the programme and office through leadership and personal example;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A Masters degree in public administration, political or social sciences, international studies, and development related field. Post graduate studies in Democratic Governance related field is highly desirable.

Experience:   

• A least seven years of progressively responsible experience in democratic governance and other related areas at the policy and operational levels  in a governmental, multilateral, bilateral or Civil Society Organizational-setting and within a multicultural environment at national or international level;
• Ability to use computers and office software packages and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages (MS Word,  Excel,  etc)  and experience in handling of web based management systems.   

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English or French is required and good working knowledge of English and other working languages in the region is desirable.