Background

Since 2003 development efforts have fallen short of successfully addressing the marked deterioration in social conditions and living standards in Iraq brought about by years of war and sanctions. There is still a lack of electricity and water: 82% of Iraqi households still suffer from frequent electricity cuts, only 47% of rural households have access to the public water network, and this is true for just 72% in urban areas. Only 30% of households have access to the public sanitation network. Despite Iraq’s great oil wealth, 11.5% of Iraqis live in poverty, particularly in rural areas (23%). Unemployment is high and rapidly growing among Iraqi youth, which is a strong concern as more than half the population is under the age of 25.

Socio-economic development and responsive delivery of quality essential services are still hampered by the lack of effective and efficient systems for pursuing economic growth, environmental sustainability and social equity simultaneously resulting in an unequal distribution of economic opportunities and continuing social exclusion – particularly among vulnerable groups such as women, young people and those living in rural areas.

There is generally weak capacity and little experience at local levels for integrated, participatory strategic planning and budgeting and budget execution rates remain low. Furthermore, municipalities and technical directorates usually suffer from low administrative, financial, managerial, and technical capacity and lack effective implementation and monitoring mechanism.

The Local Area Development Programme (LADP) Phase II is a multi-agency three years programme which aims to ensure that all Iraqi citizens – especially the most vulnerable groups – benefit from effective local development processes and have access to quality essential services.
LADP Phase II consciously builds on the lessons from the Phase I which represented the first decentralised joint United Nations multi-sectoral initiative and supported the elaboration of 12 inclusive multi-sectoral district plans in five governorates, developed by local government with the participation of local stakeholders and communities.

In Phase II the programme will continue to be led by UNDP in partnership with a number of United Nations Agencies and work jointly on strengthening good governance in Iraq by improving delivery of public services, through improved planning and implementation processes at governorate level.

Key expected results comprise the improved capacity for planning and implementation at governorates level, resulting in higher budget execution and service delivery, leading towards better sector wide planning as well as improved communication and coordination between central and governorate levels, and increased participation of communities in local development.

The programme will focus on building the capacity of governorate authorities and key technical directorates nationwide to lead participatory planning, effective service delivery, public accountability and performance measurement of Local Development and Service Delivery.

LADP II will also strengthen the capacity of civil society actors to partner effectively with local government, and establish linkages with national and international institutions, including through the Iraqi Diaspora, to support sustainable local development.

The Programme Manager will oversee the strategic development of the portfolio and programme implementation ensuring delivery of results as planned in the strategic and accountability framework. The Programme Manager will also provide top quality technical advisory services to the counterparts; apply diplomatic skills to engage with very senior government officials within a very complex and volatile political environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Country Director, the Programme Manager (Local Area Development Programme) performs the following functions:

Policy Advisory and Specialized Technical Support:

• Advise, support, guide and provide inputs to assure quality control in the formulation of relevant, high quality, results-based and rights-based country programme and its projects;
• Provide strategic and specialized technical advice to the senior management on the development of systems, processes and mechanisms to support effective programme planning, implementation, monitoring and timely progress reporting;
• Develop, review and evaluate proposals and oversee the preparation of donor proposals and reports to ensure quality, compliance with requirements as per established rules and regulations;
• Take timely action to take any corrective action to meet standards for submissions;
• Prepare policy document, briefs and other strategic papers/materials for the use in the development and presentation of a coherent perspective to help define strategies and plans of action for implementation;
• Provide policy, technical and managerial advice to the Government of Iraq including inter alia Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Oil, Governorate level counterparts, KRG counterparts and other relevant Government institutions with focus on establishment of policies, plans, frameworks and mechanisms and strengthening the capacity and policy for efficient and accountable use of public resources at the local level, ensuring local communities’ participation and empowerment.

The Programme Management, Monitoring and Oversight:

• Provide substantive and managerial leadership of the Local Area Development Programme (LADP) and Projects. Manage the project team (project advisors, technical staff, project specialists, and support staff);
• Lead, coordinate and build/sustain partnerships with participating UNCT members, for the enhancement of technical strength and programmatic synergies of the LADP Programme and projects;
• Plan, implement and supervise the support provided to ensure timely and appropriate services are provided as required. Identify areas of competencies and weakness to ensure focused and targeted services are provided;
• Lead the annual process of gathering information and preparing reports on progress of programme implementation, assessing results and identifying areas for action and/or decision to ensure achievement of results as planned and in accordance with goals and objectives and accountability framework;
• Manage allocation of funds. Monitor and ensure the appropriate utilization of resources;
• Lead in preparing project proposals including strategies to build partnerships and mobilize resources;
• Develop a resource mobilization plan for the secured projects;
• Develop a plan for the overall monitoring and evaluation of all projects in the programme portfolio and reporting on progress to the Country Office;
• Recommend and/or set monitoring standards, criteria and other indicators for measuring and assessing progress/results;
• Monitor the progress on, mutually agreed results frameworks and performance indicators and timely take action/decision and/or provide timely support;
• Sustainable and solid relations developed with counterparts, resulting in enhanced reputation and credibility of UNDP;
• Plan, implement and/or supervise the support provided to ensure timely and appropriate services are provided as required. Identify areas of competencies and/or weakness to ensure focused and targeted services are provided.

Advocacy and support to UN coordination, joint programming and reform:

• Provide technical expertise and coordinate with other programme heads and project managers to ensure complementarity/harmonization amongst the activities and plans;
• Advise on ways to incorporate and apply HRB/ RBM/ MDGs approaches as well as addressing cross cutting themes (i.e., human rights, gender mainstreaming, environment, employment, inclusion of youth and people with disabilities) in all projects plans and programming exercises;
• Lead in establishing and maintaining effective consultations with governments, partners, stakeholders and donors to achieve active collaboration, cooperation and alliances on programme development and implementation, resource mobilization and sustained partnerships;
• Represent UNDP when requested and as appropriate to consult, collaborate and/or interact on common issues and activities and participate in the UNDAF process to ensure the active participation of the programme in these processes;
• Coordinate and work with the other programme heads and project managers to ensure complementarity/harmonization amongst the activities and plans.

Knowledge management and capacity building:

• Identify areas that may require improvement and capture best practices/lessons learned, using corporate monitoring tools and corporate reports. Take action to improve areas of weakness;
• Ensure regular assessments of the strategic and implementation plans. Identify lessons learned and areas of emphasis to guide programme improvements and future strategic development plan;
• Manage the process of collecting and sharing lessons learned to build knowledge and capacity of partners and stakeholders;
• Design and implement capacity development and institutional building activities to enhance skills and knowledge in Results Based Management, Results based budgeting and systematic quality assurance;
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the programme knowledge networks and practices, and development of knowledge products.

Competencies

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.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

• Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
• Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

• Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
• 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;
• Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

• Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations.

Innovation and Marketing New 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.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

• Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at CO level;
• Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level;
• Strengthens the capacity of the country office to mobilize resources.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Promotes UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• 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;
• 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 assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

• Advocates for increased priority given to human development issues internationally and in national planning frameworks;
• Advocates for increased resources at international and national level.

Client Orientation:

• 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;
• Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations.
  

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master Degree in economics, business administration, development related disciplines, planning, political science, engineering, management, social science or related fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of extensive development experience that combines intellectual, strategic and managerial leadership in development Programmes;
• Extensive working experience in local area development, local governance, including growth and private sector development, strategic multi-sector planning, service delivery, community empowerment, budget execution, or public resource management disciplines;
• Proven ability to direct multi-disciplinary teams in a multilateral work environment;
• Track record with of successful programme management preferably within the UN, WB or international donor community;
• Experience with and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures;
• Experience with UN or international organization working in post-conflict country, especially Iraq would be an advantage.

Technical skills required:

• Functionally-related professional management skills;
• Ability to plan and prioritise work activities to meet organizational goals and organize and oversee work processes efficiently to achieve quality results;
• Knowledge of strategic planning processes, programming;
• Knowledge of fund raising, project and programme drafting.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the English both written and oral;
• Arabic language skills are considered a strong asset.

Previous UN Experience:

• Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral organizations and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.

Note:

• Female candidates are encouraged to apply;
• Knowledge of Prince2 or other Results Based Management methodologies would be an asset;
• Knowledge of ATLAS and PeopleSoft would be an asset;
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits to participating Governorates and interact with different stakeholders in Iraq is a must.