Background

Sierra Leone is fast transitioning to a new era of development guided by the Agenda for Prosperity (A4P) 2013-2018. Sierra Leone has moved from its lowest point of crisis on the fragility spectrum toward greater resilience and is currently considered to be in the “transition stage”. The signing of the Mutual Accountability Framework under the New Deal signals a renewed commitment of the GoSL and its international partners to further pursue its peace and state building goals. Socio-economic indicators have improved and macro-economic performance has been maintained with 15.2% real GDP growth in 2012. The World Bank rated Sierra Leone among the top 11 reforming countries in the Ease of Doing Business Report (2013), but much more needs to be done to attract investors and to translate this growth into a commensurate improvement in the lives of all Sierra Leoneans.

The 2013 Human Development Report (overall rank 177) showed an improvement in HDI but it is still below the Sub-Saharan average. 52.9% of Sierra Leoneans still live below the national poverty line (SSL 2011). Consistent with this, while the country has made progress towards the MDGs, only MDG 6 related to HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB is likely to be achieved by 2015 (MDG Progress Report 2010). Economic diversification which is a necessary condition for ensuring equitable and inclusive growth, is minimal, with primary sectors (agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining & quarrying) contributing to 74% of GDP (Statistics Sierra Leone, 2012),. Women’s access to livelihood opportunities including land-ownership, finance and basic services remains limited and unemployment remains extremely high, estimated at 60%, especially among the youth (African Economic Outlook 2012).

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Ensuring the strategic direction of Inclusive Growth portfolio;
• Management of the Inclusive Growth and supervision of the team;
• Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization;
• Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
• Summary of key functions

• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
• Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. The TL Inclusive Growth performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme;
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports;
• Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with the DCD (Operations).

• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes.
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.;
• Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme and reaching UNDAF/ CPD goals. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Knowledge Management and Learning;
• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the 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.

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
• Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

• 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 good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in, Economics, Political / Social Science, Business/Public Administration, or other development-related field;
• Prince2 Training and Certification, RMG.

• 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

• Fluency in English;
• Any other official language will be considered as an asset.