Background

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative (RR), direct supervision of the Deputy Resident representative  and in coordination with the Assistant resident Representative the Head of Abkhazia Programme sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees Abkhazia programme activities of UNDP.

The Head of Abkhazia Programme has formal delegated authority from the RR (in writing) to represent the UNDP country programme at the local level and perform management functions.

The Head of Abkhazia Programme leads and supervises the Abkhazia programme staff working in the geographic area of responsibility of the Abkhazia Programme, ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. The Head of Abkhazia Programme ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations in conformity with the UNDP Internal Control Framework and good management practice. The Head of Abkhazia Programme  advises the country office senior management on development and implementation of Abkhazia Programme, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges in managing the Abkhazia Programme.

The incumbent will work closely with internal and external counterparts, including local stakeholders, civil society, private sector etc, to successfully deliver UNDP programme at the local level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

         Strategic programme planning, coordination and implementation;
         Management of the Sub-Office;
         Representation and Coordination;
         Management of communication flow;
         Partnership building and donor liaison.

Ensures strategic programme planning, coordination and implementation in the geographic area of responsibility of the Abkhazia Programme, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Analyses the socio-economic and political situation and trends in the area and  identifies opportunities and entry points for UNDP;
• Provides guidance and manages the overall Abkhazia Programme development and implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring;
• Ensures overall efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and consistency with UNDAF/ CPD priorities;
• Ensures identification and promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities;
• Identifies and develops new programme and project opportunities;
• Supports capacity building of local counterparts;
• Oversees project implementation through close monitoring of results. Ensures effective application of RBM tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks;
• Coordinates and follows through on decentralized local evaluations;
• Ensures full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations;
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

Responsible for effective Programme management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures smooth running of the Abkhazia Programme, builds an effective programme team, promotes team work and an environment that is conducive to delivering results;
  
• Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Abkhazia Programme by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. Continually find ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations of the Abkhazia Programme;
• Responsible for the management of the Abkhazia Programme staff, monitors their performance, completing performance assessments where necessary;
• Ensures timely and regular reporting;
• In collaboration with the Operations Manager, ensures that the security needs of office and projects are met. Under the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and in collaboration with the Security Advisor ensures enforcement of security procedures and MOSS/MORSS requirements as applicable;
• Ensures the project manager role in ATLAs is duly implemented as per UNDP Internal Control Framework;
• Mitigates possible risks and impacts associated with the Sub-Office operations (e.g. logistical, security etc) by proactively designing reduction measures in collaboration with the Security Advisor;
• Builds capacity of the office staff by identifying capacity needs and establishing training/learning programmes. 
  

Responsible for Representation and Coordination in the area focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Represents UNDP with other UN agencies and development partners at the local level;
• Provides strong coordination support to UN Agencies, stakeholders at local level and other organizations through the establishment of a wider consultation process;
• Ensures proper coordination and inputs to Interagency initiatives;
• Maintains collaboration and coordination with the other Heads of Offices to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices.
  

Promotes communication flow in the office focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and local agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart;
• Ensures internal communication and coordination at Abkhazia programme level and effective and proactive communication between relevant CO units (both programme and operations units) and the Abkhazia Programme;
• Monitors the perception of UNDP at the local level and suggest media activities that positions UNDP more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development. Enhances local visibility for UNDP in development effectiveness;
• Ensures that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with Communication Office in the country office.
  

Fosters partnership building and donor liaison focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Contributes to the development of the UNDP Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy;
• Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the level through innovative approaches to partnership development;
• Encourages ways of increasing Abkhazia Programme funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities.

Impact of Results

The Head of the Abkhazia Progarmme is the UNDP representative in the geographic region. The results of his/her work impacts on the standing and reputation of UNDP in the country. When requested by the Resident Representative or Deputy resident Representative, the Head of the Abkhazia Programme represents UNDP in international and national forums, liaises with external clients and a broad range of constituencies and UNDP counterparts in the stakeholders at local level,, media, civil society as well as counterparts from other international organizations.

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.

• Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives.
  

• Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results .
  

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

• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources .
  

• Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at Programme level;
• Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level.

• Promotes UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization.
  

• 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.
  

• 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

• Master’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration, or other relevant development areas.

• 7 years of relevant experience in development in a governmental, multilateral organization in a multi-cultural setting;
• Working in post conflict situations would be strong advantage;
• 5 years of senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexities.
  

Language Requirements:

• Strong written and spoken skills in English and Russian.