Background

In December 2013, the Government of Malawi (GoM) launched its first ever, Democratic Governance Sector Strategy (DGSS) for Malawi. The Democratic Governance Sector consists of nineteen government institutions responsible for Access to Justice and Democratic Accountability and goes beyond this to embrace Non State Actors including Civil Society Organizations, the academia, media and other critical stakeholders in the democratic process in Malawi.

The DGSS will be implemented over a five-year period: 2013 -2017 and outlines six key result areas namely: a) effective democratic governance sector institutions b) strengthened rule of law, improved access to justice, public safety and security c) improved protection of human rights d) free and credible elections e) transparent accountable and responsive public institutions and f) more effective independent and representative legislature. The key results areas outlined in the DGSS are closely aligned to the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and UNDAF priorities (2012-2016) for democratic governance in Malawi.

In order to achieve the desired results in the DGSS, Sector Management Organs are outlined in the DGSS to address the identified weaknesses that have confronted the Sector in its past coordination efforts. The Sector management organs also address the need to provide i) visible political leadership and buy-in at the highest level of the Government of Malawi; ii) an executive organ with the necessary clout to enforce co-ordination and alignment; iii) a technically able mechanism to ensure effective implementation of program activities; iv) an effective well capacitated sector secretariat to support both implementation and capacity building in sector institutions and v) a sector reference group to provide a focal point for GoM and the development partners investing in the Democratic Governance Sector.

To meet these needs the following organs are proposed:

• The Democratic Governance Steering Group, DGSG;
• The Sector Co-ordination Committee, SCC;
• The Technical Working Groups, TWGs;
• The Sector Secretariat, SS;
• The Sector Resource Observatory, SRO.

The implementation of the DGSS will be carried out in the context of an evolving Democratic Governance Sector Wide Approach (DGSWAp) for Malawi which began in 2009. The effort to institutionalize the Democratic Governance SWAp is led by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA). Given its constitutional mandate to provide technical, political and strategic oversight of democratic governance issues, MoJCA with support of development partners continues to coordinate and provide strategic direction to the sector institutions that are embedded in the sector working group.

Since 2009 UNDP has supported MoJCA in its coordination and leadership efforts. The UNDP Access to Justice Program which ran from 2008-2012 provided both financial and technical assistance to the GoM in its efforts to establish a coordinated approach to democratic governance.  The UNDP/GOM support to Democratic Governance Sector Wide Approach Project 2012-2016 is designed to build on gains made and will help coordinate assistance and interventions based on a desired impact across the Democratic Governance Sector. UNDP presently co-Chairs together with MoJCA the DG Sector Steering Committee.

The Technical Specialist is required to provide technical input and policy support to MOJCA and UNDP to ensure effective implementation of the DGSS. Based in the Sector Coordinating Unit, the Technical Specialist will provide strategic leadership and advice to both MoJCA and UNDP to ensure the operationalization of sector management organs in order to enhance sector coordination. S/He will provide substantive input and strategic direction to thematic issues relevant to the sector as encapsulated in the DGSS key result areas. The priority of this position is to support strong coordination and networking among the key stakeholders in this sector, and to assure the delivery of high quality and sustainable outputs and outcomes in accordance with the policy on Institutionalizing SWGs and the DGSS.

Key Responsibility Areas of this position include: a) Program Support and Coordination; b) Program Development; c) Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Reporting; d) Capacity Building and Leadership; and e) Resource Mobilization for the Sector. In addition to delivering against core responsibilities, the Technical Specialist is required to deliver against both Strategic and Specific Responsibilities, working in a high-volume working environment. S/He will be expected to strengthen UNDP visibility and act as a strategic contact point between Sector Institutions, UNDP and Development Partners in the Democratic Governance Sector. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the development of sector plans, budgets and reporting mechanisms;
• Monitor and analyze financial and budget processes of the Democratic Governance Sector within the national context and make appropriate reports with recommendations for efficiency;
• Provide recommendations on how best to accommodate cross-cutting issues within the strategies and the workplans;
• Advocate, inform, educate and publicize Sector based reform initiatives, as well as facilitate resource mobilization to support the identified reform programmes and initiatives.

• Coordinate all alignment activities, including alignment between MTEF reporting and SWAp reporting and development partner alignment and government strategies;
• Ensure that Strategic Plans of individual institutions have a corresponding budget which reflects development partner and government contributions;
• Consolidate the Sector annual work plans outlining specific activities, performance indicators, timelines and budgets;
• Oversee and ensure proper management and utilization of funds;
• Collate and harmonize performance reports from Sector Institutions through reviewing project and institutional reports, offering analytical advice and recommendations for quality improvements in the Sector;
• Organize the Sector Annual Reviews and arrange all the documentation in preparation for the Review as well as for the Joint Annual MGDS Review;
• Support the production of substantive monitoring and evaluating results based performance reports by the Government of Malawi to the Sector Steering Committee, relevant Cabinet Standing Committees, Cabinet, Parliament (annually), Development Partners (quarterly) and other stakeholders (as required) to enable them make informed policies and decisions related to Democratic Governance;
• Support the Sector Working Group in the overall day to day management and supervision of the program, its implementation and operations, in accordance with established policies and work plans;
• Liaise with the Development Partner Group – including basket and direct funding development partners – to provide information on implementation and to address concerns expressed by development partners, in particular with respect to results and absorption of funds;
• Ensure adequate and effective communication between all stakeholders through regular liaison and sharing of information and knowledge with the chief executives and staff of sector institutions, and representatives of development partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the public and private sector on the implementation of the sector strategy.

• Provide advice and oversight on the establishment of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the SWAp Annual Work Plan, including to monitor the achievement of the strategic objectives under the Government’s vision, to identify successes, challenges and lessons learnt and to assist with the selection of appropriate indicators, targets and identification of available baseline data;
• Provide input in the conducting of research and knowledge sharing, including identifying best practices and lessons learnt from other SWAp programmes, both global and continental and ensure that mechanisms for dissemination are in place;
• Assist with the identification of key risks and constraints to implementation and with the development strategies to manage them;
• Assist with the preparation of results based quarterly reports, reports for the semi-annual joint reviews and annual results reports;
• Assist with efforts to assess the impact of the programme on cross-cutting issues, including gender equity, environment, HIV/AIDS and youth opportunities and provide appropriate recommendations.

• Support the Government of Malawi through capacity building, and establishment of cross-functional teams to identify and implement change processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness;
• Provide quality assurance and quality check on all services procured under the program;
• Identify gaps, bottlenecks, delays and poor outputs or outcomes on program implementation and prompt, guide and support the relevant sector institutions in addressing such problems.

• Support government led resource mobilization initiatives, ensuring appropriate and adequate research, accurate analysis of criteria and key issues;
• Work with the Sector working group to develop a draft resource mobilization strategy including: methods to identify business process improvements and internal savings, through the use of technology or otherwise;
• Developing greater certainty on the availability of Development Partner funds; and
  
• Liaise with Ministry of Finance on the budget process and, in particular, inclusion of the program within the MTEF. 

Competencies

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent decision making.
  

• An in-depth understanding of the Sector’s strategic direction and a drive to transform it into a results-oriented work program.

• Proven expertise in program management and coordination;
• In-depth understanding of and an ability to evaluate democratic governance issues in developing countries;
  
• Experience in multi stakeholder discussions and consensus building.

• Managerial experience and decision making skills;
  
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision, lead a Sector and drive for results with substantial knowledge of results based management and budgeting;
• Proven ability to provide effective leadership, technical advice and guidance to others.

• Proven effective supervisory skills;
  
• Ability to mentor staff and provide guidance and support;
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with ability to support the Sector and its Sub-Sector thematic areas.

• Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organize, coordinate and monitor own work plan;
• In-depth understanding of Sector's strategic direction.

• Demonstrated sound judgment in resolving issues/problems;
• Ability to provide strategic direction, good judgment and discretion in advising on handling policy issues, challenges and sensitive issues.

• Ability to actively seek to improve programs/services, offer new and different options to solve problems and managing different stakeholder expectations.

• Excellent and effective communication (verbal and written) skills, including ability to prepare analytical reports and conduct presentations by clearly formulating positions on issues, articulating options concisely conveying maximum necessary information, making and defending recommendations;
• Diplomacy and tact; ability to convey difficult issues and positions to a wide range of senior officials.

• Demonstrated people management and organizational skills, excellent networking skills and strong resource mobilization and partnering skills;

•  Effective negotiating skills and ability to work with others to reach mutually benefiting and lasting understandings.

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters Degree in Political Science, Law, Business Administration or Social Sciences;
• Postgraduate qualifications in Project Planning and Management and Public Administration and Management will be an added advantage.

• Minimum of seven years experience in senior management function in a similar assignment;
• Proven experience in the management of reforms in the Africa region;
• Excellent skills in change management and implementation of policy change;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of SWAps and Sector based programming;
• Detailed knowledge of democratic governance particularly the thematic areas of Access to Justice, rule of law, public  safety and security, human rights, Elections and Transparent and accountable governance;
• Experience in providing high level technical and policy advice within government institutions;
• Proven knowledge and understanding of Non State Actors and their roles in democratization processes;
• Experience in resource mobilization and managing development partner funds .

• Fluency and proficiency in written and spoke English is a requirement;
• Knowledge of other languages spoken in the region an advantage.