UNDP Jobs - 48144- Programme Manager, Rule of Law, Human Rights and S

Programme Manager, Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector - UNDP IRAQ

Location :

Baghdad, IRAQ

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year (renewable)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security programme is a comprehensive capacity development programme reflecting one of the most important areas of UNDP’s Governance support for the justice sector in Iraq. A new phase of the programme will start in January 2015 with revised results areas based on UNDP’s new Country Programme Document 2015 – 2019. The national ownership of the programme rests with the judiciary that works as a national coordination mechanism for the justice sector, and is chaired by the Minister of Justice. The judiciary is a branch of the Government of Iraq that interprets and applies the laws to ensure equal justice under law, and provides a mechanism for dispute resolution. It is composed of the Higher Judicial Council, Supreme Court, Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Office, Judiciary Oversight Authority, Federal Supreme Court and other courts regulated by law.

The UNDP Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security programme is being developed in the context of the past and present social and political situation, the system of government, the Constitution, the applicable laws and the multi-faceted regional, ethnic, religious and cultural characteristics of the Iraqi people. The past political and social development is also taken into consideration to the extent of determining future challenges facing the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security sectors. At present, Iraq faces challenge as a result of the highly politicized environment, which contributes to the ongoing lack of security among different groups. Under such circumstances, all institutions of State, including the Judicial, justice and security institutions can hardly be expected to function effectively. This is more so for institutions engaged in human rights promotion and protection.

To date, UNDP’s support to the promotion of Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security has focused on the High Judicial Council, Kurdistan Judicial Council, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Human Rights institutions, support to access to justice by vulnerable groups and security sector reform. Currently, UNDP is in the process of developing a comprehensive Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector programme strategy where the focus of the work will be expanded to other justice and security institutions in Iraq to enhance internal and external security, restore the rule of law and improve basic social, justice and security service delivery. Security can be further strengthened with the effective provision of access to justice and prosecution services, improvement of basic services and the restructuring of security sector. However, Iraq still faces several crucial institutional challenges in these areas. Within the framework of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and peace building in Iraq, UNDP is assisting the Government in the formulation and implementation of a new Security Sector Reform Strategy housed within the new comprehensive Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Programme.

The Programme Manager will provide overall management, technical support and advisory services on policy reforms so as to ensure a stronger and more coordinated response to advancing the Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector Programme in Iraq. The Programme Manager will oversee the strategic development and programme implementation ensuring delivery of results as planned in the strategic and accountability framework. S/he will also provide top quality technical advisory services to the counterparts and will report to the Portfolio Manager, Enhancing Accountability, Responsiveness and Participation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership, planning and programme implementation:

Provide strategic direction to the Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector programme, including leadership, advocacy and overall strategic vision with a view to building national capacities, strengthening the rule of law, human rights and security sector and supporting the overarching justice and peace-building objectives of the UN in Iraq;
Lead the team in managing programme vision, planning, development and implementation with supervisory role for all project managers in this area to ensure programme relevance in line with the corporate UNDP practice and policy areas, UNDP Iraq’s country programme strategy and emerging issues in the country and regional contexts;
Provide substantive support to the design of Justice and Rule of Law, SSR and Human Rights programme and quality programmatic and technical assistance to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Defense, independent national Human Rights institutions and Bar Associations;
Effective coordination of the SSR process with all critical Government Ministries including the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National Security Advisor, the Legislature and other relevant non-state actors;
Exchange information, coordinate Government and UN system SSR processes with the UNAMI and international partners in Iraq;
Explore stronger synergy and joint programming and implementation modalities with other UNDP interventions as well as those of UNAMI and UNCT partners;
Provide guidance to Justice and security institutions, external consultants, and other government officials and non-state actors;
Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation, including but not limited to regular field visits and participation in Project Board and/or Steering Committee meetings for all UNDP Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector interventions;
Provide policy advice to Country Office project managers, Country Office Senior Management · and the Resident Coordinator’s office in the area of Justice and capacity strengthening;
Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as social cohesion, resilience, gender, HIV/AIDS, peace building, human rights, ICT and eGovernance, into rule of law and justice programme design, monitoring and evaluation.

Partnership strategy and resource mobilization:

Liaise regularly and forges close linkages with other UN programmes, agencies and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance on rule of law, human rights and security sector issues;
Ensure timely resource mobilization for the programme in close consultation with Senior Management;
Promote joint programming and UN reform efforts at country level, collaborating effectively in utilizing established results-based management and other frameworks for UN and other international agency coordination mechanisms, including resource mobilization;
Ensure proper liaison and coordination at the working level with the national counterparts, UNAMI, UNCT and international partners, including relevant regional and international agencies and SSR technical teams supporting UNDP interventions;
Enhance contacts with different sectors of the UN, international organizations and the government on SSR policies and partnership strategies;
Contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of partners for implementation of UNDP projects;
Assume oversight role in reviewing the Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector, reporting of results, partnership issues and mobilization strategies, identifying funding needs, gaps and potential funding partners and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy;
Develop fundraising proposals and strategies for stronger partnerships and cost-sharing initiatives with the Government and donors;
Liaise regularly with potential partners, donors and corporate institutions for fund raising purposes;
Prepare regular concept notes and project proposals for submission;
Communicate rule of law, human rights and security sector results to all relevant partners, ensuring appropriate levels of visibility and public awareness and clarity on programme results and ongoing activities;
Negotiate contribution agreements with donors and ensure compliance of all reporting requirements;
Ensure timely and efficient preparation and submission of all reports.

Corporate policy advisory services:

Advise the Senior management on cross-cutting issues, including gender dimensions of the security services and oversight bodies and Human Rights based approach;
Provide policy advice to UNDP Senior Management in Iraq, government counterparts, donors and all other partners on issues related to rule of law, ensuring strategic relevance of such advice;
Liaise with UNDP Governance Practice teams within the CO as well as corporate focal points on trends and preferred practices in Peacebuilding, Justice, Human Rights and Security;
Prepares briefs on progress and challenges on Justice, SSR and Human Rights processes.

Knowledge management and capacity building:

Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the programme for organizational sharing and learning as well as external communication;
Participate actively in UNDP knowledge networks and take advantage of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally, encouraging project staff to do the same by creating a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Participate in capacity-building of national actors, i.e. training seminars and sensitization workshops on Rule of Law, SSR and Human Rights;
Provide substantive support to meetings, conferences, etc., including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparing documents and presentations;
Promote the use of the Regional Center resources and integrate expert advice in programme design and implementation;
Support participation of UNDP Iraq in regional programmes and regional activities related to the overall programme; and
Support all relevant capacity development and knowledge building initiatives of national counterparts at federal and sub-regional levels.

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:

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.

Technical skills required:

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master Degree in Law, Public Administration, business administration, development related disciplines, economics or public policy or other social science fields.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of extensive development experience that combines intellectual, strategic and managerial leadership in Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security Sector programme;
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;
Functionally-related professional management skills;
Experience with UN or international organization working in post-conflict country, especially Iraq would be an advantage;
Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral organizations and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.

Language:

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

Note:

Female candidates are encouraged to apply;
Knowledge of Prince2 and other Results Based Management methodologies would be an asset;
Knowledge of ATLAS and PeopleSoft would be an asset.