Background

Myanmar is going through a phase of rapid and unprecedented change. Since the introduction of a new Constitution in 2008, the transition from military to civilian rule has accelerated. There have been an ongoing sequence of rapid and far-reaching reforms that have unleashed tremendous changes in the political and economic landscape. In the past few years, the President and legislatures have pushed forward a remarkable transformation process that was difficult to imagine not so long ago.

The first stage of the reform process comprised political reforms that are still on-going and have led to significant changes in the country, and to a rapid scaling up of development assistance. In May 2012, the President launched the second stage of reforms aimed at improving the social and economic wellbeing of the people. The economic reforms are centred on poverty reduction and inclusive growth and are guided by the President’s aim to reduce poverty from 26% to 16% by 2015. The opening of the country is leading to rapid foreign investment and infrastructure development. In December 2012, the President announced the need for attention to the third wave of reforms that are required to improve the performance of the public administration and its civil service, and clarify the division of powers between the Union and the State and Regional Governments.

In April 2013 the UNDP Myanmar Country Action Plan (CPAP) 2013-15, was signed between the Government of Myanmar and UNDP. This CPAP presented a change in the way that UNDP previously worked in Myanmar from a restricted mandate with focus on human development at the community level to a new programme with three pillars covering (i) Local Governance; (ii) Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction and (iii) Democratic Governance.

The Democratic Governance programme contains four areas of complementary work:

• Output 1: Development Effectiveness;
• Output 2: Parliamentary Strengthening;
• Output 3: Rule of Law and Access to Justice;
• Output 4: Public Administration Responsiveness.

Each of the outputs has a team led by a P4 Programme Specialist based in Yangon. Furthermore, Chief Technical Advisers are being recruited for each of the outputs based in Naw Pyi Taw.

Role Description

The Programme Analyst will provide programmatic support to the overall Democratic Governance Pillar supporting efforts to ensure programmatic coherence across the four outputs. He/ She will manage a Myanmar staff member (at GS5 level) responsible for administrative support for cross-Pillar work.

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader, Democratic Governance, the Programme Analyst is responsible for the coordination and management of cross cutting business processes such as budgets and workplans, procurement, recruitment, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and communications for work across Pillar3.

He/ She will work in close collaboration with the four programme specialists and the National Officers under each of the outputs as well as the Programme Management and Strategic Planning Unit. The Programme Analyst will also promote coordination and close collaboration with other parts of UNDP.  He/she will support ongoing capacity building for national staff.

This assignment will suit someone who wants to work in an exciting and rapidly changing country environment, where national counterparts are eager and willing to receive support. The pace of the work is fast and at times intense.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader, Democratic Governance, and acting in close coordination with the four programme specialists (Development Effectiveness, Parliamentary Strengthening, Rule of Law and Access to Justice and Public Administration Responsiveness), the Programme Analyst supports   coordination and implementation of the Democratic Governance Programme.

Assist in the implementation of programmatic strategies, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Development of cross-pillar strategies and responses to issues affecting all four outputs of the pillar (i.e. common capacity building areas);
• Development of programmatic narratives ensuring that the sum of the work of the four outputs adds up to cumulative changes in Democratic Governance;
• Development, and amendment, of programme documents for Pillar 3;
• Provision of substantive inputs into UN documents and strategies for Pillar 3 as required;
• Ensuring programmatic coherence and linkages across the four outputs of  Pillar 3;
• Ensuring programmatic coherence and linkages between Pillar 3 and other parts of the UNDP programme especially Pillar 1 on Local Governance.

Assist in the effective management of the Democratic Governance Pillar, focusing on the application of results based management:

• Elaboration of  Pillar 3 internal processes for the development of output  work plans in line with UNDP Corporate Procedures and UNDP Myanmar Pillar 3 resources;
• Ensure coherence across output workplans in line with programmatic strategies;
• Ensuring greater efficiency in Pillar 3 transactions, by recommending and facilitating the combination of activities under different outputs into single business processes;
• Analyze and monitoring  budgets and delivery rates and provide recommendations to the Team Leader on reallocation of budgets.

Ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the work under the Democratic Governance Pillar, focusing on the following results:

• Assists in the timely organization of management oversight arrangements at Pillar level(Pillar Board/Streeing Committee) and in conjunction with the Programme Specialists at output level(Output Boards);
• Assists in ensuring  the corporate compliance of all Pillar 3 reporting and monitoring and evaluation requirements; in coordination with the Programme Strategy Unit;
• Oversight  the implementation of the Pillar 3 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan;
• Ensuring common standards and high  quality of reporting  across outputs, and for  pillar 3;
• Building systems and capacities amongst national officers in both Yangon and Naw Pyi Taw with a view to improving reporting and monitoring and evaluation;
• Contribution to the identification of risks and issues and updating of risk logs in ATLAS.

Assist in ensuring coherent and effective procurement and recruitment processes for Pillar 3:

• Oversight of procurement planning across Pillar 3;
• Efficient and effective management of cross-pillar procurement processes;
• Preparation of coherent staffing and recruitment strategies for  Pillar 3, including maintaining up to date organograms;
• Ensure effective and efficient recruitment of Pillar 3 staff, by supporting the drafting of job descriptions and recruitments strategies under the direction of the relevant output lead, and following up with human resources ensuring prompt and efficient recruitment processes;
• Prepares and facilitates cross-pillar induction for new staff;
• Participation in internal control mechanisms for adherence to UNDP rules and regulations in contracts, assets, procurement, recruitment, etc. as required.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management and communication of Pillar 3 results, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Ensuring  cross-pillar knowledge management, including knowledge product plans and dissemination strategies, in line with programmatic strategies;
• Ensuring innovative and effective  communication of cross-cutting Pillar 3 work, and oversight of the development of communications products, liaising with Communication team in the Programme Management and Strategic Planning Unit;
• Preparation and  quality controls pillar 3 knowledge products; in conjunction with Programme Specialists;
• Preparation communication products for outputs under Pillar 3, in conjunction with Programme specialists and the communication specialists;
• Coordination and delivery of annual Democratic Governance Analysis Publication;
• Ensures that UNDP and wider international best practice and lesson learning is fed into  programmatic and strategic development in UNDP Myanmar.

Supports strategic partnerships and resource mobilization in cooperation with Pillar 3 colleagues and the Programme Support Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Quality control or technical input into funding proposals for individual outputs, as required;
• Provides efficient and timely responses to partner requests for information;
• Promote information sharing and coordination with UN agencies and other partners.

Impact of Results
Achievement of the above key results will contribute to the successful implementation of the country programme, particularly the Democratic Governance Pillar.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly and without favoritism; and
• Shows strong corporate commitment.

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter:

• Understands critical aspects of Democratic Governance, as well as more advanced aspects as well as the fundamental concepts related to the four outputs (Development Planning, Aid Effectiveness, Parliamentary Strengthening, Rule of Law and Access to Justic, Public Administration Strengthening and Civil Service Reform, Political Economy Analysis) ;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and for procurement and recruitment and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and responds positively to constructive feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Excellent computer skills, and applications for report and project planning;
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver projects within assigned deadlines;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and objectivity;
• Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment.

Communications and Networking skills:

• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates excellent presentation skills;
• Excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, parliament, government and non-government institutions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural, multinational, multi-stakeholder setting and demonstrable ability to motivate people and work in a team setting;
• Substantial level of self-organization, being methodical, have ability to set priorities and pay attention to detail.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment through leadership and personal example;
• Support to the improvement of capacity of Programme staff and their understanding of UNDP rules and processes, including reporting, procurement, contracting, and management of Letters of Agreement;
• Experience in capacity development and facilitating positive transformational change.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies or any other relevant field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in international development;
• At least one year experience of working on democratic governance and capacity building issues;
• Proven project cycle management experience, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation);
• Proven experience in core business processes management, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency, (such as procurement, recruitment);
• Proven experience of donor reporting;
• Prior experience of governance work in Myanmar, South-East Asia and/or countries in transition would be an asset;
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

Language:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.