UNCDF Jobs - 48444- Technical Specialist (Local Governance) UNCDF

Technical Specialist (Local Governance) UNCDF

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Dili, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

08-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

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

Objectives:

The UNCDF Technical Specialist (TS) is the program manager of SNGDP. S/he will report to the Project Board and be accountable to the Minister with administrative and technical reporting to UNCDF and UNDP and provide feedback on any project issues, as and when required. S/he will also be responsible for overall coordination between the project, UN agencies and DPs, in addition to managing the different output teams in achieving planned outputs, producing progress and financial reports and for the effective implementation of the project. The TS will be responsible for delivering the project work plans.

The Technical Specialist will be employed by UNCDF and is expected to provide the technical direction for the SNGDP. Supervision will be provided by the UNCDF Technical Advisor responsible for the Nepal Country Programme (primary) and Assistant Country Director (ACD), UNDP, Timor-Leste (secondary). In view of DIM implementation modality the TS will receive and comply with, direction from UNDP CO and UNCDF management where necessary to ensure UNDP and UNCDF views are reflected in programme planning and implementation strategies.

Background:

The Sub-National Governance and Development Programme (SNGDP) will follow on from the second and final phase of the Local Governance Support Programme. As such, SNGDP will build on the achievements of LGSP, particularly with respect to consolidating and strengthening Timor-Leste’s sub-national investment planning, financing and implementation processes. SNGDP, however, will go beyond LGSP by introducing several major innovations: infrastructure maintenance planning and finance at the sub-national level; better public financial management of recurrent expenditures at the local level; and factoring in climate change adaptation issues and challenges in the sub-national investment planning process.

The programme will work closely with the Ministry of State Administration, the Ministry of Finance, several line Ministries, and a range of donor-supported programmes to deliver three main Outcomes:

Outcome 1: Decentralisation policies are formulated and implemented;
Outcome 2: Sub-national investment delivery is more equitable, efficient, effective and accountable and sustainable;
Outcome 3: Sub-national investment delivery increases communities’ resilience to climate change and variability.

These three Outcomes will contribute towards achieving SNGDP’s over-arching goal of poverty reduction and local development in Timor-Leste through improved local capacity to deliver basic infrastructure and services in rural areas, particularly to poor communities.

SNGDP will engage in a range of financing and technical assistance activities to deliver its intended Outcomes. The programme will provide technical assistance and capacity development services to assist the Government in the formulation and implementation of its decentralisation reforms, seed funding for the piloting of infrastructure maintenance and climate change resilient small-scale infrastructure and technical assistance for the design of pilots, as well for providing the Government with appropriate policy advice aimed at strengthening Timor-Leste’s institutional and procedural framework for sub-national investment delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Technical Support for Programme Implementation. Provide overall technical direction for the combined programme and technical support to the Ministry of State Administration (MSA) for sound implementation of the SNGDP;
Policy advisory functions: Leadership and guidance to MSA to ensure development and implementation of a national policy, legal and regulatory framework for local development;
Support to the Local Development Finance Practice portfolio of UNCDF: Provide support to other UNCDF programme activities in the Asia region (insofar as Timor-Leste duties allow, and in consultation with MSA and UNDP Timor-Leste);
Additional duties as assigned.

Technical Support for Programme Implementation. Provide overall technical direction for the combined programme and technical support to the Ministry of State Administration (MSA) for sound implementation of the SNGDP. To this end the TS will:

Provide overall leadership, guidance and training to the national programme team;
Work with the national team in supporting programme implementation and institutional development at local level;
Liaise with and report to MSA (Minister, Secretary of State and senior officials) and the IMTWG for local development as regards the progress of implementation activities, highlighting emerging issues and problems, and proposing options for their resolution;
Determine the need for additional external technical assistance and develop ToR for short term technical advisors required by the programme, guide these advisors, and interpret their recommendations into action plans for implementation;
Contribute to the preparation of annual work plans and monitor the implementation in close collaboration with MSA and UNCDF/UNDP;
Review and provide input to periodic progress reports and outputs produced by the project to redesign and improve project outputs;
Supervise implementation of sound M&E mechanisms in collaboration with the GoTL;
Supervise and evaluate national programme staff and international consultants;
Supervise implementation of procedures for programme operations, procurement, finance management, and HR;
Represent UNCDF and act as a resource person in workshops, conferences and in meetings with GoTL, and the wider donor community in Timor Leste;
Oversee and authorize finance transactions in ATLAS, in liaison with the UNCDF Programme Officer;
Ensure that execution of SNGDP is in accordance with UNDP and UNCDF procedures and regulations.

Policy advisory functions: Leadership and guidance to MSA to ensure development and implementation of a national policy, legal and regulatory framework for local development:

Generally, facilitate and act as resource-person to the IMTWG for local development, and to the MSA (Minister, Secretary of State and senior officials) in regard to development and implementation of the national policy, legal and regulatory framework;
Provide policy lessons from the PDID implementation to GoTL and the IMTWG for local development as input to the ongoing policy discussion on local development;
Oversee and provide technical input to the design of the Government regulatory framework and guidelines;
Local Institutional setup of local Planning/budgeting procedures, Finance Regulation and procedures;
Implementation procedures, in addition to strategic planning of implementation of local development;
Oversee and provide technical input to the design of a capacity-building strategy and programme for government staff and d members at all levels to ensure coherent implementation of new regulatory framework and procedures;
Identify areas where external technical assistance will be required, draft ToR, provide guidance, and assist in translating recommendations into action;
Provide other such advice and support as may be required by GoTL and UNCDF/UNDP. Provide other relevant professional advice and assistant as needed.

Support to the Local Development Finance Practice (LDFP) portfolio of UNCDF: Provide support to other UNCDF programme activities and innovation of the Local Development Finance Practice, especially in support to the Asian portfolio (insofar as Timor-Leste duties allow, and in consultation with MSA and UNDP Timor-Leste):

Provide technical support to other UNCDF LDFP projects in areas such as development and implementation of one or other aspect of the local development finance;
Provide training and support to Programme Officers and project teams;
Participate in local development finance and climate change -related policy research and advocacy activities.

Additional duties as assigned:

Considering the nature and the timeframe of the programme, there may be additional duties assigned at a later stage if deemed necessary from a management point of view and such additions shall be jointly agreed between UNCDF and UNDP.

Impact of Results:

The key results will have impact on how well SNGDP activities are being implemented, how sound technical inputs are provided to the Program Management and DPs, close coordination between Development Partners and the Government is managed, and how well the established oversight mechanisms are delivered. If functioning well, it will contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of in-house policy advice, coordination and communication among all parties involved in SNGDP and high level quality assurance. This will ensure support to overall planning and implementation of SNGDP core activities.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
In-depth knowledge on development issues;
Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

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;
Strong IT skills;
Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity in keeping with 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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master/Post Graduate Degree in Social Sciences, Public Management, Public Policy, Public Finance or other related fields.

Experience:

Minimum 7 year’s experience of working with local public administration and finance;
Proven experience in working on local level capacity-building, planning, budgeting and infrastructure delivery programmes;
Knowledge of UNCDF approach on local development finance and portfolio in Asia is desirable;
Knowledge of climate finance and/or natural resources management is seen as an asset;
Ability to work under pressure in a difficult multi-cultural environment on a wide range of tasks and deliver quality outputs on time;
Familiarity with the country context is preferable;
Good interpersonal skills and ability to work with Timorese and coach them in the process.

Language:

Fluency in English language is a requirement;
Oral and written communication skills in Tetun and/or Portuguese are preferable

Note

Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload (as a *pdf attachment) the completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx. Completion of all the fields is required.