Background

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Policy, Research, Gender and Communications (PRGC) Team Coordinator acts as a manager of the Team and advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of PRGC work. PRGC Coordinator analyzes political, social and economic trends, substantively contributes to strategic planning, formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities, and provides policy advice services The Team Coordinator leads the team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UN Common Development Plan (UNCDP) Kosovo Program Action Plan (KPAP) priorities and facilitates creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

PRGC Team Coordinator leads the PRGC Team to in the development and implementation of outreach and advocacy strategies for advancing UNDP policy goals with key decision-makers, strategic partners, and the public. In doing so, the Team Coordinator works to build synergies between UNDP programmatic, communications, monitoring and evaluation, applied research, and other cross-cutting capacities, to enhance the value and relevance of UNDP knowledge products and services and to strengthen UNDP’s substantive positioning and financial sustainability.

He/she leads UNDP’s efforts to advocate and raise awareness on key development issues through:

a) applied research and data analysis;
b) publication of high quality knowledge products;
c) provision of policy expertise;
d) organization of and engagement in public debates; and
e) design and implementation of innovative pilot projects that feed into programme development. In order to achieve this, the Team manages its own portfolio of projects, advises and supports other work teams within UNDP Kosovo and works closely with the UN Kosovo Team (UNKT) knowledge and advocacy partners.

For maximum integration of programme content, the team works very closely with the other programme teams, participating in programme meetings, and contributing to efforts for resource mobilization. In order to increase the level of efficiency, effectiveness and consistency across the office and given its cross-cutting nature, the PRGC Team mainstreams support throughout the programme cycle (from idea, design, to implementation monitoring and evaluation) and also will provide advisory services to the UNKT CDP implementation, monitoring and advocacy. The PRGC Team works to enhance internal capacities to integrate a human-rights based approach and a gender-sensitive approach to programming, and to increase the use of RBM tools and practices, through continuous coaching of programme and project staff, ensuring that data quality, baselines, and indicators comply with minimum standards, evaluations and planned and conducted, planning and reporting is of high quality and focused on results and transformational change, and management of programme resources is done in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.
PRGC Coordinator leads and supervises the PRGC team, coordinates activities of project personnel and works in close collaboration with the other programme teams, with the operations team in the UNDP office, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQ staff, local counterparts in Kosovo institutions, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

1. To strengthen UNDP’s substantive positioning and financial sustainability by enhancing the value and relevance of UNDP knowledge products and services through high quality applied research, policy analysis, gender analysis, and highly effective strategic communications, outreach and advocacy activities;
2. To oversee the work of the PRGC team, empowering, guiding and supervising its staff, and ensuring timely and effective delivery of results related to the projects and programmes under his/her responsibility;
3. To contribute to strengthening UNDP strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts;
4. To oversee the provision of top quality policy advice services to clients and partners and facilitate knowledge creation and management

1. Under overall supervision and guidance of the DRR, the PRGC Team Coordinator is responsible for strengthening UNDP’s substantive positioning and financial sustainability by enhancing the value and relevance of UNDP knowledge products and services, through high quality applied research on human development issues, policy analysis, gender analysis, highly effective strategic communications, outreach and advocacy activities, and other cross-cutting functions, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Team Coordinator

• Development and implementation of outreach and advocacy strategies for advancing UNDP policy goals with key decision-makers, strategic partners, and the public
• Scanning of the horizon, monitoring and analysis of emerging economic, social and political factors that may affect development of projects, and identifies development needs and opportunities relevant to UNDP’s mandate;
• Provision of advice to the DRR and the DC/RR on: a) issues that would benefit from high-level advocacy efforts; b) programme development and delivery; and c) approaches and modalities to achieve UNDP advocacy and development objectives
• Provision of substantive contributions from UNDP to the UN Common Development Plan design, monitoring, review and evaluation, promoting thematic and sectoral synergies, joint programming and coordination of programme activities and execution;
• Designs and delivery of high quality UNDP knowledge products and services, including policy analysis and advocacy, research, advancing gender equality, translating programme priorities into local interventions, while ensuring effective coordination and networking with clients, stakeholders and programme partners

2. The Team Coordinator oversees the work of the PRGC team, empowering, guiding and supervising its staff, and ensuring timely and effective delivery of results related to the projects and programmes under his/her responsibility, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Creation of a positive work environment, providing effective leadership and oversight of team activities and individual performance, and supporting the continuous professional growth of all team members,
• Effective application of tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Design and formulation of programmes within the area of responsibility and review and advice to other programme components, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies.
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations (The Team Coordinator performs the function of UNDP Manager Level 1 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval.)
• Effective monitoring, evaluation and assessment of the impact of UNDP programmatic and policy products and services in Kosovo. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, and timely readjustment of programme activities as required.
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.
• Aggregate reports prepared regularly on activities, outputs and outcomes.
• Preparation of donor reports.

3. Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports the resource mobilization, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of the UNDP office partnerships and resources mobilization strategy to achieve programme outcomes.
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.
• Supports and actively contributes to coordination and collaboration mechanisms among UN agencies in Kosovo in the framework of the UN CDP.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

4. Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues.
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to Kosovo’s policy goals.
• Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address Kosovo’s problems and needs in collaboration with Kosovo institutions and other strategic partners.
• Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on a wide variety of cross-cutting issues, including media relations, outreach, advocacy, programme effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation and results based management, and gender mainstreaming and analysis.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the UNDP Kosovo programme and reaching UNCDP and KPAP goals. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
Level 2: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Level 2: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Level 1.1: Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 2: Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations)

Level 2: Implementing resource mobilization strategies

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Level 2: Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Level 2: In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionall
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignment
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
Level 2: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level

Client Orientation
Level 2: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provide
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality

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 standard
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-takin

Prince2 training and certification, RMG

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience at the local or international level in leading the provision of policy advisory services; demonstrated ability in the design and implementation of advocacy and outreach campaigns; hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; demonstrated skills in establishing inter-relationships with international organizations and other strategic partners, and with key decision-makers from Kosovo institutions and civil society.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages, including web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the English, Albanian and Serbian languages.

Application Instructions:

• Click on the "Apply now" button.
• Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.
• Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (P-11).
• System will only allow one attachment. All docs (P11, academic qualifications/diploma) should be included as one attachment
• Without the completed and signed P11, your application may not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at this link:http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/jobs/

Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted