Background

The country of Myanmar is at an historic stage in its development. A new Constitution was adopted in May 2008 and elections were held in November 2010 with bi-elections in April 2012. Parliament and governments have been formed at the national and region/state levels. A number of reforms have already been undertaken focusing on good governance, human rights and reaching cease-fire agreements in a number of conflict areas. These reforms are seen as positive steps, which have led to increasing engagement with the international community and allowed the Executive Board of UNDP to lift mandate restrictions and to propose a fully-fledged UNDP country program (approved by the Executive Board at its 1st regular session in January 2013 and by the Government of Myanmar in April, 2013).

Against this rapidly changing background, UNDP Myanmar, after more than 20 years of working exclusively at the grassroots level through the Human Development Initiative, has agreed with the Government of Myanmar on the implementation of a country program (2013-2015). The Country Program Action Plan (CPAP) which is structured along three pillars was signed with the government counterpart in April 2013, and the program/projects have started their implementation since then. The CPAP envisages contributions towards strengthening democratic governance and provision of policy advice for poverty reduction (pillar 3), strengthening resilience against climate change and disaster risk reduction (pillar 2), and targeted support for strengthening institutions of local governance and to contribute to enhanced social cohesion (pillar 1).

Under the overall program of pillar 01 – Strengthening of responsive local governance - four specific outputs are being pursued:

• Output 01 - Strengthened institutional capacity for local governments and township administrations for area-related development planning, responsive and effective public service delivery, organizational management and conflict prevention;
• Output 02/03 – Citizens and communities engaged in local development and monitoring of service delivery (combined civil society and media support);
• Output 04 - Strengthened capacity of institutions required to support livelihoods at the local level (microfinance, vocational training, technical extension centers);
• Output 05 – Livelihood support for social cohesion.

Output 2 is designed primarily to stimulate the participation of citizens in the local development processes through the involvement of organized groups such as Civil Society Organizations, NGOs and other non-government actors. Empowerment of civil society groups and enabling them to pro-actively pursue their issues with the appropriate authorities at the sub-national level is the overall objective. An added dimension to this output is the analysis of obstacles to and improvement of access to information by all sections of the community. As such, media development and capacity building of stakeholders will be simultaneously pursued, with the intention of drawing linkages between open and transparent access to information and meaningful participation of civil society for improved development outcomes.

Output 2 will complement the overall pillar program by strengthening the capacities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media actors through engagement in partnerships to help contribute to the effectiveness of local development interventions and to an overall strengthening of social accountability. Concrete activities aim to strengthen engagement capacities of civil society to contribute to local development planning and decision making processes, including monitoring of the township planning cycle; establish a forum for community/CSOs to enhance civic education and awareness, facilitate better access to relevant information that supports their interaction with government partners for public discussion and decision making processes through piloting of township community learning/ dialogue centers; contribute to women empowerment and gender parity through e.g. capacity development of Federated Self-reliant Groups (FSRGs); contribute to peace building efforts in pilot states at the local levels by engaging with ethnic media groups to design the implementation of pilot community media and conflict sensitive reporting in partnership with UNESCO and other key actors. Overall the program in its initial phase aims to develop scalable models of engagement and support that can later be scaled up and replicated in other locations.

UNDPs activities under output 02 have so far been closely intertwined with output 01 including the holding of a national level workshop on good local governance and people centered service delivery in 2013. At the sub national level, joint activities have been initiated in selected states and townships (initially focusing on Chin and Mon states) to advance an ongoing local governance mapping exercise and encourage Civil Society groups to participate actively in the process. In a variety of locations, UNDP has engage in bringing together State Government and other non-state actors for information sharing and networking and to set the foundation for improved dialogue and participatory decision making in future.

The Civil Society and Media program analyst will assist in the design and program implementation of output 2 and related activities of the civil society and media program working closely with the relevant staff at both, the Country Office and the field level. He/ She will be working under the direct supervision of the Output Lead of output 02.

The program analyst will analyze political, social and economic trends relevant to the civil society and media program and will provide advice to program development and management. He/ she will take a lead role in quality assurance for field level activities, specifically through engagement in capacity development, training and coaching of beneficiaries and national project staff, as well as through monitoring and reporting. He/ she will work together with national and international consultants who may be hired to expedite certain deliverables under the annual work plans.

This is a Development Project funded position for 8 months.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Program analyst will perform the following tasks / activities:

• Program management and implementation;
• Knowledge Management;
• Results monitoring and reporting;
• Advocacy, Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization.

Program management and implementation:

• Assist in technical design and implementation of the program activities under the output 02 through analysis, research, drafting and review of program documents, training and coaching of national staff, field visit and monitoring;
• Provide drafting inputs and engage with the output team in devising and implementation of technically sound and responsive annual work plans and respective implementation plans within the established management mechanism to delivering results including RBM;
• Engage in quality assurance and oversee the completion of the CSO mapping/ CSO briefs in States/Regions of Myanmar targeted by UNDP, including providing substantive inputs to the strategic and sustainable capacity development of CSOs/NGOs in selected states/townships;
• Research, prepare and consolidate inputs into policy analysis, capacity assessments and program design in the area of civil society and media support through the UNDP capacity development activities;
• Assist conceptually and as a resource person in the implementation of capacity building programs on improving access to information and information exchange between Civil Society and Government Representatives at the Township Level specifically through participatory design and implementation of Township Community Learning/Dialogue Centers in selected locations;
• Undertake assessments of opportunities for program intervention to enhance access to information, strengthening of local media and information channels, including potentially community broadcast and conflict sensitive reporting;
• Ensure effective management oversight for the implementation of a joint project with UNESCO funded by the Peace Building Fund to support ethnic media and community broadcasting in Mon and Kayin states and ensure capturing of lessons learnt upon completion;
• Review present collaboration and status of synergies between program components within the pillar program as well across pillars of the UNDP program, in particular regarding pillar 03 (democratic governance) and provide concrete recommendations for deepening of linkages;
• Engage closely with national and international consultants  hired for program delivery through providing logistical support to missions, review of deliverables, and timely follow up on related procurement processes;
• As guided by the output lead, coordinate with similar activities carried by development actors and engage with the government’s development coordination mechanisms and other coordination mechanism in the area of Civil Society support, Media and Access to Information.

Knowledge Management:

• Identify areas of innovation and best practices to enhance program performance under the Output 02 programs and other Outputs within the Pillar 1 programs;
• Contribute to policy briefs and other analytical work of UNDP on civil society and media, by preparing substantive inputs in the substance area;
• Ensure continuous and mutually reinforcing knowledge sharing with other outputs and pillars, especially on democratic governance and policy support (pillar 03) with a view of feeding local development and governance experience into the policy work;
• Assist in organizing formal and informal internal and external networks or communities of practice involving experts in government, academia, think tanks, private companies, NGOs, development partners and the UN system.

Results monitoring and reporting:

• Continuously monitor and recommend effective reporting systems to report on program implementation and results achieved;
• Report regularly to the Civil Society and Media Specialist through formal and informal channels;
• Contribute to the regular reporting of the Civil Society and Media output according to the corporate reporting requirements, provide inputs and assist in drafting quarterly and annual reports or as specifically requested, highlighting results and achievements as well as risks and issues and propose concrete response and follow-up actions.

Partnership Development, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization:

• Maintain active relationships and partnerships with the Government, relevant CSOs/NGOs, UN system and agency partners, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations, academia, media, and the private sector on national priorities related to the substance area, enhance collaboration, resource mobilization, sharing of ideas and to influence agenda and priority setting;
• Assists in advocacy efforts by UNDP with government counterparts to develop critical relationships, networks and build effective partnerships with government and with development partners in the subject area;
• Assists in full and timely reporting of development results with a focus on sustainability and on value for money; develop and pursue effective communication for development results and public outreach;
• Engage in analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.

Impact of Results

Results of the work will have a significant impact on:

• Ensuring that output activities and sub-results are directed at achieving and contributing to the overall results of the program.
• Improving capacities, knowledge and skills, as well as learning on local governance and civil society support in Myanmar and internationally.

The key results will have an impact on the overall success of the country program and reaching UNDP CPAP/CPD and project document goals of pillar 01. In particular the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming support to civil society and media capacity building, and related activities such as strengthening of democratic processes and institutions (particularly in the area of institutionalized participation of citizens, accountability and representation), effective partnership building with sub national and national governments and contribution to policy formation and ongoing reform processes.

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:

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning and facilitate crucial decision making at the highest levels of government;
• Ability to lead the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategic policies and sound development program;
• Ability to generate creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Strong technical and practical leadership and knowledge in issues related to aid management, coordination and effectiveness;
• Familiarity with UN system and role of key stakeholders in the area of national development plans, local-level planning, aid management, coordination and effectiveness.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment through leadership and personal example;
• Experience in capacity development and facilitating positive transformational change;
• Experience in providing technical assistance and substantive inputs in the area of local governance;
• Ability to promote UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization Experience in capacity development and facilitating positive transformational change.

Management and Leadership:

• Ability to build strong relationships with clients, to focus on impact and to responds positively to constructive feedback;
• Personal attributes to consistently approaching work with energy and a positive constructive attitude;
• Good oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Excellent computer skills, and applications for report and project planning;
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver projects within assigned deadlines;
• Openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and objectivity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree or higher in social sciences, communications, media, development studies, management or other relevant fields preferred;
• A bachelor degree with a minimum of 4 years of program management work related experience in the area of international development in lieu of a master will be accepted.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years progressively responsible and relevant professional working experience in international development work at a program management level;
• Experience in the area of programmatic support to local governance, civil society and/or media work;
• Demonstrated experience in program design, as well as hands on capacity building of civil society actors and/or media actors at both national and local levels;
• Demonstrated experience in management of CSO support programs, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle management (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation);
• Demonstrated experience in partnership building, provision of input to policy development and advocacy;
• Prior experience of development work in Myanmar,  as well as in South-East Asia and countries in transition on civil society and media support would be an asset;
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills; ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and social knowledge networks.

Language:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of local language(s) would be an asset.

Note

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.