UNDP Jobs - 49179- Democratic Governance Specialist

Democratic Governance Specialist

Location :

Suva, FIJI

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

19-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NO-C

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Renewable subject to performance and funding.

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

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative-Programmes, the Democratic Governance (DG) Specialist (Team Leader) is responsible for promoting democratic governance, MDGs/Post 2015 development agenda, gender equality and resilience in the Pacific through the management of the Democratic Governance and Resilience Building (DGRB) Unit and its programme portfolio. The Team Leader acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of the Country Office programme covering the following areas: a) Governance, Gender and Human Rights and b) Poverty Reduction & MDGs/Post 2015 development agenda. The DG specialist will ensure that human rights and gender equality are facilitated through all UNDP programmes, as well as develop and implement specific democratic governance programmes. The programmes include development of new projects to promote access to justice and rule of law in UNDP Pacific. The Democratic Governance Specialist will also lead in identification of new UN joint programmes, while ensuring consistency with the five UN programming principles and with UNDAF/ SRPD priorities in the development of creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The DG Specialist spearheads cross-cutting collaboration and supports implementation with thematic units in the CO, and in particular, contribution towards monitoring and evaluation of projects in partnership with the Results & Resources Management team. The DG Specialist also works closely with the operations team in the country office, thematic technical advisors and experts at the Pacific Center and Asia-Pacific Regional Center, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff, field office staff and government and non-government stakeholders including CSOs, private sector, academia, , multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors to successfully manage the UNDP Programs in its assigned focal areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme development focusing on achievement of the following results:

Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, SRPD, Annual Business Plan, IWP, and other documents;
Leads conceptual, analytical processes to identify new strategic areas for UNDP support and entry points relevant to assigned focal areas, providing catalytic roles. Guides and manages strategic Democratic Governance programme development, elaboration of strategic documents, ensuring upstream integration of thematic focus areas;
Responsible for corporate reporting requirements for IWP, ROAR, Capacity Development etc.;
Identification of strategic and innovative cross-thematic programme areas of cooperation. Identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/ SRPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities; Design and develop core and non-core resourced projects;
Operationalization of UNDAF/ SRPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies;
Contribute to CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management and internal control framework, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit, in close collaboration with Environment unit;
Leads the mainstreaming of Gender, Capacity Development, HRBA amongst programme teams through strategic planning, programme formulation and monitoring processes of programme unit;
Networking to ensure programme in assigned focal areas are relevant and responsive to changes in the country context; advises the ARR-P on programme portfolio development and delivery, identifies approaches and modalities to achieve development targets.

Ensures effective management and implementation of the CO programme as per assigned focal areas and supervision of the team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

Effective application of RBM tools, new programming modalities establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results. Close collaboration with Results and Resources Management unit on quality assurance aspects of Monitoring and Evaluation;
Donor reporting and support to monitoring for effectiveness and delivery;
Quality Assurance for Gender, Capacity Development and HRBA in programming work of CO. Strategic oversight and supporting planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the team’s programme initiatives, and in tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. The DG Specialist performs the Atlas functions in accordance with ICF for development projects;
Support effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO Democratic Governance programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the DG programme environment, timely readjustment of these programmes;
Acts as a manager of and advisor to ARR-P on all aspects of DG CO programme and also responsible for supervision and guidance to PDP team and contribution to cross-unit cooperation and coordination;
Provides overall management oversight of all the projects under DGRB unit to achieve the priority areas in the IWP;
Provide policy and technical advice on program issues of significance to the office. Identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects.

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

Lead DGRB resource mobilization planning, pipeline management, and achievement of DGRB’s programme outcomes. Determination of DGRB programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
Advocates DGRB focal areas for UNDP and liaises with other UN Agencies, Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, Pacific Centre, HQs and Field staff, Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society;
Advises the ARR-Programmes on course correction and creative responses to emerging complex challenges related to DGRB portfolio;
Oversight of process from initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, entering project into ATLAS, finalization of contribution agreement, determination of required revisions, co-ordination of the mandatory and budget rephrasing exercises, closure of projects in a timely manner;
Perform Atlas functions in accordance with ICF;
Annual preparations of ROAR reports for units;
Develop strong working relationships with implementing partners and provide direct oversight and management of national and regional projects;
Represent UNDP in UN initiated activities and associated technical working groups of relevance to assigned area of work;
Act as Gender focal point for UNDP.

Ensures provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government 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 portfolio’s programme policy goals in country;
Development of policies and institutional processes that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Leads team contributions/collaboration with UNDP knowledge network team;
Organizations of trainings and knowledge sharing on programme issues.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda;
Results-Based Programme Development and Management;
Building Strategic Partnerships;
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches;
Resource Mobilization;
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing;
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise;
Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals;
Client Orientation.

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. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Human Rights, Gender and Development.

Experience:

5 years relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis, hands-on experience in design and formulation of Programmes in the areas of MDGs, Governance and Human Rights and Gender, Access to Justice and Rule of Law.
Substantive experience in resource mobilization. Monitoring and evaluation of projects experience will be an asset.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language:

Fluent in English.