UNDP Jobs - 49972- Re-advertisement - National Officer: Advise and Co

Re-advertisement - National Officer: Advise and Coordination of Activities in Liaison with Strategic and Technical Advisor, Parliament - (Open to Myanmar Nationals Only)

Location :

Nay Pyi Taw, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-9

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

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

Applicants who previously applied need not re-apply.

The Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (the Constitution) came into force in 2008. Chapter 4 of the Constitution establishes the Union Parliament of Myanmar or Pyidaungsu Hluttaw comprising two Hluttaws (Assemblies) that are generally equal in status:

The Pyithu Hluttaw (People’s Assembly) formed with representatives elected on the basis of township as well as population and representatives being the Defense Services Personnel nominated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services. Section 109 provides that the Pyithu Hluttaw will have a maximum of 440 representatives with not more than 330 elected representatives and 110 nominated, as prescribed above;
The Amyotha Hluttaw (Nationalities Assembly) formed with representatives elected in equal numbers from Regions and States and representatives being the Defense Services Personnel nominated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services. Section 141 provides that the Amyotha Hluttaw will have a maximum of 224 representatives with 168 representatives elected in an equal number of 12 representatives from each Region or State inclusive of relevant Union territories and 1 representative from each Self-Administered Division or Self-Administered Zone and 56 nominated, as prescribed above.

The term of the Union Parliament of Myanmar is 5 years from the day of the first session of the Pyithu Hluttaw (People’s Assembly). The current term expires in late 2015. In April 2013, a three year Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) was signed between the Government of Myanmar and UNDP. This CPAP presented a change in the way that UNDP works in Myanmar. Previously UNDP was working under a restricted mandate and the new CPAP shifted UNDP from a programme focused 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 Pillar 3 covering Democratic Governance in turn contains four areas of complementary work (a) Development Effectiveness; (b) Parliamentary Strengthening; (c) Rule of Law and Access to Justice and (d) Public Administration.

The Parliament Strengthening work started, immediately following the CPAP signing in April 2013. Together with the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), UNDP has engaged with the Union Assembly of Myanmar to identify areas where the capacity of the Union Parliament can be built in order for it to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate. Based on a series of assessment missions and discussions with senior political leaders in both the Pyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw, UNDP and the IPU have developed a parliamentary strengthening component which includes a long-term, multi-faceted approach to capacity building. It covers capacity building for the Parliamentarians, the Parliamentary Administration as well as for the Regional/ State Parliaments.

Activities under the Programme includes, but are not limited to:

The Programme is currently supporting the Union Parliament in developing a strategic plan that will set out the vision, values and objectives of the Union Parliament from 2014 to 2019. It will set out the process by which the various capacities of the different houses can be built as well as the process of managing change. The strategic plan will also serve as a tool to facilitate the Union Parliament to manage and prioritize development activities and ensure that they are effectively coordinated;
The Programme has been requested to provide support to the training of existing staff and the large number of new staff who will be recruited throughout 2014 and 2015. A plan for developing a Learning Centre within the Union Parliament has been approved and implementation has commenced. The initial focus of the Learning Centre will be the training of the parliamentary secretariat staff, but it will progressively increase its focus on providing capacity building programme to MP's. In the longer term, the Learning Centre is expected to expand to include a focus on outreach including capacity building for staff and MPs of the Regional Parliaments, government officers, media and NGOs/INGOs and civil society groups;
There is also a strong demand by Committee Chairs, committee members and committee staff for capacity building initiatives to improve committee effectiveness. In response the program is delivered and is developing new capacity building programs with a number of committees including the Pubic Account Committees and the Bills Committees, which are both, established under the Constitution. It is also planned to broaden this support in 2014/15 to the large number of Ad Hoc (portfolio/subject) committees;
An Information, communication and technology plan (ICT) has been developed and implementation has started. There will be some support for ICT infrastructure and strengthening of information management as well as capacity building and training on computer skills, ICT support and information management.

Under direct supervision of the Strategic and Technical Advisor to the Parliament of Myanmar and in close coordination with the Programme Specialist Parliament, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the implementation of activities at the Parliamentary Strengthening output of the Country Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions

Support continuous development and implementation of the Parliamentary Strengthening Output

Preparation of strategic background papers, briefing notes and concept notes to inform decisions for a comprehensive, long-term approach to parliamentary development;
Advice on activities such as meetings, seminars, workshops, to be implemented under the Annual Work Plan;
Contributes to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Parliamentary Strengthening Output; and
Supports assessing the impact and effectiveness of UNDP’s Parliamentary strengthening activities.

Support capacity building activities at the Union Parliament

Supports in provision of specific technical expertise to the Union parliament on legislation, oversight and representative responsibilities;
Supports building the capacity of parliamentary stakeholders for inclusive and participatory coordination, planning and policy making;
Communicates with key stakeholders, including officials of the Union Parliament, partner organizations, international and national advisors and experts in the areas of the project intervention; and
Close communication and support to mechanisms set up by the Union Parliament for coordinating development assistance.

Support coordination across the UNDP programme at the Union Level

Coordinates with other outputs of UNDPs Country Programme for maximizing the effect of activities under programme intervention;
Supports building coordination with donor and partner assistance to better integrate UNDP’s and others’ interventions; and
Coordinates with other organizations providing support to the Union Parliament.

Engagement in Knowledge Management

Engages actively in the process of knowledge creation and dissemination related to national and international know-how in the subject area of parliamentary strengthening;
Identifies, synthesizes and provides the collection of best practices and lessons in the area of parliamentary strengthening;
Provides inputs to the preparation and sharing of knowledge tools and products;
Provides information and guidance to consultants working for the project and to brief interested donors, NGO’s or foreign missions on UNDP activities under the project; and
Contributions to UNDP Myanmar knowledge products or policy briefs.

Any other tasks as assigned by the Strategic and Technical Advisor/or Programme Specialist for the Parliamentary Support Programme.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results have an impact on the UNDP Country Programme Action Plan and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Understands general principles of primary area of specialization (Parliamentary Strengthening) as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (Elections and Political Party Strengthening) and democratic governance more broadly;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates basic knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments; and
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
Strong communication and interpersonal skills; and
Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Assesses parliamentary support programme performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of programme implementation;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for programme development; and
Participates in the formulation of proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda-Operating information for policy input

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things and
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Client Orientation

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion; and
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively; and
Learning and sharing knowledge and encouraging the learning of others.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Law, Development Studies, Public Administration/ Management, and Social Science or a related discipline;
A first-level university degree in combination with four years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience:

Candidate with Master degree requires 2 years of relevant working experience in a field such as capacity development and training;
Relevant working experience in an organization providing capacity development and training;
Proven project cycle management experience with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation);
Proven experience in programme reporting.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in Myanmar and English is essential.

Appplication:

Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with duly filled and signed UN-P11 form, academic qualification certificates. Applications without these document will not be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here:
http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx.

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