UNCDF Jobs - 50130- Project Management Specialist

Project Management Specialist - UNCDF

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Nairobi (with frequent travel to Somalia), KENYA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-10

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One Year (with possible extension)

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

The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) in Somalia is a joint programme of ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, UN-HABITAT and UNICEF. JPLG commenced in 2008 for an initial phase of 5 years has now entered in its second phase (2013-2017). JPLG works with the Federal Government of Somalia, the Governments of Puntland and Somaliland, local governments, communities and non-state actors. The JPLG overall objective is; “Local governance contributes to peace and equitable priority service delivery in selected locations’.

The JPLG is aligned to the relevant programming frameworks of the Somalia regions and in line with the UNCDF Corporate Strategy and the Business Plan of the Local Development Finance Practice. The overall programmatic scope of JPLG II remains largely unchanged, but places greater emphasis on promoting legislative reforms, institutionalizing innovations introduced during Phase I, expanding to more districts, especially in the Federal Government of Somalia region (South Central Somalia), and strengthening the management of the Programme.

In the framework of JPLG, UNCDF plays a vital role in designing and implementing the Local Development Fund (LDF) mechanism for Somalia, following its experiences with Local Development Programmes, Local Development funds and fiscal decentralization in Least Developed Countries. The LDF implementation has provided a space for capacity building, piloting of systems and procedures, comprehensive planning at local level and accountability measures; ultimately leading to a formalized fiscal decentralization system in Somalia.

In this context and to respond to its increased role in supporting the fiscal decentralization process and the related subnational level PFM reforms, UNCDF/JPLG seeks to hire a Project Management Specialist to enhance staffing requirements and to contribute to the overall objectives of JPLGII. The Project Management Specialist shall report to the UNCDF Chief Technical Advisor, who is also the UNCDF Project Manager on the JPLGII. UNCDF’s core areas in JPLG include development and implementing inter-governmental transfer system, local government revenue mobilization, public financial management and enhancement of accountability mechanisms for inclusive locally prioritized service delivery. The main task of the Project Management Specialist shall be supporting the project management and contributing to activities related to the design, rolling out, and implementation of the fiscal decentralization policy and related public financial management issues in Puntland, Somaliland and Federal Government of Somalia. The Project Management Specialist shall provide support on issues of project management, institutional development, fiscal strategies and the pursuit of strategies and mandates of UNCDF on the JPLG. The Project Management Specialist shall generally support the CTA in all the project management and technical aspects as delegated and shall from time to time be required to represent the interests of UNCDF in its roles in JPLG and among the stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Provide analytical and strategic support to the project and ensure liaison and coordination with implementing partners; Ensure proper and timely reporting, quality assurance for reports and publications;
Provide Operational support to the project to ensure efficient and timely delivery of activities;
Efficient support to monitoring and evaluation and regular field visits to Somalia;
Support the CTA in delivery of technical advice and programme management.

Provide analytical, strategic and technical support to the project focusing on the achievement of the following:

Ensure that the strategic direction of the project is reflected in work plans with a focus on fiscal decentralization, local revenue generation and local government, Public Financial Management;
Ensure, in close consultation with the CTA, the effective application of UNCDF tools and approaches, elaboration and implementation of coherent work plans, project and programme documents, support preparation of compelling proposals and achievement of results;
Conduct analytical work including support to institutional capacity assessments and reviews related to UNCDF’s portfolio of activities;
Contribute towards UNCDF’s /JPLG knowledge products based on lessons learned, experiences and data generated through UNCDF Projects implementation within the joint programme;
Liaise with and enhance relationships with the JPLG counterparts, specifically but not limited to the central and local government officials and institutions, donors and other players in the Somalia fiscal decentralization process.

Ensure proper and timely reporting, quality assurance for reports and publications focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Planning, analysis, and implementation;
Participate actively in project work planning and implementation;
Support to liaison with counterparts and preparation of agreements including work plan, budget and schedule of payments;
Participate in the Technical Working Groups of the JPLG and represent the CTA in various counterpart interactions as may be required;
Reporting and partner liaison and coordination:
Ensure proper reporting to stakeholder on implementation, the achievement of outputs as well as contribute to reporting on progress towards outcomes and impact;
Assist in liaison with all partner agencies, donors and implementing agencies.

Provide Operational support to the project to ensure efficient and timely delivery of activities focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Support compliance of operation with UNCDF rules and regulations and support and coordinate the preparation of project procurement and recruitment plans;
Provide support to tracking of expenses, proper allocation and use of funds, and timely disbursements of grants and payment of vendors;
Provide quality control support for financial reports submitted by counterparts and liaise with counterparts to ensure transparent and accountable use of funds provided in the framework of grants, LOAs, MoUS and other relevant collaborative frameworks;
Assist counterparts with work plan development, develop checklists to help in implementation of work plans and ensure that operational support to counterparts are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.

Efficient support to monitoring and evaluation and regular field visits to Somalia focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Ensure UNCDFs monitoring and evaluation framework and ensure that JPLG data is delivered in a timely manner and in an appropriate format;
Analyze quality of project delivery and advise on project implementation;
Contribute to quarterly, mid-year and annual reporting and coordinate reporting input from the field including .regular visits to the Somali field offices to interact with field staff, local and central government counterparts and other JPLG stakeholders;
Support the CTA and field staff in preparation and submission of reports as may be required by JPLG, the UNCDF head and regional offices and other relevant stakeholders;
Maintain effective communication and collaboration with JPLG partners and UNCDF field colleagues.

Support the CTA in delivery of technical advice and programme management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Provide development and implementation support for local capacity for fiscal management as well as the operation of the Local Development Fund and related technical support towards implementation of fiscal decentralization;
Provide technical support to the identified districts by JPLG for establishing and implementing the LDF and fiscal management support as well as support to the respective national teams and to ensure progress of implementation of work plans of UNCDF;
Establish monitoring frameworks for the LDF and provide ongoing feedback and technical backstopping, and regularly monitor progress towards the identified indicators and inform the CTA;
Identify capacity building needs and coordinate responses around the LDF and local fiscal management to ensure promotion of equitable local development principles;
In collaboration with the CTA and JPLG Senior Programme Manager, prepare relevant reports for the JP Steering Committee and other technical requirements as requested.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of JPLG programme within specific areas of intervention in Somalia to establish community prioritized service delivery through decentralized governance and accountability systems. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and implementation of activities to contribute to realization of the JPLG programme objectives.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
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;
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change;
Strong IT skills and knowledge of Atlas;
Excellent knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting;
Excellent knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit.

Management and Leadership

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in public finance, economic policy, public policy, public administration or other related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of fiscal decentralization, public financial management, public sector reform, expenditure management and intergovernmental relations;
Demonstrated sound knowledge and understanding of public sector reform and preferably fiscal decentralization issues, particularly in post-conflict and transitional countries;
Experience in the assessment of government systems and processes;
Experience in international development partner support to Least Developed Countries in Africa and in donor coordination;
Experience in post-conflict environments a distinct advantage;
Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of issues of governance in Somalia desirable;
Innovative, solution oriented, and a positive attitude required;
Previous experience within the UN/Bretton Woods/ development agency/donor institutions desirable;
Effective presentation and report-writing skills; strong analytical and strategic skills as well as good written and oral communication skills.

Language Requirements:

Demonstrated excellence in written and spoken English is essential;
Knowledge of Somali is a requirement.

Terms of Service

This is a non-staff contract under the Service Contract modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under a Service Contract serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions.