UNDP Jobs - 50782- Programme Manager (Disaster Reduction & Resilience

Programme Manager (Disaster Reduction & Resilience)

Location :

Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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

Building resilience resonates with UNDP’s sustainable human development paradigm which argues for enlarging people’s choices and enhancing their capability and freedoms. Specifically, from a sustainable human development lens, resilience-building is about harnessing and unleashing the capability of individuals, systems, and communities to proactively respond to shocks, stresses, and changes and to self-renew and thrive out of shocks, stresses, and changes, going beyond reactive response to shocks, stresses, and change to anticipate and prevent imminent threats.

UNDP resilience programming will integrate knowledge and tools that address shocks, stresses, and changes arising from disasters from natural hazards, climate change and environmental degradation, as well as those that are man-made including violence and conflicts, financial and economic failures. UNDP will help build the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to anticipate and prevent, prepare and recover from, and transform in the aftermath of shocks, stresses, and change.

As the lead UN agency for development, UNDP has been working with national and international partners in the Sahel addressing the complex crisis affecting the Sahel as a combination of governance, security, humanitarian and development challenges. In July 2012, the UN Regional Director Team has developed a Sahel Resilience Strategic Framework and Action Plan aimed at building long term resilience in the Sahel to break the vicious cycle of protracted food crisis, chronic malnutrition, conflict, ,and rising vulnerability levels. In June 2013, the UN Security Council has approved a UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel which identifies a number of indicative actions to strengthen resilience at household, community and institutional level. Concurrently ECOWAS-CILLS are supporting governments in the region, including Burkina Faso, to develop country resilience strategies under the AGIR initiative for the Sahel. UNDP has developed a comprehensive strategy for its engagement in the Sahel with a strong focus on strengthening state and community resilience.

Against this background, UNDP has stepped up its commitment to increase advisory capacities in the region to support regional institutions and governments to spearhead resilience building efforts. In Burkina Faso, the Disaster Reduction and Resilience Advisor will assist in building national capacities in these areas in the framework of the “Projet de renforcement des capacités nationales de résilience au Burkina Faso”.

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Resident Representative / Resident Coordinator of the UN System , the Disaster Reduction and Resilience Advisor will be responsible for providing technical advice and strategic direction for the development and implementation of resilience strengthening programmes with a special focus on disaster risk reduction. The adviser will support UNDP in operationalizing the Sahel Strategy and mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the country programme including strengthening of Risk Assessment capacities and integration of risk reduction into national programs and strategies. The adviser will also support the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT in strengthening the impact of resilience building interventions of the UN system and spearheading the work of the Interagency Task Force on Resilience. The DRR and Resilience advisor will work closely with UN agencies, the World Bank and the Africa Development Bank and other development partners to promote a resilience country strategy and a road map for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The position requires a broad understanding of contributing factors to resilience as well as high degree of technical knowledge in disaster risk reduction, and ability to quickly analyse and understand the country context, build partnerships, develop innovative solutions and mobilize regional and global knowledge to meet the specific country needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project for strengthening the national capacity for resilience in Burkina Faso:

The Disaster Reduction and Resilience Advisor will be responsible for providing technical advice and assisting the “Ministère de l’Action Sociale et de la Solidarité Nationale in the implementation of the project. In particular, he (she) will assist in developing the project annual workplan, its monitoring and evaluation and in the preparation of the mandated progress reports.

UNDP Country Programme:

Under the supervision of UNDP Country Director:

Resilience:

Support UNDP Senior Management in the operationalization of the UNDP Country Program Action Plan (2011-2015) with a special focus on resilience in line with the Corporate Strategic Plan 2014-2017;
Provide advice and assist UNDP Senior Management in the operationalization of the UN integrated strategy for the Sahel and the UNDP strategy in the Sahel with a special focus on identifying entry points in the country programme for resilience strengthening interventions and approaches;
Provide guidance and technical support to the implementation of the UNDP Programme on Resilience in the Sahel, including resilience related interventions in the context of the program on Peace Consolidation and Governance in the Sahel funded by TICAD;
Identify and ensure linkages between recovery, governance, conflict prevention, natural resource management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction interventions;
Participate in regional organizations discussions on resilience (CILSS, CEDEAO) and keep UNDP SM abreast of developments. In particular participate in the AGIR country dialogue on resilience;
Foster and nurture strategic partnerships with other UN entities and development actors (World Bank, Africa Development Bank, EU, Bilaterals, NGOs, Private sector) to support national efforts to strengthen State and community resilience.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR):

Provide leadership and technical input for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP disaster risk reduction and recovery initiatives in support of the government;
Mainstream DRR into UNDP country programme, in particular fostering synergies with Climate Change Adaptation programme.
Analyse the socio-economic environment, disaster-risk and institutional context to provide advisory services in the field of disaster risk reduction, identifying key sector policies or programs (agriculture, environment, water, urban planning etc.) where disaster risk reduction can be integrated;
Where possible, serve as a broker in harnessing regional and global support through BCPR to respond to technical needs;
Coordinate UNDP disaster reduction efforts with the other partners – government agencies, UN agencies, ISDR, the World Bank, the Africa Development Bank, national and international NGOs, academic, technical and regional institutions -- at the country level;
Support the implementation of Climate Change and adaptation initiatives such as the African Adaptation Programme and the Climate Risk Management technical Assistance supported by BCPR;
Identify and follow up on potential opportunities for resource mobilization in support of disaster risk reduction and resilience programmes;
Monitor ongoing projects substantively through discussing project work plans, progress and performance; conduct evaluation missions and write TORs for consultants; propose direction and solutions in steering committee meetings, visit project sites to monitor and assess implementation; resolve problems in execution and implementation streamlining relations between national project directors, consultants and executing agencies. Seek complementarities and integration with on-going projects in other portfolios;
In post-disaster situations, advise the Country Office on recovery issues including: utilization of emergency grants; post-disaster assessments; formulation of early recovery frameworks/ programmes; reorientation; and planning for longer term recovery;
Contribute substantively to the work of the Early Recovery sector UNDP is coordinating. In particular, spearhead efforts for livelihoods program elaboration and timely implementation with local and international NGOs in the Sahel.

At the UN coordination level:

Under the overall guidance and coordination support to the RC/HC:

Provide strategic guidance to the Resident Coordinator on resilience, based on contextual analysis of issues related to the UN’s engagement in the Sahel;
Provide coordination support and technical guidance on inter-agency resilience related programming and initiatives.
Provide guidance and technical advice to the UNCT in the operationalization of the UN Integrated Strategy in the Sahel (Pillar 3 on resilience);
Provide leadership and technical guidance to the Interagency Working Group /Task Force on implementing the resilience Road Map.
Identify further programming options for the UNCT in the context of resilience, including development of proposals and identification of funding option;
Provide support to the RC/HC in resources mobilisation and advocacy for Resilience in the Sahel;
Provide advice and support the UNCT to coordinate efforts of the UN system in Disaster Risk Reduction and to support a multi-stakeholders / multi-sector approach to DRR;
Provide technical support to the RC to spearhead a multi-stakeholders dialogue on disaster risk reduction across sectors in Burkina Faso. Performs other functions as directed by the RC/HC.

Knowledge management:

Distil lessons learned and good practices and share them with the CO, the UNCT, BCPR, the CPR Network and the wider disaster reduction community of practice. In this respect, develop short and concise evidence- based knowledge products on DRR and Resilience. Participate in regional and global practice development meetings on disaster risk reduction and resilience;
Mentor UNDP/ UN system staff members and/ or project personnel working on disaster reduction and resilience issues;
Support the creation and management of Teamwork space on DR and Resilience issues to gather and exchange experiences and lessons learned with countries in the region and beyond (if need be).

Policy:

Advocate, promote awareness and understanding of the links and mutually supportive goals and objectives of disaster reduction, sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
As appropriate, on behalf of UNDP/ UN system provide policy level advice to the host government in development of institutional, legislative and policy frameworks for disaster risk reduction;
As needed, based on country level experience, provide inputs for the formulation of UNDP/ UN system policy, guidelines and practice notes on disaster risk reduction and recovery. Report on key trends in UNDP/ UN system programme portfolio at the country level and its policy implications;
Facilitate advocacy efforts related to mainstreaming disaster reduction into UNDP/ UN system supported development initiatives in the country and to mainstream DRR and resilience in national policies, plans and programmes;
Performs other functions that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Integrity and fairness

Embodies UN values and promotes the well-being of all individuals regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, or age.

Cultural sensitivity and adaptability

Communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives.

Strong corporate commitment

Works to achieve the goals of UNDP as a whole making significant contributions to corporate priorities or initiatives led by other UNDP offices and bureaus.

Functional competencies:

Managerial

Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines;
Ability to build strong relationships with external actors – cultivate productive relationships with donors, partners and other important institutions and individuals;
Proven ability to report back regularly and develop synergies with internal and external partners;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Ability to anticipate and understand client needs, formulate clear strategic plans, prioritize interventions, and allocate resources according to priorities;
Ability to develop innovative solutions - encourages and contributes creative solutions to address challenging situations;
Abilities in resource mobilisation, team building, team leadership and management.

Behavioural

Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master) preferably in political, international studies, social sciences or discipline relevant to disaster reduction and resilience; or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.

Experience:

At least 7 years of increasingly responsible experience in crisis prevention and recovery, in designing, planning and managing prevention and recovery strategies and projects and relevant advocacy programmes in disaster reduction, emergency response and post-disaster recovery with a peace building/conflict prevention approach;
Extensive field experience in disaster and conflict environments, complex emergencies and an in-depth knowledge of issues related to resilience in the country is required;
Application of theoretical knowledge in the design, management and evaluation of complex, multi-disciplinary capacity building programmes involving national governments, civil society and international organisations;
Strong proven analytical and writing skills;
Demonstrated abilities in providing advice to Senior Management, preferably in a capacity related to the UN system;
Experience in establishing inter-organisational networks and partnerships at the operational level is a must;
Previous work experience in UN system is essential. Work experience in the region is preferred.

Language required:

Fluency in French essential with proficiency in English.

Qualified Women are strongly encouraged to apply.