UNDP Jobs - 51828- Democratic Governance Advisor

Democratic Governance Advisor

Location :

Kyiv, UKRAINE

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

05-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

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

Since November 2013, Ukraine has been affected by a rapid succession of intense, disruptive events. In late November 2013, Ukrainian citizens took to the streets of Kyiv in opposition to President Yanukovych's decision to postpone signing the EU Association Agreement. Fundamentally, the so-called Maidan protest movement articulated the people’s desire not only for a more inclusive, transparent and responsive government, but a fundamental change to Ukraine’s socio-political system. The protests culminated in February 2014, with deadly clashes between protesters and Ukrainian security forces resulting in President Yanukovych fleeing the country. Pre-term Presidential and Parliamentary elections – held in May and October 2014 respectively – saw a pro-European and pro-reform executive and legislative brought to power, but numerous challenges and obstacles remain, including the ability to introduce and implement wide-ranging and radical reforms in line with popular expectations and in order to avoid further socio-economic deterioration as winter sets in and the economic impact of the conflict in the east becomes more apparent.

At the same time, against the background of the political unrest in Kyiv in the first half of 2014, Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in a move that is not recognized as legitimate by the bulk of the international community. In early April, protests erupted in the eastern and some southern parts of the country, with protestors demanding greater autonomy from the central Ukrainian government and closer relations with – or even joining – Russia. Since then, the situation in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions has deteriorated into an armed conflict between the Government Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) forces and armed groups opposing them. Despite various ceasefire agreements being brokered in the past few months, sporadic fighting continues on a daily basis. Following the holding of elections in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republics held elections on 2 November, which were recognised by the Russian Federation but denounced as illegitimate by Kyiv and the international community, the overall political situation is set to become even more complicated and a protracted conflict can be expected.

The fighting has resulted in a high loss of life (over 4,000 people killed and almost 10,000 wounded) and significant displacement. As of 31 October, an estimated 442,219 people have been internally displaced, with another 488,466 fleeing to neighbouring countries. An estimated 5.2 million people continue to live in adverse conditions brought about by the conflict, including significant damage to major infrastructure such as roads and bridges, electricity and water supply systems, supply chains of basic goods, and public and residential buildings. The risk of an outbreak of communicable diseases among affected populations trapped in the area of conflict remains high. The rapidly approaching winter is expected to worsen the conditions, particularly for vulnerability of people residing in or seeking to return to these areas.

The United Nations has assumed a broad role in humanitarian response, monitoring of the human rights situation throughout the country, early recovery, sustainable development and in governance, peace-building and reconciliation. There is a major challenge for the UN system to remain coherent and effective in this context. UNDP assumes a particularly crucial role, given its broad mandate. In response to the crisis UNDP office is working to scale up rapidly and significantly, not only to address the reform agenda (governance, decentralization, economic reform, etc.) but also to respond to the new challenges stemming from the conflict (early recovery, human rights, reconciliation, peacebuilding, etc).

In July, a High Level Governance Needs Assessment Mission of UNDP composed of experts of the new Bureau for Policy and Programme Support was deployed to Ukraine. The current post of the Democratic Governance Advisor builds on the recommendations of the Mission and will allow the CO to support the Government of Ukraine in undertaking urgent reforms in a few specific areas of governance.

In this context, the incumbent will serve as the Democratic Governance Advisor and Team Leader of Democratic Governance Team of UNDP. S/he will work under the overall guidance and immediate supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative. S/he will provide substantive advice to the CO Senior Management Team in the subject area and, in general, on all aspects of the Country Programme. S/he will be responsible for leading the Democratic Governance Team through planning, implementing, managing the delivery of innovative policies and practices, program development, capacity building, project monitoring and assurance, marketing, and advocacy and knowledge services.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and in close collaboration with the Peace and Development Adviser to the RC, the Democratic Governance Adviser acts as a senior advisor to CO Management on all aspects of democratic Governance. The Democratic Governance Advisor leads UNDP’s involvement in the preparation and coordination of the UNDP Democratic Governance Strategy and subsequent programmes.

The Democratic Governance Advisor heads and supervises the Democratic Governance Programme Team, including special projects and programmes team. In carrying out her/his responsibilities, S/he will advocate and promote the work of UNDP in Ukraine and will also closely work and network with the Advocacy Support Team, Operations Team, and Recovery and Stabilization Team. She/he and works in close collaboration with Government officials, other UN Agencies, UNDP HQ, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to strategically position UNDP in the Democratic Governance area and to implement UNDP’s Democratic Governance Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Strategic development of UNDP’s response to the challenges associated with the Country’s Democratic Governance Reform and priorities;
Development and effective management of the UNDP’s Democratic Governance programme focusing in particular decentralization and local governance, capacity building for justice and human rights, anti-corruption, public administration and civil service reform;
Development of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for governance programmes;
High level strategic policy advisory services to the Government and facilitates knowledge and capacity building on governance reform issues;
Building the CO local staff capacities in area of Democratic Governance.

As a senior member of the CO management team, ensures sound strategic direction of UNDP Democratic Governance Programme focusing on the following:

Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the immediate response context and provision of strategic advice to CO Management;
Identification of strategic opportunities and potential Governance reform Programme areas of cooperation, including opportunities for joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners (IFIs, INGOs etc.);
Leads the development of UNDP’s Democratic Governance Programme in collaboration with the main development partners and other UN Agencies;
Ensures alignment and coordination of Democratic Governance Programme with other programme activities of the CO as well as those of UN Agencies and capitalizes on synergies where possible;
Ensures mainstreaming of cross-cutting UN/UNDP priorities in governance programmes, in particular environment, gender, human rights and resilience;
Leads the development of relevant strategies to ensure the effective programmatic and operational interface and complementarities between recovery and longer term governance interventions of the UN system;
Coordinates the distribution of responsibilities amongst team members and organize monitoring and tracking system of all Democratic Governance Team services.

Ensures effective management of the Democratic Governance Programme portfolio and supervision of the Democratic Governance Programme team focusing on quality control programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

Ensures effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
Design and formulation of Democratic Governance Programme portfolio, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions; Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies and implementing partners;
Ensure organizational set-up and project management systems are fully functional and create best possible enabling environment for high-level performance of Project Implementation Teams;
Ensure timely recruitment and availability of high quality and specialized Project Teams;
Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the Democratic Governance Programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for project transactions approval;
Effective monitoring, reviews and evaluation to measure the impact of the projects. CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme. Ensure that results and lessons learned feed into the analytical and project work (i.e. results used to make decisions);
Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Donor reports are prepared and submitted within deadlines;
Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager.

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for the Democratic Governance Programme in cooperation with the Support Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development and implementation of partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve Democratic Governance Programme outcomes;
Creation and coordination of partnerships with the different development partners (not exclusively) such as UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.;
Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, the country’s Governance Reform needs, Strategy 2020 and donors’ priorities;
Mobilize and network with the experts of international development community, government partners, UN Agencies and prominent think-tanks in supporting the positioning of UNDP in area of Democratic Governance;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing;
Prepare concept/position papers and project proposals for mobilization of human, technical or financial resources from international development organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Ensures provision of top quality and strategic advisory services, capacity building and facilitation of knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Leads advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of the governance reform effort;
Provides of top quality policy and strategic advice to Government on development and implementation of reforms in areas of Democratic Governance;
Ensures the identification, sharing and application of international best practices and lessons on governance related issues relevant to the country’s comprehensive Governance Reform and goals;
Provides intellectual or substantive leadership in the subject area through identification of key policy issues and formulation of best possible and alternative policy options for UNDP. Stimulate strategic thinking in the subject area and tap into opportunities;
Leads and monitors the process of implementing policy advisory services as well as delivery of national policy products;
Ensure highest UNDP standards in the provision of technical and advisory inputs, organization of workshops, seminars, training and delivery of outputs (products);
Partners with practitioners and members of the UNDP regional and global networks, leadership of the practice and sub-practice teams in RBEC, BPPS and other related Bureaus;
Provides capacity building for country office staff (programme, projects and operations).

Perform any other functions, responsibilities or portfolio that may be assigned by the UNDP management. The Staff Member should expect to be linked and contribute to the work of UNDP in all practice areas; and, as appropriate in UNDP, may be assigned to other practice or sub-practice portfolios.

Impact of Results

The key results have a significant impact on the overall success of the UNDP country programme and UNDP Strategic positioning to support. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback, timely responses queries;
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.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to engage with high ranking UNDP Managers, Government Officials and international donor community and provide policy advisory support services;
Ability to identify opportunities, conceptualize and develop project proposals as well as ability to market the project ideas to Government and international donor community;
Capability to engage in team-based policy and programme dialogue;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Full project cycle mastery, excellent work/project planning skills, mastery of UNDP’s new programme modalities (PRINCE 2, RBM Guide, NEX/DEX execution etc.) and also use ATLAS;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources: ability to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary trouble shooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery: excellent project oversight functions, including audit, accurate and thorough risk assessment;
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example: Excellent knowledge of capacity building theory and the application of methodology good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies;
Excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities, ability to get capacity built, excellent ability to demonstrate national capacities built (mastery of the tools and their application);
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Excellent communication skills (written and oral);
Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

Min 10 years of relevant experience in promoting national level democracy and governance issues (parliament, civil service, public administration, electoral reforms, police and security, judicial reforms, human rights, decentralisation), in providing management advisory services;
Experience of leading workshops and being a resource person;
Experience working with UN, international organisations will be added advantage;
Experience in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of large development projects; and
Proved successful experience in establishing strong relationships among international organization and national governments;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English;
Russian/Ukrainian would be an advantage, but not requirement.