UNDP Jobs - 51851- Programme Specialist, Crisis Response for Africa a

Programme Specialist, Crisis Response for Africa and LAC Regions

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-4

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

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The recently approved Strategic Plan for UNDP (2014-2017) recognizes the importance of preparedness, response, early recovery and the management of the risk cycle as fundamental for development. The objective of the CRU is to ensure that UNDP is well positioned to respond in the most timely and effective manner to crisis.

The responsibility of the Crisis response Unit (CRU) will focus primarily upon and be confined to the two specific typologies of crisis, namely:

Sudden onset crisis: This would include countries that have been affected by natural disasters or sudden outbreak of armed conflicts;
Complex protracted crisis: Examples include countries that are impacted by protracted conflicts, often with regional implications.

Under the direct supervision of the Crisis Response Coordinator for the Africa and LAC regions, and in close collaboration with other CRU teams and the Regional/Central Bureaux of UNDP in particular BPPS, s/he is responsible for supporting the following:

Liaise and coordinate UNDP’s response to crisis;
Representation and advocacy on crisis response;
Programme support, including monitoring and evaluation;
Resource management;
Function as first responder in crisis situation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Liaise and coordinate UNDP’s response to crisis

Continually remain abreast of developments at country and sub-regional level, especially as they relate to emerging and potential crises;
Collaborate with the relevant COs, BPPS and other Central Bureaus and Regional Bureaus/Regional Hubs in developing crisis response country-specific engagements, based on thorough review and analysis of the relevant developments on the ground;
Work closely with concerned COs, Regional Bureaus, BPPS, Regional Hubs, BOM and BERA and support timely decision-making processes;
Liaise and coordinate with BPPS to ensure mobilization of the required technical and advisory capacities for crisis response;
Liaise and coordinate with CRU Rapid Response and Preparedness Team to ensure timely provision of support to COs;
Contribute to the Crisis Board and Executive Team on country specific crisis response strategies.

Representation and advocacy on crisis response

Participate in relevant country specific interagency mechanisms in coordination with concerned regional and central bureaus;
Liaise closely with relevant (UN and non-UN) partners on crisis-response related issues, in particular on country specific responses;
Assist global advocacy and donor engagement on crisis response, including support for resource mobilization;
Assist CRU management to represent UNDP in internal and external forums related to crisis response by preparing background material and documentation.

Programme support, including monitoring and evaluation

Support COs in the development and implementation of crisis response and early recovery initiatives;
In close collaboration with CRU Rapid Response and Preparedness Team, manage the implementation of UNDP’s crisis response, specifically supporting the SURGE deployment process;
Track the overall crisis response throughout the implementation period to ensure timely implementation and coherence within UNDP’s response;
Prepare proposals to support decision-making on crisis-related funding allocations based on identified needs of crisis countries.

Resource management and knowledge management

Liaise with relevant HQ units, Regional Hubs and COs to track and monitor emergency/SURGE related funding allocations;
Advise on UNDPs resources for crisis response, including helping country offices prepare allocation requests in compliance with corporate guidelines;
Manage funding allocations to COs for emergency funds and ensure proper implementation;
Support the development of knowledge management products on specific crisis response issues;
Support capacity development of UNDP staff in application of crisis response tools and products including fast track.

Function as first responders in crisis situation

In specific crisis situations, be deployed immediately to provide the following support on the ground:

Support country level post-crisis assessment processes (e.g. post-conflict / post disaster needs assessments) from a process design and coordination perspective, working closely with BPPS substantive teams;
Support country level contingency planning and programme criticality;
Support the development of early recovery plans, recovery frameworks, strategic response plans, etc.;
Represent CRU as part of the SURGE planning team;
Support early recovery coordination architecture in line with UNDP IASC mandate, working closely with CRU Humanitarian Interface Team, CWGER and BPPS;
Ensure that critical cross cutting issues such as gender and conflict sensitivity are mainstreamed in assessments and plans.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Emergency Response and Coordination

Ability to coordinate organizational response to emergency situations.

Crisis Assessment

Ability to use methods and tools to determine impact of various elements for crisis and post crisis situations.

Crisis Policy and Tools

Ability to implement methods and tools for crisis situations.

Recovery Support and Implementation

Ability to support and implement mechanisms, processes, resources in response to disaster/crisis.

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies and forge productive working relationships.

Secondary:

Disaster Risk Reduction

Knowledge of DRR concepts, frameworks and principles and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Advocacy

Ability to advocate a point of view and influence others.

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, economics, business administration, social sciences or related disciplines.

Experience:

7 years of professional experience, providing policy and technical advice in the area of crisis response, crisis prevention and crisis recovery in different development contexts.
Knowledge of post-crisis assessments, in particular post-disaster.
Field experience in crisis contexts highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English both written and oral;
Fluency in French and/or Spanish is highly desirable.

Other:

Knowledge of UNDP crisis response mandate, systems and tools;
Good understanding of key inter-agency processes such as the humanitarian transformative agenda, the integrated assessment and planning, programme criticality.