Background

The Government of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) has defined its post-independence peace and state-building goals in the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) and its annexed Medium Term Capacity Development Strategy (MTCDS). Thus, civil service strengthening for efficient service delivery is one of its key priority Programmes.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been steadily supporting the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) in the post-Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and post-independence periods in its state-building process, through supporting the prioritization and establishment of core governance functions and public sector capacity support initiatives such as the secondment of 200 civil servants from neighbouring countries into state structures through the RSS/IGAD Regional Initiative Project.  These civil servants serve as a rapid capacity enhancement support and are “twinned” with South Sudanese civil servants to ensure the direct transfer of skills and on-the-job training. IGAD has been hailed as a good model for post-conflict capacity development and actions are being taken to further step it up.

The RSS/IGAD Regional Initative Project Management Unit (PMU) is embedded in the Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development (MoLPS & HRD). As envisaged in the RSS/IGAD Regional Initiative Project, support needs to be provided to MoLPS & HRD to establish country leadership and facilitate the smooth implementation; and monitoring and evaluation of the project. UNDP has also supported RSS, under the leadership of MoLPS & HRD in defining the MTCDS – capacities need to be infused in the Ministry to support implementation of the strategy.

Given the increased recognition and priority assigned by RSS to the implementation of the MTCDS, civil service reform, the IGAD initiative and the lead role assigned to the MoLPS & HRD in managing these key process and initiatives, the MoLPS & HRD has requested UNDP to provide technical assistance to support its organizational development efforts in the form of an Organization Development Specialist to be assigned to work within the Ministry.  

Organizational development support to the MoLPS & HRD is particularly needed as the Ministry was created by merging the previous Ministry of Labour and Public Service, and Ministry of Human Resource Development; and a restructuring process is ongoing. The Ministry is also responsible for supporting the development and/or restructuring of mandates and organograms of other ministries and public institutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the OD Specialist will support the Ministry of Labour and Public Service and Ministry of Human Resource Development.  The Incumbent will contribute to the following deliverables and related tasks:

MoLPS&HRD Strategic Plan in place and implementation on-going:

  • Support the identification and development of  strategic partnership for the implementation of the Strategic Plan;
  • Support the identification and coordination  of mechanisms and plans that need to be set up for Strategic Plan implementation;
  • Support the design of a participatory monitoring system to oversee Strategic Plan implementation and inform course correction.

Mechanisms for implementation of the Mid-Term Capacity Development Strategy set-up:

  • Coordinate consultations on MTCDS implementation start-up and establishment of the Capacity Development Working Group within MoLPS & HRD;
  •   Provide advice to the team(s) drafting MTCDS-mandated documentation (e.g. Capacity Development protocol, Capacity Development work plans, etc.);
  • Support the realization of work plans for cross-government Capacity Development initiatives; and the identification and mobilization of goods and services needed to implement work plan activities;
  • Prepare regular reviews of action plans and budgets into a Progress Report;
  • Support identification and coordination/implementation of interventions that contribute to continuously honing the group's capacities to: a) implement and monitor the MTCDS and; b) to design, implement and monitor any future capacity development strategy.

Training policy enacted and implementation ongoing:

  • Coordinate collection of feedback on the training policy draft and establish consultation mechanisms for finalization;
  • Identify and advocate for the setup of mechanisms and plans necessary for policy implementation;
  • Based on the training policy, support definition of scope and methodology of Training Needs Analysis (TNA), and define budgeted plan for TNA implementation;
  • Map and liaise with service providers involved in training for civil service to ensure their services are aligned with the new training policy;
  • Provide strategic advice to the ministry in the set-up of partnership with training institute (e.g. establishment of Management Development Institute (MDI); partnership with the University of Juba; networking with regional think thanks and training institutes).

 Ad hoc advisory and technical support provided that may be assigned by the Under-Secretary:

  • Provide on-the-job training to national staff in the Ministry;
  • Provide periodic and other progress reports on agreed deliverables, results and lessons learned;
  • Draft talking points and/or contribute to policy papers for high-level conferences/meetings on public sector reforms, human capital and capacity development;
  • Liaise with other government counterparts, national entities and international donors involved on issues related to area of work.

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:

  • Demonstrates team-building capacity including interpersonal and communication skills and ability to cope with a difficult environment where formal institutions of government are at the embryonic stage;
  • Deals diplomatically with challenging bureaucratic processes and pressure to meet strict deadlines;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients focusing on impact and result for the client and respond 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;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
  • Advanced computer skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Masters-level degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or related studies;
  • Educational background on strategic management, organizational development and/or human resource development a strong asset.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant international work experience, including in post-conflict countries;
  • Experience managing or providing advisory services for, civil service reform programming, conducting organizational development assessments and defining/implementing development plans, preferably in a public sector setting, defining and/or managing capacity development initiatives in fragile contexts, development of public sector strategies and operational plans;
  • Familiarity with leading complex change management processes;
  • Previous experience working with high-level government counterparts and development partners;
  • Past experience with UNDP or other UN Agencies or International Non-Governmental  Organizations in similar positions constitutes and advantage;
  • Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Power point, etc.).

Language:

  • Fluency in the UN language (English) of the duty station; and
  • The knowledge of Arabic is desirable.