UNDP Jobs - 51962- Programme Specialist

Programme Specialist - DRR/DRM

Location :

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

23-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

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

The Specialist - DRR/DRM is responsible for contributing substantive policy and programme advisory services to the Country Offices and applying the products and tools relevant to the thematic area of Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Management. S/he acts in response to requests from country offices and in collaboration with the integration and coordination team. Working to ensure the execution of quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services within their region and across other regions as well as alignment with the Strategic Plan, s/he advances the mission of UNDP and increases the credibility and recognition in this thematic area. S/he is responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

Programme Support and Policy Advice;
Support Policy Development;
Policy Positioning and Representation;
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization;
Knowledge Management.

Reports to: Team Leader in the Regional Hub.

Reports: None.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Support and Policy Advice:

Execute policy, strategy, and programme initiatives to support key results, outcomes, and outputs of the Strategic Plan;
Support country offices in developing and implementing strategic frameworks, programmes, and projects;
Coordinate the production of relevant analysis and guidance for policy advice and programme support that responds to country office needs;
Apply multi-disciplinary approaches, including through setting up, coordinating, and engaging with Development Solution Teams (DSTs), to deliver advisory services and programming needs in line with emerging client needs and corporate standards, as well as maintaining and developing networks of experts in UNDP’s areas of work;
Develop and implement solutions in crisis and conflict situations in response to requests coordinated by CRU and ensure proper use of policy and tools in this context;
Incorporate gender equality and human rights’-based approach in policy and programming work;and
Provide relevant contribution to UNDP SURGE.

Support Policy Development:

Support policy development and innovation through consolidation of relevant lessons from projects and programmes;
Identify gaps and opportunities for development of new policies and guide the overall team priorities and workplans;
Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
Ensure cross-practice approach and cross-regional collaboration;
Create methods for reviewing policy services in the thematic area and assess policy success, as well as communicate these methods to other country offices and regions; and
Conceptualize and recommend policy innovations in the thematic area to improve programme delivery.

Policy Positioning and Representation:

Under the guidance of the team leader, mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies at the regional level, and provide inputs to those partnerships in support of UNDP initiatives;
Prepare briefing notes and speeches;
Advocate the importance of the thematic area in various fora at the regional level, including academia and civil society, with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms; and
Support Team Leaders in engagement in UN interagency coordination in relevant policy areas by organizing and participating in regional meetings.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

In collaboration with BERA, support the Team Leader to engage with regional partners and develop/implement resource; mobilization plan under corporate guidelines, including to fulfill corporate and donor reporting, advocacy and information-sharing requirements;
Provide substantive inputs related to regional external partnerships in the area of work; and
Support team leader in fostering strategic partnerships with UN and external regional partner institutions, Governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs at regional and local level.

Competencies

Core Competencies

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

Disaster Risk Reduction:

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

Recovery Support and Implementation:

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

Project and Programme Management:

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnerships:

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Knowledge Management:

Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Climate Change Mitigation:

Knowledge of climate change mitigation concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Secondary

Resource Mobilization:

Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.

Coordination:

Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement.

Trends and emergingareas analytics:

Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

7 years of professional work experience providing policy advice and programme support in the general area of Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Management, preferably in the region in different development contexts.
Experience working in developing country settings is required and experience in crisis contexts is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both written and oral;
Working knowledge of another UN language preferably relevant to the region in which this position is based is an asset.