UNDP Jobs - 52141- Policy Specialist

Policy Specialist

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

10-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

NO-D

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

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

Sierra Leone is fast transitioning to a new era of development guided by the Agenda for Prosperity (A4P) 2013-2018. The peaceful post-conflict elections and subsequent launching of the Constitutional Review Process in 2013 are critical indicators of the collective aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone to enhance social cohesion and promote economic wellbeing. Progress has been made in terms of governance, human rights, transparency and accountability. The Mo Ibrahim Governance Index for 2012 ranked Sierra Leone 31st out of 52 countries, with the third fastest improving governance score for the past six years.

The 2013 Human Development Report (overall rank 177) showed an improvement in HDI but it is still below the Sub-Saharan average. 52.9% of Sierra Leoneans still live below the national poverty line (SSL 2011). Consistent with this, while the country has made progress towards the MDGs, only MDG 6 related to HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB is likely to be achieved by 2015 (MDG Progress Report 2010). Economic diversification which is a necessary condition for ensuring equitable and inclusive growth, is minimal, with primary sectors (agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining & quarrying) contributing to 74% of GDP (Statistics Sierra Leone, 2012),. Women's access to livelihood opportunities including land-ownership, finance and basic services remains limited and unemployment remains extremely high, estimated at 60%, especially among the youth (African Economic Outlook 2012).

UNDP Sierra Leone has launched a new Country Programme Document that will commence in 2015 for 3 years that aims to deliver development assistance to Sierra Leone. The CPD is based on priorities identified by the Sierra Leone Government. Within this framework, the programme will seek to address the social, economic and geographic inequalities by targeting the most marginalized groups especially women and youth as actors and beneficiaries in targeted areas of the country that offer potential for integrated development approaches. UNDP will provide both upstream and downstream policy advice and technical assistance in parallel for complementarity and to bring about shifts at both policy and operational levels.

In implementing the new CPD, UNDP will seek to further develop its partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone while exploring partnerships with the UNCT through joint programmes. UNDP policy work at the national and regional levels needs to be coupled with bottom-up pilot initiatives and linked to the work of other UN agencies and international actors. The incumbent is expected to provide high level strategic policy advice to the senior management of UNDP Sierra Leone. S (he) will also be expected to provide advice on the challenges related to the implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of UNDP programme in Sierra Leone.

The Policy Specialist will report directly to the UNDP Resident Representative, but will also be expected to provide high quality strategic and policy advice to the UNDP Country Director (CD), the DCD Programme, and other members of the UNDP Sierra Leone Senior Management Team. He/ She will be required to represent UNDP in engagements with senior counterparts and in UNCT and other donor/ partner forums.

The Policy Specialist will also be expected to provide strategic advice on the expansion of UNDP’s work in Sierra Leone including in establishing and maintaining close partnerships with the Government of Sierra Leone and other counterparts. S (he) will be expected to liaise directly with counterparts and within UNDP.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Provide high level strategic and programmatic advisory services to UNDP CO Senior Management Team on strategic direction and programme management, including identifying innovative approaches and modalities to achieve development targets
Provide top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management;
Strengthen strategic partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and other national and international partners and support resource mobilization.

Provide high level strategic and programmatic advisory services to UNDP CO Senior Management Team on strategic direction and programme management, including identifying innovative approaches and modalities to achieve development targets:

As a member of the CO management team, contribute to the strategic direction of UNDP Programme and support the operationalization of UNDAF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies.
Keep abreast of emerging political and socio-economic issues inside Sierra Leone as well as the development context updating UNDP Senior Management accordingly. Conduct rapid assessment and formulate recommendations to Senior Management on implications for UNDP programmes.
Collaborate in preparation/revision of Common Country Assessment (CCA), UNDAF, CPD, Annual Work Plans and other documents;
Prepare concept notes on UNDP assistance in Sierra Leone in accordance with UNDP areas of comparative advantage and in line with the CPD/UNDAF/AFP
Undertake selected studies/research on emerging development concerns that feed into government/development partners processes.
Provide technical expertise in areas of UNDP programming and take part in formulating lessons learnt papers
Provide substantial inputs and contribution to UNDP’s policy dialogue with the Government of Sierra Leone and international development partners
Contribute to the formulation of overall strategies, policies and annual work-plans of UNDP Sierra Leone and formulate recommendations on possible follow up to policy issues and reporting to Senior Management
Prepare position papers based on emerging knowledge and lessons learned pertaining to programming and practices in countries and among UN Agencies and other partners to help advocate/initiate for policy and procedure changes
Provision of substantive advice on possible areas for UNDP support and adjustment of on-going programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities.
Analytical policy research to support evidence-based programming.
Lead and conduct assessments on the political and socio-economic situation in Sierra Leone
Maintain a record of publications and reports on Sierra Leone relevant to UNDP interests and bringing them to the attention of UNDP Management
Contribute to the preparation of speaking notes, speeches and briefings for the UNDP RR, CD and DCD concerning UNDP Programmatic areas as well as for the purposes of advocacy
Prepare reports, papers, policy guidelines, statements, presentations and briefs for UNDP Sierra Leone’s senior management team.
Draft official correspondence to the Government of Sierra Leone, donors, UN Agencies and other partners.
Participation in regional and inter-agency initiatives related to development issues as required.

Provide top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management:

Provide strategic and policy advice with a particular focus on Security Sector Reform including transnational crime, border security and security sector governance and oversight as well as Governance priorities including elections and constitutional reform
Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned related to policies relevant to UNDP CO CPD outcomes and interventions pertaining to Security Sector Reform including transnational crime, border security and security sector governance;
Coordination of development of policies and strengthening of institutions relevant to the country priority issues and challenges in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
Sound contributions to knowledge and advocacy networks and communities of practice;

Strengthen strategic partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and other national and international partners and support resource mobilization:

Ensure national ownership of all UNDP led programmes and initiatives by focusing on ensuring demand driven support for all UNDP technical assistance and capacity building
Develop formal partnerships with government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, the private sector, civil society, and assist in drafting agreement modalities
Where relevant and upon request, represent UNDP Sierra Leone in meetings conferences and relevant fora
Identify possibilities for joint programming in the context of DaO;
Support resource mobilization efforts under the direction of the RR, CD or DCD with a focus on financing the CPD and UNDP’s contribution to the UNDAF.
Assist in devising and implementing the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategy and plan to achieve programme outcomes;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible programmatic areas of cooperation and common interest, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and partners’ priorities.

Impact of Key Results

The results of the work of the Policy Specialist will help strengthen UNDP’s delivery of effective support to national policies and capacity development, in part through the establishment and/or strengthening of strategic partnerships and delivery of country programme outcomes and outputs.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Contributing to results through provision of information

Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and building partnerships

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Developing new approaches

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization

Implementing resource mobilization strategies

Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Developing tools and mechanisms

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, International Development or related field with 7 years professional experience

Experience:

At least 7 years of progressively responsible international development experience in national government, the United Nations, donor agencies and/or NGOs;
At least 7 years of senior level management experience in government, United Nations or NGOs and ability to lead and work effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
A sound knowledge of Sierra Leone and senior level experience of the Sierra Leone governmental system is essential;
Extensive experience in providing high level strategic policy advice to national government institutions and/or UN agencies is essential;
Previous experience with the United Nations/UNDP or other international organizations, particularly in conflict, or post-conflict situations, would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Strong written and spoken English.