UNDP Jobs - 52324- Programme Specialist, Disaster Risk Caribbean

Programme Specialist, Disaster Risk Caribbean

Location :

Panama City, PANAMA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

05-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

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.

Under the overall guidance of the relevant team leader in the Regional Hub and the direct supervision of the line manager as designated by the team leader, the Programme Specialist, Disaster Risk Caribbean based in Panama is responsible for contributing policy and programme advisory services to Country Offices and utilizing the products and tools relevant to the thematic area of Disaster Risk. 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, the Programme Specialist advances the mission of the 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;
Policy Research and Development;
Policy Positioning and Representation;
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization;
Knowledge Management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Support and Policy Advice:

Conduct relevant analysis and guidance and prepare initial drafts of technical policy advice and programme support documents that responds to country office needs;
Support country offices in integrating policy advice in country programme frameworks and projects;
Prepare materials to support the application of integrated multi-disciplinary approaches, including through participation in Development Solutions Teams (DSTs), to meet policy and programming needs in line with corporate guidance and standards;
Provide support to roll out and application of relevant risk management tools across country typologies;
Incorporate gender equality and human rights’-based approach in policy and programming work; and
Support UNDP SURGE for country offices.

Support Policy Development:

Conduct analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to support policy development and innovation;
Review and assess policies in relevant thematic area with the objective to identify gaps and opportunities for development of new policies and to guide the overall team priorities and workplans;
Contribute to development of guidance in the specific thematic area, and related tools for the implementation of global policy standards, including coordinating testing and rolling out of tools and methodologies;
Take part in the process of analyzing, improving and adapting policies for different contexts on key emerging policy agendas based on policy initiatives designed;
Provide context input to support the quality assurance of policy services and foster policy innovation in the specific thematic area to enhance programme delivery.

Policy Positioning and Representation:

Conduct research and analysis and draft materials to support mobilizing, fostering and strengthening strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies;
Draft and aid the development of briefings and speeches, as applicable, especially for country-specific meetings;
Prepare materials to aid in advocating the importance of the thematic area in various fora, including academia and civil society, with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms; and
Support team’s engagement in UN interagency coordination in relevant policy areas by providing research insight in specific thematic area, especially when country-focused.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

Undertake research for partnership building and resource mobilization, developing first draft of papers and marketing materials, and participating in relevant country-focused external meetings, in line with the Bureau’s partnership and resource mobilization strategy;
Perform analysis and research to support the implementation of regional partnership strategies with UN and external partner institutions, including governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs; and
Participate in relevant external meetings, including resource mobilization, partnership and advocacy activities with UN partners, permanent missions, and external stakeholders.

Knowledge Management:

Keep an up-to-date library of knowledge related to the thematic area at region-specific level and proactively share documents with team members and respond to their specific requests for information; and
Contribute to the development and review of knowledge products in close coordination with HQ and Regional Hub teams by analyzing and sharing lessons learnt and programme evaluation results.

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:

Recovery Support and Implementation:

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

Disaster Risk Reduction:

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

Research:

Knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management.

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 Adaptation:

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

Secondary:

Project and Programme Management:

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

Report and Brief Writing:

Ability to prepare quality reports and briefs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

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

Language:

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