UNDP Jobs - 52626- Transition Specialist

Transition Specialist

Location :

Kathmandu, NEPAL

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

02-Mar-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-4

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

In 2006 Nepal brought an end to a decade-long civil conflict by signing a Comprehensive Peace Agreement. While significant progress has been made in many areas of the peace process (such as the discharge and subsequent rehabilitation, retirement, or integration of the former Maoist combatants) significant components remain unimplemented, none more prominent than the task of agreeing, adopting and implementing a new constitution. Other issues such as state structure (linked to constitution building) and transitional justice also post significant challenges and have the potential for increasing tensions between groups as the transition continues.

UNDP is a key implementer of peace building and governance initiatives, including programmes in Conflict Prevention Programme (CPP), Support to Participatory Constitution Building, Rule of Law and Human Rights, and Armed Violence and Community Security.

The RCO in Nepal has with an expanded office, since the departure of UNMIN, fulfilled the role as bridging the information gap between Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal for both the UNCT and development partners as captured under the Transition Support Strategy. This includes its field coordination offices (FCOs), hosting of a Department of Political Affairs Liaison Office, the Basic Operating Guidelines Secretariat, and the UN Peace building Fund for Nepal. In addition the RCO has the traditional role of coordinating the UN County Team as well as informing, participating or chairing various information sharing and coordination fora.

In this context, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) seeks to recruit a Transition Specialist, who will support the Resident Coordinator/Resident Representative, to assist the RC/RR and UN Country team in strengthening his understanding of development related political and conflict dynamics underlying the country’s transition process. This post will be part of UNDP’s Conflict Prevention Programme structure, and under the supervision of the Resident Coordinator/Resident Representative.

The Transition Specialist will provide on-going support and analysis to the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team, and offer strategic and technical leadership to the design and implementation of transition and conflict prevention activities as well as conflict sensitive development programming, more broadly.

The transition specialist will closely collaborate with the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

In close coordination with relevant Resident Coordinator Office and UNDP staff, the Transition Specialist´s leadership on transition activities will include support to the development and strengthening of UN support to the national infrastructure for sustainable peace in Nepal.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of key functions:

Provide strategic and analytical support to the Resident Coordinator in his interaction with Government of Nepal officials, the international community and civil society;
Establish and strengthen partnerships with key national actors and the international community for transition and conflict prevention strategies and initiatives;
Support the Resident Coordinator in guiding the strategic direction of UNCT in relation to conflict prevention and transition programming;
Strengthen the capacity of the Nepal based Agencies/Funds/Programmes to undertake conflict analysis as well as analysis of the country´s transition context and mainstream this analysis in regular programming;
Promote and prioritize gender and social inclusion considerations in all areas of programming work.

Provide strategic and analytical support to the Resident Coordinator in his interaction with Government of Nepal officials, the international community and civil society, by:

Undertaking regular analysis on development dynamics as they relate to transitional issues at the national and local levels, with a view to identifying appropriate ‘entry points’ and recommending appropriate strategic responses for the UN system;
Liaising with the Basic Operations Guidelines Officer, the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office, Regional UN offices, DPA and other UNCT agencies working on related issues, drawing from their own analysis and expertise in relevant areas in order to develop a common understanding and narrative of Nepal´s transition reality;
Sharing, through the Resident Coordinator, regular updates and analysis and national and regional transitional issues with all relevant stakeholders;
Providing substantive inputs for strategic initiatives in support of Nepal´s transition.

Establish and strengthen partnerships with key national actors and the international community for transition and conflict prevention strategies and initiatives:

Liaise closely with key local and national stakeholders from Government and civil society and key international actors to identify entry points, foster dialogue and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships on conflict prevention, reconciliation and confidence-building initiatives;
Maintain close liaison with relevant donors and other actors supporting the UN’s peace building efforts.

Support the Resident Coordinator in guiding the strategic direction of UNCT in relation to conflict prevention and transition programming, working closely with key government, civil society actors, UNCT agencies and Resident Coordinator Office staff:

Coordinate inter-agency/funds/programmes initiatives aimed at supporting Nepal´s transition, including those involving joint programming efforts that contribute to conflict prevention;
Provide substantive support to programmatic and policy advisory interventions by UNDP and other UNCT agencies in areas relevant to Nepal´s transition.

Strengthen the capacity of the Nepal based Agencies/Funds/Programmes to undertake conflict analysis as well as analysis of the country´s transition context and mainstream this analysis in regular programming:

Define entry points for mainstreaming of transition realities and conflict prevention in the UNDAF-CCF linked programmes and projects.

Promote and prioritize gender and social inclusion considerations in all areas of programme work and unit management, in line with the Country Office policy on gender and social inclusion:

Promote gender and social inclusion considerations in all programme related work both in terms of mainstreaming gender and social inclusion and setting specific programme targets, where appropriate;
Ensure that management of programming is conducted with gender and social inclusion considerations given due priority.

Competencies

Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:
Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Performs analysis of various 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:

Completion of Master’s Degree in any one of the following areas Political Science, Sociology, International Relations, Law, Public Administration, or other related Social Sciences;
Prince2 training and certification, RMG.

Experience:

At least 7 years of experience in conflict analysis, policy, and strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organizations;
Advocacy experience, including engagement with government and United Nations officials, as well as with donors and civil society organizations;
Experience in development programming, including good understanding of UN programming modalities, and rules and regulations would be an asset;
Experience with inter agency coordination at the national, regional or global level would be an asset;
Experience working within a UN agency and work experience in Nepal is an asset;
Excellent knowledge of peace and development trends and dynamics in Nepal, including in transition and conflict prevention initiatives, is an advantage.

Language:

Fluent written and spoken English.