UNDP Jobs - 55254- Programme Specialist

Programme Specialist

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

14-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year (Renewable subject to good performance and availability of funds)

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

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP’s vision is to support countries in achieving the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

To strengthen inclusive and effective governance, the UNDP Strategic Plan focuses on ensuring participation and voice in pursuit of equitable access to development opportunities, and working with poor and other excluded groups as agents of their own development. The plan includes the following outcomes to achieve effective governance: (i) citizen expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability are met by stronger systems of democratic governance; and (ii) countries have strengthened institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services.

UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages the organization’s core strengths and mandates in governance, human development, and capacity development. The Asia Pacific HIV, Health and Development team is based in the UNDP Regional Hub in Bangkok, Thailand. It works to address development challenges relating to HIV and health, and to support integrated and multi-sectorial responses that protect the rights of people living with and affected by HIV, including sexual minorities. The Regional Hub also provides technical and substantive support to UNDP Country Offices and regional partners.

The ‘Being LGBT in Asia’ initiative is a regional partnership between UNDP, USAID and the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, implemented by the HIV, Health and Development Team. The initiative is aimed at advancing the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and reducing inequality and marginalization on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The initiative is a collaboration with civil society, and engages national and regional institutions to advance protective laws and policies, and empower civil society. It supports policy and operational research, and strategy development among key populations and a range of key stakeholders at national and regional level. Between 2012 and 2014, in the first phase of the initiative, USAID and UNDP implemented a landmark review and analysis of LGBT circumstances across 18 Asian countries. It found that LGBT people suffer not only from unsupportive policies and laws, but also high levels of stigma and discrimination, affecting every aspect of people’s lives, from families and the workplace to law enforcement, the media and health and education services.

The Programme Specialist will work within the UNDP regional HIV, Health and Development team to support coordination of the Being LGBT in Asia initiative, reporting to the Team Leader and to the Policy Advisor on HIV, Health, Human Rights and Sexual Diversity. The primary purpose of this position is to ensure the day-to-day activities of the initiative are functioning effectively. The Specialist will also liaise with the UNDP regional Governance team. The Specialist will work closely with initiative partners USAID and the Swedish Embassy, and collaborate with regional and national civil society partners and institutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Programme Support and Policy Advice:

Coordinate the implementation of deliverables and activities under the initiative;
Prepare workplans, and plan and monitor activities as determined in the project document;
Coordinate the work of the initiative team, including national officers in focus countries.

Policy Research and Development:

Monitor technical support needs and provide assistance to ensure high quality technical support to regional partners, UNDP Country Offices and national partners;
Coordinate the development of empirical research relating to the initiative.

Policy Positioning and Representation:

Develop and implement an internal communications strategy to ensure wide ranging communications among all partners;
Draft and aid the development of briefings and speeches, as applicable;
Plan meetings of the technical advisory group and other regional workshops, and provide support for management of consultancies/subcontracts.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

Undertake research for partnership building and resource mobilization, developing first draft of papers and marketing materials, and participating in relevant external meetings;
Coordinate inputs from all partners and ensure their sequencing contributes to delivering programme results.

Knowledge Management:

Coordinate advocacy, outreach, communication and dissemination of knowledge products developed through the initiative;
Prepare reports on activities and results in accordance with agreed deliverables and timelines.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Exhibits a good knowledge of human rights standards, principles, legal and political advancement at the international and regional levels;
Demonstrates a good understanding of regional institutional mechanisms and processes to influence political agendas in Asia-Pacific;
Ability to transfer skills to national colleagues related to human rights implementation activities, communication skills and procurement processes;
Excellent research, policy analysis and written skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

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 in drafting proposals;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic 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.

Client Orientation:

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Public Health, Law, Public Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.

Experience:

5 years of professional work experience providing policy advice and programme support in the area of governance and/or public health. Experience working in developing country settings is required;
Familiarity with health, governance, and human rights issues relating to vulnerable groups especially in Asia;
Project management experience is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both written and oral.