UNDP Jobs - 56425- Programme Specialist (Rule of Law)

Programme Specialist (Rule of Law) - UNDP Country Office

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

TA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

364 Days

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 Afghanistan works to achieve transformation change that will lead to freedom from poverty and insecurity for every afghan, young or old, man or woman.

UNDP assists in the achievement of Afghanistan’s own priorities outlined in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and National Priority Programmes, as well as international development frameworks such as the Millennium Development Goals, the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, and other global agreements in which Afghanistan participates.

In partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, UNDP contributes to institutional development efforts and strengthens the capacity of national partners through projects and interventions in the areas of democratic governance, rule of law and security, women empowerment and gender, sustainable management of natural resources and climate change adaptation, resilience to natural and man-made chocks and disasters.

UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Rule of Law (ROL) Unit, and in day-to-day coordination with ROL Programme Officers, the ROL Programme Specialist is responsible for facilitating the development effectiveness of the ROL programme portfolio. In particular the ROL Programme Specialist ensures UNDP’s anti-corruption, justice/human rights and security sector reform interventions are coherent and of high quality, underpinned by human rights principles and international best practices.

The ROL Programme Specialist maintains effective working relationships with project IPs, project staff, donors and other partners such as UN agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Ensure accumulation of sectoral/thematic knowledge;
Provide top quality policy advisory services;
Quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation;
Coordination and strategic partnership;
Initiate and develop the anti-corruption workstream in the ROL portfolio;

Ensures accumulation of sectoral/thematic knowledge:

Management of the relevant Country Office (CO) programme portfolio assigned within the areas of responsibility;
Facilitation of knowledge building and management through communities of practice and support to Solutions Exchange for Rule of Law;
Identification of areas for support and interventions in the thematic/sectoral areas within the assigned areas of responsibility and the project portfolio. Clarifying UNDP positions and strategies (and assuring alignment between UNDP position and its projects), constant garnering of implications of analysis for UNDP’s programmes;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting: full project cycle mastery, excellent work/project planning skills, mastery of UNDP’s programme modalities;
Through the UNDP Regional Centres and the knowledge networks of UNDP, identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals.

Expected results:

Strong understanding of international best practice on Rule of Law, in particular anti-corruption, justice and security sector reform and human rights work streams. Effectively represent UNDP’s position with development partners and government.

Provide top quality policy advisory services, by focusing on the following results:

Analysis of the rule of law and security sector at the national and institutional level;
Ensures high quality policy analysis, advice and implementation of programme strategies;
Support analytical work contracted by UNDP such as Public Perceptions Surveys, etc. to ensure strategic policy recommendations;
Familiar with and actively uses analytical tools such as governance assessments, political economy and drivers of change to explore opportunities and challenges in programming; and
High quality analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other documents.

Expected results:

Production of high quality policy advice on rule of law related issues. Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals. Provide contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice which highlight the work of the UNDP Afghanistan ROL Portfolio.

Quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation:

Be accountable for results, avoid duplication and reduce transaction costs by proper planning and coordination within the ROL portfolio and including its linkages with the overall CO portfolio. Including effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
Ensure quality and coherence of annual results and corporate reporting;
Initiation of projects, presentation of the project to PAC;
Programme Specialist performs functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects within assigned area of responsibility; and
Within assigned area of responsibility the financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions; Participation in audit.

Expected results:

ROL Portfolio planning, monitoring, evaluation and results reporting is undertaken to a high standard.

Coordination and strategic partnership:

Development of partnerships with UN agencies including through the provision of the secretariat of the UNDAF ROL results group;
Development of partnerships with government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:
Prepare proposals for mobilization of human, technical or financial resources from international development organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector;
Mobilize resources to support the achievement of programme outcomes;

Expected results:

Partnerships with UNAMA and the UN agencies, government, development partners, and civil society are strengthened. Strategic partnerships and joint initiatives between UNDP projects are leveraged. Resources mobilized to support programme outcomes.

Initiate and develop the anti-corruption work stream in the ROL portfolio:

Effective implementation, monitoring and reporting on the progress of UNDP’s Afghan Integrity Initiative (AFII) Project;
Timely provision of operational guidance and advice to contractors and other AFII partners, as well as to effectively monitor and evaluate their activities to achieve performance targets;
Be responsible to ensure that corporate reporting requirements such as quarterly and annual reports are met;
Under the leadership of the Head, Rule of Law Unit assist in informing, consulting and coordinating UNDP’s anti-corruption activities with partners involved in anti-corruption work in Afghanistan;
Represent UNDP in relevant anti-corruption fora such as the International Community Transparency and Accountability Working Group (ICTAWG) and the “Small Donor” Working Group;
Further development of UNDP Afghanistan’s anti-corruption work both through project development as well as through cross-cutting initiatives and mainstreaming of anti-corruption work throughout UNDP’s CO portfolio.

Expected results:

UNDP is positioned as a strong and knowledgeable anti-corruption actor in Afghanistan; UNDP anti-corruption interventions are appreciated and respected by national and international partners.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UNDP´s Country Programme, reaching UNDAF/CPD goals and ROL Portfolio and Project targets specifically. A coherent and high quality ROL portfolio underpinned by a strong results framework and research base will strengthen UNDP’s position as a strong and reliable development partner and will increase satisfaction on the part of the development partners in the country.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Ability to produce high quality policy options for rule of law programming;
Ability to work in interdisciplinary mixed ability teams is crucial. Experience of working in a multi-cultural team is advantage. Good interpersonal skills, and understanding of Asia-Pacific culture and customs is an advantage; and
Excellent writing skills as well as strong analytical aptitude and communication skills are required.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example, excellent knowledge of capacity building theory and the application of methodology, good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies, excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities, ability to get capacity building, excellent ability to demonstrate national capacities building (mastery of the tools and their application);
Excellent communication skills (written and oral);
Display understanding of the relevant contemporary ICT tools and continuously act towards personal capacity building.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to engage with high ranking UNDP Managers, Government Officials and international donor community and provide policy advisory support services;
Ability to identity opportunities, conceptualize and develop project reports;
Ability to effectively support in strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/attitude change;
Ability to undertake result based management and reporting.

Management and Leadership

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Builds strong relationship with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback, timely responses to queries;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Demonstrates strong administrative skills and result oriented approach to work;
Provides inspiration and leadership to project staff as well as all the partners.

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in rule of law related field (such as political science, international relations and security, security sector reform, policing, public policy, governance, social or development sciences, public administration, judicial reform, law, or human rights).

Experience:

5 years of experience with Master’s degree and with Bachelor’s degree 7 years of relevant experience working in a programme/policy advisory role in the rule of law;
Experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in justice/rule of law/security sector;
Experience preparing analytical reports, policy advice, data analysis and research;
Demonstrated experience in inter-agency coordination, including among international organization and national governments;
International work experience in developing countries, especially working in justice/security/human rights/anti-corruption is required;
Experience in monitoring;
Demonstrated experience with rule of law, justice/human rights, security sector reform and anti-corruption is required; evaluation of rule of law programmes;
Work experience with UN/UNDP/development partners desirable;
Experience in Asia Pacific Region will be preferred.

Language Requirements:

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Application:
Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at UNDP Afghanistan Vacancy Announcement and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at UNDP Personal History Form (P.11 Form) .
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.
For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af.
Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment.
Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.