UNDP Jobs - 56444- Chief Technical Specialist

Chief Technical Specialist - (FATA Returns & Rehabilitation Programme)

Location :

Peshawar, Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PAKISTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

07-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 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

Since July 2008, Pakistan’s north-western areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have experienced population displacements due to security concerns and military operations against non-state armed groups. Patterns of displacement and return movements have coexisted and remained dynamic. New displacements from one location occurring in parallel with returns to a different location. Though there are numerous variables influencing such population movements, the primary factor is security. As a general trend, when insecurity increases there is displacement, and when insecurity decreases people return.

Over the course of the last few years, all the Agencies of FATA have been affected by militancy and large scale displacements. While it has been possible for some population groups to return home (most notably to Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber and Kurram Agencies), 2014 saw a massive exodus of people from North Waziristan Agency after government launched military operations Zarb-e-Azb in June 2014 and later from Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency after the launch of Khyber-1 military operation in October 2014. This latest wave of displacement has brought the total FATA Temporary Displaced Persons (TDP) caseload to an estimated 300,000 families (around 1.6 million people), around 70% of which are women and children. In order to meet the emergency food and other needs of a registered caseload, humanitarian agencies are currently supporting 1.56 million people displaced from FATA, both in camps and in host areas in KPK.

Since the onset of the North Waziristan displacement in June 2014, UNDP has been working hand in hand with the Government at National, Provincial and District levels in order to strengthen the local governance capacity to manage this crisis and to provide solutions for both the TDP population and the affected communities in the hosting Districts. At the same time UNDP will also continue to support the FATA Secretariat in the implementation of the FATA Sustainable Return and Rehabilitation Strategy which seeks to address the most immediate rehabilitation and recovery needs in FATA in order to facilitate sustainable returns of more than 300,000 TDP families (including over 100,000 families from North Waziristan) in the coming two years. The Strategy centers around five key pillars of recovery: rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure, re-establishment of law and order, strengthened governance, improved livelihoods and social cohesion and peacebuilding. The Government is keen to ensure solid coordination between the rehabilitation and recovery process and the medium to long term socio-economic development and the much-needed constitutional, legal, judicial and institutional reforms.

Under the guidance of Assistant Country Director (Crisis Prevention and Recovery), and in coordination with the Head of Sub-Office for KP and FATA, the Strategic Planning Specialist for FATA will be responsible for the overall coordination of the UNDP Crisis Prevention and Response portfolio in FATA and will provide technical support to the FATA Secretariat on all UNDP related matters.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Ensuring the strategic direction of UNDP/FATA Returns and Rehabilitation programme;
Overall coordination of the UNDP/FATA Returns and Rehabilitation programme;
Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization;
Responsibility for coordinating donors support to the FATA Returns and Rehabilitation programming as well as ensuring effective coordination with other bodies working on stabilization activities in FATA, including the World Bank;
Provision of top quality policy advice services to the FATA Secretariat and facilitation of knowledge-building, knowledge-sharing and management;
Support the integration of peacebuilding and social cohesion into the recovery process.

Ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programming in FATA focusing on achievement of the following results:

Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the region;
Identification of possible entry points for programming;
Harmonization of recovery efforts with longer term development and governance reforms (produce specific strategies to guide and evidence this harmonization)

Ensures effective coordination of the UNDP projects in FATA and provides oversight to the project team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation:

Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC ) and monitoring achievement of results;
Design and formulation of the FATA programme, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions;
Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies;
Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
Effective monitoring and evaluation;
Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme;
Follow up on audit recommendations;
Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes;
Preparation of donor reports and visits

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization:

Development and implementation of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes;
Support to Government-led National donors coordination mechanisms for FATA (including the organization of regular coordination meetings and updates with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.);
Ensure UNDP support work is coherent and coordinated with work of other stakeholders including the World Bank.
Ensure frequent updates on the recovery process (results, funding, gaps, challenges) are prepared and shared with stakeholders;
Create and maintain existing networks with local key players working on recovery related issues both at governmental and non-governmental level

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services to the FATA Secretariat and facilitation of key policy reforms, knowledge building and management:

Identification and synthesis of global and national best practices and lessons learned directly linked to policy goals;
Regular support to the FATA Secretariat to develop policies, strategies and projects to address the recovery and development needs in the region;
Strengthen UN/UNDP relations with senior government counterparts and key; stakeholders in order to build entry points and partnerships;
Organization of trainings for staff in the FATA Secretariat and project teams;
Development of knowledge management products to showcase best practices in FATA recovery process.
Provide support to the FATA Secretariat on the policy reform agenda

Support the integration of peacebuilding and social cohesion into the recovery process:

Support the implementation of strategic conflict assessment exercises in FATA in conjunction with other key actors (Donors, UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, traditional authorities, etc.);
Initiate, design and facilitate capacity building initiatives for Government and development partners in conflict-sensitive development programming and peacebuilding awareness in FATA;
Liaise with the UNDP Conflict Prevention Adviser on all aspects on the peacebuilding and social cohesion work.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme and reaching UNDAF/ CPD goals. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas;
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field. Prince2 Training and Certification, RMG is desired.

Experience:

7 years of relevant experience at the international level in providing advisory services, hands-on experience in design, management and monitoring of development projects with at least 4 years’ experience in a crisis or post-crisis setting with specific emphasis on early recovery, local governance and peacebuilding together with experience in and establishing linkages between international organization and national government entities;
Knowledge and experience of working in Pakistan, particularly FATA, will be considered an asset. Experience of working at the sub-national levels will also be considered as an asset.Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language:

Fluency in English;
Knowledge of Pashto an asset.