UNDP Jobs - 56651- Development Consultant, UNDP Project: Support Stra

Development Consultant, UNDP Project: Support Strategic Programmatic Engagement at State Level - (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Location :

Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambhore) Rajasthan, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

SB-3

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

India is a federal democracy with more than half of the general government expenditures being undertaken at the state and district levels. However, inter and intra state disparities continue to exist in terms of the pace of development and uptake of services because of several reasons. One of the critical reasons is disconnect between the local needs and the services being offered. UNDP supported project seeks to work closely with the state/ district governments to understand the local social, economic, political and cultural context and help improve delivery mechanisms for inclusive, efficient and effective governance structures and programmes. In this background, UNDP is soliciting services of a development consultant to work in Sawai Madhopur.

Summary of Key Functions:

The Development Consultant will be embedded in the Office of the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). S/he will work under the overall guidance of the MLA and direct supervision of the Special Advisor for Strategy and Development and in liaison with the UNDP Programme Specialist, Poverty Unit to provide technical assistance. S/he will coordinate with District Collector, Zila Parishad, Nagar Palika and other local authorities to:

leverage resources through activation and efficient implementation of relevant central and state government schemes and national and international private foundations;
identify best practice solutions to local development challenges; and;
build and foster partnerships specially for monitoring implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Development Consultant will be responsible for:

Identify key social, economic, and infrastructure priorities and needs;
Identify obstacles to effective implementation of policies and programmes and recommend ways of overcoming these;
Identify funding opportunities and mechanisms to support identified priorities from existing government ( central and state) schemes and programmes;
Develop required proposals or DPRs together with local authorities;
Leverage and build support for social and economic priorities through field visits, meetings, seminars and consultations and facilitate partnerships;
Prepare relevant monitoring and status reports, monitor trends and new developments;
Assist in the development of the MLA’s web-based citizen feedback portal;
Guide the development, roll-out of relevant monitoring and evaluation tools;
Build and forge partnerships for ensuring optimal utilization of technical and financial resources mobilization through complementarity and to avoid wastage and unnecessary overlap;
Assist the local authorities in ensuring aid coordination across sectors and thematic areas;
Any other responsibility as assigned by supervisor.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Collaboration and conflict management skills.
Communicate information and ideas in an effective manner;
Ability to work in teams.

Functional Competencies:

Job knowledge and expertise:

Thorough familiarity with the development context and challenges in the State.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Identify critical points of integration across programme activities;
Network effectively with partners to build strategic alliances;
Identify capacity building requirements for counterparts and partners;
Solicit feedback on the technical support from partners and stakeholders;
Effectively build and sustain strategic partnerships with Government Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
Focus on impact and result and respond positively to feedback.

Facilitating Teamwork and Self-Management:

Recognises opportunities to meet organizational priorities through team work;
Encourages and creaes mechanisms to share expertise and team approaches with partners and stakeholders.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points for integration;
Participates in the formulation of project proposal and ensures substantive rigour in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Client Orientation:

Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
Organises and prioritises work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Responds to client needs promptly

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

Minimum requirement Bachelor’s degree in any field of development studies/ social sciences.

Experience:

5 -7 years of relevant experience of working in an inter- governmental institution or the government with special focus on project implementation, advocacy and resource mobilization.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in spoken and written English and Hindi;
A good knowledge of the state is an asset.

Other:

Willingness to travel.
Remuneration package is INR 75,456/- per month (taxable). UNDP also offers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for contract holder and encourages work life balance.
UNDP strives to have a workforce which reflects diversity and gender balance, and applies an equal opportunities approach. UNDP does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS status. All selection is on merit.