UNDP Jobs - 56938- Capacity Development Advisor

Capacity Development Advisor - UNDP/ELECT Project

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year with possibility of extension

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.

The overall objective of UNDP’s electoral assistance is to support the national electoral institutions the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) to plan and conduct credible elections and to better ensure the integrity of the process. The UNDP Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow project - phase II (2012 – 2015), or ELECT II, provides technical and operational assistance to the Afghan electoral bodies and enhance their capacity to prepare and conduct the electoral processes. ELECT II has provided support for the two rounds of the Presidential Election in 2014, the Provincial Council elections in 2014 and the conduct of 100% of Vote Audit exercise.

In 2015, donor partners envisaged a change in paradigm and scope of international assistance to Afghanistan’s electoral management bodies,

In this respect, UNDP is currently revising its electoral support project. While the ELECT II project has already been downsized significantly and eventually will be terminated, a new project with revised scope and objectives needs to be developed in light of sustainability of Afghanistan’s electoral management bodies, and including recommendations related to electoral reform in anticipation of the next electoral rounds.

Continuing long-term assistance through support to capacity building of national electoral authorities beyond 2015 is in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2210 (2015).This assistance is closely coordinated with UNAMA, UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD).

The Capacity Development Advisor will be part of a team of international advisors / specialists and national officers providing technical support to the IEC. The Capacity Development Advisor will work under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor, the Electoral Capacity Development Advisor will be responsible for developing, coordinating and overseeing the overarching comprehensive capacity building program of the ELECTII project encompassing both the Secretariat and the Commission of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on all institutional capacity development matters. In essence, the incumbent will provide strategic direction for the development and consolidation of institutional capacity of the IEC.

Key responsibilities of the Capacity Development Advisor will include:

IEC Capacity Development for Institutional Reform;
IEC Capacity Development for Institutional Sustainability;
Capacity Building support to electoral operations;
Gender mainstreaming;
Legal Support.

Capacity Development for Institutional Reform:

Through thorough situation and risk analysis, support the IEC in developing/revamping a Strategic Plan, with clear baseline, target and meaningful indicators;
Coordinate with all ELECT II advisors to support developing relevant capacity building plans with respective IEC counterparts/departments to ensure that IEC as a whole can implement the strategic plan;
Advise on strengthening and formalizing communication channels between the IEC Commission and the Secretariat with a view to enhancing the institutions overall strategic approach and coordination towards fulfilling its mandate (may include demarcating roles and responsibilities);
Support and develop IEC capacity in monitoring progress against the targets and indicators, clearly logging all deviations and exceptions for corrective action;
Advise and support the Commission and the Secretariat to design and apply accountability mechanisms throughout all departments;
With a view to enhancing electoral integrity and rebuilding public confidence, support in the development and rolling out of awareness and capacity building initiatives to instill ethical and institutional values, promote transparency and support gender mainstreaming;
Support the IEC to design a risk matrix, monitoring specifically identified areas, keeping stakeholders informed, and engaging stakeholders in frank discussion with a view to encourage close collaboration and find practical ways forward;
Formalize systems to address cross cutting and institutional challenges including anti-corruption, fraud prevention, public confidence building, institutional values, ownership and gender mainstreaming. This could include support to establishment of departmental focal points on these thematic issues.

Capacity Development for Institutional Sustainability:

Support the IEC to undertake a comprehensive institutional capacity assessment;
Consolidate study findings to identify specific areas in which the IEC will benefit from capacity development, including both: a) improvement of specific technical skills; and b) strengthening understanding of democratic values and professional ethics;
Based on the capacity assessment and analysis develop an overarching capacity building plan for the IEC encompassing both the Commission and the Secretariat and fully in line with the IEC’s strategic plan and goals;
Design curricula to guide institution-wide capacity development;
Advise IEC leadership in devising ways to monitor capacity development, to recognize areas in which progress is most substantive; and to identify which areas require greater attention;
In close collaboration with ELECT II advisors and their IEC counterparts develop and roll out department specific capacity strengthening plans- adopting innovative approaches to accommodating capacity development needs where necessary;
In close collaboration IEC department heads and ELECT II advisors develop monitoring framework for the capacity development plans;
Assist IEC leadership to secure necessary resources (human; knowledge; time; cost) to implement its capacity development agenda;
In collaboration with IEC HR team and ELECT II HR advisor, incorporate learning and capacity as part of the IEC staff ToR and bi-annual performance assessments;
Support IEC and ELECT II in documenting lessons learnt and best practices in capacity development initiatives.

Capacity Building Support to Electoral Operations:

Support the IEC in developing, maintaining, updating and mainstreaming capacity strengthening initiatives necessary for elections period (all types of elections within IEC mandate: presidential, provincial, parliamentary, district council etc.);
Support IEC in managing and streamlining cascade trainings for the upcoming parliamentary and district elections;
Support the IEC establishment of a knowledge resource database, including: learning modules, identifying relevant internal and external experts, positioned to conduct training workshops or other learning events; academic articles, reports and studies related to electoral issues (including related issues, such as corruption/fraud mitigation, participation/inclusivity, societal and behavioral change);
Support the IEC in enhancing institutional knowledge management through helping consolidate information in the database pertaining to each electoral period;
Advise IEC and also undertake a proactive role in designing and supporting the lessons learnt process following each electoral period or after key milestones within an electoral process (such as after VR, candidate nomination etc.);
Consolidate and disseminate lessons learnt reports;
In collaboration with IEC and ELECT II advisors suggest corrective actions or measures coming out of the lessons learnt process;
Initiate in-depth studies and analysis of critical election and election-related issues, with a view to inform stakeholders, better articulate challenges and achievements.

Gender Mainstreaming:

Assist the IEC in developing gender strategy ensuring that it is a living document and with constant improvements overtime;
Support the IEC in tracking progress against the key indicators of gender strategy;
Provide advice to all ELECT II advisors in terms of gender mainstreaming within their areas to address the cross cutting nature of this thematic area;
Support IEC in providing regular analysis on gender in elections and ensure that all stakeholders are involved by IEC in creating awareness about gender mainstreaming.

Legal Support:

Provide advice and assistance to the IEC in the drafting of amendments to the electoral legal framework, rules & regulations and ensure that international standards are met, while also incorporating the particular circumstances of the country;
Based on international best practice provide advice to the IEC on regulations regarding an inclusive and transparent conduct of elections including fraud mitigation
Provide advice on formulation of regulations and procedures to strengthen women as voters and candidates;
Provide legal advice regarding voter registration regulations and procedures for cleaning up voter lists;
Providing advice on the drafting of codes of conduct and other regulation for candidates, political parties, media and observers

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall ELECT efficiency in providing advisory and support services to the IEC specifically to the Commissioners on Capacity Development for Institutional reform, Institutional Sustainability, Capacity Building supporting the Electoral Operations and Gender mainstreaming, with this a developed oversight reporting mechanism on adherence to governance framework applicable to capacity development SOPs will be in place, contributing to the expeditious and efficient decision-making to ensure facilitation of effective governance in line with Capacity Development Standard Operating Procedures. This is an important service that will enhance the IEC’s capacity, and enable ELECT to contribute to a UNDP reputation for comprehensive electoral assistance.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work;

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UNDP’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

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:

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
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.

Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP’s Capacity to Advocate:

Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility;
Develops messages for use by UNDP staff when working with partners, internationally and nationally;
Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Creates effective global advocacy messages/strategies;
Contributes to the elaboration of a global advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages.

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise:

Leverages different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better and more innovative outcomes.

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.

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:

Master's degree or equivalent in Law, Social Sciences, Development, Political Sciences, Management or other relevant fields.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience, of which at least seven years of professional experience in institutional capacity building in government institutions including Electoral Management Bodies;
Knowledge of electoral assistance and electoral legal areas;
Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
Sound time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks;
Team player, self-motivated and initiative taking, dedicated, creative, resourceful, flexible, energetic with sound judgment;
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts;
Knowledge of cultural and traditional values and norms within an Islamic country contexts is advantageous;
Excellent interpersonal skills and excellent command of oral and written English;
Advanced computer skills and strong knowledge of various software including Excel, Power-Point and Word.

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English;
Working knowledge of Dari and Pashto is a strong asset.

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 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.