UNDP Jobs - 58508- Assistant Country Director (Sustainable Developmen

Assistant Country Director (Sustainable Development programme)

Location :

Dili, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

NO-C

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Extendable based on performance and avaliable of fund

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

Under the guidance of the Country Director (CD), the Assistant Country Director Programme for Sustainable Development (ACD-Sustainable Development) acts as a manager of and advisor to Senior Management and manages the programme portfolio in the area of democratic governance. The main role is to manage the sustainable development portfolio including continued monitoring of implementation. The ACD-Sustainable development leads the programme team in sustainable development strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/ CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The UNDP Country Programme 20015-2019 is building on lessons learned from UNDP’s support in the past decade, aligned to the corporate Strategic Plan and the Istanbul Programme for Action, and focuses on promoting resilience through a sustainable development framework linking poverty reduction to improved governance as well as effective environmental and risk management from climate and disaster related shocks.

Under the sustainable development component, UNDP builds upon current initiatives to ensure that the linkages between poverty reduction and environment are strengthened. UNDP work at the upstream policy level will support the Ministry of Commerce, Environment and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State for Electricity to target the poorest segments and vulnerable groups, especially women and youth, through sustainable management of natural resources, ecosystem services and waste as well as renewable energy. Technical support extended at sub-national levels aims to build systems and institutions to improve practices in agriculture and natural resource management within the framework of the Government’s SDP. UNDP’s support on access to financial services in the remote areas for creating jobs and promoting livelihoods scales-up action to address the poverty-environment nexus. UNDP is working closely with MCIE, State Secretariat for the Support and Promotion of the Private Sector, and financial sector institutions such as the Central Bank of Timor-Leste and National Commercial Bank of Timor-Leste to create jobs through income generation solutions and management of natural resources, ecosystems services and waste.

The work of UNDP’s environment portfolio (mostly funded by GEF/LCDF) in Timor-Leste is guided by three key strategic outputs, which in turn serve to guide its planning framework;(i) Supporting the Government of Timor-Leste in responding to obligations under the Multilateral Environmental agreements, particularly under the UN conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), for Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The development of action plans and strategies will support the Government in developing capacity and support strategic planning in the relevant sectors; (ii) Mainstreaming environment into policy development and national planning, ensuring that environmental considerations are reflected in relevant legislation and regulation thus supporting the government in its efforts towards sustainable development; (iii) Providing access to sustainable energy to vulnerable communities, improving the quality of life of Timor-Leste’s most isolated communities and allowing for the development of new income generating activities.

The ACD-Sustainable development heads and supervises the Sustainable Development Unit Programme team and works in close collaboration with the Management Support and Business Development, Operations team in the CO, Programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Ensuring the strategic direction of UNDP programme;
Management of the CO programme and supervision of the Programme team;
Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization;
Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, AWP and other documents;
Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation;
Operationalization of UNDAF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identification of possibilities for joint programming;
Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO;
CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme and supervision of the Programme team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, 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. ACD-Sustainable Development performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme;
Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes;
Preparation of donor reports;
Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager.

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports the resource mobilization in cooperation with the Management Support and Business Development Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes;
Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.;
Creation and coordination of partnerships with government institutions;
Implementation of CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategy with vertical funds;
Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, 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 cost-sharing.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the countr problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.

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 of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Contributing to results through provision of information

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 drafting proposals;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Identifying and building 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.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Developing new approaches

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

Implementing resource mobilization strategies

Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Developing tools and mechanisms

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:

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
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;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation:

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

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.

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 Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services;
Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language:

Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.