UNDP Jobs - 59489- Programme Associate, Output 2 (Civil Society and M

Programme Associate, Output 2 (Civil Society and Media)

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

GS-6

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initial 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

In April 2013 the Government of Myanmar and UNDP signed the UNDP Myanmar Country Action Plan (CPAP), now extended to 2017. This CPAP presents a change in the way that UNDP previously worked in Myanmar from a restricted mandate with focus on human development at the community level to a new programme with three programmatic pillars covering (i) Local Governance; (ii) Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction and (iii) Democratic Governance. Under the UNDP country programme, the Local Governance/Local Development Program (Pillar 1) aims to strengthen democratic institutions at the sub national level through the provision of an integrated package of development assistance for improvements of local governance and local development in rural areas of Myanmar with high poverty incidence and post conflict settings.

Under the Local Governance/Local Development Programme, four specific outputs are being pursued:

Output 1 - Strengthened institutional capacity for local governments and township administrations for area-related development planning, responsive and effective public service delivery, organizational management and conflict prevention;
Output 2 – Communities, civil society organizations and networks strengthened for participation in local governance, with emphasis on addressing gender gaps and rural urban gaps (combined civil society and media support);
Output 4 - Strengthened capacity of institutions required to support livelihoods at the local level (microfinance, vocational training, technical extension centers);
Output 5 – Livelihood sun April 2013 the Government of Myanmar and UNDP signed the UNDP Myanmar Country Action Plan (CPAP), now extended to 2017. This CPAP presents a change in the way that UNDP previously worked in Myanmar from a restricted mandate with focus on human development at the community level to a new programme with three programmatic pillars covering (i) Local Governance; (ii) Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction and (iii) Democratic Governance.

Under the UNDP country programme, the Local Governance/Local Development Program (Pillar 1) aims to strengthen democratic institutions at the sub national level through the provision of an integrated package of development assistance for improvements of local governance and local development in rural areas of Myanmar with high poverty incidence and post conflict settings.

Under the Local Governance/Local Development Programme, four specific outputs are being pursued:

Output 1 - Strengthened institutional capacity for local governments and township administrations for area-related development planning, responsive and effective public service delivery, organizational management and conflict prevention;
Output 2 – Communities, civil society organizations and networks strengthened for participation in local governance, with emphasis on addressing gender gaps and rural urban gaps (combined civil society and media support);
Output 4 - Strengthened capacity of institutions required to support livelihoods at the local level (microfinance, vocational training, technical extension centers);
Output 5 – Livelihood support for social cohesion and peacebuilding.

Each of the outputs has a team led by a Programme Specialist based in Yangon, working with Programme Analyst(s) and a Progarmme Associate. Furthermore, implementation of the programme throughout the country is facilitated by six area offices with selected local specialized staff and international UNVs supporting implementation.

Output 2 (combined civil society and media support) is designed primarily to stimulate the participation of citizens in the local governance and local development processes through the involvement of organized groups such as Civil Society Organizations, NGOs and other non-government actors. Empowerment of civil society groups and enabling them to pro-actively pursue their issues with the appropriate authorities at the sub-national level is the overall objective. An added dimension to this output is the analysis of obstacles to and improvement of access to information by all sections of the community. As such, media development and capacity building of stakeholders is simultaneously pursued, with the intention of drawing linkages between open and transparent access to information and meaningful participation of civil society for improved development outcomes.

Output 2 complements the overall pillar programme by strengthening the capacities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media actors through engagement in partnerships to help contribute to the effectiveness of local development interventions and to an overall strengthening of social accountability. To date Output 2 has facilitated the formation of representative CSO and media network associations in 5 states/regions. In addition, the program has provided leadership and organizational training and initiated small grants for women-led Federations of Self-Reliant Groups across 31 townships. New initiatives aim to strengthen engagement capacities of civil society to contribute to local development planning and decision making processes; establish a forum for community/CSOs to enhance civic education and awareness, facilitate better access to relevant information that supports their interaction with government partners for public discussion and decision making processes through piloting of township community dialogue and information platform and community media; contribute further to women’s empowerment and gender parity through a national network of rural women; and contribute more to peace building efforts at local levels by supporting CSOs and ethnic media groups to enhance their knowledge and skills for engagement with state and non-state actors on community peace concerns. Overall the programme output in its initial phase aims to develop models of engagement and support that can be scaled up and replicated in other locations.

Under the direct supervision of the Output Lead (Programme Specialist) for Civil Society and Media Support, the Programme Associate provides the Output 2 related programme, financial, administrative and logistics support for its effective delivery consistent with UNDP rules and regulations, and in close collaboration with other programme, operations and area-based personnel as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Support to programme implementation and programme management;
Support to programme assurance;
Support to operational, administrative and logistics activities;
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures support to programme implementation and programme management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assisting formulation and design of the programme and preparation and revision of Annual Work Plan (AWP);
Creating, revising and closing projects in Atlas (UNDP’s web-based enterprise resource system);
Preparing timely and accurate budget revisions;
Monitoring expenditures, tracking accurate use of funds, and preparing monthly expenditure reports and other budget and expenditure statements as required;
Preparing management and operations budgets and monitoring the utilization of management and operations budgets.

Ensures effective support to programme assurance focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assisting the operational and financial management of the Output, and ensuring that all operational and financial procedures are properly maintained;
Reviewing financial transactions by screening the necessary supporting documentation;
Creating requisitions in ATLAS, and budget-checking requisitions, POs and vouchers;
Preparing non-PO vouchers;
Maintaining the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
Taking timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers.
Ensuring accurate and comprehensive documentation, filing and archiving;
Supporting audit exercises, including by preparing documentation, liaising with auditors, providing clarification and information, and ensuring and monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations;
Contributing to the organization of Output Boards, including preparing financial reports and organizing Output Board meetings;
Contributing to monitoring and reporting of programmes and programmatic interventions in the subject area, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.

Ensures operational, administrative and logistics support focusing on achievement of the following results:

Supporting procurement activities of the Output, including by overseeing procurement processes, liaising with Procurement Unit to resolve bottlenecks, raising e-requisitions, liaising closely with Procurement Unit to resolve bottlenecks, raising e-requisitions, maintaining rosters for ongoing contracts, providing timely reminders to output team colleagues on contract expiry and extension timelines and ensuring the timely disbursement of payments against contracts;
Supporting human resource activities of the Output, including by overseeing recruitment processes, liaising closely with human resources unit to resolve bottlenecks, maintaining an overview of personnel contacts, and providing timely reminders to the output team colleagues on contract expiry and extension timelines;
Supporting consultants and short-term staff, including by managing their visa, protocol, and travel arrangements and liaising with them on administrative and logistics issues;
Providing logistics support for programme implementation activities such as trainings, workshop meetings, liaising with counterpart organizations in doing so;
Supporting mission travel, including by processing travel and security authorizations, organizing air travel, ground transportation, accommodation, and other logistics arrangements and processing travel claims.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identifying and putting in place best financial and administrative management practices in the Output and Pillar;
Supporting the programme-related information and capacity needs of the Output, including of the area offices;
Organization of trainings for output staff on relevant topics;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Support the preparation of information for advocacy
Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Contributing to results through provision of information

Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Maintaining information and databases

Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives;
Maintains databases of donor information;
Tracks and reports on mobilized resources.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Implementing processes and uses products

Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches;
Responds positively to new approaches.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

Providing information for resource mobilization strategies

Maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors;
Maintains database of project files;
Provides data and information needed for preparation of project documents.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Basic research and analysis

Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise;
Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures.

Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates in-depth 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:

Research and analysis

Identifies relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences.

Client Orientation:

Maintains effective client relationships

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

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education;
University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Management, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Statistics or related field of studies is desirable.

Experience:

At least 6 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required;
Experience in handling of web based management systems and knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems such as Atlas will be an added value;
Past experience with UNDP and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures would be an added advantage;
Must be Myanmar national.

Languages:

Fluency in both oral and written English language required.