UNDP Jobs - 59518- Chief Technical Advisor (Elections)

Chief Technical Advisor (Elections)

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

15-Oct-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-5

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

Since 2004, UNDP and its partners have supported the Sierra Leonean National Electoral Commission (NEC) to implement a strategic planning and reform process, as well as prepare for and administer the 2012 election – the country's second national election since the end of the 10-year civil war in 2002, and the first without the supervision and major logistical support of the international community and UN peacekeepers. With the successful conduct of these elections Sierra Leone has made important gains in the consolidation of its post-conflict democracy and towards self-sufficient administration of its own elections.

In 2012, UNDP and its partners supported complex 2012 electoral process that saw the successful conduct of presidential, parliamentary and local council elections on the same day. Prior to the Election Day UNDP’s Election programme extensively supported Sierra Leone’s first biometric voter registration and establishment of a decentralised regional based result management system. All sensitive materials required for the multifaceted elections were procured through UNDP managed Electoral Basket Fund (EBF). Following the successful conclusion of the 2012 elections, UNDP’s Support to the Electoral Cycle in Sierra Leone 2011 – 2014 Programme continued to support the sustainability of know-how and the development of long-term capacities of the Electoral management bodies, civil society organizations involved in electoral observation, communication and women’s participation in elections and politics, political parties, the media and security forces. It also provided support to build on the biometric voter registration and help in the establishment of a national civil registration programme, which is now a self-standing component of a wider Elections related programmatic engagement. UNDP has also recently received a fresh request for continuation of electoral capacity building support for the 2015 -2018 electoral phase and will soon commence a fresh needs assessment as well as an end of project evaluation both of which will guide the design of the 2015-2018 programme of support. During the period 2015-2018, the country is scheduled to have local, Parliamentary and Presidential elections, as well as a Constitutional Referendum. To take this forward UNDP is looking to hire a Chief Technical Adviser for the programme.

Under the overall authority and guidance from the Country Director and direct supervision of the Deputy country Director (P), the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) will be responsible for implementing and administering the programme. She/he will work in close consultation with the UNDP programme and operations units, the Team Leader Governance Unit, the electoral management bodies and other stakeholders in order to promote the most credible and transparent electoral process possible. It is understood that instructions will only be taken from the United Nations.

Although the CTA will be responsible for the overall programme, given the role of other offices in the implementation of various components, she/he will concentrate day-to-day on the core assistance to NEC, the PPRC the NRS and the future National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA). To maintain a single communication and command line, however, it is important that the CTA remains the chief operating officer for the programme and all elections and civil registration related activities coordinated very closely with her/him. This will happen through regular consultations/meetings within and outside UNDP and in particular with the UNCT with the support and guidance from RC.

Duties and Responsibilities

Coordination

The CTA will be responsible for the implementation of activities as well as the supervision of the following:

Ensure with effectiveness the administrative and technical management of the Programme;
Supervise and coordinate the actions and activities of the Programme including high level experts and personnel support;
Ensure effective cooperation and coordination of all Programme Implementation Teams with various departments of the NEC, PPRC, NRS, and the NCRA. Supervise activities of experts and support staff assigned to the Programme;
Elaborate a work plan as well as an implementation plan of action of the different components of the Programme;
Coordinate the organization of seminars and training or reinforce actors/ facilitators capacities building on the electoral and civil registration processes;
Establish the means of collaboration with potential partners (all stakeholders including donors, etc.), resource mobilization system and appropriate operational partnership arrangements.

Electoral and Civil Registration Support:

Provide technical advice to high-level actors/or mediators (in particular Ministers, NEC, PPRC, NRS, NCRA, CSOs, media and security officials) on the electoral and civil registration processes;
Provide electoral, civil registration and other technical advisory support to UNDP staff: UNRC, CD, DCD, programme officers involved in Governance Programme within UNDP Country Office;
Assist with the planning and the implementation of electoral and civil registration activities throughout the different phases of the electoral cycle and programme;
Elaborate the Term of References and assure that all necessary support is provided for the foreseen consultations and monitoring missions;
Plan and assist periodic evaluation missions making sure to provide necessary assistance and support to the missions;
Ensure the permanent support and follow up of the programme activities;
Supervise the procurement process for electoral and civil registration materials and equipment and ensure their safe storage before their deployment;
Ensure in all circumstances that the Programme upholds the values of the UN System, the country’s interests and partners implicated in the process;
Provide all sensitive and targeted counselling to the electoral process;
Liaise and foster strategic cooperation with other partners to reinforce the dialogue between the stakeholders of the process

Reporting:

Elaborate and submit periodic reports on the progress of the Programme to the UNDP and its Partners
In collaboration with UNDP office, plan and coordinate meetings with partners to submit reports or documents in liaison with the electoral and civil registration process

Fundraising/Resource mobilization:

Contribute to the mobilization of funds with partners for additional resources to the electoral and civil registration process;
Provide strong fundraising arguments to donors/or stakeholders;
Perform other relevant duties as required by the UNRC/RR or Country Director and Deputy Country Director (P) of UNDP

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the Programme management efficiency and success of the whole Electoral Cycle and the successful and sustainable operationalization of the national civil register.

In particular, the key results have an impact on the delivery of:

UNDP’s credibility as the lead electoral assistance implementation agency of the UN system;
Host country’s effort to meet the SDGs;
Coordination of stakeholders’ effective support – participation in the electoral and civil registration programmes;
Effective support of Programme electoral and civil registration assistance.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time.

Functional Competencies:

Results-Orientation and Development Effectiveness:

Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and mobilize resources;
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis and reporting.

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;
Sets clear performance goals and standards; executes responsibilities accordingly.

Innovation and Judgment:

Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems and how they relate;
Contributes creative, practical ideas and approaches to deal with challenging situation;
Strives for quality client-centered services (internal/external) when making decisions and taking action.

Job Knowledge & Expertise:

Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
Uses ICT and web-based management systems effectively as a tool and resource;
Is motivated and demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development and learn.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's in Political Science, International Relations, Social Sciences, Management, Administration, Law or related fields.

Experience:

At least ten years of professional experience in democratic governance with an emphasis on electoral and civil registration assistance;
Experience in electoral assistance advisory and programme management at the international level (with the United Nations System a strong asset);
Good knowledge of the political environment, administration of developing countries particularly countries of the West African region;
Good knowledge on the organization of elections in Africa;
Good knowledge on the management of the electoral processes during and post conflict;
Knowledgeable of different tasks relating to the electoral process;
Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and complex environment;
Ability to produce reports and high-level political analysis;
Capacity to dialogue with electoral and high-level political actors as well as donors from the international community;
Previously experience as CTA in the framework multi donor programmes;
Fair understanding of electoral processes in Sierra Leone, in particular of the state of electoral and wider governance reform, would be an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English mandatory.