UNDP Jobs - 60612- Livelihoods Officer

Livelihoods Officer

Location :

Yangon (with Frequent Travel to the Target States), MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

18-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-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

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Myanmar is implementing a ‘Livelihoods and Social Cohesion’ Programme, outreaching about 313 villages in 7 states (Rakhine, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Shan, Chin and Mon). Between 2013-2015, the programme’s village-level support activities have included: setting-up and developing the capacities of community-based organizations (CBOs), providing social protection assistance, providing capital assistance for livelihoods, providing livelihoods and vocational skills development and constructing small community infrastructure. Increasing the programme wishes to orient its village-level support activities to support market-based livelihoods, innovations, business development and entreprenuership. Increasingly, UNDP also wishes to increase its policy support to livelihoods and communtiy development and poverty alleviation in Myanmar, through stronger participation in policy forums and policy actions, support to capacity-development and knowledge-management. These activities aim to reduce disparities and vulnerabilities and increase interaction, networks and dialogue in and between groups, in order to strengthen social cohesion at the community level. Additionally, the programme has carried-out interventions to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders at the local level for mainstreaming social cohesion and peacebuilding.

Against this background, UNDP wishes to recruit a Livelihoods Officer to support the day-to-day results-based implementation of its livelihood activities. Under the direct supervision of the Programme Lead, the Livelihoods Officer will work closely with the Programme team and in the target states, he/she will work closely with the national Livelihoods and Social Cohesion Officers and International United Nations Volunteer (IUNV) Livelihood and Social Cohesion Coordinators based in some of the target states.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Support the implementation of the livelihood components of the programme;
Support to strategic positioning and development of the livelihood components of the programme;
Support UNDP’s contribution to policy action on livelihoods, community development and poverty alleviation;
Support communication and knowledge management.

Support the implementation of the livelihood components of the programme focusing on achievement of the following results (40%):

Ensure the implementation of the livelihoods component of the programme against annual work-plan, targets, time-plans and result indicators;
Develop internal monitoring and operational plans that help programme implementation;
Coordinate programme-operations actions, including identifying appropriate implementation modalities, initiating procurement, grant and Human Resources actions, including formulation of ToRs and scopes of works, managing procurement and recruitment processes including selection, contract and grant management;
Monitor field-based implementation of programme activities, including providing guidance to area-based staff on field implementation and monitoring;
Monitor programme implementation of partners (contractors, consultants, grantees) in accordance with agreements, work-plans, deliverables and timelines;
Ensure timely and quality progress and financial reporting by partners in line with agreed templates and schedules; review reports; provide feedback to UNDP and partners;
Provide inputs and feedback to reporting;
Ensure systematic documentation and filing;

Support to strategic positioning and development of the livelihood components of the programme focusing on achievement of the following results (25%):

Support the development of livelihood-related components of UNDP’s area-based development programmes – including through assessment, design and stakeholder consultation;
Oversee the implementation of livelihood-related components of UNDP’s area-based development programmes – including through monitoring missions;
Collect information and analyze information on context for livelihoods;
Identify opportunities for developing UNDP’s profile in livelihoods and recommend actions to make use of these opportunities;
Develop new livelihood initiatives that are in line with the programme strategy for using livelihoods to strengthen social cohesion;
Draft, or provide technical inputs and feedback to concept papers and proposals;
Lead or support programme formulation missions;
Maintain regular interaction with national and local stakeholders with the objective collecting information on ongoing and planned activities.

Support UNDP’s contribution to policy action on livelihoods, community development and poverty alleviation focusing on achievement of the following results (25%):

Regularly liaise with relevant government institutions, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs and CSOs to understand ongoing policy initiatives and identify UNDP’s potential role and contribution to policy initiatives;
Support the development of initiatives and partnerships that facilitate knowledge-management on livelihoods, poverty alleviation and particularly, their linkages with social cohesion and peacebuilding;
Undertake capacity-development of partners and stakeholders;
Represent UNDP and the programme in coordination and policy forums.

Ensuring facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results (10%):

Organize and facilitate training, information-sharing and knowledge-sharing events for fellow UNDP personnel and partners on the initiative as thematic expert on livelihoods;
Formulate case-studies and communication materials.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. 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

Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Functional Competencies:

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Maintaining a network of contacts

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Enhancing processes or products

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Basic research and analysis

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating 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.

Client Orientation

Establishing effective client relationships

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Anticipates client needs and addresses them 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:

Master’s Degree in development, economics, social sciences or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in the design, implementation and management of livelihood recovery and development programmes;
Experience in post-conflict and early recovery contexts;
Experience building and maintaining partnerships with Government, other development partners and the private sector;
Prior experience with UN or UNDP is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Written and oral fluency in English.