UNDP Jobs - 62348- Programme Specialist - Programme Criticality Coord

Programme Specialist - Programme Criticality Coordination Team Secretariat

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

15-Jan-2016

Application Deadline :

24-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One Year

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 Strategic Plan for UNDP (2014-2017) recognizes the importance of preparedness, response, early recovery and the management of the risk cycle as fundamental for development. The objective of the Crisis Response Unit (CRU) is to ensure that UNDP is well positioned to respond in the most timely and effective manner to crisis, focusing primarily on two typologies of crises: sudden onset crisis and complex protracted crisis.

In this regard, UNDP also works within the inter-agency mechanism on Programme Criticality. Programme Criticality is a component of the United Nations Security Management System’s guidelines for acceptable risk. It is an internal UN system-wide framework that is intended to respond to the commitment to stay and deliver, while recognizing that the UN has to deliver in increasingly difficult environments without being risk averse but also not accepting unnecessary risk to staff. Programme Criticality is the method by which the balance between these dynamics is struck.

The system’s work on Programme Criticality is supported by a senior-level Programme Criticality Steering Committee (PCSC) and a technical-level Programme Criticality Coordination Team (PCCT), assisted by a Programme Criticality Secretariat. The PCSC serves as the main point of contact for senior leaders in the field on Programme Criticality, provides advice on the Programme Criticality Framework, oversees its implementation and quality assurance, and responds to concerns from the field as needed. The PCCT provides technical support to the PCSC and field offices, coordinating global policy development and supporting the roll-out of Programme Criticality at country level. It is supported by a Secretariat, which is responsible for day-to-day backstopping and support on Programme Criticality. Responsibilities include coordinating inter-agency support missions to facilitate Programme Criticality assessments in the field, assisting the PCCT and PCSC in regard to policy development and implementation, supporting inter-agency training and lessons learning, and assisting with outreach and education on Programme Criticality.

As of the beginning of 2015, UNDP – represented by the Crisis Response Unit – assumed the co-chairmanship together with OCHA of the technical-level Programme Criticality Coordination Team and senior-level Programme Criticality Steering Committee. UNDP will be taking over the Programme Criticality Secretariat role, currently housed within UNICEF, as of 1 January 2016 for an expected period of one year.

In support of the inter-agency Programme Criticality Coordination Team and under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist (P-4), CRU Crisis Interface Team (CIT) in New York, the staff is responsible for supporting the following:

Provide Secretariat support to the inter-agency Programme Criticality Coordination Team (PCCT) and Programme Criticality Steering Committee (PCSC);
Support UN field offices in preparing for Programme Criticality assessments;
Coordinate training courses and maintain a pool of Programme Criticality facilitators;
Support management of the project and facilitate inter-agency lessons learning and knowledge management in relation to Programme Criticality;
Provide support to CRU’s broader work on humanitarian and crisis response inter-agency processes and manage the Programme;
Any other duties as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide Secretariat support to the inter-agency Programme Criticality Coordination Team (PCCT) and Programme Criticality Steering Committee (PCSC):

Support co-chairs and PCCT/PCSC members in substantive follow-up on Programme Criticality policy development and implementation and maintain PCCT/PCSC documentation;
Prepare and schedule meetings, draft minutes and track follow-up actions;
Work with PCCT/PCSC co-chairs and members in preparing and supporting PCSC meetings and preparing/maintaining documentation.

Support UN field offices in preparing for Programme Criticality assessments:

Liaise with UN field offices and provide timely support to preparations for and execution of Programme Criticality assessments;
Respond to queries and requests for information on the Programme Criticality methodology and/or assessment process from UN Country Teams and/or field missions;
Support co-chairs in providing briefings on Programme Criticality to country offices, as requested;
Maintain oversight of past and planned Programme Criticality country assessments and results.

Coordinate training courses and maintain a pool of Programme Criticality facilitators:

Work with PCCT members and co-chairs on preparing and carrying out annual training of facilitators; oversee communication with trainers and nominees; and maintain training materials;
Maintain oversight of the inter-agency pool of Programme Criticality facilitators;
Work with UN field offices and facilitators to identify appropriate facilitation teams to support field offices in Programme Criticality assessments and assist facilitation teams in preparing for deployments;
Deploy as part of a facilitation team in support of assessment exercises, as required;
Receive and review facilitators’ back to office reports and Programme Criticality assessment results and maintain up-to-date records of assessments.

Support management of the project and facilitate inter-agency lessons learning and knowledge management in relation to Programme Criticality:

Provide financial and administrative support to the work of Programme Criticality, including in monitoring its progress, as well as in ensuring timely preparation of progress narratives and financial reports;
Develop and maintain the information repository and online database for Programme Criticality and support development and maintenance of new learning tools as required;
Provide advice to PCCT and co-chairs on innovative ideas for documenting Programme Criticality experiences and support lessons learning and design of new approaches;
Identify and develop tools and mechanisms for inter-agency knowledge sharing and outreach on Programme Criticality and promote the use of innovative approaches;
Support the PCCT and co-chairs in overseeing reviews of Programme Criticality implementation, as required.

Provide support to CRU’s broader work on humanitarian and crisis response inter-agency processes:

Stay abreast of global debates on issues of inter-agency crisis response, resilience, recovery and transitions;
Coordinate closely with BPPS and other partners to ensure coherence in terms of UNDP positioning and participation in humanitarian and crisis-related mechanisms;
Coordinate and prepare position papers background briefs, talking points and summary notes, as requested.

Any other duties as may be assigned.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Coordination

Ability to engage in inter-agency processes and ensure UNDP positioning.

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies and forge productive working relationships.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done.

Primary Competencies:

Crisis Response and Early Recovery

Knowledge of crisis response and early recovery policies and inter-agency mechanisms.

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

UN System Coordination

Ability to engage in inter-agency processes and ensure UNDP positioning.

Knowledge Management

Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Event, Meeting, Workshop Facilitation

Ability to plan and organize events.

Secondary Competencies:

Internal Reporting and Accountability

Ability to create internal reporting and accountability processes and standards.

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Brief & Speech Writing

Ability to prepare quality briefs; speeches; information materials.

UN System

Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, economics, business administration, social sciences or related disciplines.

Experience:

Five years of relevant experience providing advisory and technical support in the area of crisis response, partnership, coordination;
Experience with programme criticality is highly desirable;
Experience in working on inter-agency policy development and implementation is an asset;
Field experience in an emergency/crisis context is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both written and oral;
Fluency in French and/or another UN language would be an asset.