UNDP Jobs - 62835- Planning Specialist (UN Programme Development)

Planning Specialist (UN Programme Development)

Location :

Sittwe, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

TA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

22-Jan-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

(364)days

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

Myanmar is at a critical junction after experiencing military dictatorship for the past several decades, Myanmar has begun to reform and open up, undertaking wide-ranging reforms on political, peace, economic and administrative fronts. The first internationally observed democratic general national elections since her independence in 1948, were held on 8 November 2015. The election results underscore the widespread mood for political and social change in Myanmar, and have created a new political environment in Myanmar in which initiatives that promote social harmony, peaceful co-existence and strengthen the rule of law will be welcomed.

The UN system in Myanmar finds itself responsible for a very broad arena of work: humanitarian, development, peacebuilding and human rights. Rakhine state, the second poorest state in Myanmar, has been a major recipient of humanitarian assistance since inter-communal violence erupted between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya in 2012. Approximate 140.000 Muslims remain internally displaced in camps, however poverty is dire and widespread across the state. The return/resettlement of Muslim IDPs has begun with support from the Rakhine State government and with financial and technical support from the international community including prominently Turkey. To mitigate the risks of the reoccurrence of intercommunal violence between the Buddhist Rakhine communities and the returning Muslim IDPs, the international community recognizes the need for a comprehensive integrated approach targeting both communities addressing development, reintegration, social cohesion and human rights concerns.

Most potential development partners (UN, international and national NGOs, diplomatic missions, CSOs etc.) agrees that such comprehensive, integrated approach must be conflict sensitive and present a framework/ plan to articulate the principles of engagement and main priorities for international engagement with the Union and State level governments in the driving seat. There is significant momentum for such approach to be formulated and various donors have expressed interest.

Against this backdrop, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office in Sittwe, Rakhine, led by the Senior UN Advisor to Rakhine, stands at a critical juncture where increased support is needed programmatically as well as operationally. The Senior UN Advisor’s Office works closely together with UN agencies, INGOs, local government and other stakeholders in Rakhine to address the needs of all populations in need of recovery and increased livelihood opportunities. The local context in Rakhine coupled with the central political context in the country’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, is highly sensitive and constantly evolving, making Rakhine a unique and multilayered situation.

The main direct stakeholders include the community at large, the central and local government and civil society. A significant degree of community dialogue and engagement should also be expected to inform all joint programming efforts and in order to inform the Senior UN Advisor of trends and dynamics. The UN and Humanitarian Country Teams are also a key stakeholders, which in Myanmar includes both UN agencies, INGOs and heads of cooperation missions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures effective support to Senior UN Advisor in Rakhine State, and all stakeholders in elaboration of a comprehensive, integrated approach (Rakhine Response and Recovery Framework) to addressing humanitarian, development and human rights issues confronting all communities in Rakhine State:

Complete the drafting of the of the Rakhine Response and Recovery Framework (RRRF) document;
Facilitate and organize the final consultations between the UNRC’s Office and key government and agency partners on the final draft RRRF document.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and develops a resource mobilization strategy for the implementation of the Rakhine Response and Recovery Framework focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development of partnerships with UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs, civil society, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors and potentially also the private sector;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on donor strategies and national development strategies, provision of advice to the Senior Un Advisor on ensuring synchronicity, alignment and complementarity between these strategies and UN activities;
Coordination of the substantive preparations of key events in close consultation with appropriate counterparts in government, bilateral and multilateral partners.

Develop a communications strategy that emphasizes local stakeholder engagement to promote the whole of Rakhine Response and Recovery Framework and social as well as economic interaction for improved understanding:

Compile a list of key stakeholders including CSOs, religious and civil leaders and community organizations and engage with these stakeholders on a regular basis;
Draft appropriate media releases;
Compile strategies for mobilizing social media messaging that promote information about the Rakhine RRRF;
Draft messages and other communications material for public consumption and beneficiaries informing of project activities and outcomes.

Develops and leads a planning, monitoring and reporting system/framework for results-based programming, supporting timely and effective reporting to all stakeholders:

Prepare reports for donors and government partners on new development initiatives that are implemented under the RRRF;
Coordinate M&E mechanism under the RRRF and utilize data derived for continued results-based programming and communications.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of the operation of the integrated, comprehensive approach, UN activities and the overall coordination capacity and implementation. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design and operation of UN activities, creation of strategic partnerships for UNCT programming in Rakhine State and support of national strategies and priorities.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies

Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it;
Makes use of a variety of resources based on UN/UNCT priorities to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Identifying and building partnerships

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN/UNCT’s strategic agenda;
Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UN/UNCT’sstrategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN/UNCT’s mandate;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Developing new approaches

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image.

Resource Mobilization:

Building and maintaining donor relations; implementing resource mobilization strategy

Develops detailed knowledge and understanding of key donors, their priorities and areas of interest and adapts content and approach of resource mobilization activities to their requirements;
Builds and maintains relationships with donors demonstrating professionalism in providing advice and information on UN activities and sensitivity to donor concerns.

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;
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
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.

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;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in International Relations, Political Sciences, Communications, or in a related field of expertise.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of paid working experience in a relevant field and with solid understanding of ethnically diverse contexts is required. Experience in development work in a complex conflict setting;
Background in international development, strategic planning, and project planning in the UN system;
Strong communications skills.

Language:

Excellent command of English language is a prerequisite.