UNDP Jobs - 62939- Programme Analyst (Governance)

Programme Analyst (Governance)

Location :

Accra, GHANA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

NO-B

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year (renewable)

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

Ghana, in the past two decades has made significant strides in deepening its democratic governance experience. Besides the holding six successful elections in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012, the country has systematically rolled out a relatively resilient decentralization process since 1988 and in recent years rolled out a national peace architecture to cement peace building as part of its democratic governance process. These achievements have consolidated inclusive governance and strengthened the effectiveness of key national institutions in the country.

Despite these democratic accolades relative to the other countries in the sub-region, there still remain a need to deepen democracy, decentralization and conflict management at all levels of development. These challenges include: enhancement of representation and participation, conflict of roles between and among the arms of government and governance institutions; inadequate participation of non-state actors in governance processes; low representation of women, youth and other marginalized groups in local governance; existence of critical conflict drivers such as chieftaincy, land and natural resources, ethnic, religious and socio-cultural disputes; lack of harmonization and coordination of the peace mechanism; and a perception of corruption in the public sector.

UNDP’s support to the Government of Ghana is to set to achieve four outputs: a) inclusive, accountable and transparent governance, b) active participation of women and vulnerable groups in decision making processes, c) justice sector institutions functional and responsive, and d) national peace architecture institutionalized and functional. These outputs reflect the six governance thematic areas of transparency and accountability, decentralization, representation and participation, access to justice, gender equality, and conflict prevention. These thematic areas are clustered under three broad programmes namely; Consolidating Peace in Ghana, Consolidating Transparency and Accountability as well as Consolidating Representation and Participation.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist (Governance), the Programme Analyst (Governance) is responsible for the Consolidating Representation and Participation portfolio. The Programme Analyst (Governance) analyzes political, social and economic trends in Ghana and participates in the formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities within an assigned portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures implementation of Consolidating Representation and Participation programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

Advise the CO on political and electoral trends in Ghana and relevant linkages to UNDP programmes;
Provides analysis for formulation of strategies and briefings (written and oral) to the Governance Cluster, whilst advocating for and representing UNDP in her/his area of expertise as requested by her/his supervisor;
Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNDAF, CPD and other documents;
Identification of areas for support and interventions within the governance cluster, with a particular emphasis on the political governance and decentralization practice areas and implementation of assigned cluster Annual Work Plan (AWP);
Support CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme within the governance practice area, focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
Design and formulation of some parts of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
Provision of operational and technical support to Implementing Partners and Responsible Parties, as assigned;
Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC), finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review and participating in recruitment processes for projects;
Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems development of solutions. Participation in audit of NEX projects;
Follow up on audit recommendations that all exceptions are timely reported;
Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes and preparation of donor reports.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Management Support and Business Development Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
Facilitate knowledge building of political governance, decentralization and related perspectives within the Governance Cluster and actively participates in corporate UNDP knowledge creation;
Provision of policy options and high quality advisory inputs to UNDP programmes and projects to ensure these are responsive to national policies, priorities and strategic plans, and advance UNDP's corporate goals;
Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Organization of training for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Preparing information for advocacy

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

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.

Resource Mobilization:

Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors.

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

Demonstrate in-depth understanding of Ghana’s political system, current challenges and on-going initiatives to address gaps identified;
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;
Possesses good knowledge of inclusive political processes, including the participation of marginalised groups;
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;
Possesses basic knowledge in mainstreaming gender in programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as reporting on results.

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 or equivalent in political sciences or related field;
Prince2 training and certification, RMG.

Experience:

2 year srelevant experience at the anatiopnal or international level in providing management advisory services and hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Experience in the use of computers and office software packages and handling of web based management systems.

Language:

Fluency in English and a national language of the duty station.