UNDP Jobs - 63630- Chief Technical Advisor to the National Elections

Chief Technical Advisor to the National Elections Commission

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

19-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initial Duration of One Year

Languages Required :

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

Successful conduct of the 2011 elections has been considered as significant step in the consolidation of democracy in Liberia. Furthermore, to ensure success in all future elections in Liberia, a series of administrative, capacity and legal challenges must be addressed. The election project therefore aims to extend the democratization process in Liberia, with specific emphasis on improving electoral institutions processes and laws. More specifically, the project will contribute to strengthening capacity of the electoral management body, enhancing electoral processes and support the ongoing process of the constitutional amendment as it relates to elections. The project will also promote effective election coordination and seek to mainstream gender and conflict preventative approaches in its activities.

UNDP, along with other partners, will provide technical and operational support to the NEC to assist in the organization and conduct of the 2017 Presidential and Legislative elections. The emphasis will be on capacity building and institutional support to the NEC to build up its own internal processes and systems to conduct free fair and credible elections. This would require dedicated technical and operational support of a Chief Technical Advisor that will also act as the Manager of the UNDP Project in Support of the 2015-2018 Liberian Electoral Cycle.

This post is a DPF (Development Project Funded).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will report to the UNDP Country Director and Resident Representative in the delivering of his/her mandate. Specific responsibilities will include:

Direct implementation of the project activities;
Provide substantive support to NEC on implementation of the capacity building program, the conduct of the elections as well as advice on international norms and procedures and best practices;
Support the NEC to implement institutional changes and processes that improves management of elections and staff capacity;
Support development an operational plan for the conduct of the 2017 Presidential and Legislative elections and budget and if required, provide the same support for the conduct of a referendum;
Support the NEC to prepare an Electoral Calendar and coordination of reporting on the implementation of the work plan;
Coordinate the work of the UNDP Advisors to NEC on Capacity Building, Operations, Procurement, Civic Education/Training, Procedures and the Voters Register;
Support the Chairperson of the NEC and its Commissioners on other matters as appropriate to the proper implementation of the project;
Participate in the discussion and formulation of political and technical strategies in the electoral field and advise the UNDP Governance Advisor, Country Director, and Resident Representative and the donors, through the technical working group meeting;
Monitor and assess trends and activities which might affect the political situation and electoral processes, reporting the findings to UNDP;
Prepare regular reports on electoral matters for UNDP, including analytical reports and inputs to the reports of the Secretary-General under the terms of UNDP’s role in UNMIL;
Ensure up-to-date information is maintained and available – draft notes, background papers, talking points and other correspondence for UNDP officials on electoral matters;
Maintain close contact with relevant national and international partners and support NEC in coordinating donor activities, and aligning their interventions;
Undertake any other duties related to electoral reform and processes as requested by the NEC Board of Directors:
Participate in the recruitment of Local consultants and support staff, as well as in identifying short-term international experts;
Provide advice as needed to UNDP concerning the evolution of NEC;
Help coordinate the UN-wide team (UNDP and UNMIL) providing electoral assistance:

The CTA will be an ex-officio member of the Project Board and Technical Working Group. The Chairperson or Executive Director of the NEC with the support and assistance of the CTA will report to TWG on project implementation on a quarterly basis. The objective of the reporting is to ensure that the project is on track and Electoral calendar is implemented by NEC. As required by the Chairperson of the NEC, the CTA will assist the Chairperson in meetings with donors to report on budget and program implementation.

The CTA will work from NEC Office in Monrovia.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Contributing to results through provision of information;
Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Identifying and building partnerships;
Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Developing new approaches;
Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization:

Implementing resource mobilization strategies;
Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

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;
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;
Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

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;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Must hold an advanced University degree or equivalent in one of the following disciplines: Political Science, International Relations, Law, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related field;
Prince2 training and certification, RMG.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of related professional electoral experience which must include a minimum of six years’ experience at management level in election administration including electoral operations and logistics;
Previous experience required in planning and implementing electoral assistance projects for international organizations;
Prior experience in post-conflict countries would be an asset.

Language:

Fluency both written and spoken in English;
National language of the duty station an advantage.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

No fee

The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicant's bank accounts.
The United Nations 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.