UNDP Jobs - 64309- Transition Planning Specialist

Transition Planning Specialist

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

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

By Resolution 2190, the UN SC has decided that UNMIL Transfer full security responsibilities to national authorities no later than June 2016. Accordingly, the Government of Liberia (GoL) has developed and is in the process of implementing the GoL Plan for UNMIL Transition (GPUT) since March 2015. In addition to its support during the planning process, the UN family in Liberia has prepared UN wide support plan which is under implementation, concurrent with the GPUT. UN transitions are high on the agenda as a number of peacekeeping and special political missions are currently planning for or undergoing drawdown, reconfiguration and withdrawal processes that greatly affect the presence and work of the wider UN. It is critical that these processes are planned and managed in a joint and coherent manner by UN actors on the ground with Headquarters support to avoid precipitous and ill-designed transitions that jeopardize previous peace building gains. In response to the challenges, UNDP,DPKO/DFS and DPA are implementing the joint project, “ UN Transition in Mission Settings”, to ensure that UN transition processes at headquarters and in the field are more efficient and more effective through better support to host countries, thereby supporting the sustainability of peace building achievements.

The engagement of UNDP in particular and the UNCT in general in the transition planning process is critical for the continued UN support in key peace building areas. The UNCT is making contributions to the UN-Wide Plan in Support of the GPUT. This contribution is however, limited only to the resources, assets and capacities that the UNCT could make available at the time of preparation of the plan and is limited to the period up to June 2016. Given its enduring stay in Liberia, the upcoming challenges, the high expectations of the public and the possibility for the transfer of some residual responsibilities from UNMIL to the UNCT, it is important that the latter prepares itself far beyond the period of Security Transition.

Accordingly, the UNCT has established a Transition Working Group (TWG) with the objective, among others, of developing a Comprehensive UNCT Transition Plan (CUTP) based on the drawdown and eventual withdrawal of UNMIL, and updating it continuously against developments in the implementation of the GPUT. The experience from previous transitions, however, have shown that additional planning capacity in the UNDP Country Office is needed. The deployment of a Transition Specialist to support the UNDP Country Office and the TWG is critical for achieving the objective.

The purpose

To strengthen the capacity of the UNDP Country Office and the UNCT Transition Working Group in support of an integrated UN transition planning process in light of UNMIL’s drawdown and withdrawal.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Country Director, and in close collaboration and coordination with the Transition and Reform (security) Advisor, UNDP, DPKO/DFS and DPA Headquarters, the incumbent's primary task will be to support enhanced integrated transition planning on the ground through direct support to UNDP’s coordination and thought leadership in this process.

To this end, his/her main duties and responsibilities include:

Providing support to the UNDP Country Office and UNCT integrated transition planning process in light of UNMIL’s transition:

To support and facilitate strategic and pro-active engagement by the Country Office in the transition planning process;
To represent UNDP in the Joint Analytical and Planning Capacity and actively support and engage in the joint UN transition planning process;
To participate in the development of joint UN transition planning frameworks and Strategy documents;
To provide on a regular basis and as needed, briefing notes, position papers, talking points for use by the UNDP Senior Management;
To facilitate and support joint UN lessons learned activities associated with the transition process;
To contribute to knowledge sharing (notably through training) amongst UN staff on issues relating to the transition planning and impact on UN working as One;
To draw upon other UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to provide contributions to the transition planning process;
To facilitate, at the request of the Country Director, consultations with the Government and donors on transition related issues;
In close coordination with other CO programme pillars, ensure appropriate linkages are made to other ongoing initiatives – e.g. the New Deal, post evd Economic Stabilization and Recovery Plan, decentralization, LIFT, the preparation of the national budget, donor strategies;
At the request of the Country Director, represent UNDP in various national and UN meetings, keeping record and ensuring follow-up action as appropriate.

Designing of the UNDP/UNCT Transition Plan:

In collaboration of the Transition and Reform Advisor and other relevant CO programme units, to support the development of the UNDP Transition Plan in the Country Office in coordination with other UNCT members and in alignment with the TWG ToR, UN strategic planning priorities and as outlined in the UNDP Guidance on transitions in UN mission settings;
This will include but not be limited to: i) context analysis; ii) a preliminary organizational analysis; iii) outline of the transition process including: mission/government structures, internal coordination structures, timelines, plans and assessments; iv) the UNDP post transition portfolio, based on needs and risk assessment and comparative advantage analysis; v) suggested offices (re-) configuration (including regional presence); vi) support requirements: admin/logistics/human resources (for transition process and for post transition portfolio); vii) outline of HQ role and requirements (prepared in collaboration with HQ); viii) transition action plan (in the form of a matrix): actions, roles, UNDP structures, benchmarks, and timelines, etc.

The Programme Specialist, Transition Planning will support partnership building and resource mobilization for UNDP in the area of transition planning; specifically, he/she:

Shall identify funding opportunities and endeavour to develop concepts notes and project proposals for resource mobilization in close consultation with Senior Management;
Will advocate for UNDP’s role in transition planning and represent UNDP Liberia with national authorities, UNMIL and UNCT, the donor community, etc.;
Will liaise regularly and forge close linkages with other UN programmes, agencies and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance on transition planning in Liberia;
Will ensure high-quality and timely reporting to donors and other partners involved in transition planning;
Will promote joint programming, especially as part of the GFP arrangement, UN reform, and collaborate effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination;

The Programme Specialist, Transition Planning will ensure Reporting and knowledge management focusing on achieving the following results:

Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned on transition planning for CO/UNCT use as well as for external consumption;
Active participation in UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practitioners on transition planning;
Submit monthly, quarterly as well as consolidated annual reports to the Country office channeling this through the DCD/Programme;
In close liaison with UNDP, DPKO/DFS and DPA HQ prepare and submit quarterly reports as well as a consolidated annual report on the implementation of the UNDP Guidance and the progress of the transition planning process;
Based on the lessons from the implementation of the UNDP guidance propose revisions to the guidance.

Any other tasks as assigned by the Country Director

Impact of Results:

Transition planning is central to the ongoing UNMIL drawdown in which UNDP’s role is very critical to success. This position will be critical in ensuring that UNDP’s role in the transition process remains strategic, is well informed and that its leadership and coordination role of the UNCT Transition Working Group is visible. Any deviation from this would impact negatively on the transition agenda and undermine UNDP leadership role.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong competencies in the area of transition planning in post-conflict contexts;
Professional experiences in most of these areas: justice sector reform, access to justice, gender justice, capacity building, security sector reform and related issues;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices inside and outside UNDP;
Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, RBM and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

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:

Masters level university degree or higher, in development economics, political science, international development and/or management and coordination.

Experience:

Seven years work experience in development, political and/or transitional operations of which four years work experience is in the field, ideally in a post-conflict setting is desirable.

Language:

Strong written and spoken English skills;
Knowledge of additional UN languages is desirable.

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.