Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Travel: 

 a) UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

b) The position is located in Fergana value, threrfore frequent travel within the country is envisaged. 

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP in Uzbekistan is supporting the Government in its ambitious reform agenda. Within the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025, UNDP will center efforts on the reduction of inequalities to contribute by 2030 to a more “just, equal and resilient society” with three strategic priorities: effective governance and justice for all; inclusive human capital development leading to health, well-being and resilient prosperity, and sustainable, climate-responsible and resilient development.

The Fergana Valley includes some of Uzbekistan’s most highly productive agricultural land and at the same time, has a relatively high level of industrial development compared to other parts of Uzbekistan.  It is the most densely populated region with approximately 9.3 million people, comprising 28% of Uzbekistan’s total population. Despite being well endowed development challenges include social (growing labour pool); economic (structural transition to a market led economic model, uneven growth leading to development gaps between districts), political (cross-border disputes emanating from sharing natural resources, trade disruptions, etc.)  and environmental (climate change induced weather variability, water scarcity, limited power generation capacity).

UNDP has been active in the Ferghana Valley for almost two decades, focusing on the design and implementation of area-based development programming. However, these need to be taken to scale in order to address the Valley’s emerging challenges. With over 60% of Uzbekistan (and Fergana Valley’s) population is under 30 years old, meaningful opportunities for them are a prerequisite for long-term peaceful development of the region.

Fergana Valley is reportedly hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent economic downturn, against the backdrop of the key constraints that region is facing, which are lack of productive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for large portions of the economically active population, particularly youth and women, skills mismatch and large share of seasonal migrant workers. UNDP prioritizes the region and is considering in the coming years to further strengthen its engagement in the Fergana Valley.

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Integrated Recovery and Local Development Advisor (Advisor) sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees UNDP programme activities in Fergana Valley, ensuring UNDP plays its integrator role. The incumbent ensures cross-unit cooperation and coordination and acts as senior advisor to CO Management on all related aspects, including green and inclusive local development, social cohesion and resilience building.

S/he works in close collaboration with Government officials, UN Agencies, UNDP Global Policy Network, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to strategically position UNDP in the area of responsibility, building economic resilience through green, inclusive and gender -responsive recovery and to support implementation of UNDP’s Integrated COVID-19 Policy and Programme Response.

The Integrated Recovery and Local Development Advisor leads UNDP’s involvement in the preparation and coordination of the UNCT’s strategy for COVID-19 recovery and support to the host country on integrated and multi-sectoral responses at national and sub-national levels. S/he also manages the national rollout of the recovery pillar of UNDP’s Integrated Policy and Programme Response to the pandemic.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Integrated Recovery and Local Development Advisor (Advisor) sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees UNDP programme activities in Fergana Valley, ensuring UNDP plays its integrator role. The incumbent ensures cross-unit cooperation and coordination and acts as senior advisor to CO Management on all related aspects, including green and inclusive local development, social cohesion and resilience building.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

1. Strategic development of UNDP’s response to the recovery needs in Fergana Valley and integrated local development

2. Development and management of the UNDP country office’s COVID-19 Recovery Programme, ensuring coherence with the corporate COVID-19 Policy and Programme Response Offer, with particular focus on Fergana Valley

3. Leads the development of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for COVID-19 recovery, including mobilizing and supporting existing government efforts and actions.

4. Provision of strategic policy advisory services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge and capacity building on COVID-19 recovery issues

1. Ensures sound strategic direction of UNDP response to the recovery needs in Fergana Valley focusing on the following:

• Thorough integrated analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the immediate COVID-19 response context, with particular focus on Fergana Valley, and provision of strategic advice to CO Management.
• Identify strategic opportunities and entry points for UNDP’s contributions to the country’s COVID-19 recovery programme and advancement of the integrated local development programme in Fergana Valley, in cooperation with UN agencies and other development partners (IFIs, INGOs etc.).
• Ensures alignment and coordination of COVID-19 recovery programme and integrated local development programme in Fergana Valley with other programme activities of the CO as well as those of UN Agencies and capitalizes on synergies where possible.
• Ensures internal communication and coordination of projects in Fergana region, and effective and proactive communication between relevant CO units (both programme and operations units) and projects implemented in the region.
• Monitors the perception of UNDP at the local level and suggest media activities that positions UNDP more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development. Enhances local visibility for UNDP in development effectiveness.
• Ensures that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with Communication Office in the country office.
• Ensures mainstreaming of cross-cutting UNDP priorities in COVID-19 recovery activities, in particular environment, gender, human rights and disaster risk reduction.

2. Ensures effective management of the UNDP portfolio in Fergana Valley CO’s COVID-19 Recovery Programme focusing on quality control programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the COVID-19 Recovery Programme and portfolio of interventions in Fergana Valley, using national systems for tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Effective application of RBM tools, and monitoring achievement of results.
• Design and formulation of COVID-19 Recovery Programme, translating UNDP’s global COVID-19 policy and programme response offer into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies.
• Effective monitoring and evaluation, continuous analysis of the programme environment and timely readjustment of programmes.
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Donor reports are prepared and submitted within deadlines.

3. Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for the COVID-19 Recovery Programme, with specific focus on the integrated local development in Fergana Valley, under the oversight of the Resident Representative focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development and implementation of partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve COVID-19 Recovery Programme outcomes.
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society, women’s civil society groups and national women’s machineries, etc.
• Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, the country’s recovery needs and donors’ priorities.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.
• Maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and local agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart.

4. Ensures provision of top quality and strategic advisory services, capacity building and facilitation of knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.
• Provision of top quality policy and strategic advice to Government on development and implementation of COVID-19 recovery policies and strategies.
• Identification, sharing and application of international best practices and lessons on COVID-19 recovery related issues relevant to the country’s recovery needs and goals.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Capacity building for country office staff (programme and operations)The key results have an impact on the overall success of UNDP’s COVID-19 recovery effort in support of national response to the pandemic and reputation of UNDP in the country.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit
• Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

• 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 good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience