Historique

Established in 2004 to raise the contour of capacity development on the international policy agenda, the Learning Network on Capacity Development (LenCD) is an informal network aimed at supporting the emerging global community of practice around capacity development, by promoting exchange of knowledge, experience and approaches among practitioners. The LenCD strategy is conceived around the following areas: (i) practice: promoting concrete practice change on the ground; (ii) evidence: distilling and disseminating lessons; and (iii) policy: bringing relevant knowledge back to inform policy decisions on capacity development. The network is governed by a multi-partner steering group, and is supported by a UNDP project, which functions as the network’s secretariat, providing coordination and knowledge management support.
 
Since its inception, LenCD has been connecting the capacity development community, facilitating learning and dialogue around capacity development, and informing policies and practice on the ground. In 2011, LenCD’s initiatives were, for the most part, oriented towards preparing for the 4th High Level Forum in Busan, where LenCD has played a critical role positioning capacity development higher on the international development agenda, by organizing a thematic dialogue on capacity development and rallying support behind the Building Block on Effective Institutions.
 
In collaboration with its partners, in 2012 and beyond, LenCD will contribute to bring forward the commitments made in Busan by the international community, including in the areas identified in the New Consensus on Effective Institutions. LenCD will continue promoting capacity development in international policy fora, deepen the learning and knowledge on CD, nurture a dynamic community of practitioners around critical themes, and expand the body of knowledge and learning for supporting effective institutions.
 
While continuing to draw from the initiatives and energies of its partners, to pursue these initiatives, LenCD will rely on the coordinator, who will work in close collaboration with the UNDP LenCD project manager and the LenCD knowledge manager.
Objective of the assignment
Under the guidance of the LenCD steering group, and with the administrative support of the LenCD project manager, the LenCD coordinator will be responsible for moving the LenCD agenda forward in a multi-partner network and to facilitate the implementation of the work streams agreed by the steering group, as reflected in the LenCD work plan. The LenCD coordinator will be working closely with the LenCD knowledge manager as well as with network partners in implementing jointly agreed initiatives.

Devoirs et responsabilités

1.       Act as primary contact and facilitator for LenCD
  • Develop and implement a communication strategy for LenCD;
  • Promote and facilitate Steering Group decision making and follow up on its strategic advice;
  • Provide strategic guidance to the LenCD steering group on further development of the network;
  • Pursue resource mobilization and identify opportunities with partners;
  • Represent LenCD in meetings and events (as agreed with the LenCD co-chairs);
  • Keep partners continuously informed and engaged in LenCD initiatives, through regular communications;
  • Coordinate with the LenCD project manager on the management of the LenCD project and for the realization of LenCD objectives/outputs;

Deliverables : Communication strategy developed and implemented;Options and strategy notes to facilitate collective decision making; Reports on events attended on behalf of LenCD and commentaries/analyses posted on the LenCD portal; Regular reports on LenCD achievements, challenges and lessons learnt.

                               
2.       Take the lead in bringing forward LenCD regional agendas
  • Identify and pursue new opportunities for strategic collaborations with in Latin America, Asia and Africa, including ACBF, the PSCBS, NEPAD, IBON, Acción Social and others;
  • Identify and pursue new opportunities for strategic support to the Africa Platform on Development Effectiveness - APDev, the African Community of Practice - afcop, and other African platforms;
  • Explore with the Asian partners opportunities for further harnessing the potentials of regional networks including the Capacity Development for Development Effectiveness (CDDE) Platform.
Deliverables : Support provided to regional platforms in the areas of knowledge management, including: products/services and technology, information and knowledge sharing on CD; and others; At least one learning event organised in each of the regions (conditional to availability of funds).
 
3.       Lead phase II of the LenCD-Train4Dev Learning Package on Capacity Development:
  • Provide guidance for the development of a tutored e-learning course (distance learning course), to be delivered by accredited learning organizations;
  • Maintain continuous communications with the Train4Dev-LenCD guidance group;
  • Support the establishment of a scholarship fund to support the participation of Southerner practitioners;
  • Provide guidance for the translation of the learning package (phase I) into French and Spanish;
  • Assess results from the piloting of the CD learning package pilots and guide the adaptation of the facilitator’s guide;
  • Promote the application of the CD learning package in country/regional learning events or joint learning journeys.
Deliverables : The Train4Dev LenCD CD e-learning course developed and launched; The CD Learning Package – phase I – translated into French and Spanish; The CD Facilitator’s Guide adapted, on the basis of feedback received from pilots; The scholarship fund established and operational.
 
4.       Lead the Capacity Development and Results Agenda
Building on LenCD’s recent work in this area, the coordinator will work with the knowledge manager to:
  • Expand the evidence base on CD and results;
  • Support knowledge sharing, by capturing and facilitating the exchange of experiences from countries;
  • Support interested Southern partners in leading a Southern-centered dialogue on results frameworks that accommodate CD;
  • Identify opportunities to bring forward the CD and results agenda in partnership with the MfDR community of practice and other relevant communities.
Deliverables : New body of evidence on CD and results collected, analysed and made available on LenCD.org; knowledge sharing/learning events on CD and results organised.
 
5. Develop and implement the “Making Reform Happen” work stream, in support of the Building Block on Effective Institutions 
  • Maintain close relations and communications with the partners supporting the building block on effective institutions;
  • Collect knowledge and experiences on what drives institutional capacity;
  • Develop and sustain “topic guides” to help CD practitioners understand what policies and approaches are being pursued by various agencies; 
  • Open ‘windows’ to country-level, regional and global activities of the building block, where CD practitioners can review lessons, understand what works and what doesn’t, contact colleagues and experts involved in work on the ground, etc...;
  • Support learning and exchanges around indicators relevant to the effective institutions agenda;
  • Promote and facilitate on-line discussions and dialogue amongst members of the community of CD practitioners;
  • Support the organization of one or two regional events to take stock of country-level lessons on progress towards effective institutions;
  • Extension of the current case story library and work towards analysis of the cases and extracting lessons.
Deliverables :
A community of practice around “making reform happen”, including but not limited to:
  • New “topic guides” developed and made available to partners; 
  • ‘Windows’ to country-level, regional and global activities, where CD practitioners can review lessons, understand what   works and what doesn’t, contact colleagues and experts involved in work on the ground, opened;
  • Indicators relevant to the effective institutions agenda identified;
  • On-line discussions amongst members of the community of CD practitioners promoted and sustained;
  • One to two regional events organised, to take stock of country-level lessons on progress towards effective institutions (contingent upon availability of funds).
 
6. Support the Knowledge Management Function
  • Provide guidance and support to the knowledge manager in taking forward the LenCD knowledge management agenda, including: the case stories, the  research and policy library, the mailing list, the topic pages, the content-sharing with partners, the calendar, and other knowledge management initiatives;
  • Work with the knowledge manager to improve coordination and content-sharing among the principal online hubs sharing CD content, including APDev, afcop, CDDE, MfDR, Capacity.Org, Cap4Dev, Train4Dev, and others.

Compétences

Corporate:
  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’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/Technical Competencies:
  • Strong understanding of capacity development concepts and current global discourse;
  • Familiarity with current actors in capacity development;
  • Ability to communicate with different stakeholders;
  • Track record of proven work with international agencies on capacity development
  • Record of work and familiarity with multilateral and bilateral organizations, Informal Networks and Southern organisations on issues of capacity development;
  • Strong networks among and familiarity with international capacity development bodies.

Qualifications et expériences requises

  • Masters degree in development studies, development economics or other related social science fields
  • At least 15 years in international development, preferably working on capacity development, public administration reforms, change management and other related areas.
  • Fluency and proficiency in English; working knowledge of French is desirable.