Historique

The deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Syria has forced thousands of Syrians to flee and seek refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan. This large influx of population is placing a considerable burden on local Jordanian host communities that are already poor and their basic social and economic services. Crowding effects in the local market, in particular with regards to housing and labour, are widely reported in the Northern governorates. The present crisis comes at difficult time for Jordan. Despite many efforts to engage in economic stabilization and liberalization, the country faces real economic and social challenges. In view of the above, it is important that direct support be provided to vulnerable Jordanians in host communities of the Northern governorates of Irbid, and Mafraq to mitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis on them. In addition, it is essential that the assistance provided in the current context complements, governmental development efforts, as highlighted in the Jordan Vision 2015 – 2025, the Jordan Response Plan and related policies and strategies. UNDP has a programme to support social stability in Jordan and mitigating the impact of the Syrian refugees, focusing on several pillars, including local governance strengthening social cohesion and community security.

Under the overall supervision of the Country Director, and the daily monitoring of the Socio-Economic Portfolio Manager, the incumbent will provide oversight, quality assurance and technical support to the implementation of the local governance and social cohesion projects within the overall programme.

The Expert will be based in the UNDP Country Office in Amman but with frequent field visits to the target areas.

Devoirs et responsabilités

• The local governance and social cohesion Expert will be responsible for the design, development and implementation of municipal recovery and services delivery initiatives geared towards enhanced local governance, community stability and social cohesion.  He/she will adopt a conflict sensitive approach in designing and implementing such initiatives, and strengthen local mechanisms for conflict management and dispute resolution. Additionally, the development of these initiatives will comprise strategic planning, resource mobilization and provision of technical advice to targeted stakeholders.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensuring strategic direction of project operations and implementation in relevant areas;
• Provision of policy advice to stakeholders;
• Design of interventions, with integration of conflict sensitivity and ‘Do-no harm’ principles in the development and implementation of all project activities;
• Building  of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization;
• Day-to day management of the local governance and social cohesion pillars of the programme;
• Financial and Human resources management;
• Knowledge building and substantive project management.

General Responsibilities:

• The Local Governance and Social Cohesion Expert is required to design, plan and implement local governance, social cohesion and community security initiatives leading to social stability in the target areas. The Expert will also be responsible for provision of policy advice and technical expertise related to planning and formulation of new initiatives, selection of sub-projects, monitoring and communications functions.  In addition the Expert will be fully responsible and accountable for the day to day management and delivery of the Project’s components. He/she will also be responsible for building partnerships and mobilizing resources for the initiatives;
• The Expert shall be responsible for the following projects;
• Local Development and Municipalities support;
• Integrated Social Cohesion;
• Community Security and Access to Justice.

Project Implementation:

• Be responsible for the overall management and implementation of the different project components in the target areas and ensure a conflict sensitive approach;
• Ensure that all project recruitment and contracting is done in accordance with the standing criteria and procedures as worked out for the project and be directly responsible for their recruitment, contracting and management of national staff as well as contractors involved in the implementation of the project;
• Identifying relevant ‘entry points’ for conflict prevention ,social cohesion and community security in the target areas and develop appropriate strategic responses to best assist national and local actors and initiatives;
• Assist in the development and strengthening of national and local institutions and processes for conflict management in the target areas to sustain stability;
• Enhance the capacity of local management structures within the target areas and  improve/establish communication and coordination mechanisms and procedures amongst the various stakeholders;
• Coordinate and cooperate with on-going initiatives of other sections of the UNDP programme in Jordan;
• Assess the impact of the Syrian crisis on potential of increased tension, service delivery,  employment, income, assets of affected population/enterprises;
• Coordinate with existing program activities and capitalize on other ongoing similar interventions in the same sectors by other implementing agencies/partners;
• Provide substantive leadership during the implementation of the project through advocacy, and technical expertise in communicating, planning and implementation of community based initiatives;
• Prepare reports, work plans  and regular donor progress and impact reports for the project;
• Ensure the achievement of outputs in line with the approved work plan through the day-to-day planning, management coordination and implementation of activities;
• Ensure transparent selection and targeting mechanisms interventions and vulnerable and poor groups, including women, female headed households, unemployed youth, refugees, depending on the specific conditions;
• Undertake monitoring visits to project sites and report on project progress and constraints;
• Design a results framework that comprises conflict sensitive a) economic recovery and employment creation; b) the implementation of community driven projects; c) strengthening the capacity of implementing partners; d) design an effective management structure for the projects;
• Develop an adequate monitoring and evaluation plan that allows periodic monitoring of the projects’ results, performance, achievements, risks and challenges;
• Manage and monitor identified project risks and update the status of these risks;
• Keep senior/programme management abreast of emerging project issues;
• Carry out any other relevant duties as requested by the programme management or senior management.                                                                        

Financial Management:

• Ensure proper budget management of the project and assumes the function of requesting unit for project related payments while ensuring accountability of the use of project funds;
• Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP and monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
• Provide leadership in overseeing of effective provision of services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management;
• Liaise with the project team on financial management of the project activities, including monitoring project financial expenditures and transactions;
• Ensure  the integrity of financial system and, overseeing the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the project activities;
• Ensure strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations;
• Suggest secure, transparent and reliable payment modalities, based on past experiences and appropriate monitoring and evaluation;
• The Expert supports knowledge building and substantive project management focusing on achievement of the following results.

Substantive Management:

• Provide advice to project partners and  local administration on service delivery, economic recovery ,social cohesion and community security;
• Ensure technical and local coordination with partners, stakeholders, and other agencies;
• Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the project for organizational sharing and learning;
• Ensures integration of cross cutting themes such as human rights, gender, capacity development, and peace building into livelihoods interventions and services delivery towards long term stability;
• Work with the national and local authorities as well as NGOs where feasible to develop their capacity and support national ownership of the recovery process;
• Support community empowerment and participation in the process;
• Support the formulation of conflict-sensitive Area-Based Development Plans anchored on economic recovery, services delivery while ensuring cohesion with the general recovery initiatives.

 Partnership Building and resource mobilization:

• Foster partnership building with other UN agencies, Donors, government institutions and CSOs;
• Support resource mobilization through designing resources mobilization strategy/plan including development of promotion material for the project;
• Analyse alternative sources of funding.

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

 Functional Competencies:

Management and Leadership:

• Strong analytical and management skills applied to managing and reviewing programmes/projects, including human and financial resources;
• Knowledge of current development policies and activities;
• Demonstrates team-building capacity including interpersonal and communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Deals diplomatically with challenging bureaucratic processes, and pressure to meet strict deadlines;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively;
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
• Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives;
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Ability to facilitate consensus-building, multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, mediation, negotiation, dispute resolution, preferably in crisis situations.

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.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• An advanced university degree Master's in law/international law, social sciences, development, political sciences, management or other relevant science.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in programme/project development and management in the areas of local governance, access to justice and social cohesion, of which 5 years of experience in conflict/post-conflict environments, and in the area of municipal strengthening, social cohesion, legal aid and access to justice;
• Experience in the Arab region;
• Proven professional Arabic speaking and writing in the area of local governance and social cohesion;
• Experience with conflict sensitive development programming;
• Specific experience involving the facilitation of community level multi-stakeholder processes, preferably in crisis situations or post-conflict contexts;
• Experience and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures and experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral banks or bi-lateral aid organizations an asset;
• UNDP SURGE Advisers are preferred;
• Proven record in in project design, execution and resource mobilization will be considered as an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken working English;
• Fluency in written and spoken working Arabic.