Antecedentes

Purpose:

The purpose of this TOR is to recruit a qualified candidate with experience and knowledge necessary to manage the Joint UN Programme consisting of two Joint UN Projects "Strengthening Capacity for Inclusive Local Development in South Serbia" and "Promotion of Peace Building in South Serbia", implemented in cooperation with the central Government, Ombudsperson office and thirteen municipalities of the Pcinjski and Jablanicki districts in South Serbia.
                          
Background Information:
 
The Joint Programme (JP) will have four key outcomes:
 
Outcome 1 - Community Cohesion and Human Capital: Communities in South Serbia are stronger, more integrated, and better able to reduce inter-ethnic tensions and conflict risk
Outcome 2 - Public Services: More equitable and improved access to public services and welfare benefits (including basic registration documentation, health and education)
Outcome 3 - Economic Development: Increased overall economic prosperity of the region, and reduced discrepancies in wealth and employment between ethnic groups, and with other parts of the country
Outcome 4 – Migration Management: Migrants from the region fully participate in the social and economic life of the region and thereby contribute to the development of their wider communities and Serbia’s EU integration aspirations
 
JP outcomes will be achieved through cooperation between the participating UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, ILO, IOM and UN-HABITAT) and national partners, namely the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Economy & Regional Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The National Employment Service, Commissariat for Refugees and IDPs, The Coordination Body for South Serbia, The Ombudsperson, Regional Center for Development of Pcinjski and Jablanicki districts, The Cities of Leskovac and Vranje and municipalities of Bojnik, Lebane, Vlasotince, Crna Trava, Medvedja, Vladicin Han, Surdulica, Bosilegrad, Trgoviste, Bujanovac and Presevo.
 
Level of responsibility/accountability:

• Oversight of execution and implementation of tasks and activities under the sister programs with a total budget of approximately $8 million;
• Recruitment, selection, management and oversight of all programme staff which will be mobilized under the participating agency components of the two sister programs;
• Deliver tangible and objective results that advance the overall goals of the two projects;
• Ensure that all monitoring, evaluation and reporting satisfy the terms and conditions defined by the donor agencies, and accurately and fairly document the results that are delivered;
• Engage with senior national and local government officials, non-governmental and private sector representatives in advancing the goals for the programs;
• Identify opportunities to enhance the delivery of tangible results;
• Manage the programme budget and resources subject to delegated authorities, and in a manner consistent with internal controls framework and other relevant policies, rules, or regulations.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Functions/Key Results Expected
 
To ensure integrated approach and facilitate synergies among different programme pillars the Programme Manager will discharge the following functions in close cooperation with colleagues from participating UN agencies, under the overall guidance and supervision of the direct UNDP Supervisor and the Programme Management Committee which includes representatives from all participating UN Agencies, and which is chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator.   
 
Summary of Key Functions:

• Managarial, operations overall management and administration of the programme;
• Managerial, programme strategy implemented,  and modified if and as needed in close consultation with the PMC and Supervisory Committee Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization;
• Reporting;
• Representation;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Function: managerial, operations overall management and administration of the programme:

• Establish the Programme Management Unit (PMU);
• Day-to-day Management and direction of staff mobilized under  participating UN Agencies and Partners project elements in establishing operational Work Plans and Budgets;
• Ensure that open and transparent procedures, in line with relevant Rules and Regulations, are applied by all programme staff in (i) recruitment of the local programme personnel; (ii) disbursement of payments (iii) the tendering, the evaluation of tender bids and the awarding of the contracts; (iv) the monitoring of sub-project implementation, and (e) the certification of outputs;
• Approve, up to the level delegated to him/her under Atlas, expenditures and ensure their conformity with the work plans;
• Regularly review ATLAS project expenditure reports and ensures that expenditures are legitimate and accurate;
• Ensure that local and international procurements are in line with relevant rules and procedures.

Expected Results:

• Fully functional Programme Management Unit with staff recruited and mobilized in Bujanovac by March 2010;
• Administrative, financial and procurement procedures applied are transparent and in line with standards;
• JP budget delivery is in line with AWP and relevant administrative procedures.

Function: managerial, programme strategy implemented,  and modified if and as needed in close consultation with the PMC and Supervisory Committee:

• Lead key start-up and preparatory activities such as: (a) engage partners at local level (b) conduct series of workshops and consultative meetings to detail priority areas and activities for concrete action;
• Plan and oversee the management of programme execution, ensuring transparent and consultative processes of planning and implementation, and timely preparation and delivery of programme work plans;
• Coordinate and guide programme development, to ensure that successful project initiatives are scaled-up and integrated into other national and donor-assisted programmes;
• Ensure the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation plan, in a participatory manner;
• Ensure that corrective actions are taken as a results of M&E findings

Expected Results:

• Joint Programme results achieved according to the Project documents and AWP;
• Direction and guidance to programme team provided in a clear and effective manner;
• Contribution to MDGs achievement at local level;
• Best practice set in the area of local development and local governance;
• Strategy formulated for up-scaling successful initiatives piloted under JP;
• An effective and sustainable mechanism of collaboration in place among municipalities in South Serbia.

Function: reporting:

• Prepare and submitt to Programme Management Committee Programme reports, work plans and other relevant documents on time and with required quality, using Project and Financial Management software (ATLAS) for the UNDP component of the programme;
• Support/backstop the UN Resident coordinator in preparing and chairing bi-annual Programme Management Committee meetings;
• Provide bi-annual and as needed JP briefings to the National Steering Committee and Programme Management Committee

Expected Results:

• Reports developed and submitted on time in line with quality standards and PMC requirements;
• Standard UN transparency and accountability in programme implementation sustained;
• Decision making and JP strategic considerations supported.

Function representation:

• Establish and maintain partnerships at national and local level to ensure effective programme implementation;
• Maintain regular dialogue with the business community, local self-government, civil society organizations, beneficiares and other relevant stakeholders;
• Liaise with the relevant Ministries, UN agencies and programme stakeholders in order to ensure synergies and effective collaboration;
• Promote programme activities and achievements in the public, taking into account specific requirements related to visibility;
• Represent Joint Programme in relevant meetings, seminars, trainings and conferences.

Expected Results:

• Regular dialogue with relevant Ministries, other stakeholders and beneficiaries maintained;
• Programme activities and achievements presented in the public in line with a common communication strategy agreed on by participating UN agencies.

Function knowledge management:

• Ensure knowledge codification;
• Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing among all participating agencies and other relevant stakeholders;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learnt.

Expected Results:

• Programme activities, achievements, practice disseminated and shared through UN and other communities of practice.

Impact of Results:

• Communities in South Serbia are stronger, more integrated, and better able to reduce inter-ethnic tensions and conflict risk;
• More equitable and improved access to public services and welfare benefits (including basic registration documentation, health and education);
• Economic Development: Increased overall economic prosperity of the region, and reduced discrepancies in wealth and employment between ethnic groups, and with other parts of the country;
• Migrants from the region fully participate in the social and economic life of the region and thereby contribute to the development of their wider communities and Serbia’s EU integration aspirations.

Competencias

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;
• Certified in Prince2 Project Management Approach.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Masters degree in Social Sciences, Economy, Development Studies, Rural Development.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of international or regional development experience managing projects on inclusive local or regional development, conflict prevention and recovery, or a related field;
• Prior experience managing teams of between 10-20 staff, and budgets of comparable or larger size. Experience in partnership building at national, regional and local level;
• Prior experience in the UN system is preferred but is not required.

Knowledge:

• Excellent understanding of Serbia's socio-economic situation with special emphasis on complex relations in South Serbia;
• Understanding of current policies and legislation on inclusive regional and local development;
• Knowledge of public administration, principles and precepts, rules and procedures;
• Knowledge of EU policies on local/regional development, familiarity with the EU accession process (especially the need for harmonization of legislation with the "acquis" relevant for local development and decentralized service delivery).

Personal Qualifications:

• Ability to organize and motivate team, deliver when working under pressure and within changing circumstances;
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and team building skills; demonstrated leadership ability;
• Proven record of excellent communication and negotiation skills;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Advanced research and writing skills, ability to communicate complex ideas verbally and in writing.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, basic to good knowledge of Serbian will be an asset.

Important information to applicants

• The short-listed candidates would be contacted on the 3rd December 2009 with request to confirm availability for the interview and to provide contacts for references.
• The interviews would be held on Tuesday, 8th December 2009, afternoon hours CET.
• It is envisaged that the project team including this position will be located in Bujanovac, South Serbia. The process of opening the office in Bujanovac is on-going and is expected to be finalized in January 2010."