Antecedentes

Myanmar is going through a phase of rapid and unprecedented change. Since the introduction of a new Constitution in 2008, the transition from military to civilian rule has accelerated. There have been an ongoing sequence of rapid and far-reaching reforms that have unleashed tremendous changes in the political and economic landscape.

The first stage of the reform process comprised political reforms that are still on-going and have led to significant changes in the country, and to a rapid scaling up of development assistance. In May 2012, the Government under the lead of the President launched the second stage of reforms aimed at improving the social and economic wellbeing of the people. The economic reforms are centred on poverty reduction and inclusive growth and are guided by the Government’s aim to reduce poverty from 26% to 16% by 2015. In December 2012, the President announced the need for attention to the third wave of reforms that are required to improve the performance of the public administration and its civil service, and clarify the division of powers between the Union and the State and Regional Governments. Finally, the fourth wave of reforms aims for inclusive development of the private sector.

In April 2013 the Government of Myanmar and UNDP signed the UNDP Myanmar Country Action Plan (CPAP), now extended to 2017. This CPAP presents a change in the way that UNDP previously worked in Myanmar from a restricted mandate with focus on human development at the community level to a new programme with three programmatic pillars covering (i) Local Governance; (ii) Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction and (iii) Democratic Governance.

Under the UNDP country program the Local Governance/Local Development Program (Pillar 1) aims to strengthen democratic institutions at the sub national level through the provision of an integrated package of development assistance for improvements of local governance and local development in rural areas of Myanmar with high poverty incidence and post conflict settings.

Under the Local Governance/Local Development Programme (Pillar 1), four specific outputs are being pursued:

• Output 01 - Strengthened institutional capacity for local governments and township administrations for area-related development planning, responsive and effective public service delivery, organizational management and conflict prevention;
• Output 02 – Civil society organizations and networks strengthened for participation in local governance through building skills and knowledge for democratic process and dialogue, and enhancing access to information, with emphasis on addressing gender gaps and rural-urban gaps (combined civil society and media support);
• Output 04 - Strengthened capacity of institutions required to support livelihoods at the local level (microfinance, vocational training, technical extension centers); and
• Output 05 – Livelihood support for social cohesion and peacebuilding.

Each of the outputs has a team led by a Program Specialist based in Yangon. Furthermore, implementation of the program throughout the country is facilitated by six area offices with selected local specialized staff and international UNVs supporting implementation.

Output 2 (combined civil society and media support) is designed primarily to stimulate the participation of citizens in the local governance and local development processes through the involvement of organized groups such as Civil Society Organizations, NGOs and other non-government actors. Empowerment of civil society groups and enabling them to pro-actively pursue their issues with the appropriate authorities at the sub-national level is the overall objective. An added dimension to this output is the analysis of obstacles to and improvement of access to information by all sections of the community. As such, media development and capacity building of stakeholders will be simultaneously pursued, with the intention of drawing linkages between open and transparent access to information and meaningful participation of civil society for improved development outcomes.

Output 2 complements the overall pillar program by strengthening the capacities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media actors through engagement in partnerships to help contribute to the effectiveness of local development interventions and to an overall strengthening of social accountability. To date Output 2 has facilitated the formation of representative CSO and media network associations in 5 states/regions. In addition, the program has provided leadership and organizational training and initiated small grants for women-led Federations of Self-Reliant Groups across 31 townships. New initiatives aim to strengthen engagement capacities of civil society to contribute to local development planning and decision making processes; establish a forum for community/CSOs to enhance civic education and awareness, facilitate better access to relevant information that supports their interaction with government partners for public discussion and decision making processes through piloting of township community dialogue and information platform and community media; contribute further to women’s empowerment and gender parity through a national network of rural women; and contribute more increasingly to peace building efforts at local levels by supporting CSOs and ethnic media groups to enhance their knowledge and skills for engagement with state and non-state actors on community peace concerns. Overall the program in its initial phase aims to develop models of engagement and support that can be scaled up and replicated in other locations.

The Civil Society and Media specialist leads the implementation of output 2 and the related activities, working closely with the relevant staff at both the Country Office and office at the field level. Accountable to and under the day to day supervision of the UNDP Team Leader of Pillar 1, the program specialist will be responsible for implementing and shaping the programmatic direction of output 2 as generally described above and as detailed in the respective Annual Work plans. The program specialist will also coordinate and work together with national and international consultants who may be hired to expedite certain deliverables under the Annual Work plans.

This is a Development Project funded position.

Deberes y responsabilidades

The key result expected from the Program specialist is the successful implementation and accomplishment of the targets of the program activities under pillar 01/ output 2. In this context the successful candidate will – amongst others - perform the following tasks / activities:

• Program management and implementation;
• Knowledge Management;
• Results monitoring and reporting; and
• Advocacy, Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization.

Program management and implementation:

• Take the lead in the technical design and implementation of the program activities under the output 02, by building on ongoing activities and identified entry points, with the view to further develop and fine-tune the UNDP program approach regarding institutional support to civil society and media to engage in local development and monitoring of service delivery under output 02;
• Lead the preparation and implementation of technically sound and responsive annual work plans and respective implementation plans, and set up effective management mechanism to deliver results;
• Provide leadership and management guidance to the program team under output 02, identify opportunities and areas for technical inputs, manage and oversee the work of consultants and other experts for delivering results of output 02;
• Provide technical assistance and programmatic guidance to support the increased involvement of CSOs and Non State Actors in the design and implementation of state level and township level planning processes, and lead the output team in strategic and sustainable capacity development of CSOs/NGOs in selected states/townships in this regard;
• Coordinate and support updates to CSO mapping and analysis in States/Regions of Myanmar targeted by UNDP, support CSO and government coordination activities, and organize, as required, CSO networking and coordination events in selected states and regions;
• Facilitate policy analysis, capacity assessments and program design in the area of civil society and media support through the UNDP capacity development activities. Continuously improves UNDP’s capacity development approach in the context of local development, local governance and participation of CSOs/NGOs in Myanmar, assesses lessons learned and contribute to knowledge management and policy input through UNDP capacity development groups and other channels;
• Work in close coordination with, and create synergies regarding results and work processes of the capacity development support for Township and State Authorities of the pillar program (specifically Output 1) to ensure integration of civil society and media related activities with township development and governance activities;
• Designs and manages capacity building programs on improving access to information and information exchange between Civil Society and Government Representatives at the Township Level specifically through participatory design and implementation of Township Community Learning/Dialogue Centers in selected locations;
• Take the lead in identifying and assessing opportunities for program intervention to enhance access to information, strengthening of local media and information channels, including community broadcast and conflict sensitive reporting;
• Oversees implementation of activities on civil society and media activities for peacebuilding in the South East including a joint project with UNESCO funded by the Peace Building Fund to support ethnic media and community broadcasting in Mon and Kayin States and other joint activities as applicable;
• Assess capacity building needs and design and deliver capacity building support to UNDP Civil Society Associates based in the respective Area offices;
• Ensures close collaboration and creation of synergies between program components within the pillar program as well across pillars of the UNDP program, in particular regarding Pillar 3 (democratic governance);
• Support the Team Leader of Pillar 1 to achieve the overall and cross-output results of Pillar 1, as required;
• Manage the inputs of national and international consultants by planning of missions and development of corresponding TORs for provision of high quality inputs in technical areas;
• Provide technical and strategic advice to UNDP (Pillar 1 Team Leader, UNDP Country Director, and UNDP Resident Representative) as appropriate;
• Coordinate with similar activities carried by development actors and support/ engage with the government’s development coordination mechanisms and other coordination mechanism in the area of Civil Society support, Media and Access to Information.

Knowledge Management:

• Introduce innovation and best practices to enhance program performance under the pillar 1 of the country program;
• Collaborate with UNDP Bureau of Development Policy and with UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre and other internal and external development partners to identify and share best program practices in the area of civil society strengthening and local governance;
• Contribute to the analytical work of UNDP and ensure high quality knowledge products;
• Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof with other pillars;
• Identify, synthesize and publish best practices and lessons directly linked to country program goals in the subject area. Contribute to preparation and provides contributions to UNDP Myanmar policy briefs in the substance area;
• Contribute to the process of knowledge creation and dissemination related to national and international know-how in the subject area. In this context, partner with other practitioners and UNDP global and regional networks;
• Ensures continuous and mutually reinforcing knowledge sharing with other pillars, especially on democratic governance and policy support (pillar 03) with a view of feeding local development and governance experience into support to national policy development;
• Organize formal and informal internal and external networks or communities of practice involving experts in government, academia, think tanks, private companies, NGOs, development partners and the UN system.

Results monitoring and reporting:

• Continuously monitor and set up effective reporting systems to report on program implementation and results achieved against Annual Work Plans and indicator framework;
• Report regularly to the Pillar 1 Team Leader through formal and informal channels;
• Engage, liaise and report on a regular basis to the agreed program governance mechanism, including output board, pillar board and program steering committee, ensure alignment of the program with national priorities and contribute to strengthening of  Government ownership, as guided by the Team leader and UNDP senior management;
• Report, on a quarterly basis or as requested, to UNDP country office on milestones, indicators and results achieved, highlighting results and achievements as well as risks and issues and propose concrete response and follow-up actions.

Partnership Development, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization:

• Represent UNDP in national and sub-national multi-stakeholder forums and other key meetings and events, as designated to speak on program issues in the area of civil society support, media and access to information, participate in policy dialogue, discuss policy initiatives, report on progress achieved and/or present policy papers/ideas to influence setting of agenda in the respective area and promote UNDPs competencies and mandate;
• Maintain active relationships and partnerships with the Government, CSOs/NGOs, UN system and agency partners, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations, academia, media, and the private sector on national priorities in the area of local governance and local development to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization, sharing of ideas and to influence agenda and priority setting;
• Advocates for UNDP with government counterparts at all levels; develops critical relationships, networks and builds and effective partnerships with government and with development partners in the subject area;
• Ensures full and timely reporting of development results with a focus on sustainability and on value for money; develops and pursues effective communication for development results and public outreach;
• Develop and provide the Government of Myanmar with evidence-based policy recommendations on how to foster access to information, civil society engagement and participatory local development;
• Develop strategies to secure new partnerships and mobilize additional resources based on program requirements and emerging opportunities.

Impact of Results

Results of the work will have a significant impact on:

• Ensuring outputs results are directed at achieving and contributing to the program results;
• Improving capacities, knowledge and skills, as well as learning on local governance and local development in target countries and internationally.

The key results will have an impact on the overall success of the country program and reaching UNDP CPAP/CPD and project document goals of Pillar 1. In particular the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming support to township development, the availability of better baselines and tools for performance management, civil society and media capacity building, and related activities such as strengthening of democratic processes and institutions (particularly in the area of institutionalized participation of citizens, accountability and representation), effective partnership building with sub national and national governments and contribution to policy formation and ongoing reform processes.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly and without favoritism; and
• Shows strong corporate commitment.

Functional Competencies

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning and facilitate crucial decision making at the highest levels of government;
• Ability to lead the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategic policies and sound development program;
• Ability to generate creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Strong technical and practical leadership and knowledge in issues related to aid management, coordination and effectiveness;
• Familiarity with UN system and role of key stakeholders in the area of national development plans, local-level planning, aid management, coordination and effectiveness

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment through leadership and personal example;
• Experience in capacity development and facilitating positive transformational change;
• Experience in providing technical assistance and substantive inputs in the area of local governance;
• Ability to promote UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization Experience in capacity development and facilitating positive transformational change;

Management and Leadership:

• Ability to build strong relationships with clients, to focus on impact and to responds positively to constructive feedback;
• Personal attributes to consistently approaching work with energy and a positive constructive attitude;
• Good oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Excellent computer skills, and applications for report and project planning;
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver projects within assigned deadlines;
• Openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and objectivity.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Master’s degree or higher in social sciences, media, development studies, management or other relevant fields.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years progressively responsible and relevant professional working experience at senior level in the area of civil society and media support;
• Proven multiyear track record in program design, provision of technical assistance, as well as hands on capacity building of civil society actors and/or media actors at both national and local levels;
• Proven multiyear track record in management of CSO support programs, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency, with sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle management (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation);
• Proven track record in partnership building, policy development and advocacy;
• Prior experience of development work in Myanmar,  as well as in South-East Asia and countries in transition would be an asset;
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills; ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and social knowledge networks.

Language:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of local language(s) would be an asset.

Note:

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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.