UNDP Jobs - 13486- Project Coordination Specialist

Project Coordination Specialist

Location :

Tegucicalpa, HONDURAS

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

04-Jan-2010

Application Deadline :

30-Nov-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 Year

Languages Required :

English Spanish

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 Year (December 2010)

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The position will support the implementation of UNDP Honduras Security, Justice and Social Cohesion Sub –Program. In doing so the post holder will contribute to achieve the programme objectives which are:

To Improve the quality of the information as basis for public policy making on issues of violence and public security, with a human rights approach;
To support development of violence prevention plans developed and contribute to strengthen national and local capacities for early attention to the problem;
To empowered local governments to design and implement violence prevention plans and local security policies, with emphasis on youth, gender, domestic and community violence.
Additionally the post holder will support UNDP in developing strategic and programmatic synergies between different projects of UNDP and UN System, where UNDP works in three core issues - democratic governance, poverty reduction and risk management of natural disasters. Integrating a gender perspective (focus on sections 3 and 8 of the eight-point agenda of UNDP in Honduras) The links and synergies are not limited to Honduras and include work with other initiatives in latinamerica
The post holder will be responsible for the design and implementation of projects related to violence prevention and will support technical advice to other related projects in the programme. Interventions scheduled for 2010 have an approximated budget of US$ 800,000. This budget could increase giving the current political context in Honduras and donors interest in supporting work on prevention of violence, and human rights promotion.

The post holder will be responsible for developing strategic relations with stakeholders within public, civil society and donor agencies sector. Some of the stakeholders are:

Public Security Ministry;
University Institute in Democracy Peace and Security;
National Autonomous University of Honduras / graduates;
Association of Municipalities of Honduras;
Municipalities / Local Governments;
Public and Private Institutions that are considered relevant;
Civil Society Organizations;
National Observatory and Local Violence;
Violence Prevention Center (Juticalpa, Comayagua, Choluteca);
Embassies and International Organizations Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation;
Agencies of the United Nations system in Honduras;
The UNDP Governance Unit and other Units Honduras.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

To coordinate and develop the Violence Prevention Program Area, Citizen Security and Social Cohesion of the Governance Unit of UNDP;
To provide advising to the UNDP Honduras on violence prevention, promoting coexistence, public safety and peace building strategies;
To provide technical assistance to the Observatories of Violence, Post Graduate Courses of the Institute of Democracy, peace and security in their areas of research and development related to assigned program area, coordination and complementarity by relevance;
To contribute to strategic development of security initiatives and prevention of violence in the UN system in accordance with priorities established with the Coordination of UNDP Governance Unit.

Function / Expected Results:

Supporting the formulation and management of projects related to the topic of violence prevention, promoting coexistence and citizen security to aid agencies in Honduras;
Participate in the identification of potential issues related to program area of the Governance Unit for the country cooperation framework;
Identify new project ideas through consultation with the National Government, Local Government, International Cooperation, IFIS, UN Agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, identifying opportunities for resource mobilization for possible projects in the Unit;
Manage program area projects, being in charge of national consultants and specialists in different topics under the responsibility of guiding the activities, monitoring and follow up the projects and conduct visits to them, compliance of monitoring requirements, and recommending actions for achieving the objectives;
Maintaining a good and productive relationship with members of the donor community, to contribute to develop Unit vision and capacities in general and the particular program area, and establish strategic alliances;
Perform the actions required for the participation of UNDP, in coordination with the entities of the system in the formulation and implementation of strategies, sector-specific violence prevention, public safety and social cohesion;
Provide follow up on assigned projects in accordance with the rules and procedures currently in place in UNDP, in coordination, if we apply, with the different units of UNDP, coordinators and managers of project implementation units;
When appointed, representing UNDP in various negotiations, meetings, events and / or revisions with donors, Government of the Republic, local governments, civil society organizations and others;
Support the development of national and local observatories of violence and public security, as well as other specialized, Domestic Violence, Gender and Children as they arise;
Prepare and attend educational sessions taking place within the IUDPAS in various university degrees, in matters within its competence;
Review and recommend on the Information Systems that are operating in the country and related to the program area as Hospital School, Directorate of Criminal Investigation, Forensics, Traffic Police and Preventive Police in order to: i) strengthening the system of capture of information for national and local observatories ii) ensure that information is processed correctly and is reliable and iii) ensure that the information used to develop interventions and policies and serve to direct intervention in the area program;
Monitor expenditures and maintain financial controls regular projects under their responsibility and supervision, visiting the various project documents, manuals and regulations governing its operation, assist in preparing annual operational plans, procurement plans and project budget;
Support initiatives of the UN system on issues of safety and prevention of violence through contributions to the design of strategies and joint strategies with the priorities agreed with the Coordinator of Governance Unit.

Competencies

Extensive knowledge on violence prevention, promoting coexistence and citizen security issues;
Analytical skills Strategic thinking and management ability;
With experience in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, preferably with development agencies nationally and internationally;
Negotiation and coordination skills;
Effective technical and financial management capacities of projects;
Leadership, management and appropriate communication skills with national counterparts, national and international consultants, officials of UNDP and other UN system agencies;
With capacity for coordination and link with government institutions, multilateral and bilateral organizations and civil society organizations;
Writing and systematization skills;
Able to accomplish field visits and deployment;
Ability to work in teams and work under pressure;
Experience in human resource management, financial and institutional changes.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advance university degree (Master or equivalent).

Experience:

Extensive knowledge on violence prevention, promoting coexistence and citizen security issues
Analytical skills Strategic thinking and management ability;
With experience in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, preferably with development agencies nationally and internationally;
Minimum 5 years experience working with local authorities in the field of strategic planning;
Minimum 3 years experience in project coordination in the human development sector, preferably in the field of violence prevention and public safety;
Experience in strategic planning and local public policies to prevent violence and alternative conflict management;
Experience in preparing technical reports.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in Spanish language (oral and written). Knowledge of English is an advantage