Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• To advise the UNDP Management as well as the Policy and Review Committee on the overall implementation of the Programme in the South, including reporting on progress vis-à-vis planned activities and expected outputs, and making specific recommendations as required; 
• To manage all aspects of the Programme / projects in the South, including financial resources and offer advice on any adjustments required, using established guidelines and procedures to realize maximum performance and impact;
• To monitor implementation status, track progress and evaluate projects in the South through undertaking field visits, preparation of Annual Progress Reports, convening project reviews and Project Steering Committees’ meetings to help solve problems, learn lessons, document impact, and make implementation decisions as appropriate. Carry in-depth performance review using both substantive and financial reports;
• To lead overall Programme planning exercises in the South to ensure timely completion of projects in accordance with the Contribution Agreement as well as project documents signed with NGO consortia;
• To lead and maintain close relations with national counterparts in the South to ensure optimum impact as well as participation and ownership by national authorities; to ensure close liaison with national authorities by NGO consortia;
• To provide technical backstopping and advisory services to NGO consortia, national counterparts, donors and other partners in the South. Ensure appropriate linkages, cross fertilization, synergy and innovation through knowledge management and best practices among consortia and other related programmes;
• To submit top-quality quarterly progress reports for projects in the South for the Policy and Review Committee and to conduct clear presentations;
• To make regular monitoring field visits to ensure timely and quality execution of projects in the South vis-à-vis approved plans and baselines, with the involvement of the relevant local and regional authorities;
• To ensure that evaluation and audit missions in the South are carried on schedule and under the highest professional standards;
• To oversee and guide the design and development of NGO consortia projects in the South and provide substantive related technical inputs;
• To ensure that adequate and timely support is provided to NGO consortia in the South in the elaboration of progress reports, financial planning and reporting, annual work plans and activity schedules, visibility activities and other required documentation or actions;
• To perform other Programme related duties as required.

• To analyze the social, economic and political situation and trends in relation to the Programme in the South;
• To provide knowledge-based upstream policy and technical advice to national counterparts and other partners through consultative meetings and support to development of national strategies, plans and programmes;
• To assist in the formulation of technical support and capacity-building programmes to enhance national capacities and ownership in the South;
• To assist in the identification of specific areas/niches of interventions and institutional and civil society needs for capacity development.

• To manage the Action Management Unit (AMU) in the South using a team-based approach, with full responsibilities for staffing, financial and administrative matters in co-operation with the UNDP Operations;
• To oversee the AMU work plans in the South and monitor the AMU’s results compliance with defined indicators of management performance;
• To supervise and appraise staff performance using the Results and Competency (RCA) system;
• In close consultation with Senior Management and other involved Programme Units, lead the further organizational and capacity development of the AMU in the South, including management arrangements, structures, staffing procedures commensurate with the Programme. Conduct regular reviews and adjust arrangements as required. Report on experience and lessons learned on cross-cutting issues that could be of relevance to other functional units within UNDP Sudan set-up;

• To ensure the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies to promote and foster Programme awareness to multiple stakeholders and the public at large in the South;
• To coordinate Programme activities in the South with UNDP’s initiatives on area-based recovery and reintegration, local governance, rule of law, natural resources management, etc as well as with other United Nations agencies and donors, to develop inter-agency synergies and complementarity; and
• Conduct advocacy on UNDP’s practice area of Recovery and Reintegration, and ensure that communications and mass media outreach activities in support of the Programme in the South are undertaken.

Competencies

• Strong results-based management, preparation of work plans and schedules and substantive reporting;
• Excellent organizational capacity; familiarity with UNDP and EC programme execution rules and regulations is a must;
• Knowledge of current development policies and activities;
• Ability to work with high-level government officials, donors and experts, as well as represent UNDP in regional and sub regional fora if required on technical issues which may be related to the Programme;
• Excellent command of MS Office applications; proficient use of Power Point and MS Project is a must;
• Demonstrated ability to write concise analytical reports; excellent report-writing skills (in English) and ability to draft and prepare top-quality reports, position papers and presentations; proficiency in English is a must;
• Excellent communication skills, team player and self-starter; and
• Knowledge of the Sudan would be a strong advantage, including an appreciation and understanding of basic development dynamics and of the role of international and local development actors.

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
• Has good knowledge of UNDP programme and operational issues;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Has knowledge of UNDP/UN policies and programmes in crisis and post-crisis situations.

• Excellent computer/information system skills, including resource management system;
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and effect staff behavioral/ attitude change;
• Management and Leadership;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with internal and external clients;
• Demonstrates capacity to communicate effectively; resource management; capacity to plan and organize programme effectively;
• Demonstrates resourcefulness, initiative and mature judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

• Qualification: Advanced degree in Sociology, Rural Development, Economics, Development Studies or a multidisciplinary area involving socio-economic analysis.

• At least seven years of progressive relevant work experience with an international exposure in the development world in the design, management, and evaluation of development programmes;
• Strong technical background in area and resource based development programmes, with solid knowledge of integrated rural development, job creation and natural resource management and local governance issues;
• Good experience in working with NGOs, civil society organisations and non-state actors;
• Experience of working on EC funded NGO grant making initiatives – grant size over Euro 2 million and duration 3 years or more.

• Fluency in English; 
• Knowledge of Arabic language is a desirable asset.