Background

UNDP Indonesia's mission is to be an agent for change in the human and social development of Indonesia. We aim to be a bridge between Indonesia and all donors as well as a trusted partner to all stakeholders. We work in four key areas of development: Governance Reforms, Pro-Poor Policy Reforms, Conflict Prevention and Recovery, and Environment Management, with the overarching aim of reducing poverty in Indonesia. Besides the four priority areas, UNDP Indonesia is also engaged in a variety of crosscutting initiatives focused on HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and information and technology for development.

I. Organizational Context

The Provincial Governance Strengthening Program (PGSP) supported by UNDP and implemented by the government of Indonesia, has been developed to assist the government of Indonesia to address some of the key challenges associated with decentralization. 

In 1999, through path-breaking legislations, Indonesia commenced radical decentralization. This initiative has led to new powers for regions and to the special autonomy agreements for Papua and Aceh. The change has also created confusion over overlapping roles and responsibilities between provinces and districts as well as concerns over the scale of proliferation of new provinces and districts. Decentralization has not led to an effective transfer of power and resources from the central government to local governments in order to better serve the communities and citizens, improve welfare, and better generate the economy. Instead, some allege, the decentralized power is captured by local elites.

It has been observed that under the current legal framework the role of provincial government as both representative of national government and as a government of an autonomous region has been unclear or even weakened. On the other hand, making development work in sub-national regions of a vast and diverse archipelagic country like Indonesia will need strong coordinating functions at regional level. Managing decentralization cannot be done effectively only from and by the central government. The political and administrative ‘distance’ is simply too long and too difficult to manage. Capable provincial government is a logical, as well as, according to Law 32/2004, legal solution to these problems. 

Through PGSP, UNDP aims to support the Government of Indonesia (GOI) in re-defining and strengthen the role of the province in the context of decentralization in Indonesia. This project will have two-pronged assistance: (a) the development of relevant decentralization policies, and (b) identifying and piloting concrete framework or tools of good governance to assist provincial governance system. The project will explore how to creatively apply provincial powers and responsibilities to facilitate equitable economic growth and good governance among the districts.

This project is designed to respond adequately to rapid policy and political changes that directly or indirectly affect the decentralization regulatory framework as well as the roles of provincial and district governments in Indonesia. Key policy issues that will be tackled in the next two and half years are, among others: the revision of Law no.32/2004; the effective implementation of key Government Regulations such as PP 38/2007 on Distribution of Roles and Functions of National, Provincial and Local Governments, PP 41/2007 on Organization of Provincial and Local Governments, PPs on Minimum Public Service Standards, PP 78/2007 on Establishment, Proliferation and Merging of Regions, PP 6/2008 on the Evaluation of the Performance of Local Government, PP no 7/2008 on De-concentration and Assistance Tasks, and PP no 19/2010 on the Role of Governor; as well as the implementation of the package of laws on public service reform that are now being developed by the Ministry of PAN (Public Administration Reform).

The project responses will be framed into several key strategic approaches such as: policy research and advocacy on key national and local regulatory frameworks; promotion of best practices in local governance; technical assistance to key ministries as well as to DPR and DPD to further develop an improved framework to regulate decentralization; as well as research for policy alternatives in regards to key decentralization issues such as proliferation of regions, and alternative development planning, budgeting and monitoring mechanisms.

The PGSP provides a framework that: 1) allows provincial governments access to technical assistance and practical tools to strengthen good governance in the province, and 2) allows for timely policy research and development based on real experiences at the local level.  The framework is designed to be flexible to tailor support to individual provinces by providing a menu of tools and supporting technical assistance. 

At the provincial and district level the full-fledged PGSP will work with the provincial and district governments through key program components: 

1. Technical expertise and facilitation support to prepare Province level of Human Development Reports (PHDR); 
2. Technical assistance to help provinces incorporate the findings of their HDR into planning processes and documents, while at the same time ensuring meaningful community participation. In the pilot provinces (Gorontalo, Bangka Belitung, NTT) it is envisaged that the application of human development framework in regional development planning can be combined and/or synergized with the framework for MDGs targeting and reporting as well as with on-going support for public expenditure analysis provided by the the World Bank;
3. Technical assistance and facilitation support for the province to play effective facilitating and coordinating roles on inter-sector and inter-district synergy for regional development planning.
4. Technical assistance and facilitation support for the achievement of minimum service standards (MSS)  at provincial level as well as for the provincial government to play faciliting role for the achievement of MSS at district level.
5. Support for development of provincial level civil service reform strategy and policy framework including facilitation for access to know-how and existing tools and methodologies for practical human resource change management.

The policy research unit of the program allows for systematic monitoring of lessons and for strategic and timely action-oriented research in the working areas of the program. To ensure donor harmonization, the policy unit will work closely with other donor-supported researches that are facilitated through the Decentralization Support Facility and likeminded initiatives. 

The Program Management Unit (PMU) based in Jakarta is designed to lead the overall implementation of the program (including the technical assistance and tools component and the policy development component) and provide timely quality support for the Provincial Facilitators based at the province level. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager of PGSP, and in close collaboration with the Decentralization Senior Advisor of UNDP and the PGSP Sector Coordinators, the PGSP Research Team Leader oversees and manages research activities conducted under PGSP.

Duties and Responsibilities

II. Functions/ Key Results Expected 

Summary of key functions:

1. Implementation of research activities
2. Support and provide advice on the resource mobilization strategy 
3. Provision of top quality advisory services to the Government
4. Facilitation of knowledge building and management

1. Ensures implementation of research activities undertaken by PGSP

• Acting as the head of PGSP Policy Research Unit,
• Research activities should be carried out ethically, timely and with a focus on high quality. 
• Carrying out first hand research,
• At times be tasked with the responsibility of providing guidance and direction to short-term research consultants and sector coordinators. 
• Works in close cooperation with other PGSP colleagues to identify challenges and opportunities in the light of the on-going decentralization policy debates in Indonesia. 

2. Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, International Financial Institution (IFI)’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.

3. In providing top quality advisory services to the Government, the PGSP Research Team Leader will work closely with the three Sector Coordinators of PGSP to provide effective research and analytical support for effective implementation of PGSP’s work plan in regards to:

• Implementation of the decentralization framework stipulated in the RPJMN 2010-2014.
• The revision of Law no.32/2004
• The role and responsibilities of the province in the implementation of PP 38/2007 on Distribution of Roles and Functions of National, Provincial and Local Governments; PP 41/2007 on Organization of Provincial and Local Governments; PPs on Minimum Public Service Standards; PP 78/2007 on Establishment, Proliferation and Merging of Regions, PP 6/2008 on the Evaluation of the Performance of Local Government; PP no 7/2008 on De-concentration and Assistance Tasks; and PP no 19/2010 on the Role of Governor; as well as the implementation of the package of laws on public service reform that are now being developed by the Ministry of PAN (Public Administration Reform).
• The strengthening of the role and responsibilities of the province in regional development planning through the incorporation of human development framework and effective multi-stakeholder participation.
• The strengthening of the role and responsibilities of the province in facilitating governance innovations that would lead to the achievement of: implementation of Minimum Service Standards, incorporation of Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation in Provincial Government mechanisms; implementation of provincial level civil service reform; and effective and sustainable inter-provincial learning mechanisms.

4. Facilitates the knowledge building and management by providing high quality and strategic research to the relevant GOI partners in all three sectors: legal and policy framework, regional development and governance innovations, as well as in providing:

• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings for the PGSP staff and related programme staff

III. Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of PGSP implementation. In particular, the key results have an impact the quality of the achievements of each related outputs that finally contributes to the overall performance the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme.

Competencies

IV. Competencies and Critical Success Factors

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.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

1. Operational Aspect of Project Management

• Has demonstrated knowledge and experience in policy research on decentralization and/or bureaucracy reform.
• Displays maturity and excellent communication and networking skills.
• Ability to work independently and in an organized manner.

2. Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience.
• Actively mentors research team members under her/his supervision.

3. Management and Leadership

• Demonstrates strong analytical and management skills.
• Strong monitoring skills focuses on impact and results and responds positively to feedback.
• Ability to lead formulation, monitoring and evaluation of development of the work and mobilize support for the work.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• Masters degree, or equivalent in Economics, International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration or Business Administration.

Experience:

• For Masters degree: 3 (three) years of undertaking research in Indonesia;
• Proven leadership and facilitation skills;
• Excellent communication skills including: proven writing skills, inter-personal skills, and public speaking in formal settings; and
• Experience using computers and office software packages and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Language Requirements: 

• Excellent command of English and Bahasa Indonesia, both spoken and written.
  

ALL APPLICANT MUST COMPLETE P11 FORM AND SUBMIT AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION . Click here to down load the form P11

Female candidates are encouraged to apply

UNDP Indonesia reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP Indonesia at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and education requirements.