UNDP Jobs - 20948- Programme Specialist for the African Facility for

Programme Specialist for the African Facility for Inclusive Markets (AFIM)

Location :

Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Mar-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One year

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

In line with its Private Sector Strategy, UNDP is becoming increasingly well positioned to support innovative approaches of inclusive market development (IMD) engaging with the private sector and other stakeholders to improve opportunities for the poor to participate in markets as producers, employees or consumers.

With Africa being a major focus of UNDPs work, a strategic, regional Private Sector and Inclusive Market Development for Poverty Reduction in Africa project, the “African Facility for Inclusive Markets” (AFIM), commenced in November 2010. This project is lead by the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) is supported by the Private Sector Division, and coordinated from UNDP’s Regional Service Center in Johannesburg.

AFIM’s four main outputs are:

Increased capacity of regional organizations, governments, and other stakeholders to support inclusive market development in the region;
Inclusive market development initiatives at sub-regional and country levels developed and supported;
Alliance of partners for African inclusive market development established;
Improved access to finance for small producers and enterprises facilitated.

This project is demand based and aims to complement and support implementation of existing and emerging UNDP private sector country projects as well as support the development and implementation of new sub-regional and country initiatives.

AFIM is in full alignment with UNDP’s MDG Breakthrough Strategy as its primary aim is to support poverty reduction and the MDGs by contributing to capacity development for evidence-based policy dialogue and advocacy and institutional strengthening for the expansion of a vibrant indigenous private sector in Africa through initiatives that involve public and private stakeholders at regional and national levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the AFIM Project Manager, the specialist will carry out the following functions:

Provides both technical and project specialist support development services for the successful implementation of the AFIM projects;
Responsible for the setting up and development of an adequate regional project support infrastructure and linkages to service the 20-25 target countries, 3-4 regional economic communities and other relevant AFIM beneficiaries;
Supports the AFIM Manager in project development and DEX implementation issues;
Conducts field missions to AFIM partners to provide programming, partnership development and resource mobilization support;
Provides inputs for the development and subsequent technical review of AFIM products such as GIM Africa and Innovative Finance reports, cross border and regional value chain projects;
Undertakes activities related to organization of advocacy, strategic partnership and resource mobilization;
Assists in the organization and servicing of AFIM steering committee meetings, expert groups, panels, round tables, reports for intergovernmental processes as well as internal reporting;
Coordinates the organization capacity building and training activities for AFIM target beneficiaries such as REC, Governments and UNDP CO staff;
Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of AFIM technical assistance support to participating COs and RECs in collaboration with the other satellite offices in Dakar and Nairobi;
Supports the effective and timely implementation AFIM communication strategy;
Performs other complementary duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary to ensure the complete, timely and successful delivery of the AFIM work plan and budgets.

Impact of Results:

The Programme Specialist will work closely with UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) and the Inclusive Market Development team of UNDP’s Private Sector Division.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Strong project management skills;
Positive, constructive attitude and consistently approaches work with energy;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback.

Technical and Functional Competencies:

Knowledge of inclusive market development particularly value chain approaches and the landscape of regional economic cooperation and key players are indispensable;
Strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills;
Outstanding communication skills in English;
Computer proficiency: MS Office.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters degree in International Development or related fields (i.e., business, economics, and public policy) is required.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in private sector development or private sector engagement or partnerships for development is required.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.