Background

UNDP Somalia comprises three main clusters, namely, Rule of Law and Security (ROLS), Governance, and Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods (RSL). The Somalia Constitution-Making Support Project (SCMSP) falls under the Governance cluster, and focuses on democratic governance with an overall objective to ensure that a new constitution for Somalia is prepared in a participatory manner, and that its implementation lays a foundation for a legitimate Federal Somali State. 

Since 2004, UNDP in collaboration with a Consortium of international partners and the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) has provided technical support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia on the drafting of a Federal Constitution. The original projected timeframe in the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) of the Somali Republic, 2004, is to federate Somalia and for the Independent Federal Constitution Commission (IFCC) to produce a draft Constitution two and a half years from taking its oath of office and be adopted by a popular referendum during the final year of the five-year transitional period. The TFC also stipulates that a new Constitution be ratified and a new government established by August 20, 2011. To date, the SCMSP supported the Independent Federal Constitution Commission (IFCC) to finalize a Consultation Draft Constitution and a Critical Issues Question Guide based on extensive capacity building. Civic education initiatives are underway and should continue to scale up based on targeted consultative constitution-making process in which the public is informed and public views are heard and incorporated to the extent possible.

In order to facilitate closer collaboration and improved coordination, UNDP and UNPOS have decided to create a joint constitution unit, located in the UNPOS premises. Under the overall guidance of the DSRSG and the RR, and the direct supervision of the UNDP Governance Programme Manager and the UNPOS Head of Political Affairs, the Project Manager therefore supervises and leads a joint team of staff, experts, international and national consultants. The Project Manager ensures that all activities are implemented in close cooperation with other partners, including UN Agencies, INGOs, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society.

The Project Manager will be responsible for providing and coordinating policy advice, technical assistance and programme development support to the constitutional process, supported by strategic advisors and staff to support a draft that is context appropriate, realistic and Somali owned. 

The incumbent will also be accountable for the achievement of project outputs and will coordinate discussions with government, civil society, non-governmental organizations, donors and other partners to the constitutional process, and will work closely with all stakeholders to mobilize donor support for the project. 

The project is expected to continue through 2011 into the post-adoption, initial implementation phase. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Leading joint UNDP/UNPOS unit in support of constitution making process in line with MOU
• Ensuring strategic direction of project operations, day to day management and delivery of the Project’s components;
• Coordination of the Consortium of partners
• Financial resources management;
• Human resources management; and
• Efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

Ensures the strategic direction of project operations focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Leads joint UNDP/UNPOS unit in support of constitution making process in line with MOU.
• Provide overall leadership to the joint unit with a view to ensuring harmonized and well-coordinated political and technical support to the constitution-making process
• Realization of project outputs through activities; provides direction and guidance to project teams and responsible parties; coordinates with UNPOS; coordinates Consortium Members and assures the overall direction and integrity of the project; identifies and obtains any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project.
• Project administration and liaison with any suppliers.
• Preparation of the project Annual Work Plan and all project reports and presents to the Programme Manager for review and decision-making.
• Programme operational coordination, ensuring that all partners collaborate and work well together, propose modifications of the plan to respond to changes in the Somali political and security situation, develop MOUs and contribute to tasks, roles and work plans. Provides leadership and cohesion to the field teams and ensure that the processes and systems developed to support the project are imparted to the key Somali stakeholders.
• Preparation of budgets and establishment of suitable monitoring mechanisms, collecting, maintaining and updating data relevant to the project, plan and coordinating the deployment of teams and other project activities.
• Undertakes regular monitoring and reporting on project progress and constraints; further monitors progress against the initial quality criteria and updates the plan as required; prepares and maintains monitoring spreadsheets of project activities.
• Management of a team of national and international consultants and subject matter experts.
• Monitoring and identification of project risks and update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risk Log. Keeps the Programme Manager and the Country Director abreast of emerging project issues and provides input to the Issues Log.

Ensures the overall coordination of the Consortium of partners and strategic positioning of UNDP as a lead player in constitution building focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Guidance on options for the structure of the constitution-making process in response to changes on the ground, and facilitation of debate on these issues (e.g. how to bring into the process important interests such as the business community, elders and religious leaders).
• Development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national dialogue and civic education programme.
• Ensure the overall coordination of the Consortium of partners and position UNDP as a lead player and donor/resource focal point in constitution building
• Design, develop an action plan for ratification of the constitution and manage the programme to its completion
• In close coordination with other components of the Governance Programme, the design and develop a constitutional implementation programme, with focus on institutional development and capacity building.
• Contribute, in close collaboration and under the guidance of UNPOS and the UN Electoral Assistance Division, the design and development of an electoral support program
• Work closely with UNPOS and the donors to provide political facilitation as needed on key contentious issues (both of substance and of process). There will need to be ongoing political dialogue with the key players to ensure that the constitution-making process is successful, inclusive, participatory, and results in a realistic constitution (e.g. inclusion of women, need for consensus, encouraging key political players

Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management focusing on the achievement of the following results

• Accountable use of project funds.
• Oversight of financial management through Atlas, including purchase orders, requisitions and payments;
• provision of effective services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management;
• Oversight of all administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the projects.
• Ensures that programme resources are used in a balanced way that confirms the application of the Human Rights Based approach and contributes to peace building;
• Is responsible for budgets and ensuring strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations;

Ensures strategic human resources management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Project compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies.
• Optimal staffing of the project.
• Efficient recruitment processes.
• Support to CTA with performance management systems

Ensures efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and representation focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Supports gathering of data/information for project monitoring and evaluation processes ensuring compliance with UNDP M&E requirements in reporting on programme results and progress towards outcomes.
• Assists in promoting dialogue and good practice among different stakeholders.
• Promote networking and knowledge sharing within UNDP and the UN System;

Impact of Results

The above key results will contribute to the achievement of a context appropriate, realistic and Somali owned constitution as well as negotiated arrangements for the adoption of the draft constitution.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Building Strategic Partnerships

Establishing, maintaining and utilizing a broad network of contacts. Building partnerships and strategic alliances. Leveraging the resources of national governments and other development partners

Building strategic alliances

• Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships
• Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UNDP’s agenda into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations

Resource Mobilization

Ensuring that the join unit has the resources it requires to implement programmes and advance a policy-oriented agenda. 

Developing resource mobilization strategies at country level

• Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies
• Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline. Focusing on the knowledge and skill areas necessary to effectively perform the functions of the post. Identifying and seeking to expand knowledge and improve work processes.

Expert knowledge of own discipline

• Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures
• For managers: applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments

Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs. Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns. Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs. Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients.

Meeting long-term client needs

• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives
• Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services
• Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes
• Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations

Required Skills and Experience

• An Advanced university degree in law, political science, or related social science fields 

• Minimum 10 years of work experience with UN/UNDP or international/multilateral organizations in programme/project formulation and management and policy advice in the areas of constitution or law-making, governance, conflict resolution and negotiation/ political negotiation/mediation;
• Senior and relevant experience in constitutional development, electoral processes;
• Senior and relevant experience in civic education would be an asset;
• Working experience in Somalia/Africa/Arab countries/conflict zones would be an asset.

Language Requirements:            

• Excellent command of written and spoken English