UNDP Jobs - 3537- Senior Programme Advisor

Senior Programme Advisor

Location :

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Type of Contract :

ALD International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

22-Jan-08 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

ALD 4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year ( with possible extension)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

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.

The Partnership for Governance Reform (Partnership) www.kemitraan.or.id emerged through an effort by prominent Indonesians, from different walks of life, to advance governance reform in Indonesia after the first general elections 1999. The Partnership’s establishment was supported by UNDP, the World Bank and ADB and administratively created as a project under UNDP in 2000.

The main mandate of the Partnership is to drive governance reform as a neutral actor and link between the government, civil society and the donors. Due to its neutrality and identity as an Indonesian institution, the Partnership can work in areas of governance that other bilateral and multilateral actors cannot enter as well as drive demand and political debates which is beyond the mandate of international actors. Partnership’s comparative advantages include (1) as an Indonesian legal entity, it is well known and respected as a neutral and accountable organization with in-house skills to deal with governance issues which can convene Indonesian actors for high level lobby; (2) has extensive networks of local partners to tap on as sub-contractors; and 3) has funding mechanisms flexible enough to accommodate urgent programming priorities. The initiatives supported are spread across the following three clusters: Democratic Governance, Public Service Governance and Security and Justice Governance.

Since gaining its legal entity as an Indonesian institution in 2003, Partnership has been working towards becoming a fully independent organization phasing out UNDP support by December 2008. While moving into that direction, the Partnership strategically intensifies its programmatic reach to cover a much wider scope and span. Partnership’s programming approach changed from being a grant maker/grant administrator to becoming a program designer and project implementer.

This new programming approach requires Partnership to own highly broad-based analytical skills, in-depth understanding of programming techniques and programming flair to create programming synergy and incorporating cross cutting issues. Partnership still needs to develop stronger skills in project design and project implementation to avoid single track approach and lack of a vertical alignment with its thematic cluster as well as with a horizontal alignment with other relevant issues. Partnership also needs to better implement its program and projects to ensure high impacts – an important component of it is a strong monitoring and evaluation capacity. As Partnership receives funds from various external institutions, its ability to develop and maintain support with its funders are paramount and this requires very strong capacity in proposal and report writing, strategic approach to funders to gain support for its programs and projects, and in seizing strategic opportunities to become a key partner of funders.

Partnership is ready to respond to the above challenges in improving program and project design and quality and timely delivery. An experienced, highly skilled, senior individual in programming to be tasked as the Senior Programme Advisor (SPA) is sought to work with Partnership’s team to strengthen Partnership’s capacity in designing, developing and implementing its programs and projects to ensure coherence and high impacts and eventually securing continued support from its donors.

Duties and Responsibilities

The SPA is responsible for the improvement of the programming quality of the Partnership in all aspects. He/she will be working closely with and provide advise to the three Thematic Clusters as well as the Programme Planning and Monitoring Team and the Public Relations/Resources Mobilization Team.

Summary of key functions:

Keep abreast of trends and current situation in governance reform in Indonesia in close dialogue with international and national organizations and senior individuals from varied organizations to advise the senior managers and thematic cluster managers through regular reporting or issue papers.
Assist and advise the Partnership programme staff in developing mechanisms of regular policy dialogue with relevant stakeholders and leading thinkers to keep up with intellectual soundness of the Partnership engagement.
Advise the Senior Management of Partnership on resource mobilization strategy and provide guidance to Partnership staff on approaches in resource mobilization.
Assist and advise the Partnership teams in reviewing and strengthening the five-year Strategic Plan of the Partnership to become more focused, and developing a more detailed programme framework as overall guidance for individual projects ensuring coherent links between Programme Strategy, Programme Activities and Project Activities fulfilling high quality result based programming.
Facilitate and guide three Thematic Clusters in developing an elaborated programme document including clear direction, indicative programmes and projects in consistent manner
       -to contribute the achievement of the Strategic Plan
       -to create synergy among different thematic areas
       -to accommodate relevant cross cutting issues
       -to achieve high quality design and implementation to meet the donor / partner standard.
Advise Partnership senior managers how to restructure / reformulate programme / projects to meet the quality standard and be in line with overall Partnership Strategic Plan or Programme Framework.
Review existing / on-going projects for possible improvement in design and implementation to achieve more strategic results.
Advise Partnership senior managers how to restructure / reformulate programme / projects to meet the quality standard and be in line with overall Partnership Strategic Plan or Programme Framework
Review existing and develop new mechanisms and tools for programming to be followed by the Partnership programme staff to ensure coherent and quality programme implementation. The mechanism includes internal review process for programme implementation progress, internal control mechanism in developing and reviewing new programmes / projects from conceptual stage to fully developed planning documents, performance review of thematic cluster / programme / projects, etc. Tools can include checklist, guidelines, project document templates, etc.
Conduct periodic monitoring of programme and project implementation against a set of agreed quality criteria (e.g. consistence to overall Partnership programme, relevance and effectiveness of proposed activities / interventions, and tangible benefits of those).
Conduct in-house capacity development activities for programme staff on programming issues in both substantive as well as operational aspects (e.g. conceptualization, formulation of programme / project, activity sequencing, partnership strategy, developing activities, etc.).
Participate in external events on governance reform on behalf of Partnership as designated by the Deputy Executive Director.
Build the capacity of program staff in progress reporting and reporting to donors.

Impact of Results

The key expected results of the SPA is to impact on the overall success of the Partnership in reaching its goals though improving the quality programming of the Partnership

Competencies

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

Functional Competencies:

Excellent communications, organizational and management skills
Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships
Highly savvy in program design and implementation with strong knowledge base in governance field or democratic reform processes.
Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, develop and oversee complex program implementation.

Management and leadership

Excellent communications, organizational and management skills
Focuses on the impact and results of the client
Demonstrate conflict resolution skills
Consistently approaches work with energy and positive-constructive attitude
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
Effectively manages teams and creates an enabling work environment
Effective coacher and mediator

Required Skills and Experience

Education

A Master's degree in Social/Political Science/Law/Development; A qualification in, and/or substantial experience of governance issues highly desirable;

Experience

At least ten years work experience in governance field and democratic reform processes with a strong focus on programming institutional capacity building.
Proven experience in handling high level coordination among professionals and senior management.
Strong understanding of change management.
Proven experience in managing complex and multi source funded the project.
Experiences in programming and project management.
Understanding of national government processes in multi-ethnic environment is essential; substantial work experience in a government context highly desirable;
Understanding of/experience in Indonesia is an asset.