UNDP Jobs - 55281- Programme Coordinator, Civil Registration

Programme Coordinator, Civil Registration

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

TA International

Starting Date :

01-May-2015

Application Deadline :

10-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

364 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

364 days

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

Following the successful conclusion of the Support to the Electoral Cycle in Sierra Leone 2011 – 2014 Programme UNDP continues to support the sustainability of know-how and the development of long-term capacities of the election management bodies including voter registration. To that end, in partnership with UNICEF and Plan International, UNDP has embarked upon an ambitious programme of support to the Government of Sierra Leone for establishing a Civil Register that will harmonize various government civil databases, and thereafter record in a continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal manner the occurrences and characteristics of vital events and other civil status events related to its citizens and residents, as provided by and in accordance with an established legal framework. This will not only make future voter registration exercises efficient and inexpensive but also to enable easier citizen’s access to a wide variety of services and support the Government in better targeting of beneficiaries for various safety net and social protection initiatives.

A Policy Paper on the Integrated National Civil Registration System has already been developed and approved by the Cabinet on 2nd of July 2014. The Policy Paper establishes the Central Civil Registration Authority as an overall coordinating body of the civil registration activities. It also calls for the necessity of enactment of a Unified National Civil Registration Act and a Data Protection Law. The ambitious programme is being funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and several development partners including UNDP.

In support of the above, UNDP is seeking the services of Civil Registration Programme Coordinator who will not only coordinate the management and technical inputs from within UNDP but also ensure that similar inputs from other programme partners such as UNICEF and Plan International feed into the programme in a timely, coherent, cost effective and well-coordinated manner. The Civil Registration Programme Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the Country Director.

Duties and Responsibilities

Coordinate core technical assistance to the New Civil Registration Authority (NCRA).

Prepare Terms of Reference and job descriptions for various short term technical inputs and support recruitment/procurement processes;
Undertake training of newly appointed staff of the NCRA;
Liaise with UNICEF and Plan International on technical assistance to be provided by these agencies;
Manage performance of consultants and specialist advisers;
Supervise the Programme Management Unit (PMU) comprising technical experts in civil registration, IT and operations and administrative support staff. The PMU will also serve a secretariat function for donor coordination and support, as well as to the civil registration task force, chaired by NCRA and comprising national and international stakeholders.

Lead in a participative and inclusive manner, the elaboration of Annual Work Plans & Budgets and Monitoring and Evaluation Plans and regular reporting thereof.

Ensure that AWPB and M&E plans conform to the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP);
Ensure that AWPBs are formally approved by all implementing parties;
Convene programme reviews by the project board at regular intervals or as necessary;
Coordinate provision of on demand programme support to implementation from a number of UNDP offices, such as the Procurement Support Office (PSO), Bureau of Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) etc. This will include implementation support missions, as well as support to the programme and country office in monitoring progress towards the outcome;
Identify risks and challenges to the ongoing operations of the Project and provide advice to the Country Director on adapted mitigation strategies.

Prepare technical assistance and capacity building plans and liaise with different UNDP bureaux to source support.

Similarly liaise with Procurement Support Office on large volume procurements of goods and services including through existing long term agreements;
Organize and facilitate scoping and other implementation support missions, as and when required;
Facilitate donor coordination at the policy level through a high – level donor coordination mechanism and at the programme level through the steering committee of this programme;
Ensure regular information sharing with key Donors and their engagement in critical policy and methodological shifts in programme implementation;
Ensure Narrative and Financial Progress Reports meet donor requirements and are submitted on a timely basis;
Act as a member secretary and convenor of the project Steering Committee.

Facilitation of knowledge Building, and Knowledge sharing/Administrative Function

Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme/Operations;
Ensure engagement and fullest participation of women and the youth to further ensure the mainstreaming of gender perspective.

Lead on timely Resource Mobilization to ensure that the project is not negatively affected by budgetary gaps and financial flows.

Estimate funding gaps and formulate resource mobilization strategy;
Undertake resource mobilization related activities in line with the above including inter alia the organization of donor meetings and preparation of donor briefings and relevant materials as required to support the mobilization of resources necessary for the support of the project;
Follow up, as necessary, with Development Partners on release of funds as agreed in contribution agreements.

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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Leadership:

Capacity to supervise a multidisciplinary high level team and to supervise programme activities;
The post requires considerable cultural and political sensitivity and an ability to meet deadlines.

Technical Support:

The suitable candidate for this consultancy shall have extensive experience in civil registration. Good knowledge of information systems software such as MS Office Suite.

Communication:

The expert will have written and oral fluency in English.

Teamwork:

Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with colleagues in multi-cultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced degree (Masters) in Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science, Law, Public Administration, or a related field.

Experience:

7 years or more of functionally-related professional coordination experience;
Proven track record in the field of civil registration, and ideally experience working with Electoral Management Bodies and Central Civil Registry;
The expert needs to demonstrate a proven record in the field of coordination, with experience in facilitating the work of missions and task forces;
Work experience in post-conflict contexts is necessary.

Language:

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
Ability to explain complex technical concepts to a non-technical audience.