UNDP Jobs - 8143- Poverty Practice Leader (RE-ADVERTISED)

Poverty Practice Leader (RE-ADVERTISED)

Location :

Dakar, SENEGAL

Type of Contract :

200 Series

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

14-Apr-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

L-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English French

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

THIS POSITION IS BEING RE-ADVERTISED

UNDP Practice Architecture

UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2008-2011) and the 2008 regionalization paper articulates the corporate requirement to bring timely and effective substantive and technical services to the country offices through strengthened practice architecture at the global, regional, and country level.

The UNDP Practice Architecture serves as a framework for better organizing UNDP to provide consistent policy advisory services, more relevant and substantive policy knowledge, better linking of policy and programming and capacity development. The value of the practice architecture lies in its comprehensive structure to solidify UNDP and its staff into a global team that ensures coherence, consistency, alignment and quality assurance in the way UNDP delivers service internally and to development partners and programme countries.

The Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is responsible for articulating UNDP’s global development policy, using evidence gathered through country applications, regional experiences and global interactions. BDP has a key role to play in helping country offices to accelerate human development by supporting the country offices in the design and implementation of programmes and projects that effectively contribute to the national-level policies and results. Driven by demand, and working through the Regional Bureaux and the RSC, BDP provides the global tools, analysis and capacities that country offices need to make a real difference in UNDP’s practice areas.

BDP’s support of UNDP’s strategic plan 2008-2011 is focused in 4 practices (Poverty Reduction and the MDGs, Governance, Environment and Energy, HIV/AIDS) and 2 thematic areas (Capacity Development and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment).

The practice management structure at the RSC-level is composed of a dedicated Practice Leader (PL) for each practice/thematic area and a Knowledge Management Team (KMT) Leader at the 7 RSCs in Bangkok, Bratislava, Cairo, Colombo, Dakar, Johannesburg and Panama City. The PL coordinates the regional and community of practice with the global practice, regardless of funding source, to promote consistency and coherence within the practice.

Practice/Thematic Approach:

UNDP's work on poverty reduction is governed by several internationally agreed frameworks such as the Millennium Declaration, the MDGs, and the International Development Goals. UNDP’s work on poverty reduction is anchored in three basic principles – the multidimensionality of poverty, the centrality of equality including gender equality and the critical importance of a cross-practice approach.

The core services of the Poverty Practice are structured around three thematic clusters: Inclusive Development, Inclusive Globalization, and MDG Support to countries. In addition, UNDP's work is reinforced by the International Poverty Centre, a joint project between UNDP and the Brazilian Government that promotes South-South Cooperation on applied poverty research, and by its network of over 166 country offices. The services of the Practice also benefits from its Community of Practioners.

The Poverty Practice contributes substantively to global debates and dialogues through knowledge products. Its core services to support national efforts to reduce poverty and inequities involve: (1) Policy advice and technical support; (2) Strengthening capacity of institutions and individuals (3) Advocacy, communications, and public information; (4) Promoting and brokering dialogue; and (5) Knowledge networking and sharing of good practices. The Practice also provides as a platform for intra-regional and inter-regional dissemination of knowledge.

Regional Context:

Despite recent progress made, the West and Central Africa (WCA) sub-region is still facing very urgent and somehow critical problems of development. A situation that compromises the achievement of sustainable human development objectives. Constraints inherent to international policies, mainly in trade, reduce the impact of obtained results. Inside countries, there are severe inequalities between social-groups, as well as between different countries of the region. In the specific area of gender, discrimination still persists. Many countries of the sub-regions are classified as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) countries, making them eligible for debt relief under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative sponsored by the IMF and the World Bank.

Important constraints to economic and human development in the sub-region include inadequate infrastructures, food crisis exacerbated by prolonged drought in some countries, land degradation, an unskilled labor force, high unemployment rate, continued corruption in public administration and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Furthermore, increasing ongoing civil strife and cross-border conflict continue to weaken existing States as well as undermine sustainable economic growth. Lastly, the prevalence of HIV and AIDS continues to undermine the development progress in the sub-region.

The main challenge confronting countries in the sub-region seems to be a lack of capacity to address and implement the conditions related to the HIPC Initiative, including support a more participatory PRSP process so that they can become more participatory and integrate macroeconomic policies more favorable to the poor. Support to the definition of more assertive growth policies is also necessary together with an integration of MDGs into the PRSPs. Another area that requires support in the sub-region is costing MDGs. This costing is important as an advocacy document when negotiating with donors. The impact of trade on the sub-region largely has its origins in the external environment, which has become more significant as Africa’s share of world trade has shrunk. This has been compounded by the large dependence of the sub-region on primary commodities, which have experienced severe depression of prices resulting in adverse terms of trade and current account deficits. The current ongoing financial crisis will be another factor to add on the pressure already experienced by the economic sector of the sub-region.

However, with regard to the economic situation, the sub-region is endowed with great potential in natural resources. Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo are long standing oil producers. Chad and Sao Tome & Principe will soon begin oil production. So, even though the challenges are daunting, there is some hope of moving towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) if some basic prerequisites like peace and political stability, sub-regional integration, etc. are met.
RBA-ASRO support for poverty reduction policies and strategies in the WCA sub-region include supporting national governments through UNDP country offices in WCA in formulating national development strategies; pro poor policy framework for growth for poverty reduction; strategies for the employment- economic growth-poverty reduction nexus; focusing on fiscal issues, in terms of policies and management, to make sure they complement poverty reduction initiatives; developing strategies for partnering with civil society in overcoming poverty towards the achievements of the MDGs

WCA UNDP Country Offices (COs) tailor their poverty reduction and inclusive growth programmes to the prevailing level of development or crises situation of the countries in the region through a combination of upstream policy advice and downstream community or field-based projects. In alignment with the Strategic Plan, RBA is seeking to accelerate and help create the conditions which are conducive to MDG achievement, including in a context of actual or potential reversals due to new global challenges and or conflict as well as in a context of post-crisis recovery. The demand of COs for poverty-focused diagnostic, analytical and capacity development, support, as well as for national and sectoral strategy formulation and policy advice are high. These demands fall into various categories such as macro-economic and fiscal frameworks impinging on poverty incidence, including trade, investment and employment policies and legislative and regulatory frameworks; as well as social policies, and expenditures to promote social inclusion, equity and overall human development. In most cases this requires an analysis of the inter-linkages between micro and macro policies. Specialized areas of support include human and money-metric based poverty assessments, civic and civil society engagement, entrepreneurship, micro, small and medium-size enterprise development, employment creation, and rural and urban development. In WCA countries, the Poverty Practice necessarily underpins, informs or is associated with all other focus areas and practices, including in the areas of natural resources management, energy and climate change, democratic governance, crisis prevention and recovery, gender equality and empowerment and HIV/AIDS. The Practice Leader’s role is to strengthen the global practice architecture in the region, with emphasis on practice co-ordination with connection to global experiences hence its functions are fully integrated in the Regional Service Centre structure, results planning and delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

The PL’s role is to strengthen the global practice architecture in the region, with emphasis on practice co-ordination with connection to global experiences. The incumbent will ensure the quality and relevance of programme and project services in the poverty practice and WCA sub-region, ensuring consistency at the global level. To that end the PL‘s functions are fully integrated in the RSC, Dakar structure, results planning and delivery. As a result, the incumbent will be accountable for the delivery and quality of results to both the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) at the RSC, Dakar and the Practice Director (PD), Poverty, in BDP, NY.

This integrated approach translates into joint work planning and joint performance assessment. The Career Review Group (CRG) will take place in the RSC, Dakar with the participation of the PD, Poverty, New York, who can ensure consistency between PL’s in the different regions and provide advice on learning and career development in the practice.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

1.     Policy Advisory/Programme Support-Delivery;
2.     Policy Development;
3.     Practice Management/Coordination;
4.     Practice Advocacy;
5.     Partnership Building;
6.     Quality Control and Assurance; and
7.     Knowledge Management.

1. Policy advisory/Programme support-delivery:

Provide policy advisory services to the Governments and other partners in the region in the area of pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, strategies for poverty and inequality reduction and the achievement of the MDGs, and conducive sectoral strategies ;
Contribute to the design and formulation of CO programmes, drawing upon lessons from programmes and other initiatives in the region and from global experiences, on pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, MDG-based national development strategies and designing of sectoral strategies in areas of health, education, agriculture
Provide effective support and backstopping for, and timely feedback and reporting on implementation of programmes in support of the practice architecture;
Strengthen internal CO capacity on the use of UNDP corporate practice development frameworks in the areas mentioned above;
Promote the utilization of financial resources mobilized and allocated for practices in regional and country programmes and in HQ, thematic trust funds, ensuring that all policy advisors are able to facilitate access to these funds by country offices and regional projects;
Provide guidance on cross thematic issues and lead the development of cross practice synergy.

2. Policy development:

Develop, with the PD, Poverty, BDP in New York, corporate policy and guidance in areas of pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, poverty and inequality reduction and the achievement of the MDG;
Provide substantive inputs to international fora to help shape global and regional development strategies, policies, norms and standards in the context of the above-mentioned areas

3. Practice Management and Co-ordination:

Substantive Leadership:

Provide substantive and managerial leadership of the practice team and coordination for all personnel engaged in related operational activities in the RSC;
Collaborate with the PD, Poverty, BDP, New York and policy advisors in the Headquarters to ensure that the RSC-based practice team is up to date on evolving analytical work and policy-options in areas of pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, poverty and inequality reduction and the achievement of the MDGs;
Lead the practice area in the region ensuring UNDP’s credibility in delivery on a highly visible programme in the above-mentioned areas, which in turn links to UNDP’s delivery on its Strategic Plan (2008-2011), particularly its Development Outcome 1 on MDGs and inclusive growth.

Coordination and Management:

Consolidate and anchor the practice architecture in the regions to support country offices;
Liaise with COs to support the inclusion of issues of pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, poverty and inequality reduction and the achievement of the MDGs at the planning stages of COs (and regional programmes);
Identify sub-regional and inter-country development and integration opportunities and translates them into capacity development initiatives to address cross border issues;
Develop and implement practice work plans, provide practice programme management oversight and support the Global Tracking system for the practice;
Manage all activities related to the poverty practice functions at the RSC/Dakar including direct supervision, when appropriate, of the policy advisors and specialists, create positive team environment and ensure access to learning opportunities for all staff;
Ensure coordination and management of all related human and financial resources in a politically complex environment.

Mobilizing the Community of Practice:

Promote the development of a Community of Practice (COP) at the regional level on issues of pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, poverty and inequality reduction and the achievement of the MDGs and catalyze and connect to global experiences including cross-regional/practice collaboration;
Develop with staff an expert roster for the region in the poverty practice area;
Coordinate and capitalize on the approaches and tools in other practices.

4. Practice Advocacy:

Lead advocacy in the poverty practice area in the region including promotion of the practice’s global policies, norms and standards and the sharing of the practice’s global experience;
Provide substantive and content leadership in UNDP corporate discussions and Inter-Agency coordination on issues of pro-poor macroeconomic frameworks, poverty and inequality reduction and the achievement of the MDGs;
Represent UNDP (and UN partner organizations) to advocate poverty practice messages in the international development for a discussion;
Mobilize external partnerships behind UN/UNDP initiatives.

5. Partnership Building:

Effectively position UNDP’s poverty practice capacity within the UN system to foster consistency in approach, within the regional level by scanning and assessing activities of non-UNDP players in local context and in support of UNCTs and UNDP CO programming arrangements with government counterparts;
Provides guidance and leadership for the engagement of civil society in regional and country programmes, the promotion of civic engagement and the establishment of strategic partnerships;
Engage national and regional partners in poverty practice policy and programme responses under the leadership of the country offices and the UNCT;
Undertake partnership building with regional and local institutions and consultancies and lead the formulation and implementation, in the poverty practice areas, of the regional partnership to support the practice area and support resource mobilization strategies in liaison with the Regional Bureaux and other concerned units and develop multi-partner proposals;
Maintain and strengthen partnerships with key multilaterals (BWIs, Regional Banks, etc) and key regional institutions to support the practice architecture;
Scan partnership opportunities and donor intelligence and inform DRD of new partnership developments – e.g. donor priorities; pledges, new donor funding modalities, etc. ensuring that this supports the practice area.

6. Quality Control and Assurance:

Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
Coordinate delivery of demand-driven service delivery to country offices and regional programmes ensuring professionalism in support – e.g. timelines, responsiveness, quality in deliverables, etc;
Promote quality standards including long-term locally driven initiatives;
Ensure cross-practice approach and cross-regional collaboration back into the global practice level.

7. Knowledge Management (KM):

Develop with the KMT and in co-ordination with the PD, Poverty Practice, New York, region-wide lessons learnt, best practices and generate knowledge needed and lessons learnt to shape UNDP’s global strategies in the region;
Participate in local KM sharing events and support the corporate KM agenda;
Support the development of a knowledge system and support the utilization of KM strategies and tools;
Link KM to business processes; and promote UN wide Knowledge Management Strategies

The PL’s role will impact the strengthening of the global practice architecture of UNDP, the quality and relevance of programme and project services in the practice area and the results of UNDP’s programmes in the region in the practice area. In turn it will impact on UNDP’s capacity to deliver on its Strategic Plan (2008-2011).

Competencies

Corporate:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’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:

Strong ability to apply various practice/thematic area related development theories to the specific context, including translating practice principles into effective policy and programme interventions in the field;
Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers in UNDP programme countries and other international development organizations;
Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of practice/thematic area

Leadership

Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills;
Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
Knowledge and expertise in UNDP’s programming processes;
Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results with a strong knowledge of results-based management and budgeting.

Managing Relationships:

Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational skills and strong ability to manage teams;
Creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
Excellent negotiating and networking skills;
Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills.

Managing Complexity:

Ability to address global development issues;
Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Proven ability for constructive coaching and feedback.

Judgment/Decision-Making:

Mature judgment and initiative;
Proven ability to provide strategic direction in practice area;
Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced university degree in a development related area, preferably in Economics, with a specialization in Macroeconomics

Experience:

10 years of overall relevant professional experience as well as a proven professional record in the practice area.
Work experience from a developing country context and familiarity with Africa and its development challenges are highly desirable.
A track record of extensive national and international working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP’s practice areas and the ability to link to global policy development for UNDP.
Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both written and spoken English and French.
Working knowledge of another UN regional language desirable.