Background
Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the Deputy Resident Representative, the Head of the Strategic Support Unit/Program Analyst provides full-fledged assistance in strategic planning and oversight to the Country Office Management. S/He heads a small unit principally charged with policy, advocacy, and resource-mobilization responsibilities, mainly supporting the country programming, partnerships, office efficiency, and knowledge management. The Program Analyst, in close collaboration with the program staff of UNDP and other agencies, identifies new program areas while ensuring consistently high performance of the CO against UNDAF and CPD priorities. Together with the other UNDP Heads of Units, they implement the CO resource mobilization and partnerships-building strategies, contribute to strengthening of the CO position, and outreach strategically to government, donors, private sector and CSOs. The Head of the Strategic Support Unit offers creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Head of the Strategic Support Unit supervises staff of the Strategic Support Unit, being newly created in the CO. S/He works closely with the RR, DRR, and the Program and Operations teams in the CO. S/He also maintains good working contact with staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP-HQ staff, government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society. S/He will be regularly assigned by the RR, as RC, analytical and research tasks to support appropriate UNCT-coordination functions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
qSubstantively contributing to the strategic direction of the UNDP CO
qManagement of the Strategic Support Unit and its integration with the CO program units
qStrategic partnerships and effective support to resource mobilization
qProvision of top quality policy advice, and facilitation of knowledge building and management
qServes as focal point on specific topics and undertakes any other duties as assigned
1. As a member of the CO management team, substantively contributes to the strategic direction of the UNDP CO, including the following results:
q Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country, and of UNDP’s role and potential role in Kazakhstan.
q Understanding of regional and global conditions and UN activities, and linkage of CO activities with them.
q Facilitation of joint planning and cooperation between two program units to achieve strategic results.
q Collaborative preparation of the CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, AWP and other documents.
q Operationalization of UNDP’s UNDAF and CPD programs, in collaboration with the program units, other UN agencies, and other partners.
q Identification and pursuit of opportunities for inter-agency joint programming.
q Understanding of, and ability to explain UN policies and the priorities of the CO.
q CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management; rationalization of workflows in the CO.
2. Ensures quality control of the full cycle of programming through the Strategic Support Unit’s oversight of the CO program, including the following results:
q Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC), and monitoring achievement of results.
q Strategic planning of communication, including via the effective use of social media. Design and definition of the CO communication plans, working jointly with two program units.
q Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the program, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Program Analyst performs the function of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval and is a bank signatory for the CO.
q Effective monitoring, and measuring the impact of the CO program and evaluation.
q Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are reported and acted upon promptly.
3. Establishes and maintainsstrategic partnerships and supports the resource mobilization for the CO,focusing on achievement of the following results:
q Appropriate, proactive support to the senior-management-led design of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies, to achieve priorities and target outcomes.
q Developed, appropriate partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc. Active support to coordination.
q Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.
q Significant contribution to the CO’s expansion of government cost-sharing, including through supporting partnerships and establishment of standard operating procedures for the implementation of the cost-shared projects.
4. Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:
q Smooth, regular flow of information among the management staff of the CO, and with HQ and external partners.
q Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to program-country policy goals.
q Coordination of policy development within the CO.
q Establishment of advocacy networks at national level, and linked to international networks, ensuring UNDP inputs to relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns. Active support to inter-agency coordination.
q Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
q Organization of trainings for staff as appropriate.
Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country program and reaching UNDAF/CPD goals. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.
Competencies
Competencies and Critical Success Factors
Functional Competencies:
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
q Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
q Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently and creatively in work tasks
q Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
q Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
q Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
Building Strategic Partnerships
q Establishes and maintains a network of contacts for information sharing and build strategic alliances on issues of common interest
Analyzes situations and alternative scenarios, and contributes to joint approaches with partners and stakeholders
Results-Based Program Development and Management
q Conducts research and analysis
q Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
q Researches linkages across program activities to identify critical points of integration
q Monitors specific stages of projects/program implementation
q Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development
q Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches, and drafts proposals accordingly
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches/Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
q Generates new ideas and proposes more effective ways of doing things
q Documents, analyzes, and adopts innovative strategies/best practices/approaches
Resource Mobilization
q Analyzes information on potential and actual donors
q Develops a database of project profiles
q Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors
q Helps to vet and improve resource-mobilization ideas and project proposals
Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
q Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for effective advocacy
q Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advancing UNDP’s mission
Client Orientation
q Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs, and reports back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion with a solution
q Organizes and prioritizes own work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly
Core Competencies:
qDemonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
qDemonstrating professionalism and sound judgment
qSelf-development, initiative-taking
qActing as a team player and facilitating team work
qFacilitating and encouraging open, effectivecommunication
qManaging conflict
Learning and sharing knowledge; promoting learning and knowledge management
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Master’s Degree or equivalent. Studies in Social Sciences, International Relations, Management, Humanities, or a related field would be an advantage.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the United Nations system, government, or the private sector with demonstrable exposure to international organizations. Experience preferred in research and policy analysis, and in program design, monitoring, and evaluation.