UNDP Jobs - 34520- Assistant Country Director (Poverty Reduction and

Assistant Country Director (Poverty Reduction and Environment)

Location :

Dili, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2013

Application Deadline :

29-Dec-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 years (extendable)

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

Timor-Leste is the poorest country in Asia. Over 41% of the population lives under the poverty line of $0.55 per day. Life expectancy at birth is 56 years. 51% of the people are illiterate. Unemployment rate among the youth in the two largest cities is estimated at 41%, while about 16,000 people enter the labour market every year. The majority of the rural population engages in subsistence-level agriculture. Considerable amount of money has been invested in the development of the capital, Dili, but the rest of the districts remain underdeveloped with limited basic services available.

UNDP’s programme in Timor-Leste has be developed and implemented in a post-conflict context and in connection with the UN peacekeeping operation. UNDP is a trusted partner of the Government and of the donors in main development areas, and is the largest member in the UNCT both in terms of delivery and staff.

The current UNDP Country Programme (CP) in Timor-Leste for 2009 to 2013 is very well aligned to UNDAF which was formulated based on consultation with national counterparts, and linked to, National Priorities and other policy frameworks such as National Recovery Strategy. The CP reflects the national priorities in the transition process from early recovery to development with focus in four areas: poverty reduction, environment & sustainable development, democratic governance, and crisis prevention and recovery. Gender and capacity development are cross cutting themes contributing to all programming areas.

The work of the Poverty Reduction and Environment Unit (PREU) in the country office is organized around the 3 CP outcomes for poverty reduction and one on environment, focusing on sustainable human development in which the gender is mainstreamed. The environment portfolio is part of the programmes of the Poverty Reduction and Environment Unit of UNDP Timor-Leste.

In the poverty reduction area, UNDP projects focus on the poor at grass root level. UNDP brings at the centre stage the need for social mobilization as a poverty reduction strategy and for building social capital. The Self-Help Groups approach was used to mobilize villagers in targeted areas to develop self-identified livelihood opportunities and to receive social services such as literacy education and family planning. Jointly implemented with UNCDF, an Inclusive Finance project is making a catalytic impact by supporting fragile microfinance institutions for them to function on a sustainable basis, and provided business support services. Linkages between microfinance and social mobilization initiatives can generate positive synergy. In support of the implementation of the newly launched State Development Strategy for 2011 to 2030, UNDP is working with Ministry of Economy and Development on resource mobilization for private sector development. This work promises to grow into a pro-poor private sector contributing to the achievement of MDGs in Timor-Leste.

The work of UNDP’s environment portfolio (mostly funded by GEF) in Timor-Leste is guided by three key strategic outputs, which in turn serve to guide its planning framework;(i) Supporting the Government of Timor-Leste in responding to obligations under the Multilateral Environmental agreements, particularly under the UN conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), for Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The development of action plans and strategies will support the Government in developing capacity and support strategic planning in the relevant sectors; (ii) Mainstreaming environment into policy development and national planning, ensuring that environmental considerations are reflected in relevant legislation and regulation thus supporting the government in its efforts towards sustainable development; (iii) Providing access to sustainable energy to vulnerable communities, improving the quality of life of Timor-Leste’s most isolated communities and allowing for the development of new income generating activities.

To date, much of the international community’s support for environmental management in Timor-Leste has derived from the main MEAs via the GEF. Over the past five years, UNDP Timor-Leste has implemented a series of GEF Enabling Activities and related exercises made available to Timor-Leste under the separate Conventions, including the NCSA, SLM, NBSAP, POWPA, INC and NAPA. Most of these enabling activities are completed while INC, NBSAP and POWPA are still on-going.

As Timor-Leste completes the series of initial GEF Enabling Activities, the E&E portfolio is geared toward supporting the government in planning and implementing GEF substantial and full scale projects as requested by the Government. To that end, UNDP has developed in 2011 an ambitious pipeline portfolio of around USD24 million to be submitted for funding to the LCDF, GEF-5 funds (STAR), and to the Small Grants Program. To date a total of USD 6 million funding has been approved, while proposals for another USD 2,5 million have been completed and submitted, USD 5,5 million proposal is being finalized, leaving a pipeline of 10 million to be drafted and submitted for funding in close collaboration with the government. In addition, as a leading partner of the government in E&E, UNDP also provides technical support as requested by the government in addressing environment related issues in various international arena as well as in the area of donor coordination.

Finally, Timor-Leste is undergoing significant transition in 2012, with the Presidential and Parliamentary elections and the drawdown of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). UNMIT’s Transition Plan identifies areas where UNDP (and UNCT) will be continuing support to Timor-Leste beyond UNMIT’s presence, with a view towards ensuring peaceful political transition and consolidating peace building efforts initiated under UNMIT. In the latter half of 2012, the UNCT will be formulating the next UNDAF and CPD/CPAP due to start from 2014. After over 10 years of Direct Implementation since independence, UNDP is planning to transition towards national implementation from the next UNDAF/CPAP cycle.

Under the supervision of the DCD P&O, the Assistant Country Director (ACD) acts as a head of the Poverty Reduction and Environment Unit (PREU) and supervises the staff of the PREU. The ACD works in close collaboration with the Programme team in the CO, Programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Supervision and Capacity Development of PREU staff
Programme management and Partnership for development results
Support to the UNDAF implementation and formulation in the area of Poverty Reduction and Environement
Support resource mobilization and pipeline development in PRE area.

Supervision and Capacity Development of PREU staff, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Provide day to day supervision of the Environment portfolio staff;
Coach and mentor newly recruited national professionals in PREU

Support Programme management and Partnership for development results focusing on achievement of the following results:

Supervise project teams of on-going projects.
Guides project teams in terms of effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and onitoring achievement of results.
Be responsible for achieving delivery target of the portfolio
Report to DCD on progress of Programme targets and issues relating to programme
Responds to queries and request for support from key stakeholders in particular MED, SoSE and MAF on a timely basis in particularly, the country’s participation into MEAs’ related activities.
Represent UNDP various forums related to poverty, environment and energy when delegated by CD and/or DCD.
Undertake analysis to keep track of change of context in the poverty and environment areas. Advises senior management in this area.
Prepare notes, papers, etc as required by senior management, regional bureau and UNMIT.
Substantively contribute to the process of development, review and publication of knowledge products in PRE portfolio in the office, including proof-reading.

Support to the UNDAF implementation and formulation in the area of Poverty Reduction and Environment focusing on achieving the following results:

Act as a focal point for UNDAF outcome group 2 in the regular UNDAF outcome review and evaluation.
Act as a focal point for poverty reduction and environment in the formulation of the new UNDAF and UNDP Country Programme.
Participates in drafting an M&E framework to the new UNDAF in the area of poverty reduction and environment and in coordination with UN agencies.
Ensure close coordination at the technical level with all UN agencies and development partners involved in the area of poverty reduction and environment.

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director and Deputy Country Director, support resource mobilization and pipeline development in PRE areas focusing on achievement of the following results:

Resource mobilization through strategically positioning UNDP in poverty reduction and environment areas and identifying new project initiative in alignment with national priorities, UNDAF and CPD/CPAP.
Builds strong relationships with key partners from government, development partners and NGOs in poverty reduction and environment areas
Participates and substantively contributes to initiatives for encouraging policy debates in PRE and sustainable development, and promoting UNDP’s role in PRE.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme 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

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:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit
Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Prince2 Training and Certification, RMG

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Development related field, economics, Energy and Environment, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English. Knowledge of Portuguese, Tetum or Bahasa Indonesia an asset.