Antecedentes

UNDP Practice architecture:

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2008-2013 and the 2008 regionalization paper articulate 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 is an evolving framework for organizing UNDP to provide consistent policy advisory services, relevant and substantive knowledge, better linking of policy and programming and capacity development. 

The Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) plays a key role in helping countries to reach their development goals. It is responsible for articulating UNDP’s global policy on developmental issues using evidence gathered through country applications, regional experiences and global interactions.  It helps countries through a network of country offices that it helps connect to the best of knowledge and human resources on various thematic issues, 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 Bureau and the Regional Support Center (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 2008-2013 is currently focused in 4 practices (Poverty Reduction and the MDGs, Governance, Environment and Energy, HIV/AIDS) and 2 cross cutting thematic areas Capacity Development and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment). In addition to these organizational focus areas, reflecting the regional developmental priorities, UNDP in Asia and the Pacific places significant emphasis on gender, climate change and social protection and inclusive growth. Our work in these three areas is considered to reinforce and complement the four organizational focus areas.

Regional Context:

The Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (APRC) is an out posted unit within the Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) and an integral part of UNDP’s global infrastructure and knowledge networks. UNDP has established the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (located in Bangkok with a multidisciplinary office in Suva, Fiji) with the main priority to provide the 24 UNDP Country Offices in the region with reliable and easy access to quality advisory services and technical support based on global applied research and UNDP lessons learned.

The Asia Pacific Regional Centre works in partnership with a plethora of development stakeholders and promotes regional capacity development initiatives related to regional public goods. These joint efforts allow UNDP Country offices, governments, regional intergovernmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, UN agencies and International Financial Institutions, civil society, academic and other development partners to identify, create and share knowledge relevant to solving emerging regional development challenges.

The APRC is organizationally aligned around main pillars (focus areas), cross cutting areas and related fields, all corresponding to the main themes of UNDP global Strategic plan and to the UNDP’s practice architecture. Headed by Regional Practice Leaders, the APRC’s Practice teams of policy specialists provide advisory services and technical assistance in the main focus areas: Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction and achievement of MDGs, Environment and Sustainable Development, Crisis Prevention and Recovery, HIV-AIDS and in the cross cutting areas of Gender, Capacity Development and Knowledge Sharing. The Regional Centre houses as well the Regional Human Development Report Unit, promotes South-South cooperation and provides management advisory and support services to strengthen Country office’s efforts towards increased accountability and efficiency.

Asia-Pacific development has been marked by significant poverty reduction as well as rising income but persisting social inequality. The share of the population living under $1.25 day has been halved over the last 25 years. In absolute numbers, despite continued population growth, Asia lifted over 700 million people out of poverty in the last 25 years. However, the region still holds about two-thirds of the global poor. During the last two decades, of 14 Asian countries for which sufficient data are available, inequality in terms of GINI coefficient has increased in 11. Human development and progress towards the MDGs have varied, with South Asia’s being relatively slow. Gender disparities and limited female participation restrict human development. Public policies have also not been sufficiently inclusive. In many countries for example, social protection programmes have provided limited coverage, are fragmented and poorly targeted. Rapid urban growth could compound these problems if not properly planned. The region’s inequality is not only a break on economic growth and human development. It also raises the risk of crisis and conflict as populations see that access to the resources and opportunities created by economic growth are restricted to a select few. The exploitation of non-renewable natural resources has often triggered violent conflicts, degraded the environment, worsened gender and other inequalities, displaced communities, and undermined democratic governance. The withdrawal of US forces in Afghanistan, the complications arising in Nepal’s peace process, the developments in Philippines own peace process and the political transition in Myanmar to mention just four transitions - offer both opportunities and challenges for human development. Addressing these challenges requires inclusive planning and effective institutions.

The risk of natural disasters, exacerbated by accelerating climate change, is a growing concern in the region. The Asia Pacific region accounts for most of the world’s disaster-related events and this exposure is set to increase with extreme weather events linked to climate change and countries weak disaster management capacities. The Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2012 notes that the number of people in Asia exposed to yearly flooding has more than doubled between 1970 and 2010, and the population living in cyclone-prone areas has grown from 71.8 million to 120.7 million. Rising inequality, coupled with frequent and intense natural disasters make more inclusive economic development and more comprehensive social protection systems important priorities for the region. Consequently, countries across the region now face four central development challenges: 1) Equity and inclusion: ensuring that those who have not benefitted from growth do so. 2) Sustainability: the governance of natural resources, including policies on sustainable and green development the management and allocation of resources. 3) Building resilience to shocks: from climate change, natural disasters, high and volatile commodity prices and global economic and financial crisis. 4) Governance – identifying solutions through the lens of governance for service delivery, tackling poverty and inequality, including gender discrimination.

The Governance Practice Team Leader’s (PTLs) principal role is to ensure substantive integration of the democratic governance and cross-practice work in a politically complex environment, and strengthen relevance of UNDP’s core governance principles in the region.  S/he will provide high level policy advisory services to Country Offices, Governments and other partners in the region. This also includes substantive and content leadership in UNDP corporate discussions and Inter-Agency coordination on governance issues, and strengthening interaction amongst UNDP Country Offices and their partners on governance issues. The PTL will assume substantive leadership of the DG team (which currently includes justice and human rights,  local governance/decentralization, anti-corruption, electoral systems support, and governance assessments, including institutional and context analyses), through elaboration of unit work plans, and coordinated delivery of support across all concerned areas. This includes management and oversight of relevant Regional Programme(s). The PTL will provide guidance and leadership in establishing or strengthening partnerships, including with non-UN partners, and the engagement with civil society. Finally, the PTL will also generate knowledge and promote its sharing through ensuring that all team members are sensitive to the principles of knowledge management and communication in their work.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

• Policy Advisory/Overall Programme Support and Delivery
• Policy Development;
• Practice Management/Coordination;
• Practice Advocacy;
• Partnership Building;
• Quality Control and Assurance; and
• Knowledge Management.
  

Deberes y responsabilidades

Policy Advisory//Regional Programme Management Support and Delivery:

• Provide policy advisory services to the Governments and other partners  in the region in the practice area;
• Provide policy advisory services and overall management support to the Bureaux’s regional programme;
• Contribute to the design and formulation of CO programmes/regional programmes drawing upon lessons from programmes and other initiatives in the region and from global experiences;
• Lead cross-practice policy and programming initiatives in the region as well as backstopping other democratic governance team members to lead and contribute to cross-practice teams.
• Provide effective support and backstopping for, and timely feedback and reporting on implementation of programmes in support of the practice architecture and regional programmes;
• Strengthen internal CO capacity on the use of UNDP corporate practice development frameworks;
• 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;

Policy development

• Develop corporate policy and guidance in focus area with the Democratic Governance Group Director in BDP NY;
• Provide substantive inputs to international fora to help shape global and regional development strategies, policies, norms and standards.

Practice Management and Coordination

Substantive Leadership:

• Participate in providing strategic leadership of the APRC as a member of the Senior Management Team in the centre
• Provide substantive and managerial leadership of the DG team and coordination for all personnel engaged in related operational activities in the RSC including on the regional programme;
• Lead advocacy in the 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;
• Collaborate with the PD and policy advisors in headquarters to ensure that the RSC-based practice team is up to date on evolving policies;
• Lead the practice area in the region across UNDP APRC, country offices and policy centres ensuring UNDP’s credibility in delivery on a highly visible programme which in turn links to UNDP’s delivery on its Strategic Plan  and Annual Business Plans;

Coordination and Management:

• Develop and implement practice work plans including for regional programmes, as needed;
• Provide practice programme management oversight including development/management of regional and global programmes;
• Consolidate and anchor the practice architecture in the regions to support country offices;
• Liaise with country offices to support the inclusion of practice areas at the planning stages of country office programming (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;
• Support the Global Tracking system for the practice;
• Manage all activities related to the practice functions at the RSC 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 including the regional programme.

Mobilizing the Community of Practice:

• Promote the development of a community of practice (COP) across UNDP APRC, country offices and policy centres at the regional level and catalyze and connect to global experiences including cross-regional/practice collaboration;
• Coordinate and capitalize on the approaches and tools in other practices.

Practice Advocacy:

• Provide substantive and content leadership in UNDP corporate discussions and inter-agency coordination related to the service line area;
• Represent UNDP (and UN partner organizations) in the international development arena at regional and global level and provide substantive inputs in such fora to help shape global and regional development strategies, policies, norms and standards
• Mobilize external partnerships behind UNDP initiatives on democratic governance;
• Lead the design of promotion materials and initiatives for advocacy and policy dialogue;
• Support the BDP Practice Director in providing intellectual leadership of the democratic governance practice;

Partnership Building:

• Effectively position UNDP’s 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 practice policy and programme responses under the leadership of the country offices and the UNCT;
• Lead partnership building with regional and local institutions and consultancies;
• Lead and contribute to practice specific and cross practice resource mobilization initiatives to strengthen regional programme delivery;
• Lead the formulation and implementation, in the practice areas, of the regional partnerships to support the practice area and support resource mobilization strategies in liaison with the Regional Bureaux and other concerned units;
• Scan partnership opportunities and donor intelligence and inform the APRC Manager and DGG Director  of new partnership developments – e.g. donor priorities; pledges, new donor funding modalities, etc. ensuring that this supports the practice area;
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with key multilaterals (BWIs, Regional Banks, etc) and key regional institutions to support the practice architecture.

Quality Control and Assurance:  

• Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
• Co-ordinate 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.

Knowledge Management (KM):

• Develop with the Knowledge Management Team,  in co-ordination with the Practice Director, region-wide lessons learnt, best practices and generate knowledge needed and lessons learnt to shape UNDP’s  global strategies in the region;
• Lead 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.
  

Competencias

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:

• A self-starter with demonstrated credibility to carry missions and country support
• 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;
• Strong substantive knowledge and experience of democratic governance and ability to link knowledge to UN/UNDP global policies, processes and frameworks;
• 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, represent the organization and present global policies, norms and tools;
• Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of democratic governance

Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to provide credible leadership;
• Innovative approaches/experience on global development issues;
• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic overview and corporate vision;
• Demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis/resolution of complex issues;
• Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills with proven track record of mature judgments ;
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
• Knowledge and expertise/recognized expert in practice area;
• Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results;
• Demonstrated ability to be accountable for practice’s global policies.

Managing Relationships

• Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills;
• Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
• Excellent negotiating and networking skills with strong partnerships in academia, technical organizations and as a recognized expert in the practice area;
• Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills and ability to accept accountability for management of large volume of financial resources;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed environment balancing regional and global priorities and tasks.

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 relationships.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Ability to strongly promote and connect knowledge to situations;
• Promote knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Seek and apply knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
• Provide 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, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve results.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

• A Master’s degree in a development related area -, Public Policy Development Management, International Relations, Economics, Law or a related discipline.

• 15 years of overall relevant professional experience as well as a proven professional record in the democratic governance practice area;
• A track record of extensive national and international working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP's practice areas and ability to link field experience on democratic governance to global policy development;
• Experience in programme management and partnership development;
• Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination
• Work experience from a developing country context is highly desirable;
• Experience in programme management and working with diverse national partners;
• Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.

• Fluent in English (written and verbal);
• Working knowledge of another UN and/or regional language desirable.