Background

The Programme Specialist is a key member of the Chief, Strategic Monitoring and Support team, supporting his/her oversight responsibilities vis-à-vis the Country Offices and consulting regularly with the Regional Service Centres (RSC), to ensure coordinated support to the COs in her/his portfolio.  The Programme Specialist operates under the guidance of and delegated authority from the Chief, managing a portfolio of programme countries. S/he continuously monitors and analyzes the political, economic and social developments in his/her portfolio of countries, to enable informed support, monitoring and oversight of CO operations and programme. In addition to working with the RSCs, the Programme Specialist also interacts closely with relevant HQ units to coordinate, sequence and ensure coherence and complementarity in the support provided to COs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Monitor, support and report on CO performance with special emphasis on programme quality and delivery targets, managerial efficiency, compliance, and CO financial sustainability.

Undertake formulation and oversee implementation of programmes and projects with the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Participate in joint initiatives with other personnel of UN Agencies assigned to the region to support UNCTs within the RDT framework.

Interact closely and constantly with the Regional Service Centers to ensure quality and coordinated support to COs
Continuously scan the partnership environment of the countries in his/her portfolio to identify new partnership and RM opportunities and harness UNSP technical support to develop and sustain them;

Contribute towards knowledge creation and management in the Bureau by monitoring Country Programmes for best practices and providing related feedback to COs.

For the countries in his/her portfolio, monitor, support and report on CO performance with special emphasis on programme quality and delivery targets, managerial efficiency, compliance, and CO financial sustainability.

• Contributes to the analysis and formulation phase of the CCA/UNDAF for the COs in his/her portfolio to ensure quality and relevance of UN and UNDP’s support to national development priorities through coordinated and focused programmes;
• Supports the formulation of high quality, relevant country programmes, liaison with HQ units for review and approval, and provide oversight of compliance with corporate guidelines and consistency with corporate and Bureau policies and strategies;
• In close consultation with the RSC, central units, and the RBLAC Chief, ensures that support services from regional and HQ structures are properly coordinated including in particular support to CO change management processes;
  Monitors closely COs to ensure timely support and proactive oversight;
• Monitors agreed results frameworks, performance indicators and targets to effectively measure CO capacity and performance, in line with corporate and RBLAC strategic objectives, accountability framework, and indicators. In this effort, corporate monitoring and oversight tools such as the Balanced Score Card, Atlas snapshot and dashboard, Global Staff Surveys, audit, evaluation and other corporate reports, will be consistently utilized;
• Ensures continued close monitoring and dedicated support for COs in his/her portfolio that are identified jointly with the Office of Finance as requiring special attention;
• Liaises closely with the Programme Manager, Special Situation, and with BCPR on emerging or ongoing CPR issues and ensures timely identification of needs and required support from RBLAC/BCPR to crisis and post- crisis countries;
• Keeps himself/herself apprised of key events and issues in other programme countries covered by LAC so as to adequately stand in for other Country Advisers in their absence.

Undertake formulation and oversee implementation of programmes and projects with the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

• Contributes to the formulation of the Regional Cooperation Framework and regional programmes and projects to support the LAC regional development agenda, by consulting with COs in his/her portfolio to make proposals to CARICOM and the OOECS during the formulation process through identification of strategic areas of intervention drawing on country support experience;
• Identifies, in liaison with COs in his/her cluster as well as other COD clusters, areas where synergies between countries can be harnessed through joint multi-country programming, and lead the effort to undertake such programming;
• Develops and enhance COD contacts and liaison with sub-regional organizations to ensure continued identification and harnessing of capacity development partnership opportunities within the CD-PGA framework;
• In liaison with the Deputy Regional Director through the Chief, Strategic Monitoring and Support, directly oversees, on behalf of COD, implementation (monitoring, reporting, etc) of regional and inter-country programmes and projects in his/her sub-region of responsibility, or assigned to him/her by the Deputy Director;

Contribution to the implementation of UN reform and joint programming, within the RDT framework.

• Monitors support needs of COs in his/her portfolio as they relate to joint programming;
• Follows up on behalf of the Deputy Director on RDT decisions to ensure that UNDP COs in his/her portfolio take necessary action to implement them within the UNCT framework;
• Participates in joint RDT initiatives to support joint offices, providing technical support and guidance to COs on joint programming and joint office management, and ensuring:
  a) fulfillment of UNDP fiduciary and programmatic responsibilities; b) adequate UNDP CO support to effective harmonization and integration of structures, processes, and services; and c) the creation of synergies for UNDP activities through harnessing of expertise from across the UN.

Interact closely and consistently with the other Programme teams, Governance Practice Team, HD and MDF Practice and Gender Practice Teams and Regional Service Centers to ensure quality, timely and coordinated services to COs in the areas of Policy Advice and Management.

• Creates and oversees an effective system to consolidate and respond to CO requests for support services and works with RSC’ to plan and prioritize support;
• Establishes monitoring and feedback mechanisms for RSC services to COs to ensure timeliness and quality, developing quality indicators and liaising with RBLAC and respective HQ policy units as necessary to ensure quality control;
• Support Bureau oversight of the RSCs.

Continuously scan the partnership environment of the countries in his/her portfolio to identify new partnership and RM opportunities and harness UNSP technical support to develop and sustain them;

• Liaises closely with UNSP and BRSP to assist COs in his/her portfolio in building new partnerships, harnessing resource mobilization opportunities, and strengthening credibility with donors, in particular through improved performance and compliance in implementing donor-funded programmes.
• Builds and sustain RBLAC’s strategic partnerships with key regional inter-governmental organizations and CSOs to coordinate approaches for capacity development at regional level and support country-level efforts;
• Mobilizes resources for the implementation of the CD-PGA in the region, including through the Regional Cooperation Framework, by undertaking effective advocacy and formulating quality regional programmes and projects;

Contribute towards knowledge creation and management in the Bureau

• Provides feedback and advice on country level publications including NHDRs, MDGRs etc, in close coordination with the Policy and Strategy Division, RSC and other relevant units;
• Works with relevant RBLAC and corporate units to identify and disseminate best programme and management practices;
• Participates actively in at least one Practice Area, proving written evidence-based contributions to reflect knowledge garnered in his/her day to day;
• Liaises with PSD and the RSC to strengthen corporate knowledge management principles and policies within COs.
• Responsible for managing staff under responsibility, staff development, regular feedback and for promoting the full use of staff potential within the team and keeping them informed at all time.

Impact of Results

As a key member of the team contributing to the formulation and implementation of strategies to meet the UNDP objectives for supporting LAC, the results expected from the position of Programme Specialist are critical to: 

• the quality of development results and management efficiency of the COs in his/her portfolio;
• the quality of support from RBLAC and the Regional Service Centers to COs in his/her portfolio;
• UNDP’s standing as a partner for regional organizations;
• the effectiveness of UNDP as a knowledge-based organization;
• the overall image of the Organization in the eyes of the COs in his/her portfolio.

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

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
• Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

• 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
• Ability to lead effectively mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills

UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, RMG

Selected candidate will be required to take UNDP’s mandatory training courses: Ethics Training Assessment, Prevention of Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority in the Workplace; The Gender Journey: Thinking Outside the Box; as well as the online UN Advanced Security and Security in the Field courses within 2 months of their assuming their functions in this position.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in international development, public administration, business administration, public policy or other relevant social sciences 

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting with 3 or more years of management responsibilities of similar size and complexity.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of Spanish and French would be an added advantage.
  

 FC: 11300