Background

Darfur is a fragile land on the edge of the Sahara desert that is home to an estimated eight million people. The life support systems of that land-water, soil, vegetation-have been seriously compromised by a changing climate and the recent conflict. Almost two million Darfurians find themselves living in camps as internally displaced people, dependent for their survival on aid from the international community. The few cities of Darfur have grown dramatically as a result of this mass movement of people causing enormous strain upon already limited basic services like water and sanitation. The increased concentration of people in urban areas has caused particularly serious environmental degradation. In addition, the changing climate threatens to overwhelm all efforts at recovery and a return to normal development as well as having fundamental impact on agricultural livelihoods in the short run, and potentially their ability to sustain in the long run. In order to meet these challenges, the people of Darfur must implement coping strategies in order to adapt and thrive.

Within the overall programme framework of UNDP UNDAF and CPD 2013-2016, UNDP's peace building and recovery priorities will focus on reducing violent conflict at community levels and promoting an enabling environment for peace. In doing so, UNDP addresses skills and capacity gaps and promotes partnerships to strengthen the ability of state and non-state entities to manage and resolve conflicts. UNDP will help reinstate community-level conflict resolution mechanisms, including traditional structures, local peace councils and the native administration. The role of women in peace building and conflict resolution will be promoted. Tangible peace dividends in the form of community infrastructure, livelihoods support and improved service provision will be delivered based on community needs. It will continue to support the rollout of an early recovery framework for Darfur, focusing on community stabilization and economic recovery activities to support the transition from relief to recovery.

Darfur is at a critical juncture as the peace process is making important steps forward and the international community expressed political and funding commitments in the Doha International Donor Conference in April 2013 to support the implementation of the Darfur Development Strategy (DDS) that is founded on the findings and recommendations of the 2012 Darfur Joint Assessment Mission (DJAM). The DDS offers a relevant opportunity to redefine the UNDP programme strategy for Darfur, including the opening of strategic partnerships with Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and international actors involved in its implementation. The Darfur Recovery and Livelihoods programme is an attempt in this direction.
Despite continued insecurity in parts of Darfur, there also are windows of opportunity such as verified returns in some rural areas. In order to promote long-term development and prevent the outbreak of future conflict, it is important to ensure that peace dividends reach all conflict-affected households and communities in particular the IDPs, returnees, pastoralists, women, and youths (male/female). The focus on economic recovery including livelihoods activities like value chains and restoration of basic infrastructure and capacity development are key to prevent renewed violent conflict in Darfur.
 
In its ongoing Darfur Recovery and Livelihoods Programme, UNDP has established the groundwork for expanded livelihoods through implementation of a unique mix of livelihoods, recovery and peace building projects. The overall budget of the programme in 2013 was three million dollars with an expected annual delivery of 80% and a staff compliment of 17 including UNVs, national and International staff. 

There are four Programme Components currently under implementation within the Recovery and Livelihoods Programmecovering focusing on three main outcomes:
1) sustainable livelihoods;
2) capacity development of institutional and economic actors to enable economic recovery; and
3) peace building. 
Through the Pro-Poor Value Chain Integration for Peace and Early Recovery, the programme adopts an inclusive market development and value chain approach as the backbone of the programme strategy. The value chain approach is instrumental in informing and guiding peace building and conflict management processes especially those centred on access to natural resources, such as water, land (grazing and farming), forested areas.
Darfur Community Recovery for Coexistence program supports the peace development councils both on their capacity to manage conflicts as well as on their capacity to manage natural resources in a sustainable fashion.
Recovery and Livelihoods Post Return program supports the return of conflict displaced communities to rural areas through livelihoods restoration activities (post-return packages, restoration/development of community infrastructure, adoption of short-term labor intensive schemes).
Youth Volunteers Rebuilding Darfur supports the youths given that more than half of the population of Darfur is aged sixteen or younger, thus youth groups are encouraged to develop business ideas including innovative and technology based solutions in an environmentally sustainable way.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Darfur Recovery and Livelihoods Programme Manager  based in El Fasher, the International Project Coordinator (based in EL Geneina) has primary overall responsibility for the implementation of the Recovery and Livelihoods Programme in West and Central Darfur. S/he is responsible for oversight of all projects within the portfolio; each project is managed by a Project Manager/Officer under the Coordinator’s supervision. S/he will guide staff to facilitate harmonization of activities with the government and other stakeholders to maximize results. In addition, s/he will take a holistic view of the programme across Darfur and assist the Programme Manager in programme development, management, administration and staff development.   H/she will act in the absence of the Programme Manager based in EL Fasher.  S/he will act under the guidance of UNDP senior management and refer major executive project decisions to the project Executive Board.
 
Project Management:
  • Supervise and manage project staff and external short-term consultants; lead and coach project team in both substantive programme issues and UNDP business process;
  • Oversee staffs that manage day-to-day project management, including supervision of implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and effective and transparent use of resources;
  • Facilitate Implementing Partner, project approval and budget processes in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Prepare annual work plans; produce timely reports as required by UNDP and donors, and coach project staff in doing the same. Facilitate the delivery of high quality and timely results according to planned targets;
  • Coordinate with and build the capacity of the State Technical Coordination Committees as a project management body;
  • Coordinate with various units in Khartoum for effective and timely management of projects and the Livelihoods programme, including Finance, Procurement, Human Resource, etc;
  • Facilitate compliance with UNDP policies and procedures.

Programme Development, Planning and Implementation:

  • Draft strategic documents such as project design and implementation plans, policy papers, results frameworks, work plans, etc.;
  • Draft Terms of Reference for project consultants/experts hired to achieve results defined in Project Documents; and facilitate delivery of technical services, reports and other deliverables;
  • Facilitate the participation of stakeholders in project/programme activities in order to promote community led and owned developed that results in transparent inclusive development;
  • Identify and facilitate synergies between and within projects to maximize impact;
  • Facilitate implementation of projects in a conflict, gender and environmentally sensitive manner taking into consideration cultural, tribal, age and other important dynamics that impact results over the long term;
  • Identify problems and potential barriers to delivery of results and design effective solutions in collaboration with other programme staff and stakeholders;
  • Identify and promote best practices and lessons learned for improved results, and organizational sharing and learning.
Advocacy, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:
  • Establish and maintain partnerships with other organizations projects and programmes, especially with other UN agencies;
  • Promote the development of economic and peacebuilding structures that will support a thriving economic and social environment to the extent possible;
  • Support the UNDP Country Office on mobilization of resources, including preparation of project proposals, briefs, and attendance at donor meetings and support to field visits;
  • Provide leadership on early recovery and peacebuilding within the UN in collaboration with other YN partners;
  • Write case studies that can be used to exemplify the results obtainable by projects and to demonstrate best practices;
  • Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrate integrity by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
  • Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treat all people fairly and without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Promote knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • Actively work towards continual personal learning, act on learning plan and apply newly acquired skills.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting processes;
  • Solid knowledge in financial and human resource management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology and general administration;
  • Ability to formulate and manage budgets, contributions and investments; conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
  • Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change;
  • Ability to interact across a wide spectrum of people, as well as at the meeting table within managerial and government offices.
Management and Leadership:
  • Build strong relationships with clients, focus on impact and results for the client and respond positively to feedback;
  • Ability to formulate a vision and communicate it and acquire buy in from others;
  • Consistently approach work with energy and a positive constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Lead team effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
  • Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills and networking skills;
  • Excellent conflict resolution skills and competency to manage group dynamics and mediate conflicting interest of varied actors;
  • Strong analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 
  • Master's degree or equivalent in international development, economic development, peace and development studies or related field.
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in project management in a conflict/post-conflict international setting;
  • Significant experience working with one or several of the following: economic development programmes such as value chain development, microfinance, private sector development, re/integration and peacebuilding;
  • Conversant with security and socio-economic trends in Sudan;
  • Experience working with UNDP’s business processes and project management systems;
  • Experience in conduct and application of political and conflict analysis in post conflict environments;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate with a variety of people;
  • Ability to create and see synergies between projects both of UNDP and with other actors;
  • Ability to lead a diverse team of committed professional and contribute to their capacity development;
  • Self-motivated, well organized, and ability to lead; ability to work with minimum supervision while ensuring work as part of a larger team.
Language:
  • Excellent spoken and written English;
  • Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.