UNDP Jobs - 48796- Assistant Country Director

Assistant Country Director - Democratic Governance (Nationals of Bangladesh are not Eligible to Apply to International Positions in Their Own Country)

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

31-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initially One year with Possibility Of extension based on performance and availability of fund

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

UNDP Bangladesh is supporting the Government to find innovative solutions to its development challenges based on the Country Programme Document approved by the Executive Board for the period 2011– 2016 with annual delivery target of $ 100 million. UNDP Bangladesh is organized into (1) Policy and Programmes and (2) Operations Team.

The Policy and Programmes Team consists of the following clusters:

Policy Support and Communications;
Poverty Reduction;
Democratic Governance;
Peace and Development;
Climate Change, Environment and Disaster; and
Results and Resources Management.

S/he will work under the overall guidance and immediate supervision of the Country Director, with matrixed reporting to the Deputy Country Director. S/he will provide substantive advice to the Senior Management Team in the subject area and, in general, on all aspects of the Country Programme. S/he will be responsible for planning, implementation, managing the delivery of innovative policies and practices, program development, capacity building, project monitoring and assurance, marketing, resource mobilization and advocacy and knowledge services.

In carrying out her/his responsibilities, S/he will advocate and promote the work of UNDP in Bangladesh and will also closely work and network with the CO Operations teams and programme clusters, UNDP specialized project teams, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff, government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector, non-government and civil society organizations. S/he should be a core member of the regional and global networks of UNDP specialists in this area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

The incumbent will be a Specialist in the area of deepening national democracy and governance in the country office, including public administration, electoral assistance and human rights. The summary of key functions is:

Cluster Coordination and Management: Day to day functioning of the Cluster Team and managing the delivery of results;
Policy Advisory services: Based on specialized development mapping and knowledge accumulation, provide top quality policy advisory services and be the policy resource or advisor to UNDP Bangladesh;
Programme Development Services, Provide strategic direction to and lead UNDP programming and contribute to enhancing quality and effectiveness of UNDP technical assistance;
Project Assurance and Oversight: support to project implementation teams;
Knowledge Management and Services: Lead the process of capturing knowledge through networking and dissemination of know-how;
Marketing and Advocacy: Engage in marketing of UNDP Bangladesh and advocating its best practices;
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization: Mapping of Government and donor interests, building of partnerships and mobilizing resources.

Specific Functions:

Cluster Coordination and Management:

Facilitate the day-to-day functioning of the Cluster Team. Manage the human and financial resources for delivery of results agreed with the management through work plans;
Lead the preparation and implementation of the annual results based work plans and result frameworks as endorsed by the management;
Prepare quarterly progress reports and organize, correspondingly, monthly and quarterly progress reviews;
Support the management to organize policy based dialogue, formation of advisory panels or groups of international and national expertise, meetings of relevant steering committees and other partnership based forums;
Coordinate the distribution of responsibilities amongst team members and organize monitoring and tracking system of all cluster services;
Ensure regular monitoring of progress, preparation of progress reports and organization of regular evaluations and reviews.

Delivery of top quality policy advice:

Scan for global and local knowledge and experience in the subject area. Map on a consistent basis development issues, covering the situation and strategic opportunities in the form of professional papers and reports;
Provide intellectual or substantive leadership in the subject area through identification of key policy issues and formulation of best possible and alternative policy options for UNDP. Stimulate strategic thinking in the subject area and tap into opportunities;
Lead and monitor the process of implementing policy advisory services as well as delivery of national policy products. Ensure highest UNDP standards in the provision of technical and advisory inputs, organization of workshops, seminars, training and delivery of outputs (products);
Lead the analytical and policy development work of the team and ensure high quality policy products. Contribute to the production of reports and publications, and serve as peer reviewer;
Organize network of prominent policy based prominent national and international experts and support a series of policy dialogue workshops or roundtables. Build alliances for policy reform and development amongst the national and international development institutions.

Programme Development Services:

Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and support the collaborative preparation/revision of PRSP, CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other planning instruments. Support management in the operationalization of UNDAF and CPD through CPAP;
Identification of strategic and innovative programme areas of cooperation. Accordingly, prepare programme strategic frameworks;
Document best practices, covering concepts, strategies and implementation approaches and support management in streaming programmes policies and practices;
Prepare project proposals and project documents to effect the implementation of the CPD and CPAP.

Project Assurance and Oversight:

Use Results Based Management (RBM) /M&E techniques, methods and their applications. Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
Use programme management and monitoring modules of ATLAS in particular and knowledge of ATLAS operational services in general;
Ensure organizational set-up and project management systems are fully functional and create best possible enabling environment for high level performance of Project Implementation Teams. Ensure timely recruitment and availability of high quality and specialized Project Teams;
Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Accordingly, organize annual and quarterly work planning and progress reviews;
Effective monitoring, reviews and evaluation to measure the impact of the projects. CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme. Ensure that results and lessons learned feed into the analytical and project work (i.e. results used to make decisions);
Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager;
Ensure timely preparation of progress reports and submission to the Government and other development partners.

Knowledge Management and Services:

Lead the process of capturing knowledge of national, regional and global know-how in the subject area and production of knowledge-based products;
Partner with practitioners and members of the UNDP regional and global networks, leadership of the practice and sub-practice teams in RBAP, BDP and other related Bureau;
Organize internal and external networks or communities of practice covering prominent experts in government, non-government, think tanks, private companies, international development organizations and the UN system;
Develop country based intelligence on country situation, opportunities, interests and prospects covering governments, UNDP and major development stakeholders.

Marketing and Advocacy:

Support management in creating positive and appreciative atmosphere for team-based work in UNDP and be an advocate for the work of UNDP;
Disseminate the information on best practices and be active member of the UNDP global and regional networks;
Ensure preparation of brochures, publications, press releases for dissemination of UNDP assistance and experience;
Prepare professional articles and papers;
Expand outreach to the UN, national government, local authorities, private sector, non-government and international development organizations.

Strategic partnerships and resource mobilization:

Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing;
Mobilize and network with the experts of international development community, government partners, UN Agencies and prominent think-tanks. Build and maintain excellent relations with partners;
Prepare proposals for mobilization of human, technical or financial resources from international development organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector;
Mobilize resources to support the achievement of programme outcomes.

Any other functions, responsibilities or portfolio which may be assigned by the UNDP management. The Staff Member should expected to be linked and contribute to the work of UNDP in all practice areas; and, as appropriate in UNDP, may be assigned to other practice or sub-practice portfolios.

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 modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback, timely responses queries;
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.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to engage with high ranking UNDP Managers, Government Officials and international donor community and provide policy advisory support services;
Ability to identify opportunities, conceptualize and develop project proposals as well as ability to market the project ideas to Government and international donor community;
Capability to engage in team-based policy and programme dialogue, experience of leading workshops and being a resource person;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting: full project cycle mastery, excellent work/project planning skills, mastery of UNDP’s new programme modalities (PRINCE 2, RBM Guide, NEX/DEX execution etc.) and also use ATLAS;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources: ability to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary trouble shooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery: excellent project oversight functions, including audit, accurate and thorough risk assessment;
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example: Excellent knowledge of capacity building theory and the application of methodology: good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies; excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities, ability to get capacity built, excellent ability to demonstrate national capacities built (mastery of the tools and their application);
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Excellent communication skills (written and oral): Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, Respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in political science, public policy, democracy, governance, social or development sciences, public administration, judicial reform, human rights or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in promoting democracy and governance issues (parliament, civil service, public administration, decentralization, electoral reforms, police and security, judicial reforms, human rights, civil society development ) at national and sub-national levels, in providing management advisory services;
Minimum 4 years of experience of implementing multiple complex projects in democratic governance areas in partnership with national government is required;
Experience working with UN, international organisations will be added advantage;
Experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects ;
Experience and hands-on knowledge in managing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments and leading resource mobilization;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English.