Background

The promotion of social cohesion in Iraq is now a major strategic priority for UNDP aimed at paving the way for supporting ideas and forms of behaviour that, while acknowledging differences in status and authority, can nevertheless promote multiple opportunities for deliberation, joint decision making, co-operation and reciprocity between different political and social groups towards a common development agenda. As highlighted by the Regional Workshop on Social Cohesion held in Amman last June, when making development choices and decisions, there is a growing need to take into consideration the expectations and preferences of the different players and citizens, and in so doing to promote transparency. Failure to exercise this function seriously undermines development efforts that can be blind to differences between values, concepts of well-being and interests, potentially giving rise to mutually destructive conflicts, wastage of resources or various other internally negative consequences.

The quality of institutional accommodation of the citizen and the scope for pluralism obviously reflect complex issues, all the more so in Iraq where it is becoming increasingly important to provide responses and devise innovative frameworks that can help build a shared vision while at the same time respecting each individual and different group. This requires major debates and sustained dialogues so as to outline a vision of the future that allows Iraqis of different categories to set aside mutual suspicion and develop trust, institutional arrangements and forms of social interaction capable of making diversity a factor for progress, well-being and social justice. UNDP’s social cohesion agenda will contribute to social debate and alert citizens to the need to develop opportunities for multi-stakeholder, multi-level and multi-sectoral exchanges, decision making and action, providing the same opportunities for the weakest as for the strongest and placing an emphasis on equitable access in a long-term perspective. The need to develop collective skills to acquire a shared long-term vision and to manage change is evident, given that resources are limited and there is no such thing as complete independence or immunity from the damaging effects of other people’s acts or failures to act – especially given the current political and humanitarian crises affecting Iraq.

Therefore, UNDP’s corporate focus on social cohesion considers, among other things, how to ensure that all stakeholders are recognized, make deliberation and co-production legitimate tools of democratic decision making and activate multi-player, multi-level and multi-sector processes of innovation and learning. UNDP has prioritized these issues, which will be linked to and build on specific social cohesion programming across at the national level. This will be achieved through:

• The development and implementation of a Social Cohesion Project;
• Capacity development of national partners (state and non-state actors);and
• Strengthening representation and democratic decision-making and expanding social dialogue and civic engagement.

UNDP will collaborate with all relevant national partners in examining the question of how to i) foster the emergence of institutional mechanisms that can restore confidence in politics and in the action of all the parties involved; ii) avoid further conflict in the face of growing polarization among different groups; and iii) reformulate current development choices, ensuring that social, intergenerational and political justice lie at their very heart.

This Social Cohesion Project will complement other interventions that UNDP is currently implementing and which include the Local Area Development Programme, Empowering Civil Society, the alleviation of domestic and gender based violence, national reconciliation, and a wide ranging programme of support to capacity building in the Council of Representatives in Iraq. The overall strategy will include a combination of two complementary approaches: i) a bottom-up approach, designed to promote dialogue, build a vision of the future and the sharing of social responsibilities for the well-being of all, first at local level together with citizens, and subsequently at national and regional level, so as to review public policies in the light of the views expressed by citizens; and ii) a top-down approach, based on national and UNDP/RBAS regional policies, including the legal and policy instruments, which will be adapted and used at different levels to promote social cohesion in Iraq.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Country Director, the Social Cohesion Programme Analyst will contribute to UNDP’s programmatic work in relation to promoting social cohesion at the national and sub-national levels in Iraq.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Technical Analysis and Support to Programme/Project Delivery.
• Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting on Programme/Project Implementation
• Programme Development.
• Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
• Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Technical Analysis and Support to Programme/Project Delivery

• Support in the implementation of the Social Cohesion Project;
• Conduct regular analysis and research on the political, social and economic situation in the programme/project’s operational environment/target sites;
• Support and ensures compliance with UNDP’s policies and procedures on project management in all aspects of the project cycle;
• Support application of effective Results Based Management (RBM) tools and systems, and advises on effectiveness of these;
• Support conflict-sensitive programme/project planning, including drafting of project budgets and annual work-plans;
• Draft minutes of project boards and other meetings, as well as briefing notes, presentations, letters, agreements, memos, and other programme/project related correspondence and documentation.

Ensure effective Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting on Programme/Project Implementation

• Support coordination and implementation of programme/project activities by working closely with country office programme focal points and project operations;
• Develop appropriate programme outcome and project monitoring tools based on measureable and verifiable project output targets, indicators, baselines and incorporate these in all aspects of project planning;
• Support organization and conduct of regular monitoring missions by field based teams, as well as review and finalize monitoring reports;
• Support organization, coordination and provide logistical support to assessments, studies, audit, reviews and/or evaluation missions;
• Support internal communication and reporting systems for field-based colleagues, as well as external project clients and stakeholders;
• Drafting regular progress reports in line with scheduled reporting deadlines, including regular updating of risks and issues logs;
• Identify and provide recommendations on solutions to mitigate bottlenecks and other implementation challenges throughout the project cycle;
• Support activities related to capacity development of government and civil society counterparts.

Ensure programme development focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Research and draft concept notes, proposals, project documents and related documentation in support of programme development;
• Support organization of all programme-related meetings and events, including but not limited to board meetings and workshops;
• Support regular liaison with stakeholders, donors, partners and other relevant programme/project stakeholders, as well as maintains and updates regular contact lists;
• Support drafting of knowledge products and dissemination of these and other communications on the Social Cohesion project to national counterparts, civil society partners and other stakeholders;

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and national priorities;
• Analysis and research of information on social cohesion entry-points, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization for promoting social cohesion.

 Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Provide facilitation and training on social cohesion initiatives at different levels;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies: 

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization

• Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
• Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences;
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate.

Client Orientation

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree in International Affairs, Political Science, International Development, Human Rights or other related field.
• Focus on post-conflict development / peace building highly desired.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of post-conflict human rights/security, peace building, recovery/development, rule of law and/or security-related projects;
• Prior experience in (post) conflict countries is required. Prior experience in Iraq is a significant advantage.
• Proven experience in supporting strategic partnerships/donor liaison, conflict-sensitive programming and resource mobilization;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Experience and knowledge of UN financial, human resources, procurement, management and general operations policies, an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English;
• Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.