UNCDF Jobs - 51933- Local Public Financial Management Expert and Provi

Local Public Financial Management Expert and Provincial Programme Coordinator (Open to Mozambican Nationals Only)

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Gaza, MOZAMBIQUE

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

05-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

04-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months

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

Objective and purpose

UNCDF’s Food Security and Nutrition Programme (FSNP) interventions in Gaza Province, Mozambique are a key component of the Belgian Fund for Food Security (BFFS) partnership framework and focus on the design and management of a Local Development Fund, which will finance the development of food security related infrastructure at district level. These interventions will be closely coordinated with the activities of the other partners in the BFFS Framework, notably WFP and FAO, to ensure a coherent and integrated approach to supporting the public expenditure management cycle at local level. The interventions will be implemented with close collaboration with UNDP, seeking synergies in local development in the province where ever possible.

Background

Building on previous and successful collaboration between the Government of Mozambique and UNDP/UNCDF in the area of decentralization and local development, the BFFS partnership framework aims to accelerate progress and enhance local government capacity to improve food security in Gaza Province, Mozambique. The main objective is to strengthen decentralized service delivery and thereby improve social and economic development, through the introduction of transparent funding mechanisms which improves the accountability of local authorities to their citizens.

Specifically, the FSNP will support the Government of Mozambique to:

Reinforce local public expenditure management in the selected districts of the programme to contribute to increased sustainable food and nutritional security;
Strengthen national policies, reinforced by the experiences of integrating sustainable food and nutritional security into local public expenditure management.

The advertised position will be part of a programme team at provincial and national levels designed to support the government in implementing the FSN programme and in the realisation of its objectives. The position will lead at the Provincial level for the programme, will support the provincial government and coordinate closely with other development partners in addition to those within the BFFS programme. UNDP will be a particularly important partner in this respect.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Support the Programme Specialist (Maputo) in ensuring that the programme achieves its strategic objectives;
Provide advice for better programme management and implementation;
Contribute to the preparation of annual work plans, annual and quarterly reports and other project-related documents;
Ensure delivery of project outputs at Provincial and District levels;
Lead the support to Provincial and District level Government entities on the management and use of the public financial management instruments supporting the performance based grant system and formula funding;
Lead the support to Provincial and District level Government entities on the use of Government to People (G2P) grants if and when the FSN component adopts the instrument to strengthen access to services and resources to improve food security and nutrition;
Engage fully with the Provincial Directorate for Planning and Finance and its technical staff;
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with development partners within the BFFS programme framework, the UNDP Provincial Team and CO, and other DPs implementing programmes in the province (e.g. IFAD, EU, DANIDA);
Pursue an active resource mobilization strategy;
Develop and implement a comprehensive capacity development strategy for the programme, using the LDF as the key driver.

Ensure the project achieves its strategic objectives with a focus on achieving the following results (20%):

Full compliance with UNCDF and UNDP rules, regulations and policies in all aspects of the project implementation;
The design and implementation of long-term strategies and approaches to local development financing mechanisms including performance assessment, formula funding and G2P payments;
The establishment and operation of the Local Development Fund for FSN in close collaboration and dialogue with all relevant stakeholders;
The securing of synergies and linkages between UNCDF activities on local finance and other approaches to local public financial management and financing by other agencies;
Contribute to a joint UN approach in Gaza Province and work towards strong collaborative arrangements with potential project partners including the design of appropriate operational partnership arrangements;
Provide constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment (monthly, quarterly and annual reports), including risk assessment, and make quick operational adjustments as and when necessary in consultation with UNCDF country and regional office.

Provide advice for better project management and implementation (30%):

Assist the Project Manager, Programme Board and stakeholders in tracking the progress of project implementation, assess progress and identify constraints and gaps in implementation and provide appropriate responses (advise on quarterly and annual targets, indicators and reporting);
Coordinate closely with the governance structures in Gaza province to ensure that the UNCDF component in the BFFS programme is in alignment with the national priority plans alongside BFFS programme plans;
Provide technical support to the drafting of the Manual of Operation for the utilization of the LDF for FSN (including selection criteria, planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, and account management);
Provide training and related support to provincial and district authorities based on the MoO;
Analyze and evaluate data to ensure achievement of objectives and recommend;
corrective action, when necessary, to meet programme/project objectives;
Provide technical support and advise to project staff, government staff, government officials, and other counter parts;
Coordinate and manage the evaluative elements of project’s milestone meetings, such as mid-term reviews, strategy meetings, previews, reviews and annual reviews; perform all other tasks that may be assigned by the Project Manager and the Project Coordinator.

Prepare plans, reports and other project-related documents (30%):

Assist the Project Manager and provincial authorities in Gaza province for the preparation of annual and quarterly work plans, reports, project presentations and other project M&E-related documents and correspondence; reports will be developed with the support and in coordination with the national advisor in planning and M&E;
Prepare high quality reports/ project documentation for dissemination to the stakeholders participating in the BFFS programme;
Prepare summary monthly reports for the Programme Specialist (Maputo) and Regional Technical Adviser (Addis Ababa);
Assist the Programme Specialist (Maputo) in extracting critical lessons learned and good practices from final evaluation, audit and monitoring reports.

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results (20%):

Reinforcement of country-level partnerships to achieve programme-project outcomes;
Contribute to a coordinated UN approach to work in Gaza Province through the development of strong partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society to further promote food security and nutrition;
Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation based on strategic goals of UNCDF, UNDP, and other agencies together with country needs and donors’ priorities;
Analysis and research of information on donors and identification of possible areas of cooperation; identification of opportunities for initiation of new development interventions;
Support to the preparation and articulation of the resource mobilization strategy in collaboration with the Programme Specialist (Maputo) and the UNCDF Regional Office.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNCDF;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge management and Learning:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and UNCDF and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues, fiscal decentralization and approaches to effective, efficient and accountable local public financial management, Performance Based Grant systems in particular;
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 and UNCDF.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Builds strong relationships with clients (primarily Government), focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Ability to manage complex problems proactively and effectively, including responses to field based emergencies;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
IT competencies in Word, Excel, Power Point and internet.

Management and Leadership:

Demonstrates strong analytical and management 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Business Administration, Development Planning or other relevant discipline; OR
A combination of relevant academic qualifications at Bachelor’s Degree level in the disciplines outlined above and at least 12 years’ practical relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s Degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years relevant work experience in the areas of public finance, public administration and project management in a governmental, multi-lateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting; OR Bachelor’s Degree with 12 years of experience in the same areas;
Experience of local government and/or public financial management in Mozambique would be an advantage;
An understanding of the current economic, social and political dynamics in Mozambique is desirable;
Strong IT skills.

Language:

Fluent in Portuguese and a good command of written and spoken English.