UNDP Jobs - 52455- Technical Analyst

Technical Analyst

Location :

Havana, CUBA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 Year

Languages Required :

English Spanish

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 Year

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

Cuba has been implementing the Economic and Social Policy Guidelines, which provide the basis for updating the Cuban economic development model that emphasizes economic revitalization to increase efficiency and competitiveness, make room for new management modalities, and empower territorial (municipal and local) governments. Given the present conditions and the foreseeable international situation, the economic policy shall be aimed at addressing economic problems through two types of solutions that require mutual coherence:

Short-term solutions that eradicate the deficit in the balance of payments, maximize export earnings and substitute imports, while eliminating the issues that immediately impact economic efficiency, motivation to work, and income distribution and creating the necessary infrastructural and productive conditions that facilitate the transit to a higher stage development;
Longer term sustainable development solutions that provide for a high level of food and energy self-sufficiency, an efficient use of the human potential and a high competitiveness in traditional productions, as well as the development of new goods and services of high value added.

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Cuba (UNDAF) focuses its cooperation on priority areas, one of them concern to Sustainable Economic Development and Governability. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Cooperation Programme in Cuba for 2014-2018, in line with UNDAF and in conformity with the Government of Cuba.

The CPD has the overall aim to support the implementation of the Guidelines in the priority areas for cooperation and promote sustainable development with an integrated development focus.

Even though a thematic approach to programming will be used, a comprehensive approach shall prevail linking the enhancement of economic and social sectors with the welfare of people, protection of the environment, climate change adaptation and approach to risk management . gender mainstreaming, empowerment of women, attention to generational issues, capacity development; and the promotion of local development will be cross-cutting themes.

Additionally, the different UNDP Programmes and projects are and will be focus on decentralization process in Cuba, constituting a relevant area with a sector-wide and multi-donor nature. The Economic Sustainable Development and Governability implied introduce and enhanced national and subnational actors with suitable mythology to promote local human development, strengthening of local capacities and the adoption of development processes with solid sustainability logic and citizen participation.

The identification and implementing activities concerning the key productive sectors in order to increase and diversify exports, substitute imports, and enlarge efficiency as a key entry point, in which strengthening value chains an promoting productive linkages, technology transfers and improve management are considered relevant elements. On this regards, it is essential to develop planning, management, incentive and coordination mechanisms of improve performance Key productive sector at local level.

Work at sub-national level and local is considered another relevant process in order to promote socioeconomic development, enhanced the new roles and functions assigned to local level of authorities and institutions. Assist local government authorities and other stakeholders improving their management skills and provide a set of suitable instruments is an important objective. The different interventions are carried out using gender –equality approach and taking in to account differences between population groups, as well as local peculiarities.

Based on the strengths, priorities and specificities of local actors, the cooperation’s framework encourages productive activities that generate opportunities and complementary and help improve the quality of life of the population.

Taking into to account all the previous arguments, UNPD Cuba has signed with the Government (MINCEX) the Program “Integrated Territorial Platforms for Local Development” that will provide the suitable environment to implements differences initiatives focus on local – Territorial development process. This Programme will allow developing different projects & activities to enhance local development process.

Internal and external contacts:

Government officials:

Directors, specialists; technicians;
Exchange information, persuade, advocate and represent the Programme.

Local authorities:

Presidents of provinces, vice presidents, directors, coordinators, municipalities officials and specialists;
Represent the Programme,, influence/persuade, exchange information.

Donors:

Technical responsible of bilateral, multilateral and decentralized cooperation;
Represent the Programme, exchange information, advocate, and partnership.

Partners from decentralized cooperation entities:

Majors, authorities, universities representative, specialists, NGO representatives;
Represent the Programme,, exchange information, influence/persuade, advocate, partnership, fundraising.

Colleagues from UNDP and other U.N. agencies:

United Nations System officer, programme managers, focal points for local development, area managers, other UN Agencies officers;
Exchange information, influence/persuade, and represents the Programme.

Beneficiaries:

Represent the Programme, advocate, and communication.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure design and implementation of territorial strategies and methodologies for local-territorial development process;
Ensure coordination with UN Agencies and international cooperation partners, especially in the territories of UNDP intervention;
Strengthen Local and territorial economic development (LED) strategies;
Promote Partnership Development, advocacy and Resources mobilization withbilateral and decentralized cooperation partnerships.

Ensure design and implementation of territorial strategies and methodologies for local-territorial development process;

Drive local human development sustainable and integral initiatives to reach Programme objectives and demands;
Technical support to territorial area focal points or local managers in the implementation of local strategies for development;
Ensure close collaboration and creation of synergies between the different levels of actions and strategies of the programme (local-national);
Support and empower local working groups as a mythological mechanism of local development and management;
Ensure a coherent between local working groups, territories and the national Programme mechanism coordination and decision making committee;
Continuously monitor local actions plans guarantying Programme delivery financial and human resources strategies;
Undertake assessment of opportunities for the Programme intervention looking for an effective utilization of resources;
Realize missions to the territories in order to guarantee permanent technical assistance and monitoring projects activities and local working plan Support in the implementation of capacity building actions on improving mechanism, tools and methodologies for local development strategies.

Ensure coordination with UN Agencies and international cooperation partners, especially in the territories of UNDP intervention;

Contribute to generate a territorial approach in United Nations Agencies actions and new alliances and synergies;
Maintain permanent flux of information from and toward the Programme and the UN Agencies and participate in Inter Agency Groups;
Work coordinately with other international actors especially in the territories of UNDP work for an inclusive and participative environment;
Identify Programmes and initiatives of United Nation System in support of territorial development and ensure its coordination and dialogue;
Organize formal and informal internal and external networks of communities of practices and meeting at territorial level in order to reach a better impacts and relations.

Strengthen territorial economic development strategies;

Ensure coordination between territorial, national and international actions related to territorial economic development;
Preparation of substantive inputs into the socio-economic strategies, capacity assessment and projects design at local and national level;
Identify areas of innovation and best practice to enhance Programme performance en LED;
Support the identification of the territorial economic development strategies and capacities in order to strength LED;
Contribute to implement the international component of the Programme related to territorial economic development;
Ensure continuous and mutually reinforcing knowledge sharing within DEL component of the Programme;
Identify and recommend new LED strategies to secure new partnerships and mobilize additional resources based on Programme requirement and emerging opportunities.

Promote Partnership Development, advocacy and Resources mobilization with bilateral and decentralized cooperation partnerships.

Maintain active relationships and partnerships with the Government at local and national level, relevant NGOs, South South, academia and bilateral and decentralized cooperation actors related to enhance collaboration, resources mobilization, sharing of ideas and to influence agenda and priority setting;
Support to advocacy efforts of the Programme with government counterpart, build effective partnerships, develop critical relationship and networks with development partners;
Undertake assessment of project proposal in coordination with international cooperation actors guarantying the he viability of projects design;
Support to the evaluation of the projects at local level within international cooperation’s strategies;
Identify and recommend new strategies to secure new partnerships and mobilize additional resources based on Programme requirement and emerging opportunities.

Impact of Results

Professional mechanisms and team created to facilitate the territorial implementation of the programme;
Articulated network of partners, United Nations programmes and Agencies strategies using the programme framework,
Mechanisms created to implement;
Bilateral, multilateral and Decentralized cooperation partnership established and monitored with projects established within the Programme Management process;
Impact of actions in the implementation of the Programme territorial strategies and activities with effectiveness of management in assessing capacities, rules and responsibility;
Impact of actions in the implementation of territorial strategies and methodology; in the coordination with UN Agencies in general, UN Programmes especially in the UNDP territories work in economic development approach and strategies of the Programme; and in the decentralized cooperation partnership are realized with effectiveness of management in assessing capacities, rules and responsibility;
The professional quality of the work in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to partners needs is established.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrated commitment to UNDP mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Managerial Competencies

Demonstrated skills in leadership and management with a good administrative background;
Demonstrated Professional Foundation and reliability;
Demonstrated Specialization attainment and sustainability;
Strong interpersonal skills with ability to support supervise and motivate a culturally diverse, professional staff.
Focuse on client needs and results
Able to make decisions, take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the decisions make.
Sound judgment, vision and high-level negotiation and communication skills
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Patience and sensitivity to develop and nurture commitment with an innovative team of people
Participative and collaborative working approach;
Demonstrated adaptive capabilities;
Demonstrated value on work;

Technical/Functional

Mature understanding of development programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
Shares knowledge and experience with dynamic and rigorous approach;
Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas;
Ability to perform a variety of specialized activities related to programme managing;
Strong IT skills;
Professional foundation and development;
Collaborative and analytic approach to work.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s or advanced degree in relevant fields such as Social and/or Political Studies, Science, Development and/or Economics Areas.

Experience:

At least 2 years of experience working in the field of development;
Of which, minimum 2 years of experience working with governance and local development, of which 1 year in managerial role and position;
Of which, at least 2 years of deep Knowledge of the mechanism and methodology and previous experience in working with subnational governments and promoting local development agendas.
Knowledge of the role, mechanism and function of decentralized international cooperation and previous experience in working with them;
Experience on the territorial and local planning and management methodology;
Experience at national level coordination of actions at territorial level;
Knowledge of the mechanism and methodology of ART programme and previous experience in working with them;
UNDP technical experience and knowledge of human development approach;
Proven experience on fundraising and international relations;
Managing human and financial resources;
Relationship and network building capacities;
Experience on concepts such as contextual and policy analysis, participative approaches and partnership and their relation to international development work;
Supporting and managing people in remote sites/distance management;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in Spanish;
Fluency in English (oral and written);
Working knowledge in Italian or French will be an asset.