Background

The Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, adopted in 2012, provides for the conduct of a constitutional referendum and elections. One of the mandates of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) which was established in 2013 is the provision of policy advice to the Federal Government of Somalia on the constitutional review process and subsequent referendum and preparations for elections. The United Nations has set up an Integrated Electoral Support Group comprising UNSOM and UNDP to provide electoral assistance in line with recommendations of a UN Needs Assessment Mission. This assistance is provided in a phased manner and the initial phase of support will focus on three priorities: the establishment and capacity development of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC); the development of the legal framework on elections; and the promotion of increased understanding of electoral processes and the legal framework. The bill establishing the NIEC was passed by the Federal Parliament in February this year and the process to select the NIEC commissioners has commenced. The UN Integrated Electoral Support Group led by the Chief Electoral Adviser will work closely with the NIEC, the Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs, Federal Parliament and other stakeholders to provide the necessary technical assistance for the elections and the referendum. The Chief Operations Adviser will head the electoral operations component of the UN Integrated Electoral Support Group and will report to the Chief Electoral Adviser.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Provision of electoral technical advice and support to Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC);
• Supervision and management of the Electoral Operations team;
• Frequent interaction with senior UN officials and other key stakeholders;
• Provision of support and regular reporting to the Chief Electoral Adviser.

Ensures provision of electoral technical advice and support to Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC):

• Assists the national electoral authorities in developing a concept of operations and operational plan for the referendum and elections;
• Supervises the implementation of Electoral Operations, which includes Electoral Logistics, Electoral Security, Electoral Information and communications technology development, Electoral Procedures, Electoral Training and Voter Registration;
• Leads, coordinates and supervises the provision of support, technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions in the above areas and provide high-level assistance and advice as required;
• Designs, leads, coordinates, supervises and contributes to the implementation of strategies and programmes to build the capacity of the NIEC, national counterparts and national institutions in the above areas.

Supervision and management of the Electoral Operations team:

• Supervise and manage the performance of national and international staff in the Electoral Operations team;
• Establishes effective communication mechanisms between HQ and field offices;
• Develop and update work plans for the Electoral Operations team and ensure regular reporting of progress;
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with other units and team members of the Integrated Electoral Support Group.

Frequent interaction with senior UN officials and other key stakeholders:

• Frequently interacts with senior UN officials and staff of the mission, Department of Political Affairs and/or Department of Field Support, UNDP and/or UNOPS;
• Frequently interacts with managers and senior staff of the mission and  country office; senior staff of specialized agencies, senior representatives of international and regional organizations and governments; heads and senior staff of the NIEC and other national institutions involved in the electoral process; heads and senior staff of political parties, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, institutes and foundations as well as media representatives, if authorized by the Chief Electoral Adviser;
• Establishes and maintains professional and productive partnerships with national counterpart institutions and other key stakeholders in the electoral process;
• Brief senior UN officials, partners, donors, counterparts as well as other key stakeholders on the electoral processes and provide regular reports, including to the head of the UN/mission as well as senior officials in UN headquarters;
• If required, offer electoral advice to UN senior management on the ground.

Provision of support and regular reporting to the Chief Electoral Adviser:

• Reports regularly to the Chief Electoral Adviser on election operations policies and procedures adopted by the NIEC and their implementation by local election administrations;
• Contribute to the preparation of briefing papers, reports and presentations;
• Regularly act as officer-in-charge in the absence of the Chief Electoral Adviser of the Integrated Electoral Support Group;
• Perform other related duties as required.

Impact of Results:

• The support of the United Nations in the area of responsibility contributes to credible and inclusive elections, minimizing violence and maximizing the chances of legitimate government, peace and stability;
• The United Nations mandated support in the area of responsibility is implemented effectively, using resources efficiently and minimizing risks to the organization;
• The supervisor has access to accurate and timely information as well as advice on the electoral process and its implications.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:         

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time.

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences advocating on behalf of UNDP’s mandate;
• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Orientation and Development Effectiveness:

• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis and reporting.

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• 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;
• Sets clear performance goals and standards; executes responsibilities accordingly.

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:

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization:

• Analyses information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Is motivated and demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development and learn.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation:

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:         

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international economics, international relations, law, public administration or related fields.

Experience:      

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas is required, including experience in more than two countries;
• At least five years of experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes is required;
• Experience in being in charge of electoral operations is required. United Nations electoral experience in a peacekeeping operation, political mission and/or a UN agency or other relevant international electoral experience is required;
• Experience in developing countries is required, as well as experience in post-conflict environments;
• Previous experience of managing an electoral operations team of different backgrounds at the senior level is essential, and the ability to manage and coordinate complex projects is necessary;
• Excellent organizational and communication skills are necessary, as well as proven capacity for constructive donor relations.

Language:           

• Fluency in spoken and written English required;
• Knowledge of a second UN language is desirable.