Background

The joint programme “Enhancing Rural Resilience in Yemen” (ERRY) is a three-year EU-funded programme which gathers UNDP (Convening Agency), FAO, ILO and WFP building on their mutual strengths and experience, expected to start in February 2016 targeting four Governorates.
The recent crisis in Yemen has reached unprecedented levels of intensity which has exacerbated income losses, rising goods and commodities prices, leading to a significant decrease of households’ purchasing power endangering their abilities to meet basic needs. In rural areas, farmers will likely miss two consecutive  planting seasons due to the accrued displacement, unavailability of agricultural inputs, lack of irrigation and physical destruction of farming assets in some cases, this further aggravating food insecurity in the long-run. As 29% of arable land is irrigated through wells or water trucks, fuel constitutes a key input for agriculture, and water scarcity directly hits production. The average monthly expenditures for each family is spent on basic needs such as staples, water, medicines and gas. Price increases (gas prices increased more than four-fold, and water trucking three-fold) have fuelled negative coping mechanisms such as sale of household’s assets (cattle and jewelry) that can trigger dangerous asset depletion and additional descent into poverty. Six months into the crisis, over a quarter of businesses had already closed, and half of businesses managed by women had also closed thereby highlighting an unequal impact of the crisis.
The overall objective of the ERRY joint programme is to enhance the resilience and self-reliance of crisis-affected rural communities through support to livelihoods stabilisation and recovery, local governance and improved access to sustainable energy.

ERRY is an ambitious programme which will be articulated through the achievement of two outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Communities are better able to manage local risks and shocks for increased economic self-reliance and enhanced social cohesion;
• Outcome 2: Institutions are responsive, accountable and effective to deliver services, build the social contract and meet community identified needs.

ERRY’s target groups will focus on the most vulnerable such as women, the unemployed, youth, the Muhamasheen (a socio-economically marginalized group found in the peripheries of urban centers), internally displaced persons (IDPs) and stressed host communities, using inclusive, participatory and conflict-sensitive tools to mobilise and involve them in the proposed activities. Active partnerships with local authorities, the private sector, communities, the Social Fund for Development (SFD) and NGOs will be sought for the successful implementation of the programme.

By adopting an “early recovery” approach, participating UN organisations (PUNOs) can address the recovery needs related to livelihoods that have arisen during the humanitarian phase of the crisis, using humanitarian mechanisms that align with development principles, thereby enhancing resilience.
Strengthening resilience requires that the Yemen humanitarian response addresses root causes as well as immediate needs. Embedded in the humanitarian response of meeting immediate needs, the Enhancing Rural Resilience programme will focus on long-term objective of building back better, strengthening the resilience of the vulnerable rural communities and individuals in Yemen that have been affected and traumatized by the conflict from the onset of the current escalated crisis. A resilience-based approach and early recovery represent a better use of funding by providing a better return on investment over time than simply meeting immediate needs. 

The programme will ensure that households and communities assisted during the crisis are better prepared for future shocks and are able to cope with another crisis without external support.

A resilience approach in Yemen means focusing on:

• Building upon the benefits of humanitarian action;
• Promoting local ownership and strengthening capacities;
• Basing the proposed interventions on a clear understanding of the context to address root causes and vulnerabilities as well as the direct results of the crisis;
• Reducing risk, promoting equality and preventing discrimination through adherence to development principles that seek to build on humanitarian programs and catalyze sustainable development opportunities.

The massive destruction of the social-economic infrastructures and social fabric, and the impact of the escalating conflict on livelihoods will have grave consequences for longer-term development. The resilience-based approach adopted by ERRY will allow the Yemeni people living in rural areas targeted by the programme to use the benefits of humanitarian action to seize development opportunities, strengthen their resilience, and establishes a sustainable process of sustained recovery from the crisis while addressing chronic vulnerabilities.

The programme coordinator will provide general technical and operational support, management and coordination of ERRY and will play a critical role in the implementation of the joint programme, ensuring proper coordination among the programme partners and a full and transparent process of communication between government representatives, PUNOs, the European Union and other stakeholders. S/he will work impartially with all partners, and will represent and support ERRY as a whole, not an individual agency.

The Joint Programme Manager will work under the overall guidance of the national Programme Steering Committee (involving between the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, UN Resident Coordinator and the European Union, with participation of the participating UN organizations and other stakeholder representatives). S/he will periodically report to inter-agency meetings composed of the Heads of the participating UN organizations or their delegated representatives. Day-to-day supervision will be carried out by UNDP, the convening agency, under the Deputy Country Director for Programmes. S/he will head the central Joint Coordination Unit in Sana’a and the subnational coordination units in the North covering Hajjah and Hodeidah Governorates, and the South from Aden covering Lahj and Abyan Governorates. S/he will directly supervise and manage an M&E Specialist, a Communications Specialist, a Finance Associate and an Administrative Assistant, in addition to the subnational coordination arrangements that are to be defined during the inception phase of the joint programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities will be articulated around the key functions

Ensures effective representation and strategic leadership, overall management and advisory support to the joint programme:

• Coordinates the implementation of the joint programme and ensures that the programme remains coherent as a joint programme, relevant, and is in line with various elements of the programme document including the programme strategies and coordination arrangements set out in the programme document;
• Provides advice to both the national Programme Steering Committee and Participating UN Organizations on the vision and overall strategic direction of the Joint Programme;
• Establishes systems for ERRY outcome and output planning, implementation, and monitoring in line with EU and UN standards;
• Supports delivery of the programme outcomes;
• Represent ERRY at the national Programme Steering Committee, but also in other for a such as working groups, government consultations at the central and subnational levels, with donors, as required;
• Supervises and manages a small team of professional and administrative staff and the central and subnational levels.

Efficient co-ordination of ERRY activities among the programme agencies:

• With support from PUNOs and other partners, coordinates the development and timely preparation of detailed annual work plans and budgets for all joint programme activities;
• Oversees the disbursement of funds to the Participating UN Organizations through the MPTF Office, including the setting up of a separate account ledger for the pass-through funding modality;
• Ensure effective implementation of the project in accordance with the 2008 UNDG Guidance Note on Joint Programming, MPTF procedures and the Joint Programme Document (referred to as “Annex I” as per EU PAGODA terminology);
• Provide strategic policy and technical advice, develop support mechanisms for strengthening national ownership, technical leadership and coordination of the programme, with a view to ensuring the long term sustainability of programme activities;
• Devise appropriate strategies and approaches to ensure optimum use of available resources thereby enhancing the impact of programme activities;
• Maintain transparent and co-operative relations between key implementation partners, government counterparts, the donor and other national and international partners with an active stake in resilience-building, livelihoods support and economic recovery, social cohesion and local governance, through regular consultations, meetings and effective coordination.

Provides effective supervision, monitoring and evaluation support:

• Facilitates the achievement of joint programme results by timely monitoring of the progress of programme implementation and ensures on-going monitoring and annual reviews of work plans;
• Coordinates the production, submission to MPTFO/EU and dissemination of annual reports and consolidated results of the joint programme based on progress reports prepared by PUNOs;
• Monitors the fulfilment of the tasks assigned to the Administrative Agent (MPTFO) and Convening Agency (UNDP), in accordance with the joint programme document, PAGODA Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Agent and the Convening Agency and Participating UN Organizations;
• Develops and periodically reviews the programme’s M&E plan;
• Reports and updates on risks and risks management;
• Assumes the role of Secretariat of the national Programme Steering Committee (PSC), works closely with the PSC co-chairs and members, preparing the agenda and inputs for PSC meetings, assumes responsibility for follow up; supports the PSC actively in its advisory role;
• Undertakes periodic updates at meetings of the Heads of participating UN agencies to seek strategic guidance and quality assurance;
• Facilitates the ERRY Technical Committee meetings and develop their terms of reference;
• Oversee the implementation of the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and coordinating (independent) mid-term and final evaluations of ERRY in accordance UN Evaluation Group guidelines and the EU’s (particularly for the final evaluation).

Ensures effective partnership building, communications, and resource mobilization for the joint programme:

• In collaboration with PUNOs, provides technical support to the development of relevant advocacy and visibility documents;
• Coordinates with and ensures linkages and synergies with other resilience-building initiatives, particularly with regard to capacity development of relevant authorities/institutions;
• Consults with external partners including NGOs/CSOs engaged in similar/complementary activities to enhance coordination and partnerships amongst stakeholders working in the area;
• Takes an active advocacy role in communicating with the EU on behalf of the Joint Programme, under the authority of the Convening Agency;
• Strategically guide and manage the establishment of a Joint Coordination Unit and supervise designated staff members and personnel, as appropriate;
• Ensure establishment of implementation units at regional level who would work directly with contractors/NGOs working on the ground submitting progress reports to the Joint Coordination Unit;
• Facilitate donor missions and media relations, as appropriate;
• Coordinate strategic resource mobilization efforts as necessary with respect to downstream funding requirements and the expansion of the project following the completion of the inception phase.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Synthesizes best practices and lessons learned from ERRY for sharing between programme participants as well as external partners;
• Develops briefs on programme achievements and documents, including lessons learned;
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the PSC and the Convening Agency;
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treat all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

. 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.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promote knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Actively work towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, act on learning plan and apply newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology and general administration;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side) and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change;
• Ability to interact across a wide spectrum of people, as well as at the meeting table within managerial and government offices.

Management Competencies:

• Build strong relationships with clients, focus on impact and result for the client and respond positively to feedback;
• Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Lead team effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Communication and networking;
• Excellent oral communications skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interest of varied actors;
• Excellent writing skills, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Maturity an confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

Behavioral 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:    

• A master’s degree with specialisation in development studies, rural development, national resource management, economics, or other relevant fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in an international development setting, including using results-based management tools;
• Relevant field experience, especially in crisis or post-conflict settings;
• Experience in the MENA region would be an asset;
• Proven ability to deliver results in complex and challenging environments, and to translate strategies and good practices into practical and feasible solutions;
• In-depth understanding and experience of managing programmes/projects in the area of livelihoods, rural development, resilience, social cohesion, employment-generation and private sector support strategies in crisis or post-conflict settings;
• Previous experience of managing UN joint programme is an asset;
• Previous experience in Yemen is preferred.

Language:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required;
• Arabic proficiency is a strong asset.