UNDP Jobs - 73482- Chief Technical Advisor

Chief Technical Advisor

Location :

Dushanbe, Tajikistan with frequent travel to Afghanistan and Central Asia, TAJIKISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

04-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

195 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

October 2017-June 2018

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

Border Management Programme of UNDP Tajikistan is an umbrella programme composed of two complementary projects:

The Border Management in Northern Afghanistan Project (BOMNAF II) aims to support cross-border security and cooperation by improving the ability of the Afghanistan Border Police to practice Integrated Border Management in northern Afghanistan. This will improve cross-border cooperation, the capacity to reduce crime, and improve legal trade, travel, and commerce along Afghanistan’s border with Central Asia. It will also contribute to mutual trust, regional development, conflict resolution and prevention, and enhanced human security, as well as to indirectly enhance and expand economic development on both sides of the border. This will be achieved by building capacity through the provision of infrastructure, training and equipment to the Afghan Border Police deployed on Afghanistan’s northern frontier.

The Border Management Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF) II project is a three-year initiative that commenced in July 2014. In June 2017, the project was granted a No Cost Extension for additional one year until June 2018. The Project’s field activities focus around the three activity areas of Infrastructure Construction, Equipment Supply and Training Delivery to Afghan Border Police and Afghan Customs Department personnel on Afghanistan’s Northern borders with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Promoting Cross-border Cooperation through effective management of Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan (BMP) aims to enhance security in the border areas of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which in turn will strengthen resilience and stability that reduce the threat of terrorism and religious extremism, illicit narcotics trade and cross-border crimes, including human trafficking. This will be achieved through capacity building efforts at the national and local levels. At the national level, the project will enhance the capacity of relevant state institutions in the implementation of Border Management and Counter Narcotics Strategies of the Government of Tajikistan. At the local level, the project will build/upgrade 6 Border Crossing Points and 2 cross border markets in Tajikistan.

BMP started in April 2015 with the end date in September 2017. The project no-cost extension till September 2018 is under donor’s possible consideration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Goals and objectives:

In close coordination with the UNDP ARR/Programme and respective Programme Analyst, the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will provide technical advice and assist in representation functions to ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the BMP and BOMNAF II projects. S/he will ensure delivery of inputs, work schedules and target outputs and activities in Tajikistan and Afghanistan as scheduled in the projects’ documents and will report to the UNDP Country Director in Dushanbe.

S/he will also coordinate project activities with relevant Government institutions, donors and other stakeholders in both Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The CTA will conduct preparatory work in the Border Management field along the and will formulate project ideas, concepts and proposals for follow up phases of the BOMNAF and BMP projects, and present to potential donors for funding.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Chief Technical Advisor will be responsible for leading the UNDP Border Management projects, coordination among national and international partners and stakeholders; monitoring, evaluating project progress, reporting and communication as well as provision of strategic guidance and substantive technical support in resource mobilisation efforts of the CO in future engagement in BM related field.

Main duties of the CTA will include:

Integrated Border Management (IBM) Awareness, Advocacy and Communication:

Provide substantive support in organizing and conducting cross-border and/or regional events (i.e. conferences, workshops, handover ceremonies, etc.) with clear links with SDGs in general and SDG 16 in particular, and in line with the Heart of Asia Confidence Building Measures;
Communicate, encourage and support the implementation of recommendations and declarations of regional events, technical studies on IBM and related fields;
Ensure the Project Boards of both BMP and BOMNAF projects, as well as other beneficiaries and partners remain up-to-date on BM developments in the region and project implementation progress through facilitating and holding Technical Working Groups, Steering Committee/Project Board meetings, ad hoc meetings, etc.
Facilitate and accompany internal and external missions to project fields to present and inform about UNDP BM projects’ outputs and perspectives;
Ensure proper close-up of current phases of the BMP and BOMNAF projects including financial closure, disposal of assets, reporting, etc;
Work closely with UNDP communication team to produce presentations, brochures, pamphlets, press releases, success stories, etc. in accordance with donors and UNDP communication and visibility guidelines;

Resource Mobilization:

Conduct feasibility study along Northern Borders of Afghanistan, and the Tajik-Afghan border to identify Border Agency needs, and cross-border trade and cooperation challenges and provide recommendations for further Capacity Building and Cross-border cooperation improvement;
Design, formulate and confirm Concept Notes and Project Documents for follow-up phases of BMP and BOMNAF and present to potential donors both in Tajikistan and Afghanistan to secure funding;

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

Undertake M&E missions to project fields in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and other Central Asian countries to ensure Quality Assurance of construction and training activities;
Take part in external M&E missions whenever required; provide opinion and feedback to M&E findings;
Prepare and develop internal and external reports and documentation including narrative progress reports, as required;

Donor coordination:

Maintain close liaison and promote good working relations with donor and international community in Dushanbe and Kabul through bilateral meetings, and coordination meetings to Border Management, including the Border Implementation Group (BIG) meeting;
Participate at regional and international events related to Border Management, including the Central Asian Border Security Initiative (CABSI), etc. to inform donor community, partner organizations and other relevant players about the UNDP Border Management Projects.

For detailed information, please refer to annex 1- Terms of Reference of the below link.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism;
Communication;
Teamwork;
Accountability.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University Degree in Management or International Development, Public Administration, Security sector reform or related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience working closely in the border management sector in Afghanistan, and/or Central Asia;
Experience in project management, administration and implementation within the development world. Working knowledge of development interventions relating to governance, cross border cooperation and economic development is desirable;
Proven experience in project proposal development and fund raising skills. Experience in collaborative relationship management across donor agencies, government, project implementing partners and civil society;
Strong working knowledge of UNDP, donor assistance in Afghanistan and the CIS region, regional security and cross-border relations.

Language:

Fluency in English, with excellent writing and speaking skills. Knowledge of Dari and/or Russian languages is an asset.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice: http://www.undp.tj/va/upload/va/ICPN_Chief%20Technical%20Advisor.docx