UNDP Jobs - 82111- Stakeholders Engagement Specialist (key expert)

Stakeholders Engagement Specialist (key expert)

Location :

Kramatorsk, UKRAINE

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

05-Dec-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

The European Investment Bank, in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, has provided, through the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme (UERP) multi-sector framework loan, a financing capacity of EUR 200 million for the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in five eastern Ukraine regions: Donetsk (government controlled), Luhansk (government controlled), Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, whose social services and infrastructure are under heavy pressure from the massive influx of internally displaced people and from other disruptions caused by the conflict. The ultimate goal of the Programme is to ensure decent living conditions for displaced people and host communities in these areas.

The final beneficiaries (FBs) of the EIB UERP framework loan are central, regional and municipal administrations and publicly owned enterprises (with the exclusion of private beneficiaries such as private-owned utilities services operating in the affected areas).

Due to the complexity of planning and implementation, EIB requested technical assistance provision from UNDP to facilitate the implementation of the Programme. A Cooperation Agreement between EIB/MRD and UNDP was signed on 16 December 2016.

Under this TA cooperation agreement, UNDP is helping EIB/MRD monitor recovery projects (further referred to as sub-projects), selected for financing under UERP, at different stages of their project cycle. UNDP is also responsible for developing regional and local level governance capacities in projects design and management (in particular in project design, procurement, contracting, social mitigation, good governance).

The Technical Assistance Project (TA Project) is carried out through a Technical Coordination Unit in Kramatorsk and four decentralized UNDP Technical Assistance Units in Luhansk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. The project will also potentially focus on other oblasts that are hosting significant influxes of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to help addressing the increased pressure on social infrastructure and sheltering.

The overall objective of this assignment is to ensure the proper implementation of Social Management Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plan for the UERP framework loan provided by the EIB. It is anticipated that the expert will contribute to expanding the EIB Early Recovery Project’s contribution to strengthening of social cohesion and inclusion in Ukraine’s conflict-affected areas, and ensure community participation, transparency and accountability of the program implementation by means of building stakeholder engagement and communication models, developing capacity of final beneficiaries, the civil society, the authorities and other key stakeholders to work together on social recovery projects; and mitigating any adverse social impacts and risks related to the implementation of early recovery projects. Specific objectives of this assignment are to:

Ensure compliance with EIB social standards by integrating social management and stakeholder engagement procedures and practices into the implementation of the UERP;
Foster stakeholder engagement and accountability through communication and participatory monitoring of the UERP sub-project implementation;
Build local capacity for participatory planning, implementation and monitoring of recovery projects and to address other development issues facing local communities and, in particular, the vulnerable groups.

In this regard, UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Stakeholders engagement Specialist (key expert) to support implementation of the EIB Technical Assistance Project (TA).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of Technical Specialist, RPP and direct supervision of the Project Manager (EIB- Technical Assistance project) /Team Leader of the EIB-TA Project), the Stakeholders engagement Specialist (key expert) will be responsible for providing technical support on social and environment safeguards issues to regional and local government clients. Specifically, s/he will perform the following key tasks aimed at implementation of the Social Management Plan (SMP) and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the Ukraine Early Recovery (ERP) Programme:

Ensure each subproject and activities under the project are subjected to the Project Social and Environment Safeguards compliance process and procedures;
Prepare guidelines, tools and notes for use in the project based on relevant social/environmental policies, acts and regulations/ directives of the Government of Ukraine (GOU) and relevant safeguard policies of UNDP and European Investment Bank;
Ensure social/environmental screening of subprojects and help to prepare Social/Environmental Management Plans;
Organize social/environmental orientation & awareness, and social/environmental trainings;
Develop social/environmental information materials and help the client in disseminating the information to the relevant stakeholders;
Review subproject and activity plans, design, cost, and bid documents to ensure environmental factors and mitigations are incorporated, and subproject/ activity documents and environmental documents are in line with the requirements and procedures;
Lead site supervisions during implementation of subprojects and activities, and provide substantial analytical feedback to UNDP/EIB;
Communicate with vendors, contractors, and subcontractors for necessary social/environmental compliance;
Evaluate social/environmental risks, monitor potential collaboration with key stakeholders;
Organize local-level interaction programs on social/environmental screening and social/environmental;
Develop reports in a manner understood by non-technical people for effective dissemination purpose;
Issue recommendations on areas of concern, or areas for improvement in current and future sub-projects;
Participate in relevant working group meetings and share information with local partners;
Develop the synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in social/environment safeguards;
Perform other duties as assigned by the Project Manager (EIB-TA project)/Team Leader and/or UNDP management.

MEASURABLE OUTPUTS OF THE WORK ASSIGNMENT:

Full and appropriate implementation of the TA Project Activities using UNDP/EIB/GOU Social/Environment Safeguards Policies and Procedures and UNDP Standard Operating Procedures;
Full and appropriate implementation of the Social Management Plan (SMP) and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the Ukraine Early Recovery (ERP) Programme;
Full and appropriate implementation of the TA Project deliverables, including capacity building in various stages of a project cycle by various focus groups, and efficient use of Project funds;
Reporting, quality monitoring and closure activities completed.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR EVALUATION OF RESULTS:

Annual work plan for the TA is fully and timely implemented;
UNDP TA Project operational requirements are carried out in strict accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Leadership;
People Management;
Delivery;
Communication;
Innovation;
Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Conflict Management;
Result orientation;
Teamwork;
Self –management and emotional intelligence;
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing. Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things. Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.
Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise. Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures;
Client Orientation. Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion. Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

OTHER:

High sense of responsibility to ensure that operational objectives, policies and requirements are met;
Good facilitation skills;
Strong organizational and time management skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Project Management, or another related field;
A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience - with a comprehensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, community development, project /programme management or other related field;
Experience working with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, governmental and non-governmental institutions, local communities and civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders would be an asset;
Experience in working with IDPs and/or Refugees related social infrastructure will be an asset;
Familiarity with UN/UNDP financial and procurement management procedures and experience with ATLAS would be an asset;
Experience with coordination of technical advisory support programs would be an asset;
Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian is required.

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button.
Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in or paste your Resume into the last box.
Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (P-11). When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors.
Without the completed and signed P11 your application will not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at link. Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.

This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 5 December 2018
UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.