Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, working in 177 countries and territories. UNDP Kosovo positions itself as a development partner that brings global knowledge through a multi-sectoral approach – the key comparative advantage of UNDP, and contributes to sustainable development in Kosovo through three outcomes: i) By 2025, all men and women in Kosovo enjoy from more accountable, effective, transparent, and gender responsive institutions at all level ensuring access to justice, equality and participation for all; ii) By 2025, women and men in Kosovo, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, have increased access to decent work and benefit from sustainable and inclusive economic development that is more resilient to impacts of climate change, disasters and emergencies; and iii) By 2025, all communities in Kosovo, equitably benefit from inclusive engagement and greater social cohesion. 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Assistant Resident Representative & Programme Coordinator, the Programme Analyst is responsible for managing UNDP’s programme in the area of UNDP’s Sustainable Growth and Climate Resilience. The Programme Analyst leads programme formulation, implementation, monitoring & evaluation as well as outreach and partnerships within his/her portfolio. The Programme Analyst provides analytical and policy advice services, and spearheads innovation and new collaborative approaches that aim to significantly scale up the impact and reach of UNDP’s work in Kosovo. This includes cross-portfolio approaches to gender equality, innovation, SDG financing and digitalization.

The Programme Analyst supervises and leads programme support staff and/or JPOs and UN Volunteers, and coordinates activities of projects’ staff. The Programme Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations team, all programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP regional and HQ staff and government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral development partners, private sector, and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

Within the portfolio, the Programme Analyst leads the identification of emerging opportunities for strategic partnerships as well as resource mobilization that ensure a continued expansion of UNDP’s value proposition across projects and programmes as well as policy and advisory services. To this end, the Programme Analyst is expected to contribute to as well as proactively build knowledge networks and alliances that amplify and position UNDP’s technical and normative global agenda around sustainable growth and climate resilience.

The Programme Analyst will contribute to the promotion and implementation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy, particularly with regard to the mainstreaming of gender equality in all programmes and projects under her/his management as well as contribution towards Agenda 2030 and SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme in the field of sustainable growth and climate resilience, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Analytical leadership within the portfolio and of social and economic trends, partners’ strategies and Kosovo strategic priorities, including economic recovery and future post-COVID focused responses;
  • Lead both policy formulation and analytical work as well as programmatic support and interventions on green growth initiatives and green finance, circular economy, air quality, climate resilience, social inclusion and development financing
  • Design of new initiatives and project proposals in the above sectoral areas in line with the UNDP Kosovo Results and Resources Framework;
  • The incumbent will contribute to and ensure gender mainstreaming in programmes and projects under her/his management in close coordination with the Gender Programme Officer.
  • Engage with Academia, Civil Society, financing institutions, private sector and other partners in the relevant specific thematic areas
  • Provision of substantive inputs to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) of the United Nations Kosovo Team planning and implementation.

Management of the sustainable growth and climate resilience programme and supervision of the sustainable growth and climate resilience team focusing on quality control from design to implementation of the programme component and associated projects, in order to achieve the following results:

  • Lead with design UNDP Kosovo programme and associated projects within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s global priorities into local interventions. Coordination of implementation arrangements with partners. 
  • Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones.
  • Initiation of projects, presentation of the project to Project Appraisal Committee, entering project into Atlas (as required), determination of required revisions
  • Quality assurance to on-going projects through regular meetings to review progress of the project towards expected results, review risks and opportunities, formulate recommendations for improvement, follow up to review implementation of recommendations. 
  • Ensure synergy and close working between projects within the portfolio and with Governance and Peacebuilding portfolio and respective projects
  • Coordination of the mandatory and budget reviews and re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. The Programme Analyst performs functions of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval and participates in recruitment processes for projects.
  • Design and oversee the implementation of project and outcome evaluations in the thematic area.
  • Contribute to Audit preparation and ensure effective follow-up on audit recommendations. 
  • Ensure preparation of aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports. 
  • Ensure timely and quality contribution to UNDP’s corporate planning and reporting instruments.
  • Ensure compliance with UNDP’s corporate social and environmental screening requirements of new projects in Kosovo as well as championing UNDP’s gender mainstreaming ambitions across all interventions;
  • Ensure strong cooperation with UNDP Kosovo Operations Team
  • Ensure close working with Communications team for visibility of results within the programme area.

Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Strengthening of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, Kosovo needs and donors’ priorities, new institutions and players. 
  • Active participation in UN coordination and cooperation bodies in the framework of the UNSDCF and substantive contribution to the joint efforts.
  • Active participation in donor coordination mechanisms in the area of responsibility.
  • Active contribution to the overall office effort in strategic partnerships and resource mobilization.

Provides top quality policy advice services, economic analysis and facilitates knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results

  • Contribution to facilitating and participating in policy dialogue, preparation of knowledge products on emerging policy issues and strategic positioning of UNDP Synthesis and sharing of best practices and lessons learnt relevant for Kosovo’s development priorities.
  • Support to policy development and institutions that will address Kosovo’s development priorities and needs in collaboration with the Kosovo institutions and other strategic partners.
  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Preparation of lessons learnt, success stories and documentation of programme results leading towards transformational change and best practice shared in social media.

Impact of Results:
The key results have an impact on the success of UNDP Kosovo’s programme within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as mobilization resources to achieve set programme goals.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Innovation

  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Leadership

  • Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management

  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action 

Communication

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery

  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
Preparing information for advocacy

  • Identifies and effectively communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts.
  • Creates effective advocacy strategies
  • Contributes to preparation of knowledge products and facilitates UNDP‘s engagement in advocacy and policy dialogue

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Results-Based Programme Development and Management
Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

  • Assesses project performance against set targets to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into future 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

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Building Strategic Partnerships 
Maintaining a network of contacts

  • Ensures building and strengthening of strategic partnerships, and expansion of networks
  • Maintains an established network of contacts for collaboration and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
  • Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders and promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings 

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Gender

  • Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a gender perspective

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
Enhancing processes or products

  • Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
  • Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
  • Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
  • Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Resource Mobilization 
Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

  • Analyzes development context and information/databases on potential and actual donors 
  • Develops a database of project profiles.  Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors
  • Develops a resource mobilization strategy for the portfolio

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Basic research and analysis

  • 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

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

  • Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
  • Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks 
  • Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
  • Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
  • Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
Preparing information for global advocacy

  • Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
  • Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Client Orientation
Establishing effective client relationships

  • 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
  • Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in a field related to environmental management economics, social sciences or other related field.

Experience:

  • 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing development advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Fluency in the use of office software packages, experience in handling of web- based management systems

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English, Albanian and/or Serbian is required.

Other:

  • Non-Smoking environment 

Application Instructions:

All interested candidates must complete the UNDP PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11). Without the completed and signed P11 Form, your application will not be considered. P11 Form can be downloaded at http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/jobs/

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

  • Download and complete the the UNDP PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11);
  • 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 short 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);
  • System will only allow one attachment. All docs (P11, academic qualifications/diploma) should be included as one attachment.