UNDP Jobs - 59516- Senior Project Officer

Senior Project Officer

Location :

Kathmandu, NEPAL

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

17-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six months (with possibility of extension)

Languages Required :

English

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

In Nepal, after the end of a ten year armed conflict, the victims of human rights violations started to organize themselves with the support of human rights NGOs working on transitional justice (TJ) issues. There are more than 50 victims groups organized in different forums in Nepal. Victims of human rights violations during the conflict have increasingly felt that they are largely excluded in addressing their real needs and aspirations in the transitional justice debate which was highly focused on issues of justice. Despite their involvement in the discussion around the transitional justice, the different conflict victims felt that they were not recognized as an independent actor or the beneficiary of the whole transitional justice process, but were treated as a secondary element in the TJ process. Thus, they have remain fragmented, their voice was ignored and their concern was never regarded as a common voice.

Despite the lack of trust among some conflict victims’ groups, the conflict victims’ groups have established a working relationship to advocate for a victim centric transitional justice process asking for their recognition in the overall transitional justice process. While their demand is for the participatory, inclusive and transparent transitional process, they are also actively involved in the advocacy for the TJ mechanisms to be incompliance with the international human rights principle.

The TJRC was launched in July 2011 and closed in 2014. The TJRC was established to enhance local knowledge of TJ issues, support effective public participation, especially of the conflict victims in the TJ process, and contribute towards the objective of promoting and protecting the voices of those who seek truth, justice and peace in Nepal. The objectives of the TJRC were:

To provide a learning and platform for victims of human rights violations and abuses, civil society, academia, researchers, lawyers, and decision makers to develop a broad based consensus in compliance with international principles of TJ;
To support efforts to build capacity of practitioners involved in peace building and TJ initiatives; and
To provide a liaison office for the referral of victims of human rights violations and abuses to appropriate institutions, networks and service providers.

This project will reestablish the TJRC as a centre to support the work of victims groups and in particular the Conflict Victims Common Platform to advocate and run activities to support victims of the conflict in Nepal.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Senior Project Officer of the Transitional Justice Resource Centre (TJRC), has responsibility for achieving the project results (outputs) relating to the TJRC, as defined in the approved project document and in the annual workplans through timely and quality implementation and monitoring. The Senior Project Officer of the TJRC, leads the TJRC staff. Provides leadership to the team, partners and contractors and build smooth relationship with partners.

Management of the TJRC, implementing activities by mobilizing goods and services, in accordance with UNDP POPP and the UNDP Nepal Standard Operating Procedures:

Assist in preparing annual project workplans and related sub-plans (procurement/ HR plan, quarterly plans if required, and others as necessary);
Build, motivate and lead a high-performing team; coordinate and supervise the work of the project personnel;
Ensure timely and good-quality implementation of workplan activities;
Continuously monitor progress against the approved work-plan; Identify changes in the external environment and promptly agree necessary solutions/actions ( ex. related to the planning and implementation of activities, need for new activities) with the Project Manager, UNDP office and Project Board;
Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training and micro-capital grants to initiative activities, including drafting terms of reference and work specifications and overseeing all contractors’ work;
In cooperation with the Project Manager, manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, through advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures);
Assist the Project Manager in monitoring financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports; ensue preparation of budget revisions as necessary; follow up with UNDP programme associate and finance staff on issues;
Coordinate an exit strategy at least 6 months ahead of the project closure date; ensure closure of the project is done according to the established procedures.

Monitoring of progress and risks, ensuring that changes are controlled and problems addressed; Reporting on progress including measures to address challenges and opportunities:

Assist in monitor events as determined in the project monitoring schedule plan, and update the plan (in Atlas and off-Atlas) as required;
Assist in managing and monitoring the project risks initially identified and submit new risks to the Project Manager;
Assist in organizing regular Project Board Meetings and perform regular progress reporting to the project board as agreed to with the board;
Assist in the preparation of progress reports with the frequency and using the template recommended by the UNDP office;
Assist in preparing final project reports and papers;
Ensure gender sensitive responses to programming and activities.

Support partnerships and advocacy activities at project level

Be familiar with the activities of other development projects in the sector/area, establish contact and keep up-to date with their work;
Create and maintain partnerships with local institutions, NGOs, government bodies and academia in the transitional justice project target areas;
Support the partnerships and advocacy activities agreed by the UNDP office in the area/sector covered by the project.

Ensure implementation of knowledge management activities

Regular exchange of information/experience with other projects, cross-learning and sharing results and good practices;
Ensure the TJRC has the required communication package and preparation, upon request of the UNDP office, of information materials for dissemination within UNDP globally and regionally, and to external stakeholders;
Capture lessons learnt during project implementation – a lessons learnt log can be used in this regard;
Participation in regular internal meetings;
Participation in training events, communities of practice, codifying and sharing knowledge facilitation and organization of training for project staff to enable them to perform at the required level.

Provide advice and expertise on human rights and transitional justice issues

Represent the TJRC in meetings in Nepal and possibly abroad;
Develop, in partnership with other actors, the goal and mission of the TJRC;
Guide the programmatic direction of the TJRC.

Impact of Results

The results of the work of Senior Project Officer of the Transitional Justice Resource Centre has a direct impact on the implementation of the project and the achievement of results. Specifically, the results have an impact on the planning, implementation, monitoring and coordination of project activities and resources (human, financial, material assets etc) in order to meet expected results, and contribute to the overall success and impact of the UNDP office work in Nepal.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Ability to conduct strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead monitoring of management projects;
Analytical and strategic thinking/results orientation;
Excellent supervisory, management and team-building skills;
Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued personal learning and development;
Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
Builds strong relationships with all partner, focuses on impact and results and responds positively to critical feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master Degree in Law/Human Rights, Political Science, Social Science, Psychology, Economics or related field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant working experience in project/programme management or managing staff and operational systems, and/or establishing relationships among international organization and local institutions/communities;
Proven track record in working with civil society and preferably conflict victims groups;
Previous experience in development assistance or related work for an international agency or donor organization or NGO;
Experience related to Results-Based Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of the programme, managing data and reporting;
Proven ability to coordinate complex programs with diverse range of partners;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both oral and written English and Nepali.