Job: PROGRAMME SPECIALIST

Location : Khartoum, SUDAN

Application Deadline : 04-Nov-13

Type of Contract : FTA International

Post Level : P-3

Languages Required : Arabic English

Duration of Initial Contract : One Year with posibility of extension

Expected Duration of Assignment :One Year

Background

In Sudan, a protracted crisis, every programme interventions from humanitarian to recovery should ensure early recovery principles so that it will link humanitarian work to the development agenda and development structures. To find genuine solutions that end dependency on humanitarian aid and advance human development, particularly solutions to displacement problems in Sudan, UNDP has project portfolios for reintegration of IDPs and recovery contributing to outcome 8 of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDFA) 2013-2016 - Peace dividends are delivered for sustainable return, reintegration and recovery - as well as UNDP's Country Programme Document (CPD) 2013-2016 Output 8.1: IDPs, refugees and their host communities gain access basic services and sustainable livelihoods.

As a part of the Humanitarian Coordination Structure in Sudan, a new sector to focus more attention on governance (planning capacities largely), infrastructure (transport related largely), and economic recovery was established in 2012 (Governance, Infrastructure and Economic Recovery Sector). The sector will, as the name suggests, concentrate on issues related to strengthening the governance structures (national and local) to plan for sustainable return, particularly in urban areas (governance and planning), and supporting the reinvigoration of markets and supporting the development of appropriate skills and provision of assets for vulnerable individuals, to become employable and benefit from re-invigorated market opportunities (economic recovery). The overall objective of the GIER Sector is to address recovery-related gaps in the current context of Sudan that do not fall within an existing sector. As such the Sector will complement the current Humanitarian coordination structure in Sudan.

Programme Specialist will focus on supporting UNDP Country Office's projects relating to post-crisis reintegration and recovery (UNDAF outcome 8 and UNDP CPAP 8.1) and play the role of the sector lead of the GIER sector in supporting to the Head of Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit, the programme specialist will work as the GIER Sector coordinator and manage UNDP project portfolios for reintegration, recovery and livelihoods focusing on the following results.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of programme strategies;
• Management of the CPRU programmes focusing on reintegration, recovery and livelihoods;
• Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy ;
• Provision of top quality advisory services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management;
• Management of the GIER Sector building on national capacity and ensuring participation of stakeholders (e.g. National and International NGOs, UN agencies, Development Partners) working in the thematic areas covered by the Sector.

Ensures implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other documents;
• Analysis and synthesis of proposals on the areas for support and interventions within the Crises Prevention and Recovery (CPR) thematic area relating to post-crisis recovery.

Participates in effective management of the CO programmewithin the CPR area (reintegration, recovery and livelihoods) focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

• Design and formulation of some parts of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP's priorities into local interventions;
• Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to LPAC, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. Programme Analyst performs functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval (if authorized by SM), participates in recruitment processes for projects;
• Application of conceptual models in support of programme design;
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of NIM projects;
• Preparation of inputs for reporting, including donor reporting;
• Support of any additional tasks as requested by the supervisor.

Supports creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategyfocusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes;
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation;identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI's, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.

Provides top quality advisory services to the Government and ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of training for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues;
• Professional growth through active learning.

• Manage the GIER Sector building on national capacity and ensuring participation of stakeholders (e.g. National and International NGOs, UN agencies, Development Partners) working in the thematic areas covered by the Sector;
• Establish and maintain an appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanism for the thematic areas covered by the GIER sector, ideally with a government co-lead;
• Ensure participation by a wide array of humanitarian actors engaged in the response in Darfur (INGOs, ICRC, national NGOs, UN agencies);
• Secure commitment from sector members to collect information on needs related to governance (planning), infrastructure, and economic recovery, and ensure the response activities are distributed according to needs, and do not overlap;
• Ensure that humanitarian response in the GIER areas build on local capacities – state authorities, local civil society, and communities;
• Ensure local communities are as engaged as possible in assessments, provide feedback, and projects are responsive to the feedback (accountability to affected populations);
• Ensure that project interventions in the GIER sector take cross-cutting issues into account, including age diversity, gender, disability, HIV/AIDS and human rights. Information should be disaggregated to illustrate how projects address and respond to age categorisation, gender disparity, disability etc.;
• Lead sector members in humanitarian planning and strategy development. This will include providing information on the Humanitarian Workplan process; the Mid-Year Review; humanitarian financing opportunities;
• Develop in an inclusive manner, monitoring and reporting guidelines, including baselines and indicators to measure humanitarian response, progress and impact. Reporting should reflect age and sex disaggregation if possible;
• Engage with donors on behalf of sector members to mobilise resources for project implementation.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of management of the GIER sector as well as UNDP country programme within the CPR particularly reintegration, recovery and livelihood (UNDAF outcome 8 and CPAP 8.1). The key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets both for the GIER sector and UNDP project portfolio in charge.

Competencies

Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP's mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNDP's agenda in inter-agency meetings;
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands more advanced aspects of post-crisis recovery issues (e.g. displacement and transition) and humanitarian architecture;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP's Goals;
• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Development, International Affairs, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
• In-depth understanding of a wide range of recovery issues and the humanitarian architecture;
• Experience of humanitarian and/or development coordination;
• Field experience in crisis or post-conflict settings, in particular Sudan, is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English both writing and speaking;
• Working knowledge of Arabic is significant asset.

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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.

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