UNDP Somalia works in the three main regions of Somalia and its Programme has three main areas: Rule of Law and Security (ROLS), Governance, and Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection (PREP).
Under the new Country Programme (2011-2015), the Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection (PREP) programme focuses on activities in support of the third Outcome “Somali Men and Women Benefit From Increased Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities and Improved Natural Resources Management”. Specifically, UNDP under PREP will strive to achieve the following Sub-Outcomes:
· Sub-Outcome 3.1. MDG planning, programming and policy implementation capacities developed among partners for robust, participative analysis including human rights, gender equality and HIV/AIDS.
· Sub-Outcome 3.2. Strategic economic development policies formulated and implemented with focus on small and micro-finance for inclusive growth.
· Sub-Outcome 3.3. Environment and natural resources utilized in a sustainable, equitable, gender- and conflict-sensitive manner through the formulation and implementation of strategic policies.
· Sub-outcome 3.4: Local communities empowered to analyze, participate in and advance recovery and development, local enterprise, conflict and sustainable environment management.
The Programme combines upstream and downstream approaches in partnership with local authorities, NGOs and community organizations while adopting a human rights based, conflict and gender sensitive approach, and focusing on the empowerment of youth. A key priority is to bridge the gap between humanitarian assistance and development, with a focus on creating sustainable solutions and reducing aid dependency in partnership between humanitarian and development agencies working in Somalia.
Under the overall guidance of the Country Director, and the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director/Programme, the Programme Manager is responsible for day to day management of the expanding PREP portfolio, including strategic planning, formulation and technical oversight of the projects under the PREP Programme, in close collaboration and coordination with Project Managers and the Heads of Sub-Office who monitor day-to-day implementation of the projects in line with approved work plans. The incumbent will be responsible for identifying synergies and for ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination with other Programme areas in UNDP as well as with other UN agencies.
In close collaboration with the Heads of Office of the UNDP in Somalia, the Programme Manager provides high-level policy advice to the relevant counterparts and leads policy advocacy in the Programme area and liaises with other UN Agencies, Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society in the areas pertaining to the Programme.
The Programme Manager is expected to spend a minimum of 30% of his/her time in Somalia.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
· Strategic direction and leadership
· Management of PREP Programme
· Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy Promotes UNDP mandate and corporate policy and provides senior high level policy advice to government and other partners
· Knowledge building and sharing
Provides strategic direction and leadership to the PREP Programme, as well as Outcome 3, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
· Provides an overall strategic vision for PREP with a view to building national capacities, increasing employment opportunities and reducing poverty, to support the overarching peace building objective of the UN;
· Leads formulation efforts to ensure a programme which is relevant, in line with UNDP practice areas, UNDP Somalia's Country Programme, the UN Somali Assistance Strategy, and is responsive to changes in the country context;
· Acts as the leading champion for the achievement of Country Programme Outcome 3 and ensures the effective application of RBM tools for Programme effectiveness and achievement of results;
· Ensures resource allocation in line with programmatic and regional priorities and the highest possible quality of delivery and value for money;
· Devises strategies for increased Programme delivery and quality programming;
· Ensures regular monitoring and intermittent evaluation of the projects, including but not limited to regular field visits and the participation in Project Board and/or Outcome meetings;
· Provides effective leadership to Project Managers for projects in the programme area, as second supervisor;
· Ensures the promotion and application of the UNDP drivers of development effectiveness (promotes national ownership and the development of national capacities; fosters policies and partnerships and promotes gender equality) for enhanced programmatic results, and other development standards as per UNDP's corporate multi-year strategy;
· Ensures that all programming is founded on the Human Rights Based approach and that Programme resources are used in a balanced way and are “conflict sensitive”, ensures adherence to the Do-No-Harm principle and any joint UN operating principles in Somalia relevant to the Programme area;
· Ensures the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as gender, HIV/AIDS, peace building, human rights and ICT, into the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of Programme/projects of the Livelihoods program;
· Assesses the impact and effectiveness of UNDP's assistance in xxx, preferably with other partners;
· Promotes cross-unit team work and the professional development of the team members, through coaching and mentoring. Promotes coordination among the various components of Programme cluster and with the other UNDP programmes.
Ensures effective management of the PREP programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:
· In close consultation with the Partnerships and Planning Unit (PPU), the elaboration of coherent work plans and budgets for all activities in the Programme portfolio and the continuous monitoring of project work plans,
· Ensures timely and adequate reporting against plans in consultation with PPU, including providing timely and articulate progress reports and inputs to the Strategic Results Framework and Results Oriented Annual Report;
· Preparation of high quality project documents and proposals, and encouraging adequate peer review of the same through established mechanisms (LPAC);
· Integrity of financial and administrative operations in the Programme area by oversight of financial and budgetary aspects of the projects;
· Strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations and ensuring the implementation of clear accountability mechanisms throughout the programme portfolio;
· Cost recovery for services provided by the CO to projects, in collaboration with the PPU and the Deputy Country Director-Operations;
· Participates in internal control mechanisms for adherence to UNDP rules and regulations in contracts, assets, procurement, recruitment, etc. as required;
· Approval of financial transactions for the xxx in Atlas, up to the designated level.
Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy, focusing on achievement of the following results:
· Ensures sufficient resource mobilization for the Programme in close consultation with Senior Management and is responsible for reaching the yearly fund mobilization targets;
· Advocates for UNDP with government counterparts, donor community, international financial institutions and the UN;
· Liaises continually with and forges close linkages with other UN offices, programmes, agencies and entities, and other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance on PREP issues to Somalia;
· Promotes joint programming and UN reform, and collaborates effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination;
· Contributes to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of partners for implementation of UNDP projects.
Promotes UNDP mandate and corporate policy and provides senior high level policy advice to government and other partners, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
· Promotes the PREP programme, ensuring maximum and appropriate levels of visibility and public awareness on results and ongoing activities;
· Provides high level senior policy advice to UNDP senior management, government counterparts, donors and other partners on issues related to PREP;
· Represents UNDP, as requested by DCD-Programme, Country Director or Resident Representative;
· Manages sensitive issues with great tact and positions UNDP as a neutral actor with high quality policy advice.
Ensures knowledge building and Management focusing on achievement of the following results:
· Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the Programme area for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information;
· Actively participates in the knowledge networks and takes advantage of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally, and encourages staff in the Programme area to do so by creating a culture of knowledge and learning;
· Promotes the participation of UNDP Somalia in regional programmes and regional activities related to the Programme area as appropriate;
· Supports capacity- and knowledge building of national counterparts;
· Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the CO and, in particular, within the PREP Programme.
Impact of Results:
The key results of the post are to strengthen UNDP's contributions to national policy dialogue and design and implementation of an enhanced Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection programme in support of our new Country Programme. This will be achieved in particular through the establishment and/or strengthening of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets. The post increases the visibility and contribution of UNDP in this important area.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:
Preparing information required for advocacy for the inclusion of UNDP's focus areas (democratic governance, poverty and MDGs, energy and environment, crisis prevention and recovery, HIV/AIDS and mainstreaming gender). Devising and communicating strategies. Influencing the public policy agenda. Providing conceptual leadership for UNDP's advocacy at the global level.
Level 3: Influencing the public policy agenda
· Advocates for the inclusion of UNDP's focus areas in the public policy agenda
· Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues
· Builds consensus concerning UNDP's strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives
· Leverages UNDP's multidisciplinary expertise to influence the shape of policies and programmes
· Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, fact based approaches/solutions
· Develops internal organizational policies promoting strategic approaches to UNDP's focus areas (HQ)
· Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives
· Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling disagreements with UNDP's policy agenda in order to promote and position UNDP in complex environments.
Results-Based Programme Development and Management:
Effectively managing core and non-core resources to achieve organizational results. Moving from basic research to programme/project management, to programme design and conceptual leadership.
Level 3: Achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies
· Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach
· Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it
· Makes use of a variety of resources within UNDP to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches
· Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level
· Ensures the integration of UNDP's strategic concern in interagency, other multilateral initiatives and multi-sectoral development frameworks such as PRSPs, SWAPs and MDGs
· Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results
Building Strategic Partnerships:
Establishing, maintaining and utilizing a broad network of contacts. Building partnerships and strategic alliances.Leveraging the resources of national governments and other development partners
Level 3: Building strategic alliances
· Identifies and prioritizes opportunities and obstacles in the political scene (government, civil society, parliamentarians, pressure groups) to advance UNDP's agenda; identifies common interests and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners.
· Makes effective use of UNDP's resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships.
· Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UNDP's agenda into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests.
· Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations.
· Leverages the resources of governments and other development partners.
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:
Enhancing existing processes or products. Developing original and innovative ideas and approaches. Influencing others within UNDP and outside, to adopt new approaches. Creating a culture of innovation and change.
Level 3: Fostering innovation in others
· Influences and coaches others inside and outside UNDP in developing and implementing innovative approaches
· Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
· Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources
· Leverages resources in support of new approaches
· Facilitates change and influences senior decision makers to implement change strategies
Resource Mobilization:
Ensuring that UNDP has the resources it requires to implement programmes and advance a policy-oriented agenda. Moves from providing basic inputs to resource mobilization strategies, through implementation of the strategies, to conceptualization and design of strategies.
Level 3: Developing resource mobilization strategies at country level
· Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at regional (sub-regional) level (RSC, HQ)
· Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level
· Shares information with country offices concerning opportunities to tap potential donors
· Strengthens the capacity of the country office to mobilize resources
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:
Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline. Focusing on the knowledge and skill areas necessary to effectively perform the functions of the post. Identifying and seeking to expand knowledge and improve work processes.
Level 3: Expert knowledge of own discipline
· Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures
· Applies knowledge to support the unit/branch's objectives and to further the mandate of UNDP
· For managers: applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch
· Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally
· Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
· Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments
Client Orientation:
Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs. Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns. Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs. Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients.
Level 3: Meeting long-term client needs
· Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives
· Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services
· Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes
· Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations
Core Competencies:
· Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
· Building support and political acumen
· Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
· Building and promoting effective teams
· Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
· Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
· Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
· Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
· Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
· Advanced university degree (or equivalent) preferably in economics, political or social science, international studies, development studies or any other related field.
Experience:
· Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting and/or -conflict and post conflict setting
· Proven specialist expertise in the area of poverty reduction and environmental protection and high level policy advisory skills to Government counterparts
· 5 or more years of senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexity
· Minimum 5 years experience in countries in conflict or transition
· Experience in Africa and the Arab world an asset
Language requirements:
· Strong written and spoken English skills.
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.