Programme Specialist (Africa)

The overall goal of the Country Support Management Team (CSMT) is to lead and coordinate all BCPR support activities provided to Country Offices (CO) in line with the Bureau’s overall strategic goals and priorities, managing the effective interaction of BCPR Teams and Regional Bureau counterparts for more integrated country support. The CSMT works closely with the Regional Bureaux and other BCPR Teams to ensure timely, coherent, relevant and high quality support to UNDPs COs and UN Resident Coordinators before, during and after crises. The CSMT aims to provide regular analytical updates to support Early Warning. It also supports and coordinates BCPR’s crisis response capacity and takes the lead in a UNDP-wide approach to CPR capacity strengthening. Under the supervision of the Portfolio Advisor, Africa (CSMT), the Programme Specialist (Africa) will advise management on the strategic direction of BCPR’s support to the region and identify opportunities for promoting conflict-sensitive programming in country offices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions: Performs programme management functions, including monitoring and evaluation; Provides efficient planning and programme support, including crisis response; Performs resource management functions; Promotes knowledge management and practice development; Promotes UN system coherence and partnerships-building. Performs programme management functions, including monitoring and evaluation, focusing on achievement of the following results: Technical support/advice to UNDP Country Offices in the respective region on policy issues and programming pertaining to crisis prevention and recovery in both pre-and-post conflict situations. Management of the day-to-day work of programme delivery to ensure that country offices in the region receive effective, integrated and well-coordinated services. Collaboration with the relevant BCPR technical and programme support teams in developing strategic frameworks and programmatic strategies for country-specific engagement, based on thorough review and analysis of the relevant developments on the ground. Support to the UNDP country offices in the development and implementation of crisis prevention and post-crisis recovery initiatives. Support to UNDP country offices in their efforts to mainstream crisis prevention elements into national development programmes and programming frameworks. Liaison coordination, and collaboration with the relevant technical units of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery when providing technical support, analyses, strategic guidance, and programmatic support to country offices. Coordination of programme policy development including the review and analysis of issues and trends related to Crisis Prevention and Recovery. Organization and preparation of written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, reports and studies on the region. Participation in large and complex field missions to provide programme design and development support. Management, monitoring and reporting on BCPR’s programme and administrative resources deployed in country offices in the region. Conduct of RCA planning and performance and performance assessment of the regional team members in a fair and timely manner for improvement of programme delivery and operations support. Review and analysis of relevant developments at the country and sub-regional level, especially as they relate to emerging and potential crises, and provision of high-quality analysis to the relevant country offices. Provides efficient planning and programme support, including crisis response, focusing on achievement of the following results: Advice to senior management on key programme issues and programme support strategies which have a significant impact on the programme and operations for the region. Leader in the development of regional strategies in the region relating to BCPR work, especially early and effective crisis response. Identification of hot spots and tracking of recovery processes in countries included in the portfolio. Provision of technical assistance for project development, where requested. Timely and efficient reporting to donor countries. Guidance and support to BCPR’s technical units for integrated planning and programming in CPR countries. Advice to country offices in the region of CPR programmatic services and encourage them to participate and help shape BCPR’s overall programme strategy. Provision of programmatic support to the Crisis Prevention and Recovery focus country offices by liaising with Regional Bureaux and BCPR units in New York and Geneva. Coordination and support to mainstream Conflict and Post Conflict (CPC) strategies and activities into the work of UNDP country offices. Support to resource mobilization activities in support of UNDP’s work in Crisis Prevention and Recovery. Support and facilitation of the reform process of CPR programming policies to ensure greater standardization of operational tools and procedures. Conduct of regular meetings with the technical units on programme management. Provision of strategic advice, planning and programme support to country offices through guidance and technical assistance. Support to on-going socio-economic analyses to identify strategies to minimize crises and risks at the regional level. Performs resource management functions, focusing on achievement of the following results: Collaboration in BCPR Resources management for the region. Use of ATLAS for tracking income and expenditure for BCPR-managed activities. On-going support in allocating and monitoring BCPR’s programmes and administrative resources in a transparent and efficient manner. Guidance and support to country offices on financial and administrative matters. Advice on BCPR’s programme resources, including TRAC 1.1.3 and CPR-Trust Fund, including helping country offices prepare allocation requests, presenting country office requests to the allocation committee, providing feedback to the allocation committee as to the country office’s needs and capacities to launch new programmes and absorb new and/or old allocations, and tracking resource use over the project cycle. Monitoring of BCPR’s programme resources, including TRAC 1.1.3 and CPR-Thematic Trust Fund allocations. Support to country office on DEX-related matters including strengthening country office capacity for DEX execution in the region. Promotes knowledge management and practice development, focusing on achievement of the following results: Support to the development of knowledge management products (tools, methodologies, reports etc.) on specific crisis prevention and recovery issues, including facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue processes. Participation in BCPR-wide knowledge management processes, including community of practice meetings. Support to capacity development of UNDP staff in application of crisis prevention and recovery tools and products. Promotes UN system coherence and partnerships building, focusing on achievement of the following results: Support to the development of inter-agency work on crisis prevention within the UN system. Ensuring full coordination with the political, humanitarian, and peacekeeping arms of the UN system in providing the aforesaid support. Support to the building of strategic alliances and partnerships, especially with key regional, sub-regional and national think tanks and research organizations, non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental organizations. Attendance at UNDP and inter-agency meetings, academic conferences etc. as a UNDP/BCPR representative when requested. Impact of Results: The key results have an impact on the improvement of BCPR’s ability to support those countries in crisis and post-conflict situation. The post will have a convening authority and coordinates support to country offices in an efficient manner. As a result, the countries will have an increased capacity to respond to crisis and post-conflict situations, as well as natural disaster. The key results will also affect the overall quality of programmes or operational service in the region, impact the performance of the functional unit and enhance the reputation and success of teams.

Competencies

Functional Competencies: BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Identifying and building partnerships Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments. Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION Building and maintaining donor relations; implementing resource mobilization strategy Uses knowledge of donors and successful programmes and projects to contribute to fund raising and resource mobilization strategies. PROMOTING ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING Developing tools and mechanisms 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 In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter Understands more advanced aspects of crisis prevention and recovery as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines. Keeps abreast of new developments in area of crisis prevention and recovery and seeks to develop him/herself professionally. Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments. CLIENT ORIENTATION Contributing to positive outcomes for the clients Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider. Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services. Core Competencies: Ethics & Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status. Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment Understands the structure and hierarchy of UN/UNDP, process flows throughout the organization, products and services, their measures of effectiveness, and perceptions of clients. Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring: Self-development, initiative-taking Takes appropriate risk in developing new or adapting existing methods and approaches to more effectively perform tasks or to solve problems in new and unique ways. Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals. Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner. Self Management & Emotional Intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control Tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively. Conflict Management/Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements: Managing conflict Remains calm, composed and patient, regardless of his/her own state of mind in the face of conflict. Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development and keeps abreast of new developments in his/her professional field. Appropriate and Transparent Decision-making: Informed and transparent decision making Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in development studies, economics, international relations, political science, other social sciences and development-related fields. Experience: At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the related areas. Field experience in a country in special development circumstances including crisis, conflict and post-conflict settings, disaster risk reduction and post-disaster recovery. DEX experience is an asset. Language Requirements: Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required; working knowledge of other UN official language is an asset.

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Programme Specialist (Africa)