UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

Capacity Development Economist
Capacity Development in Support of Lesotho’s Strategies for Growth and Poverty Reduction

1. Background

In the last three decades, Lesotho has experienced an unprecedented human resource capacity challenge. Three key factors, among others, have contributed to this capacity bottleneck, namely Lesotho’s location as an enclave within South Africa; its capacity attrition through HIV infections and AIDS related deaths; and brain drain of the most qualified and able minds to South Africa and beyond. These factors have left gaping holes in the human resource capacity fabric of Lesotho. This is compounded by structural fragilities in the implementing institutions which include weak human and financial resource management, inadequate cross-sectoral coordination as well as inter-sectoral linkages. Capacity development is defined at three levels: individual; institutional or “entity”; and the overall system in which individuals and entities interact and operate. While the term “capacity building” is frequently used in the development field, “capacity development” is the term proposed for this initiative since this terminology shifts emphasis from a process that is externally driven to one that is self-motivating and takes place gradually from within.
Capacity diagnostics have not yet been undertaken for Lesotho. However, a quick examination of existing capacity bottlenecks in the provision of public services largely points to the three areas identified above as the underlying causes of capacity limitations. To address the capacity development challenge, several approaches have been used in various parts of the world with varying degrees of success. Typically, one common approach to capacity development focuses on people, institutions and societies and their ability to perform functions, solve problems and set and achieve objectives. This approach has been widely used by UNDP and the World Bank. Another approach looks at capacity as the ability of an organisation to produce appropriate outputs. This approach focuses on organizational output as the basis for capacity diagnostics.
1.1 Brain Drain: the migration of skilled and educated individuals from Lesotho to other countries is first and foremost a response to lack of opportunities at home. Brain drain in Lesotho has significant financial, institutional, and societal costs. Lesotho gets little return from its investment in higher education, since many graduates leave for “greener pastures” elsewhere, (mostly to South Africa) or fail to return home at the end of their studies if studying abroad. In light of a dwindling professional sector, Lesotho, and indeed many African states and institutions are increasingly dependent on foreign expertise.
1.2 HIV and AIDS: HIV and AIDS have been acknowledged as the foremost challenges to Lesotho’s human and economic development. In 2006 it was estimated that a quarter (23.2%) of Lesotho’s adult population between 15 and 49 years of age was infected with HIV and that the national adult prevalence rate was the third highest in the world.

2. Objectives

2.1. The main objective of UNDP’s Capacity Development programme for the implementation of Lesotho Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy is to achieve meaningful and sustainable development of the Kingdom and its people in accordance with the stated objectives of the National Vision 2020 as well as the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for improved quality of life for all.

2.2 Pursuant to the main objective, the programme will focus on a number of key issues related to addressing capacity constraints which reinforce the challenges that impinge upon efforts to attain the national goals as well as make significant progress towards the attainment of the MDGs. These include:

a) A capacity assessment to pinpoint specific areas that would require interventions and identification of the type of intervention required.

b) An assessment of the required human resource and institutional capacity to undertake mandated functions for achieving desired results. The assessment would have to be at the following two levels:

i) At the institutional level in order to have a more detailed and robust analysis which examined capacity bottlenecks at the input level, where interventions to develop capacity are targeted to human, institutional, and society’s ability to perform functions and achieve specific objectives and results.

ii) At the organisational level where outputs, outcomes and impact become the main determinant of organisational capacity.

c) The capacity development programme will combine the traditional UNDP/WB approach of focusing on the ability of people, institutions and societies to perform functions, with an organisational results-based approach using Results-Based-Management (RBM).

d) The development of short-term quick-win solutions; medium term institutional strengthening initiatives; as well as long-term sustainability capacity retention programmes.



3. Institutional Arrangements

The Capacity Development programme is an integral part of UNDP Lesotho’s overall programme of support to the Government of Lesotho. In responding to the multi-disciplinary nature of capacity development needs in the country, the Capacity Development Economist will be based in UNDP’s Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU). Strategy and Policy Units carry out activities in the following areas:

a) Strategic and policy analysis support to the country office programme sections as part of team-driven process within the country offices towards further upstream-orientation of UNDP support projects and programmes.

b) Analysis of development opportunities and constraints in the six focus areas of UNDP, particularly in support of CO policy dialogue with client governments and other development partners, and provision of policy advisory services in all the six focus areas.

c) Development, delivery and mainstreaming into national development initiatives of specific policy instruments and services, notably NLTPS, NHDRs, Socio-economic Briefs, PRS, PRSPs as well as implementation of UNDP's country-wide and thematic interventions.

d) Monitoring of poverty reduction and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

e) Promotion of strategic partnership building and resource mobilization by country offices, including Lead role in donor coordination and harmonization activities as well as capacity development.

f) Leadership role in regional and sub-regional initiatives as well as in knowledge management and networking and coordination of the country office relations with BDP/SURFs.

g) Operational research that reinforce the development of UNDP/UN policy tools and services.

4. Specific TOR for the Capacity Development Economist in the SPU

Under the overall direction of the Resident Representative and the direct immediate supervision of the Economic Advisor and Head of the SPU, the Capacity Development Economist will:

a) Assist with the collection, collation and analysis of data related to the macroeconomic situation of the country, specifically addressing the challenges of capacity development and utilization;

b) Assist in the collection and analysis of national and sector-specific information relevant to the analysis of emerging country development situations periodically;

c) Contribute to the drafting, review, finalization and dissemination of periodic Country Economic Briefs, featuring country’s macroeconomic performance and scenario projections related to its overall development trends in light of the identifies capacity constraints;

d) Contribute to the analysis of country challenges and opportunities relevant to UNDP’s policy dialogue, advice and support to capacity building for a coherent national development programming, especially within the context of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), the National Vision 2020, and the Public Sector Reform processes;

e) Be responsible for the collection, tabulation and analysis of data related to development assistance resource flows into the country, by donor, sector and activity, as a basis for more informed aid coordination dialogue among the country’s development partners and government (especially in support of the Resident Coordinator’s lead role in donor harmonization activities).

f) Participate in UNDP’s promotion of strategic partnership activities, by supporting the Resident Representative in donor aid coordination activities involving both the UN System agencies and Lesotho’s other development partners;

g) Provide the key inputs into the Regional Bureau for Africa’s new strategy on Capacity Development for Pro-Poor Growth and Accountability

h) Participate in SPU support to the Resident Coordinator’s lead role in the dialogue and donor harmonization and resource mobilization related to Lesotho’s priority development frameworks and programmes (especially the PRSP, HIV/AIDS and the Public Sector Reform); and,

i) Support the Economic Advisor in periodic policy-relevant research activities of the Country Office.

5. Expected Deliverables

a) Identify appropriate institutional structures for the co-ordination and implementation of the capacity building activities;

b) Identify and develop of a mechanism for the meaningful involvement of NGOs, CBOs and other stakeholders;

c) Develop a capacity utilization strategies;

d) With reference to the aid management and coordination policy, develop an action plan for the enhancement of absorptive capacity as well as identify synergies across the thematic areas;

e) Assess and review current capacities and identify new areas for capacity enhancement to address issues of sustainable development;

f) Map the existing institutional mechanisms for managing capacity at the national level and prioritize the capacity needs identified through a capacity needs assessment; and,

g) Develop a national implementation action plan to address priorities as identified in the capacity assessment.

6. Qualifications, Work Experience and Remuneration

The Capacity Development Economist must have an advanced (at least Masters) degree in Economics, with emphasis in macroeconomics, in addition to extensive (at least 15 years) work experience (most of it in a developing country setting – preferably in an African country). Strong data analytical as well as computer-based application skills for development scenario building will be an advantage. Good report writing skills and proficiency in English are required.

This is a Fixed Term (200 Series) post Level 4 (L-4/4) of the United Nations job classification and remuneration.


7. Commencement and Duration of Tenure

It will be desirable to recruit the Capacity Development Economist as soon as possible, preferably by 1st January 2008. The duration of the contract if for one year, with possibilities for extension.

Applications, with detailed C.Vs plus a one-page summary description of applicants’ experience and qualifications including names and telephone contacts of three referees, should be submitted to:

The Resident Representative
United Nations Development Programme
3rd Floor, UN House
P.O.Box 301
Maseru


Or

E-mailed to: Registry.ls@undp.org  and copied to veronic.sekhibane@undp.org


 Only short listed candidates will be responded to:
 Salary negotiable and commensurate with work experience and qualifications
 The selected candidate may be recruited at a lower level

Closing date for applications: 24th December 2007