UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

TERMS OF REFERENCE

I. Position Information

Job Code Title:                      Governance Specialist                      

Pre-classified Grade:                       ICS-10

Supervisor:                                        Deputy Resident Representative

II. Organizational Context

The Governance specialist is part of the Management team of the UNDP office and as such, heads and supervises the Governance Programme team. The Governance Specialist acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of Country Office programme, specifically on the Governance portfolio.

The Governance specialist provides advice on key governance programmes agreed between the Government and the UNDP within the framework of identified national priorities and corporate guidelines. A head of the Governance team s/he is responsible for the performance of the team and is accountable for its results. S/he interacts with Senior Government Officials on the planning and implementation of agreed projects. S/he works in close collaboration with the Management Support team and Operations team in the Country Office (CO), Programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.

As part of the senior staff of the office, s/he provides support to the management of the office in raising and maintaining the morale of staff in the office, supporting efforts to build a healthy team spirit, institutionalizing a culture of high performance, and safeguarding the good name and reputation of UNDP in the country.

The Governance specialist leads the programme team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/ CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The Governance specialist is expected to have a strong knowledge and understanding of the political environment and is a key resource to the Country Office in this regards. S/he keeps a finger on the pulse of political developments to advise programmatic interventions the Country Office may need to make in the long term, and in the short term, consultative discussions with the Government, political leaders, other development partners as well as relevant civil society organizations to address the issues.

III. Functions / Key Results Expected

 Summary of Key Functions:

q    Ensuring the strategic direction of UNDP programme

q    Management of the CO programme and supervision of the Programme team

q     Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization

q     Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management 

1. As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

q       Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, AWP and other documents.

q        Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation.

q      Operationalization of UNDAF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identification of possibilities for joint programming.

q        Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO.

q       CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit.

      2.     Ensures effective management of the CO programme and supervision of the Programme team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the  following results:

q       Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.

q      Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies.

q      Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the  programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Governance specialist performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval.

q     Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme.

q       Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.

q       Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.

q      Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager.

    3.      Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports the resource mobilization in cooperation with the Management Team  focusing on achievement of the following results:

q         Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes.

q        Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.

q       Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.

q        Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

    4.  Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management  focusing on achievement of the following results:

q         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.

q        Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.

q       Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners.

q        Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

q        Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.

IV. Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme and reaching UNDAF/ CPD goals. In particular, 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.

Because of the special nature and sensitivity of issues relating to governance, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the manner in which the Governance Team interacts with Government partners and other members of the development community including civil society organizations, defines, by and large, the way in which UNDP is perceived. The position of Governance specialist stands in the vanguard as the custodian of the Country Office’s positive image as an apolitical, impartial and trusted partner in addressing sensitive governance issues. It is a delicate responsibility that requires patience, diplomacy and experience at mediating differences and understanding different views and interests.

V. Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Corporate Competencies:

q  Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards

q  Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP

q  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies: 

Knowledge Management and Learning

q      Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example

q      Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

q      Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting

q     Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources

q      Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery

q      Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit

q     Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas

q     Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

q    Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback

q      Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

q     Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills

q     Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Prince2 Training and Certification, RMG

VI. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

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. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.