UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME LESOTHO

                      Terms of Reference

I. Contract Information

Title:                           Programme Manager

Duration:               Service Contract 1 year (with potential renewal)

Time Commitment: Full time

Supervisor:            UNDP Governance Specialist

Duty Station:          Maseru, Lesotho

II. Organizational Context

Consolidation of Democracy and Good Governance in Lesotho (CDGG) is a four year programme jointly funded by the government of Ireland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is designed to provide support to :

1)    Harmonization and streamlining of the electoral legislation to ensure that elections add value to democratic governance and foster political stability

2)    Parliamentary reforms to improve the effectiveness of the legislature in its three pronged mandate of law-making, representation and oversight

3)   The promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The programme Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the programme to the Governance Specialist and through him to the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative. S/he will coordinate the work on a daily basis with the head of the Governance Unit in the UNDP Country Office. S/he will be a seasoned expert in one or several of the substantive areas related to consolidation of democracy, and will bring this expertise to bear to create linkages and synergies between the programme components.

The Programme Manager works closely with national counterparts to prepare strategies and work plans for the programme on “Consolidation of Democracy and Good Governance”.

The Programme Manager ensures proper project documentation and prepares regular Progress Reports for the Programme Board. Where needed, s/he would provide technical assistance and coordination support to the preparation by national partners of Annual Work Plans and assist the design of implementation strategies and budgets. The Programme Manager will also work closely with the Development Partners that are providing support to the project and ensure information-sharing on essential progress issues.

III. Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of key functions:

 

.    Provides strategic leadership to programme implementation;

.    Performs programme management functions in support of the national Implementing Partners (Parliament, IEC, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and Ombudsman) and UNDP;

.    Ensures the provision of effective technical assistance to project

     implementation;

.    Provides innovative and proactive liaison and coordination services to project steering, implementation and dissemination;

.    Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

1. Provides Strategic Leadership to Project Implementation, focusing on achievement of the following key results:

·      Quality assistance to the Government and national implementing institutions in the identification/design/preparation of activities that support consolidation of democracy and good governance; and

·       Synergies between programme components as well as the experiences from participating Development Partners (donors) brought to bear in project implementation.

2. Performs Project Management functions in support of the implementing partners and UNDP focusing on achievement of the following key results:

·       Implementing institutions assisted in developing results-based Annual Work Plans that clearly set out the quarterly and output targets, indicators, activities, resource requirements, and budget;

·       Timely disbursement and reporting on funds;

·       Effective supervision and guidance to project personnel in ensuring effective programme implementation;

·       Support to national implementing partners in the coordination of activities to ensure their efficient and effective contribution to programme outcomes;

·         Implementation of a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation system for the project and regular monitoring of activities;

·       Sharing information regularly on the progress of project implementation, and any relevant issues, including the updating of project monitoring and issue logs;

·       Management of financial and human resources according to UNDP rules and regulations for national implementation;

·       Preparation of quarterly progress reports detailing progress against the output targets, and the activities undertaken in support of these;

·      Timely periodic reports: quarterly, annual and as and when required. Provide regular financial reports to UNDP and Irish Aid; and

·      At the end of each year and the end of the assignment, prepare and provide a comprehensive final report on the activities of the project, including accounting for all the disbursements, and financial audits that will be undertaken under the project for presentation to the cost-sharing partners.

3. Ensures the provision of effective technical assistance to project implementation, focusing on achievement of the following key results:

·      Ongoing support and advice to activities that consolidate democracy, and coordination of the provision of such advice through project resources

·       Provide capacity development support for consolidation of democracy strengthened

·       First port of call for the implementing partners, wither through provision of direct technical assistance or identification and facilitation of alternative support options; and

·       Backstopping of experts providing technical assistance to the implementing partners.

4. Provides innovative and proactive liaison and coordination services to project steering, implementation and dissemination, focusing on the achievement of following key results:

·      Stakeholders apprised of project progress through regular updates;

·      Interlinkages between constituent components of the project actively promoted;

·       Coordination with donors and other development partners on all elements necessary for successful implementation of the programme;

·       Coordination with any other initiatives related to the consolidation of democracy in Lesotho; and

·      Communication strategy developed and implemented to ensure that programme results are known and understood by a wide constituency.

5.         Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing within  the different implementing partners as well as UNDP focusing on achievement of the following results:

·      Identifying and codifying good practices globally and regionally for consideration in Lesotho;

·      Ensuring effective linkages with other (development) partners active in consolidation of democracy through for example preparing succinct briefings and concept notes to the Development Partners’ Consultative Forum, promoting and supporting the establishment of joint technical working groups of development partners in the area of democracy, representing UNDP at the technical level in these working groups;

·      Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Lesotho; and

·      Sound contributions to the governance community of practice in UNDP and effective usage of this community for support to the efforts in Lesotho;

IV. Outputs and Deliverables

The key results have a direct impact on the capacity of the Government of Lesotho to institutionalise and deepen democracy and good governance through improved electoral processes, effective functioning of parliament and enhanced promotion of human rights.

Over the duration of the project, the CDGG Programme Manager will ensure that the three components of the programme (IEC, Human Rights and Parliament) truly complement each other in support of the consolidation of democracy and good governance. S/he will provide essential technical assistance to each of the programme components and will support partners to ensure that the programme delivers in quality and in time.

V. Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Corporate 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:

Technical Expertise

.   Specialist knowledge in the area of Democratic Governance with in-depth expertise in issues relating to consolidation of democracy;

. Theoretical and practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development and governance issues;

.   Strong understanding of political dynamics in government, civil society and the donor community in developing countries.

Knowledge Management and Learning

.    Shares knowledge and experience;

.    Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on governance issues;

.    In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

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

.    Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new

    approaches which expand the range of programmes;

.    Ability to work with minimal supervision.

Management and Leadership

.    Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to critical

feedback;

Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;

Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive

attitude;

Demonstrates strong writing, facilitation, and presentation skills;

Builds strong relationships and networks with clients and external actors;

Negotiation skills: capacity to work with diverse partners including Government,

donors and civil society;

Remains calm and in control even under pressure.

VI. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

·      At least five years of experience in analytical and practical work in such areas as (a) working with parliament, electoral management bodies and human rights institutions (b) institutional analysis and design, development planning, project design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects/programmes.

·       Experience in democratic processes in Africa.

·       Leadership and project management skills, including strong project monitoring skills

·       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

·       Experience and proficiency in the use of computers and office software packages

 Language Requirements:

·       Excellent written and spoken English