Location : Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA
Application Deadline : 07-Nov-10
Additional Category Democratic Governance
Type of Contract : FTA Local
Post Level : NO-B
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract : One year with possible extension
UNDP’s involvement in the Decentralization & Deconcentration (D&D) sector started in 1996 and is now aligning with the Government’s 10-year National Programme for Sub-National Democratic Development (NP-SNDD). The National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD) is the national entity mandated to oversee the government D&D reform programme. NCDD has the secretariat housed in the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
Currently UNDP D&D portfolio consists of two projects, the larger one, the Project to Support Democratic Development (PSDD) is implemented by NCDD Secretariat and focuses on strengthening the structures, system and procedures used by the Government in the implementation of service delivery at the lowest level, supported by UNDP, Sida and DFID. The second is a UNDP/EC-funded project entitled Strengthening Democratic and Decentralized Local Governance in Cambodia (DDLG) implemented by the Department of Local Administration (DOLA) of the MOI. In 2011, UNDP will start an implementation of a new support programme to the three-year implementation plan (IP3) of the NP-SNDD.
UNDP Country Office is exercising oversight functions on the overall implementation of these projects. The UNDP Country Office D&D team consists of 1 international D&D Advisor, 1 Programme Analyst and 2 Programme Associates.
Under the guidance of the Deputy Country Director (Programme) and the direct supervision of the Assistant Country Director, the Programme Analyst is responsible for the monitoring and oversight of UNDP programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned. The Programme Analyst analyzes political, social and economic trends, leads formulation of new relevant country programme components or projects, provides policy advice services, performs independent project monitoring and oversight functions and ensures evaluation of programme activities within his/her portfolio.
The Programme Analyst supervises and leads programme support staff, oversees activities of the projects’ teams. The Programme Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations team, 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 ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
1. Implementation of new programme strategies (2011-2015).
2. Management of the relevant UNDP country programme components, and quality control through oversight functions to all D&D Projects/Program.
3. Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
4. Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
1. Ensures implementation of new country programme strategies (2011-2015) focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in Cambodia, preparation of substantive inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment (CCA), the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), Cambodia Country Programme Document and Action Plan (CPD/CPAP) and other strategic documents.
* Design of an integrated UNDP strategy for D&D in support of a programme based approach in line with UNDP Strategic Plan 2008-2011, and CMDGs
* Identification of new interventions in support of the implementation of the national organic law.
2. Ensures effective management of the UNDP new country programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation. The Programme Analyst ensures that appropriate project milestones are managed and completed (i.e. achievement of project outputs within time and budget) and corrective action is taken as necessary to mitigate project risks or to address project issues. It encompasses:
Defining a Project
* Develop project proposal in consultation with national stakeholders, in line with national priorities, UNDP Strategic Plan 2008-2011, UNDAF, CPAP and CMDGs;
* Take the lead in formulating the project and in organizing needs assessment, programme design mission, LPAC and signature of project document/AWP;
* Define management/implementation modalities, M&E framework;
* Finalize cost sharing arrangement with assistance from the Management Support Unit (MSU);
* Opens initial Issues Log as well as Lessons Learned log
* Ensure that project is entered into ATLAS. The Programme Analyst can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, and participates in recruitment processes for projects.
Running a project (Monitoring and Oversight role = Project Assurance)
Substantive Monitoring and Oversight:
1. Perform oversight activities, such as periodic monitoring visits and “spot checks”;
2. Monitor and evaluate implementation of projects activities with the view of consolidating knowledge/lessons learnt and distill good practices;
3. Review project details, schedules, plans and deliverables (as articulated in the AWP and RRF) with the project management team;
4. Ensure that project information is monitored and updated in Atlas, ensure that risks and issues are properly managed, and regularly updated;
5. Ensure that Project Progress Reports (Quarterly and Annual) are prepared and submitted on time and according to standards;
6. Organize Project Board meetings and follow up on management/Project Board decisions;
7. Organize Project Evaluations (only if mandatory though a cooperation agreement) or CPAP Outcome evaluation; Ensure that management responses to evaluation are prepared;
8. Assist in the organization of project audits; Follow up on audit recommendations;
Financial Monitoring and Oversight:
1. Monitor funding and delivery status of the project (especially against delivery targets);
2. Ensure that committed funds are made available to the project in timely manner including follow up with donors on their contributions/installment;
3. Track expiration of donor agreements and due date of installments;
4. Ensure that quarterly financial reports (FACE) are submitted to UNDP on time, and that quarterly and annual CDRs are prepared and submitted to the Project Board for endorsement before being signed by the IP;
5. Assist the IP and Project Manager with the preparation of AWPs and budget revisions;
Closing a project
1. Ensure that Final Project Reports are prepared on time;
2. Ensure that financial reporting is complete (i.e. that financial transactions are recorded in Atlas so the final CDR is signed) and that the project is operationally closed in Atlas;
3. Organize the final Project Review meeting and ensure that Project Board decisions are implemented (such as asset disposal or transfer to another project, storage/archiving of project files or equipment, separation of staff etc.)
Specific D&D projects related functions: Oversees and supports the implementation of current projects: the EC-UNDP Project (DDLG) and DFID-Sida-UNDP Project (PSDD)
* Oversee the work of projects staff/sub-contractors and ensure that strong partnerships are established between projects staff and their government counterparts, contributing to national capacity development;
* Identify and coordinate joint activities with other relevant UN/UNDP projects and programmes for mutually reinforcing impact as well as donors programmes and projects;
* Provide guidance to projects teams on UNDP’s strategic direction of country programme;
* Actively identify and pursue synergies/connections at the sub-national level between UNDP D&D projects and other UNDP governance, environment and poverty projects;
* Assist the Project team in the preparation/drafting of TORs for new project staff and ensure that the recruitment (if undertaken by the CO) is conducted in a timely manner; Ensure that projects comply with applicable individual performance reviews and assessments based on UNDP HR rules and regulations;
* Assist the Project team in the preparation/drafting of procurement specifications and ensure that procurement (if undertaken by the CO) is conducted in a timely manner;
3. Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Management Support Unit focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFI), government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.
* Identification of opportunities for initiation of joint initiatives, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
4. Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals.
* Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with he Government and other strategic partners.
* Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
* Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.
Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. 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.
Competencies
Core 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
* 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
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy / Advancing Policy Oriented Agenda: preparing information for advocacy
* Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate
* Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts
Results-based Programme Development and Management: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis
* Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
* Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
* Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
* Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development
* Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly
Building Strategic Partnerships: Maintaining a network of contacts
* Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
* Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
* Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners
Innovation and Marketing new Approaches: Enhancing processes or products
* Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
* Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
* Documents bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes effective solutions
* Embraces new approaches
Resource Mobilization: Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies
* Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors
* Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors
Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing: Basic research and analysis
* Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
* Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
* Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing
* Develops awareness of the various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources
Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline
* Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
* Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
* Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates the same in his/her work
* Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals
* Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
* Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
* Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
Client Orientation: Establishing effective client relationships
* Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
* Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
* Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
* Actively supports the interests of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs
* Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly
Prince 2 Training and Certification, RMG
Required Skills and Experience
* Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.
* Minimum 3 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. Proven experience and sound understanding of challenges in the D&D reform would be a strong asset. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
* Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.
apply at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=19710
