Team Leader – Democratic Governance (Nationals Only)

As the United Nations entity with principal responsibility for governance and peacebuilding, UNDP’s strategic interventions embrace a whole of society approach, working with legislative, executive and judicial institutions at national and county levels while leveraging the skills, capacities, networks and resources of civil society, private sector, media, academia, local community associations. UNDP supports state and on-state actors contributing to transparency, accountability, access to justice, and the promotion and protection of human rights.

Position Purpose:

Post-Specific Context

In this context, the Team Leader – Democratic Governance is deemed a key element to the success of the country programme in the assigned thematic area. Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative – Programme (DRR-P) the incumbent is responsible for the management of UNDP programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned. As such s/he is entrusted with the oversight of Governance and Inclusive Growth initiatives covering a wide arrange of issues and programme sub-themes including effective and accountable governance, devolution, peace building, rule of law and justice, gender sensitive and evidence based social policies (especially in the ASALS), structural transformation, livelihoods, public-private partnerships, and inclusive growth.

The Team Leader – Democratic Governance analyzes political, social and economic trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities within his/her portfolio, as well as providing strategic policy advice support. The incumbent will backstop the Deputy Resident Representative – Programme in the oversight of the Programme Unit within the thematic areas and sub-areas of Governance and Inclusive Growth. She/he will provide policy and programmatic guidance to other members of the Programme Unit, especially regarding cross cutting issues.

Moreover, in close consultation with the Deputy Resident Representative – Programme and other Unit’s Team Leaders the incumbent’s lead role in the Programme Unit is to promote the inclusion of cross cutting programme considerations with special focus to the rights of vulnerable groups and constituencies (women, youth, disabled, ageing, indigenous groups, marginalized in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS), people living with HIV etc.). Thus, she/he must have an excellent capacity to engage a diverse stakeholder base and to effectively network for solid partnership building (public-private, civil society, South-South, etc.).

S/he provides management, oversight of the team under the assigned thematic area as well as substantive backstopping to the Deputy Resident Representative – Programme as required. The incumbent 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 and dialogues with the government and development partners are required.
 

• Ensures the implementation, managerial leadership of programme strategies in the UNDP CO in the area of Governance & Inclusive Growth.
• Provides strategic leadership and management of the Governance and Inclusive Growth Portfolio and team.
• Ensuring effective management and quality assurance of the Governance and Inclusive Growth programme.
• Ensures the development and management of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
• Provision of top-quality policy advice services to the Governments and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Ensures implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to UN Sustainable Development Framework, County Programme Document, Partnerships & Communications Action Plan and other documents.
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned.
• CO business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management   

Provides strategic leadership and management of the Governance and Inclusive Growth portfolio and team:

• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme.
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.
• Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with the Deputy Resident Representative – Operations.
• Ensures the organizations of regular unit meetings.
• Review of individual and team’s performance and provision of required coaching, guidance, mentoring and empowerment.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets, and milestones.
• Initiation of a project, presentation of the projects for appraisal, entering project into Quantum, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. Programme Specialist can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Quantum for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects.
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of country office projects.
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, 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.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization

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 the 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

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of Governance & Inclusive Growth Team
 

Core:  

Achieve Results:LEVEL 3

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:LEVEL 3

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:LEVEL 3

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:LEVEL 3

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:LEVEL 3

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:LEVEL 3

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:LEVEL 3

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management:UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Advocacy strategy and implementation – Communications:

• Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

Business Management – Results-based Management:

• Ability to manage Programme and Project with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management – Partnerships Management:

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sectors partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

External relations and Advocacy – Resource mobilization:

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Business Management – Project Management:

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management – Portfolio Management:

• Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

2030 Agenda: Peace – Infrastructure for Peace:

• Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions