Strategy Learning and Innovation Specialist

Under overall guidance and direct supervision of the Governance for Resilience (Gov4Res) Project Manager based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Strategy, Learning and Innovation Specialist will provide management, oversight and strategic and technical guidance to the Gov4Res Learning and Advocacy team including the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL); Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI); and Communications for Development personnel and related project initiatives.

The Specialist will lead the Project Learning and Innovation Approach and Initiatives including, undertaking research and data analysis, and will facilitate a culture of cross learning, capacity building and upskilling across the Gov4Res team, embedding a learning approach into all work undertaken across the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Strategy, Learning and Innovation Specialist will report to UNDP Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific Project Manager.

As reflected in the organigram below, the Specialist will have up to five direct reports, depending on funding, namely, Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst(s), Communications Specialist(s), Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist. 

Working under the direction of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager, the Strategy, Learning and Innovation Specialist will be responsible for the following: 

• Ensures effective leadership of the project learning and innovation approaches and Initiatives and facilitates research
• In collaboration with the Project Manager and involving the Project Team and responsible parties, leads activities to build capacity and raise awareness on learning and innovation, shares global leading practice in learning and innovation, coordinates regular activities to identify opportunities for learning and innovation of the Projects’ activity portfolio and ensure follow-up on recommendations.
• Support in the identification of opportunities, and in the design and development of innovation in resilient development national and regional initiatives, working with Gov4Res personnel and relevant national and regional partners across the seven implementation countries.
• Undertakes desk based and/or quantitative and qualitative research as required to supplement and contribute to the project’s learning and innovation evidence base.
• Leads the identification and synthesizing of lessons learnt and best practices as they relate to learning and innovation emerging from the project.
• Under the guidance of the Project Manager, actively promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the project team and the responsible parties.
• Ensure the development and dissemination of learning and innovation knowledge and communication products, including a synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices, incorporating GEDSI, from Gov4Res Learning and Advocacy work and identify opportunities for communication as advocacy and support the development of written, spoken or visual pieces to promote this.
• Leads the identification and adoption of relevant innovation and learning tools including foresight tools and approaches, and other reflective learning practices.
• Provide strategic guidance, leadership, technical support and implementation of Gov4Res empirical research
• In collaboration with technical experts, facilitate publication of research papers, reports, articles, blogs etc. as required in the subject matter and themes of Gov4Res research.
• Coordinate and support field research at the regional, national and sub-national levels as deemed appropriate and in support of project MEL.
• Maintain working relationships with academic institutions at national and regional levels and facilitate joint empirical research including longitudinal studies and MEL related outcomes.
• Organize and lead research-in-progress seminars (peer review panels) and presentations for wide-ranging audiences including the MCO, UNDP Regional Office, other UN agencies, regional and national stakeholders, government authorities and development partners.
• Provide strategic guidance to the Gov4Res research base, connecting research themes to policy and other requests for support from regional and national partners.
• Attend internal and external meetings and events as required, undertake presentations, prepare for and facilitate interactive sessions to discuss research outcomes and applicability to future programming.
• Undertake training and capacity-building sessions focused on building research and professional skills as required with UNDP personnel and external partners.
• Ensure a culture of cross learning, capacity building and upskilling across Gov4Res, embedding a learning approach into all work across the project
• Establish a culture of cross learning and reflective learning practice across the Gov4Res team.
• Working under the supervision of the Project Manager, and in collaboration with the Capacity Development Specialist, identify areas for capacity development and upskilling within the Gov4Res team and design, develop and facilitate capacity building and upskilling programmes and training exercises.
• Contribute to team development around topics of strategy and innovation in programming including trialing new tools and approaches.
• Establish and maintain a strong relationship with government counterparts and development partners and identify opportunities to coordinate with counterparts and partners in the implementation of cross learning exercises.
• Facilitate connections with appropriate partners, to enhance Gov4Res programming and sustainability of initiatives.
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight to overall Gov4Res monitoring and evaluation
• Provide oversight of technical planning, budgeting and implementation of all monitoring and evaluation aspects of programming.
• Provide technical assistance and support to the Monitoring and Evaluation Analysts and MERL Specialist(s) as required.
• Lead in the design and formulation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, methods and tools on the basis of leading practice, research and lessons learned and with the input of innovative approaches.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the project management and staff to ensure that the projects’ monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are designed and implemented according to UNDP Fiji MCO standard operating procedures, UNDP programme and project management guidelines, and donors’ requirements.
• Ensure quality and timely preparation of monitoring and evaluation reporting (quarterly, bi-annually, annually and final, as required), Quantum and ad-hoc updates as requested.
• Ensures effective oversight, coordination, guidance, technical assistance and implementation of GEDSI initiatives in collaboration with the GEDSI specialist(s)
• Support GEDSI mainstreaming throughout the project life cycle, including design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Provide technical assistance and support to the GEDSI Specialist(s) as required.
• Support the team to capture and disseminate lessons learned particularly related to GEDSI during project implementation.
• Ensure coordination and partnership with national, regional and international GEDSI mechanisms, women-led organizations, academies, networks, and associated forums.
• Support the institutional and technical capacity of the project team and stakeholders on GEDSI as well as social safeguards aspects.
• Build capacity of partners on UNDP’s policy on zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
• Contribute to the country office communication, and knowledge management system on GEDSI.
• Ensure effective project management of MERL, Communications and GESDI personnel and related workplans
• Under the guidance of the Project Manager, provision of leadership and supervision to MERL, Communications and GEDSI personnel on a day – to – day basis.
• Support and provide technical input into the design and development of related workplans, monitoring plans and procurement plans as required together with updates to all plans as necessary.
• Coordinate the mobilization of goods and services to initiate MERL, Communications and GEDSI activities including procurement, drafting TORs and work specifications.
• Provide management functions to MERL, Communications and GEDSI activities including supervision and coordination of the project staff and consultants recruited to support project implementation.
• Provide overall direction, coordination and leadership to the MERL, Communications and GEDSI personnel in close consultation with the Project Manager.
• Oversee, manage, provide advice and support as required to Gov4Res and Pacific Office team
• The Specialist will have up to five direct reports from within the Gov4Res team.
• As required, provide strategic advice to the Gov4Res team more broadly.
• Backstops for the project management in their absence.