County Governance Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress
The primary and overarching objective of United Nations Development Programme in Kenya is the eradication of poverty in the context of sustainable development, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, and promotion of United Nations fundamental principles. A core dimension to the work of UNDP in Kenya is on Democratic Governance given the national focus on governance reforms. UNDP supports the country’s efforts towards achieving the Vision 2030 Political Pillar, which envisions a democratic system that is issue-based, people-centered, results oriented and accountable to the public. This Political Pillar gears to transform the country’s political governance across five strategic areas; The Rule of Law, Electoral and Political Processes, Democracy and Public Service Delivery, Transparency and Accountability, Security Peace Building and Conflict Management. These strategic areas are anchored in the Constitution, promulgated in August 2010 marking a major milestone in the democratic journey of Kenya and set a new threshold in terms of people-centred development.

Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF and UN Women in partnership with Government of Kenya through the State Department of Devolution have been implementing programmatic interventions in support of Kenya’s devolution, the latest of these being a Joint Devolution program (2021-2023) that supporting Kenya’s devolution process. The program focused on 14 counties and was implemented in partnership with key ministries and state and non-state organizations supporting devolution. Following the closure of the previous programme, the three UN agencies subsequently designed a successor program that is anticipated to start implementation 1 January 2025.
Implementation of the program will contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Country Framework (2022-2026) outcome and specifically, towards Strategic Result Area 1: People and Peace, Outcome 1.1 By 2026, all people in Kenya at risk of being left behind – particularly all women and girls, all youth and children, all in the ASAL counties and all in the informal urban settlements – inhabit an inclusive, enabling, socially cohesive and peaceful environment, while enjoying human rights, trust institutions and participate in transformative governance systems that are gender-responsive, just and rule of law compliant.
The JDP is a strategic partnership of UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women) working together with the Government of Kenya (GoK) to support enhanced county governance, decentralized service delivery, gender equality, systems for public participation and sustainable development for Kenya and Kenyans. The programme has been developed through a consultative and participatory process involving government entities, civil society, non-government organizations, the private sector, representation of the 4 LNOB groups (all women & girls, all youth & children, all in the ASAL counties & all in the informal urban settlements).
The objective of the program can be summarized as follows:
• Strengthened governance of devolved service delivery through enhanced public participation, social accountability mechanisms and transparency.
• Promotion of sustainable development in line with SDGs 5, 10, 11, 16 and 17.
• The JP has a strong focus on data, analyses and evidence-based knowledge management to support informed policy dialogues on devolution and development in Kenya.
• The JP support equitable development of Kenya and Kenyans focusing particular on the needs of women, youth & children and PWDs (LNOBs).
The JP is organized in three strategic outcomes all interdependent on each other to achieve the objectives of the program:
1. Inclusive Public Participation and Civic Engagement including social accountability and oversight services.
2. County planning (CIDP/ADP) budget frameworks, execution, SDG localization and intergovernmental relations; and
3. Application of evidence based; data driven knowledge management to influence policy in devolved service delivery.

Task description

UNDP Kenya is seeking the services of 8 UNV national experts to support implementation of the joint program in 8 target counties: Wajir-Wajir town; Samburu- Maralal; West Pokot- Kapenguria; Homa Bay-Homa Bay town; Narok-Narok; Embu-Embu town; Kitui-Kitui town and Kwale-Kwale town. The expert UNV(s) will provide support to the respective county governments in implementing the joint program in close collaboration and supervised by the Program Implementation Unit (PIU) located in the State Department for Devolution, Nairobi.
The program will start with an inception phase September 1, 2024, in which a comprehensive local governance and service delivery assessment will be undertaken. An important task of the national county based experts (UNV’s) is to collaborate with the leadership of the respective county governments to prepare for the assessment and support the consultants during the assessment.
In addition to the specific support to the county governments during the inception phase the national experts (UNV(s)) are expected to support county governments in the implementing the outcome areas specified below:
1. Inclusive Public Participation and Civic Engagement including social accountability and oversight services:
• Support strengthened citizen’s participation to enable meaningful engagement and influencing county planning and budgeting processes, including access to information.
• Support development of systems/structures for public participation and civic engagement
• Support county governments to strengthen citizen’s engagement at service delivery facilities in devolved sectors.
• Support county government improving budget transparency and accountability mechanisms.
• Support strengthened county public participation structures (through systems of ward participation).
2. Counties have planning and budgeting processes that promote equitable allocation of resources and execution processes and systems that ensure transparent and efficient service delivery, and oversight mechanisms are strengthened:
• Support inclusive County Planning and Budget processes that enable adequate allocation, equity and targeting of resources to services that transform lives of the poorest.
• Support county governments in developing budget execution processes and systems ensuring transparent, efficient, and equitable service delivery.
• Support county governments strengthening data and statistics at the county assemblies and parliament.
• Support development of evidence-based, gender-responsive and child inclusive budgeting and planning systems.
• Support improved county budget reporting, M&E and accountability.
• Support strengthening of the oversight mandate of the County Assemblies.
• Support strengthened county social accountability.
• Support county governments on SDG localization.
3. Counties utilize evidence-based data to influence inclusive policy dialogue, formulation, and intergovernmental mechanisms:
• Support consultants and/or UN staff in research, assessments, analyses, development of knowledge products or lessons learned documentation on devolution and equitable service delivery.
• Support county governments enhancing capacities to collect, analyze and utilize data.
• Support county governments strengthening data management systems.
• Support strengthened intergovernmental and coordination processes.
• Support service delivery systems in counties and below.
• Support county governments in policy dialogue.
4. Reporting and Efficiency (Writing and Reporting):
• Concept Notes and Project Planning: Support the development of concept notes, project planning documents, and budget forecasts for devolution programs in Kenya.
• Donor Reporting and Compliance: Coordinate all donor reporting activities, ensuring timely collection of key results, lessons learned, and other essential data for comprehensive and transparent communication with donors.
• Internal Process Management: Guide the program team on internal UNDP procedures related to program implementation aspects like budgeting and contracting, ensuring compliance and smooth operation.
• Progress Reporting and Monitoring: Manage progress reporting for all devolution program activities, providing clear and concise information on program advancement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with relevant units (communications, finance) and UNICEF and UN Women to ensure their activities support the program’s overall impact on devolution within the Kenyan public sector.
• Financial Strategy and Efficiency: Participate in decision-making regarding funding sources and financial structures for devolution programs, ensuring these decisions align with the program’s resource allocation model and optimize efficiency.
• Developing Cost-Effectiveness Benchmarks: Establish benchmarks and other methods to assess the cost-effectiveness of technical assistance provided through contracts, grants, and other program expenditures related to devolution initiatives.
• Coordination- support coordination of different stakeholders at county level as relates to the JDP programme.