Programme Specialist

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) and direct supervision of the Sustainable Development and Resilience Team Lead, the Programme Specialist manages the assigned projects.  The Programme Specialist leads strategic planning and identifies new programme areas within his/her practice area while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF/CPD priorities and provide creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

• The Programme Specialist supervises the project  staff and coordinates their activities in close consultation with the Programme Team Lead. The Programme Specialist works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the CO, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP staff in HQs and Regional Hubs, technical advisors/experts, external specialists, government officials and partners, donors, and civil society to ensure successful implementation of the UNDP programme.
• UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a member of the Programme Management Team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme within the Practice Area focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNSDCF, CPAP, CPD, AWP and other documents;
• Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation;
• Contribute to preparation of UNSDCF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies, through active participation in the concerning Outcome Group and technical Working Groups. Identification of possibilities for joint programming;
• Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO;
• CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows.

Ensures effective management of the Practice Area programme and supervision of the Practice Area team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the  following results:

• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
• Design and formulation of CO programme within the practice area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of practice area programme implementation with the executing agencies;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the  practice area programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the Practice Area 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.

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports the resource mobilization within the Practice Area focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes;
• Supporting coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.;
• Identification and proposal of programmatic areas of cooperation, 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 cost-sharing.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management within the Practice Area 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 learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Strong educational background in areas related with environment/agronomy/natural resources management is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) 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 and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments is required;
• Proven track record of leading and managing projects related to natural resource conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, or ecosystem management;
• Ability to engage stakeholders at various levels, including local communities, governments, private sector partners, and international organizations;
• Strong networking skills and the ability to build relationships with international agencies, government representatives, NGOs, and local communities;
• Experience in Sustainable Growth, Resilience, Environment/Natural Resources Management, including knowledge of energy and environmental sustainability practices, is an asset;
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is required.

Language(s):

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Krio which is the national language of the duty station is required for local staff.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/22655