UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME SPECIALIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (SDP) SPECIALIST TO THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR UNDP SOUTH SUDAN JOB DESCRIPTION

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1 I. Position Information Job Title: Specialist to the Country Director Position Number: Department: UNDP Reports to: Country Director Direct Reports: Country Director Position Status: Non-Rotational Job Family: Grade Level: P3 Duty Station: Juba Family Duty Station as of Date of Issuance: NO Date of Issuance: Closing Date: Duration and Type of Assignment: One-year fixed-term appointment, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, recommendation by respective office and partner country agreement II. Job Purpose and Organizational Context The Specialist Development Programme (SDP) seeks to strengthen UNDP s capacity to support countries to make the 2030 sustainable development agenda a reality with a particular focus on crisis countries and the humanitarian development nexus. The SDP Programme includes two tracks: Specialist to the UNDP Country Director in the field or Specialists for the SDGs in headquarters or regional offices, in UNDP priority thematic areas related to the SDGs. The Specialist to the Country Director provides of technical, analysis, coordination and quality assurance support to the Country Director. S/he collaborates with teams within the country office and throughout UNDP to support the representational, advocacy, partnership and communication commitments of the Country Director. The Specialist to the Country Director monitors and analyzes development trends, activities, reports, audit findings and evaluation results from the CO and offers substantive recommendations to inform future country decisions and enhance CO results and performance. S/He provides substantive support to the Country Office s coordination and representation functions on complex development and/or crisis issues, by supporting CO Senior Management in proactively engaging with internal and external stakeholders, preparing briefing notes and positioning papers, and reviewing and appraising the quality, completeness and relevance of information provided by relevant parties. S/he will be guided by and report to the Country Director. III. Supervision Name of Supervisor: KAMIL KAMALUDDEEN Title of Supervisor: Country Director Content and methodology of supervision: As part of the UNDP SDP programme overall framework, the incumbent will benefit from the following supervision modalities: Structured guidance provided by the supervisor, especially in the beginning of the assignment Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results within the first two months of the assignment Performance management as per UNDP standard practice and approach and completion of the yearly UNDP Performance Management Document (PMD) 1

2 Effective supervision through knowledge sharing and performance/development feedback Participation in Unit/Team/Office meetings to ensure integration and operational effectiveness Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise III. Duties and Responsibilities 1. Ensures effective direct support as Specialist to the Country Director Provide substantive support and strategic advice to the Country Director Keep Country Director informed about all matters requiring his personal attention Ensure that priorities of the Country Director are aligned to his work plan, strategy and stakeholder expectations On the basis of the political landscape, trends and emerging issues, assess implications and make recommendations for decision making, UN policies, strategies, and other measures; Assist in formulating options as to how issues might be handled as they arise, and ensure appropriate followup, as directed; Coordinate/draft summaries, analytical reports and proposals for financing; coordinate implementation of the Country Director s Work Plan Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the broader UN family (UNCT), the authorities, civil society, donors and other national and international partners on coordination and policy matters Prepare talking points, take notes in meetings and give inputs to speeches Supervise and arrange official missions and travel of the Country Director Perform other relevant duties as requested by the Country Director 2. Enhancing effective strategic performance oversight by Review implementation of the country programme document (CPD) and CO programming within portfolio to assess the quality of UNDP positioning and translation of corporate strategy into the programme. Provide recommendations for improved positioning in programme documents. Review consolidated findings from CO audits and evaluations in order to identify trends in performance, and offering substantive recommendations for future programming to inform strategic decisions; and Extract on a regular basis performance-related information from corporate and regional tools with a view to informing senior management as to the status of various programme, operations and policy performance parameters of the country office. 3. Enhancing effective, proactive and targeted representation & coordination by Undertake CO level research by engaging with Regional Bureau, external stakeholders and policy teams and conducting desk research, tracking and analyzing emerging and evolving crisis and complex development situations, identifying critical issues for UNDP programming and offering substantive recommendations to Senior Management in the development of positioning. Support Country Director in briefing the Bureau leadership, liaising regularly with the regional hub team for their input and sharing information as requested by supervisors as well as representation as required in internal and external meetings. Provide substantive technical inputs to briefing notes on all Senior Management Briefs. Prepare minutes from the meetings and follow-up on action points with all relevant stakeholders. Proactively engage with Regional Bureau Country Oversight and Support Team, policy team and relevant internal and external stakeholders to collect required information and inputs into internal and external briefings. 2

3 Undertake first quality review of the submitted information, appraising relevance and completeness of the documentation, and drafting first drafts of analytical reports and presentations. Follow up on major technical and operational issues to ensure appropriate and timely action. Represent the country office in internal and external meetings as requested by the Country Director 4. Enhancing partnerships and external relations by Undertake research for partnership building and resource mobilization in country, develop first draft of papers and marketing materials, in line with the country office s partnership and resource mobilization strategy. Collaborate with programme and project teams and counterparts, where appropriate, to formulate pitches for new development initiatives and projects, especially in support of innovation pilots / prototypes. Collaborate with CO partnerships and communications colleagues to advance partnership building and outreach activities of the Country Director. Support the Country Director in managing the work of receiving high-level missions which have impact on CO partnership building, including missions from the Regional Bureau Director, the UNDP Administrator, etc. 5. Enhancing knowledge management Continuously review and analyze the political, economic and social developments in the country. Keep an up-to-date library of knowledge on country portfolio, proactively sharing documents with team members and responding to their specific requests for information. Contribute to the development and review of knowledge products by analyzing and sharing lessons learnt and programme evaluation results as well as targeted interventions in crisis countries. Facilitate innovation and knowledge sharing mechanisms within the CO to contribute to internalizing improved practices within teams and foster higher levels of engagement among colleagues. IV. Competencies and Selection Criteria Description of Competency at Level Required Core Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Delivery Ability to get things done Technical/Functional Project Management/Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions 3

4 Knowledge of PM and M&E concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations Relationship Management / Partnerships Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships Brief and Speech Writing Ability to prepare quality briefs and/or speeches Knowledge Management Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge Results-based Management Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results Priority Setting Ability to scan and synthesize diverse sets of information to arrive at strategic priorities and positioning recommendations Quality Assurance Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications V. Recruitment Qualifications Education: Master's degree in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies, business administration or a related area. Experience: 1. A minimum of five years of paid working experience in project management in the development sector or the private sector 2. Experience in crisis/post-conflict management, including work experience in developing countries will be an advantage Language Requirements: Proficiency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Arabic would be desirable. 4

5 VI. Training and Learning As part of the UNDP SDP Programme overall framework, the incumbent will benefit from the following training and learning opportunities: Virtual pre-departure briefing before taking up the assignment 10-day orientation course in New York Individual mentors to help maximize induction to UNDP and the job role. During the second year of assignment, possibility to participate in the 12 months UNDP Leadership Development training programme. During the last year of assignment, SDP participants are expected to prepare a career plan and will receive individual mentoring, guidance and support from UNDP. In addition, the following specific training and learning modalities/opportunities will be offered in the receiving office: Possibility to participate in the 12 months UNDP Leadership Development training programme and have access to UNDP s Talent Development System - VII. Background Information Information on the receiving office: (Provide basic information on the office: number of international/national staff in the whole office and in the unit where the incumbent will be working, etc. Give a short background of the work context and focus: history, recent and upcoming developments.) On 9 July 2011, South Sudan became an independent country under the name Republic of South Sudan. On 14 July 2011, South Sudan became the 193rd member state of the United Nations. On 28 July 2011, South Sudan joined the African Union as its 54th member state. It is a landlocked country located in east-central Africa. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city. South Sudan is bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, the Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north. South Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jabal. The UNDP CO in South Sudan currently has a total of 234 staff member 30 of whom are international staff and 21 UNVs. The Country Director s office is supported by two Deputy Country Directors (Operations and Programmes), Senior Economist, Chief Programme Advisors and Team Leaders. The SA to the Country Director will work with CO Teams i.e Programmes which fall under two Pillars Democractic & Stabilization Unit and Human Development and Inclusive Growth. The programmes are supported by an Operations Team which include HR, Finance, Procurement, Common Services, ICT, Security and Medical. Our Gender ratio is 24% Female and 76% Male. Major government and political processes shape a lot what UNDP focuses on e.g.national dialogue and recovery and stabilisation Organization chart: Attach an up-to-date organization chart of the office and indicate where the incumbent would be assigned. Living conditions at the Duty Station:All duty stations are difficult locations, which are categorized as security Level IV. There is a UN imposed curfew from 7:00pm to 6:00am due to security and crime issues. There is basic 5

6 infrastructure in the capital city and very poor infrastructure in the states of South Sudan. United Nations staff require the following vaccines Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Pertussis, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Meningitis ACWY135, yellow fever, Rabies is locally available, Measles Mumps and Rubella. Accommodation in Juba and the States is basic, and available at UN agency compound i.e. prefabricated units/containers. There is availability of utilities, water, and electricity in the accommodation. The weather is generally warm Smoking/Non-Smoking environment (as applicable): No smoking is permitted inside the office premises Approved by: Name of the Head of Office: Title of the Head of Office: Kamil Kamaluddeen Country Director Date of issuance: 26 January