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Programme des Nations Unies pour le développement
Immeuble Wolle Ndiaye
Route du Méridien Président, face au Lodge Hôtel
Parcelle N 10 Zone 3, Les Almadies, Dakar
Sénégal
Tél: +221.33.859.6700 à 33.859.6800
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Closing date: Sunday, 14 December 2014
WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA SUB-REGIONAL PLATFORM COORDINATORLocation : Dakar, SENEGAL Application Deadline : 14-Dec-14 Type of Contract : FTA International Post Level : D-1 Languages Required : English French BackgroundAs an integral part of the Regional structure in Africa, the West and Central Africa Sub-Regional Platform (SRP) has been established as an anchor for strategic sub-regional Initiatives and strategic support to and representation of UNDP in the Regional UNDG Team. The Sahel region is confronted with acute development and humanitarian challenges. Human development in the region is among the lowest in the world. Over the years, recurring food and nutritional crises caused by climate change, environmental degradation, drought, floods, poorly functioning markets, low agricultural productivity, poverty and conflict have seriously eroded the ability of households to withstand repeated and increasingly frequent shocks. Good rains and better harvests in 2012 notwithstanding, at least 11.4 million people in the Sahel remain food insecure. Some 5 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition, of whom some 1.5 million are at risk of severe acute malnutrition. In addition, the Sahel faces major and recurrent outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as meningitis, polio and cholera, which present significant challenges for weak health-care systems and can be only be addressed through a long-term regional approach aimed at building resilience. Countries in the Sahel have been dealing with successive political and humanitarian crises for years. Weak governance and its impact on State institutions, including insufficient border management, have dramatically diminished the capacity of the Sahelian States to effectively deliver basic services, promote broad-based political participation and protect human rights. Widespread corruption, coupled with the inability of States to deliver basic services such as effective policing, justice, access to water, affordable health care and education, has resulted in a widening gap in State-society relations. At the same time, chronic political instability, evident in recurrent unconstitutional changes of government, violent electoral processes and social conflicts, is a direct result of the lack of institutionalized political dialogue, weak parliaments and contested judicial systems. The ongoing Mali crisis, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, is compounding the crisis in the Sahel. Fighting in northern and central Mali has resulted in mass displacements of people both within Mali and into neighboring countries which are already struggling to respond to the food crisis. The UN system, including UNDP, has been participating in system-wide discussions concerning the Sahel and has actively contributed towards efforts to ensure further integration between humanitarian and development interventions to allow for a more sustainable approach towards resilience building in the Sahel region. It means that humanitarian and development actions need to be designed to reinforce each other so that we respond in a way which maximizes relief efforts, and on which we are able to build long term resilience to drought and minimise potential conflicts around natural resources. UNDP has actively supported the preparation of the UN Integrated Sahel Strategy, which aims at supporting the Governments and people of the region to address the causes of instability within a sustainable and long-term perspective. In particular, the UN strategy identifies specific objectives and actions under three strategic goals, namely, (a) enhancing inclusive and effective governance throughout the region; (b) strengthening the capacity of national and regional security mechanisms to address cross-border threats; and (c) integrating development and humanitarian interventions to build resilience. The strategy includes a range of innovative objectives relating to, for example, the enhancement of regional security analysis and regional capacity to manage borders, support for local government and state capacity to distribute resources more equitably, and support for vulnerable households and food and nutritional security. It was presented to the Security Council in June 2013. UNDP will now be engaged in the implementation of the UN integrated strategy, both in terms of coordination efforts of the development approach and in ensuring the timely response of UNDP specific initiatives. The SRP Coordinator will lead on critical policy analysis for the region with regards to development trends and issues. This will be done in close collaboration with the UN entities based in Dakar, (UNOWA, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, the Regional Directors' Team) as well as the UNCTs and Resident Coordinators in the region. The SRP Coordinator will also support the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director (RD/DRD) in liaising with key regional institutions (AU, ECOWAS, AfDB, etc.) and multilateral and bilateral partners (World Bank, EU, etc.) Under the leadership of the Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, the SRP Coordinator will lead the efforts in ensuring a strong development and resilience response in the implementation efforts. The SRP Coordinator will also work closely with the Regional Hub to make the best use of available technical resources in support of the implementation of the integrated strategy. Duties and ResponsibilitiesProvide substantive technical leadership and guidance in the development,implementation and assessment of sub-regional initiatives, including the UN Integrated Sahel Strategy:
- Lead the policy and technical response with regards to UNDP's support to the UN Integrated Sahel strategy, particularly with regards to the governance and resilience pillars;
- Provide strategic advice and technical guidance on the implementation and assessment of the strategy;
- Interact substantively with other UN agencies and development partners to ensure mutual synergies in policy development through exchanges of ideas, learning from mutual experiences, collective research and joint initiatives;
- Ensure that UNDP policy documentation and knowledge products in these technical areas are developed based on rigorous review of evidence and in consultation with key constituencies;
- Generate, based upon research and analysis, innovative operational concepts and develop, test and roll out tools and methodologies in the areas of focus;
- Lead the preparation of position papers, ad hoc reports and advocacy documents to inform the Bureau's positioning on strategic issues, either upon request by the Regional Director, or proactively as part of his/her strategic advice function;
- Provide substantive inputs to international and regional conferences and other forums on these issues and represent UNDP as requested by the RBA Director;
- Mobilize resources/expertise to support the development/implementation of recommended programmatic actions, in close coordination with the Regional Hub;
- Ensure critical analysis on regional issues and trends to identify and recommend programmatic interventions to leverage the expected impact;
- Advise UNDP senior management on the quality and direction of the strategy implementation and assessment outcomes. Make recommendations for adjustments and for the introduction of innovative approaches.
Foster strong programmatic and advocacy partnerships with regional institutions and other partners
- Support key partnership initiatives that provide support to the region and the concerned country offices in these technical areas, working with UNOWA and other institutions in the region;
- Actively engage in coordination efforts with UN regional entities in the implementation of the strategy;
- Ensure the building of synergies and complementarities as well as information sharing on analytical work between UNDP and regional institutions such as the AU, ECA, ECOWAS and AfDB;
- Maintain dialogue with others partners and stakeholders (World Bank, EU, etc.);
- Advise RBA on existing/future funding mechanisms and support resource mobilization efforts in the countries of the sub-region as well as internationally and engage with relevant international stakeholders in resources mobilization, including through the development of innovative funding strategies and mechanisms;
- Support the development of a coherent message and supportive communication vis-à-vis humanitarian and development partners on the sub-regional impact/response of UNDP;
- In crisis-settings, advise RBA senior management on the potential for building new and nurturing on-going partnerships, including with civil society and private sector partners in the sub-region.
Enhance UNDP's response to (emerging) sub-regional issues by providing a space for RC/RRs in the sub-region to interact on issues of common concern
- Facilitate sub-regional exchanges amongst RC/RRs on issues of common interest; organize thematic/mini clusters to discuss and develop UNDP's sub regional response;
- Strengthen UNDP's impact and visibility in sub-regional initiatives through facilitating and coordinating joint responses and actions of RC/RRs in the sub-region, drawing on corporate expertise as required;
- Provide direction and guidance to Country Offices in the implementation of the UN Integrated Sahel Strategy and other sub-regional initiatives;
- Monitor progress and identify risks in timely implementation of sub-regional strategies and initiatives;
- Advise Country Offices on the implementation of the strategy and lead discussion on innovative solutions in partnership with the Regional Hub.
Serve as a facility to support the RBA Director and Regional UNDG Chair in interfacing with the UNDG Regional Team
- Devise and implement mechanisms to enhance UNDP's lead inter-agency role in coordinating the UN System's work in the sub-region and participate in important inter-agency meetings/ technical advisory support mission as needed;
- Support the Regional UNDG Chair in the day-to-day management of the UNDG Secretariats for WCA and represent the RBA Director and/or Deputy Director in UNDG technical/advisory fora in the sub-region;
- Support UNCTs through the UNDG WCA inter-agency technical working groups and, as required, mobilize complementary Regional Hub resources;
- Liaise with UN Agencies on the implementation of the M&A framework and UNDG strategic plan at sub-regional level, including through support to the UNCTs in implementing the same at country level.
Building knowledge and capacity
- Enhance UNDP's analytical capacities in areas of development policy through on-going and new partnerships with think-tanks, academia, and research facilities and networks of working in the region;
- Support the development of a knowledge sharing platform in support of RC/RRs, leveraging existing capacities, lessons learned and best practices in the sub-region;
- Introduce innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote its application;
- Access UNDP's worldwide and regional knowledge, best practices and lessons learned, distill best practices and ensure its dissemination for organizational and stakeholders learning and sharing, including through the Regional Hub;
- Liaise with other departments within UNDP (BPPS, BERA, BOM) as needed;
- Actively support knowledge building, sharing in the region;
- Ensure regular reporting on the implementation of the strategy.
CompetenciesCore Competencies: 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: Primary: Strategic Planning
- Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission.
UN System
- Knowledge of UN system and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Representation
- Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).
Core Government Functionality
- Knowledge of core government functionality and ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.
Development planning
- Knowledge of development planning processes at macro and sectoral levels and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Secondary: Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Data Measurement
- Ability to set goals and indicators and to interpret and synthesize results into usable information to inform policy, strategy, and/or action.
Brief & Speech Writing
- Ability to prepare quality briefs and/or speeches.
Performance Management
- Ability to manage organization, department and employee goals.
Required Skills and ExperienceEducation:
- A Masters degree in public administration, political or social sciences, international studies, management and development related field.
Experience:
- A least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, including peace and security, conflict and crisis prevention and management, recovery and development, peace building and development;
- Knowledge of the Sahel region.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in French and English.
Click here for important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders). UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.If you are experiencing difficulties with online job applications, please contact jobs.help@undp.org.
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