Programme Officer (Re-advertisement), Nairobi

Programme Officer (Re-advertisement), Nairobi
Closing Date: Sunday, 26 September 2010

Background
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) offers a unique combination of investment capital, capacity building and technical advisory services to promote local development and inclusive finance in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs):

    * UNCDF's local development programmes support national decentralization strategies in the LDCs and seek to improve social services, governance and pro-poor economic infrastructure at the local level by providing technical assistance and investment capital directly to local authorities.

UNCDF's inclusive finance programmes provide poor households and enterprises with enhanced access to a wide range of financial services by promoting inclusive financial sectors and providing investment capital for emerging microfinance institutions (MFIs) and other financial service providers (FSPs) in the LDCs.

UNCDF's investment capital is flexible, high-risk and innovative. It is channeled primarily to poor rural areas in the LDCs where poverty reduction, capacity and governance challenges are typically the greatest. UNCDF currently invests in 31 LDCs with a total programme portfolio amounting to approximately US$125 million. Through its programmes, UNCDF strives to contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for LDCs in a direct, concrete and measurable way. See more on www.uncdf.org.

At country-level, UNCDF is represented through the Country Offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNCDF Programme Officers work within the UNDP Country Offices to support the Country Office in ensuring this role.

The UNCDF Programme Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day management of UNCDF matters in Somalia, the involvement of UNCDF in UN joint programmes, the involvement of UNCDF in the dialogue with other UN organisations, national authorities and other national partners, as well as with the donor community (in collaboration with UNDP and UN RC Office), and the monitoring and reporting of UNCDF-implemented activities of the joint UN programmes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key results:
The Programme Officer will work directly with the UNCDF
Regional Portfolio Specialist for South and Eastern Africa based in Johannesburg, from whom he/she will receive guidance on programme management-related issues and to whom he/she will report on the progress in achieving the AWPs. The PO will receive technical guidance from the regional advisors of UNCDF while ensuring the follow-up on technical issues with the project managers / coordinators. He/she will also receive advice and support on questions related to the UN programming and joint programmes, as well as financial and performance issues.

At the level of UNCDF HQ New York, the Programme Officer will receive global strategic guidance from UNCDF management; as well as advice on operational issues, and UNCDF specific rules and regulations and audit issues from the side of the UNCDF Operations Division; and on communication and resource mobilization from the Business Development Division. He / she will collaborate with the UNCDF Evaluation Advisor on issues concerning evaluation of joint programmes.

The Programme Specialist will have an approval level 'manager 1' in ATLAS and provides guidance to the JPLG Project Assistant, who has the responsibilities of 'finance user' in the UNCDF ATLAS Business Unit. He/she will work in together with colleagues in the UNDP and UN Programme teams. He/she will receive operational support from the UNDP Operations team, especially with regards to Finance, Procurement and HR. The PO will finally develop and maintain a partnership with national authorities, bilateral and multilateral organizations as well as organization in civil society and private sector in order to advocate, coordinate Interventions in a sector, share knowledge and mobilize resources.

Content and methodology of supervision: The Programme Specialist's first supervisor is the UNDP Deputy Country Director and the second the UNCDF Regional Portfolio Specialist, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Within the framework of the performance management of the Programme Specialist (setting annual targets, review of results achieved, and development plan) will be done in consultation with the UNCDF Head of Regional Office. Performance discussions take place twice a year.

1. PROJECT ASSURANCE (45 %):
Ensure UNCDF's contribution to the management of UN joint programmes in the areas of Local Development and Inclusive Finance, notably through the regular monitoring of progress towards the achieving of the results of the portfolio of UN joint programmes and through regular financial and budgetary management aimed at achieving the following results:

    * Contribution to the start-up of programmes after approval.
    * Review of annual work plans (AWP) of project teams, ensuring clear performance targets are established; timely support to the implementation of the AWPs.
    * Effective utilization of ATLAS is all stages of the project cycle; the Programme Officer is responsible for translating the AWPs into budgets and for budget revisions; s/he has approval authority of manager level 1 in ATLAS and advises project teams on the appropriate use of ATLAS, and of UNDP and UNCDF business processes, rules and procedures.

Efficient and integrated monitoring of all financial, performance and operational aspects of the projects, which enables a quarterly comparison of the actual results achieved and resources with the AWP; organization of annual project review meetings.

    * Reporting of project achievements and delivery as part of the annual UNCDF reporting systems (ATLAS, MIS etc), while ensuring compliance with other reporting arrangements for non-core resources to donors.
    * Support the organization of evaluations and audits and follow-up on the implementation of their recommendations.
    * Timely operational and financial closure of projects.

2. MANAGEMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS OF THE UN JOINT PROGRAMMES (25 %):
Ensure that the partnerships of the joint programmes are being managed in the best interests of UNCDF, taking into account the priorities and activities in the UN's strategic planning and joint programming:

    * Operational and programmatic partnerships with other participating UN organisations to the Joint Programmes are managed on a day-to-day basis
    * UNCDF strategic positioning in the joint programmes is managed and strengthened
    * The CCA, UNDAF et CPAP integrate the areas of joint UNDP and UNCDF intervention (Local Development and Microfinance) in an appropriate manner and give appropriate details on the results to be achieved and resources to be allocated for that purpose.
    * The planned results of the UNCDF activities as included in the UNDAF and CPAP are taken into account in the processes of monitoring and evaluating the UNDAF.

3. RESOURCE MOBILISATION (15%):
Support the UNRC Office and the UNCDF Regional and HQ Offices in mobilizing resources for the joint programmes and other relevant activities:

    * Effective partnership with UNDP country office, the UNRC Office the UNCDF regional team and UNCDF HQs in all steps in the RM process, while respecting the comparative advantages of UNCDF
    * Documentation and sharing of partnership interactions as input into corporate business intelligence.

4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (10%):
Promote the UNCDF visibility and the replication of pilot programmes through the documentation of pilot experience, distribution of knowledge management products and a policy dialogue with national authorities as well as with donor partners, in order to achieve the following results:

    * Contribution to the identification, documentation and dissemination of lessons learned from pilot programmes.
    * Visibility of UNCDF and of its comparative advantages in its two areas of intervention.
    * Advocacy with national authorities and other national and local partners and donor partners in order to see a replication of successful pilot programmes and advance the policy dialogue on decentralization and local development, inclusive finance.

Contribution to the UNDP and UNCDF knowledge networks and to the UNCDF website.

5. CORPORATE SUPPORT (5%):
Manage the UNCDF Programme Support Budget and support UNCDF global initiatives:

    * Efficient management of the PSB budget and the other UNCDF personnel that works in the country office.
    * Ad-hoc support to UNCDF global and regional initiatives

Impact of Results:
Results of the work of the Programme Officer have a major impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the UNCDF programmes in Somalia. They have a major impact on achieving objectives of UNCDF in the Southern and East Africa region and organizational targets for financial delivery, business development, partnerships and resource mobilization for country programmes. The results of the incumbent have an impact on UNCDF's reputation as a reliable business partner in local development and inclusive finance, in Somalia and beyond.

Competencies

CORPORATE
    * Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards
    * Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability
    * Treats all persons fairly without favoritism
    * Shows strong corporate commitment
    * Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF and UNDP

FUNCTIONAL
    * Demonstrated broad knowledge of development issues, especially in the areas of poverty alleviation and local development
    * Comprehensive understanding of the project management cycle and managing for results
    * Knowledge of the programme framework
    * Knowledge of UNDP field level organization
    * Knowledge of Atlas at level required for the position

MANAGERIAL/BEHAVIORAL

Leadership
    * Focuses on impact and results for client
    * Builds trust in interactions with others
    * Takes initiative and calculated risks
    * Leads team creatively and effectively, and resolves conflicts
    * Displays positive attitude
    * Takes decisions

Managing Relationships    * Builds strong client relationships
    * Builds strong relationships with external actors
    * Communicates clearly and convincingly

Task Management    * Produces quality outputs in timely manner
    * Analyzes problems carefully and logically, leading to fact-based and practical recommendations

Managing Complexity
    * Manages projects effectively
    * Develops innovative solutions

Building and Sharing Knowledge
    * Shares knowledge and experience with colleagues
    * Actively builds deep knowledge in local development area
    * Makes valuable contributions to substantive/process areas
    * Promotes knowledge management in the Unit/Office

Learning and People Development
    * Provides constructive coaching and feedback
    * Supports learning environment in the Unit/Office

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
A Masters degree in economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline.

Experience:

Five (5) years of relevant work experience in an area related to economic/social development, preferably in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and with UN organisations.

Demonstrated success in programme management and management of institutional partnerships.

Language Requirements:
Fluency in English required; knowledge of other UN languages an asset.

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.