Technical Advisor for the DRS Joint Programme Job Vacancy at UNOPS Ethiopia

Vacancy code VA/2012/B0053/756
Job title Technical Advisor for the DRS Joint Programme
Department/office Africa
Duty station Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract type Temporary Appointment
Contract level TA - P5
Duration 364 days
Application period 09-Jul-2012 to 29-Jul-2012
Print
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Apply Now
Background Information - UNOPS

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs around 3,500 personnel annually and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Background Information - Job-specific

The Developing Regional States - Afar, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella and Somali Regions account for 9.2% of the total population (2007 census) and 50% of the surface area of Ethiopia, and represent a sizable portion of the most underdeveloped parts of the country. The human development situation is worse and the pace of their development in most sectors is slower in these regions than elsewhere in the country. Significant problems affecting the emerging regions include poor infrastructure, food insecurity and reliance on short term humanitarian interventions to deliver basic social services, conflict and instability. In addition, the legal and policy frameworks governing decentralization of planning and resources to lower levels of government are less developed in the emerging regions, and the administrative structures require additional support to help bring their capacities up to the standards seen in the more developed regions.

The Programme to Enhance Public Service Delivery for accelerating development outcomes in Ethiopia’s four Developing Regional States (DRS JP) is a 5-year UN joint programme involving 7 UN agencies (UNICEF, UNDP, UNCDF, WHO, FAO, WFP, UNWomen). It has been designed to provide integrated support to the four regions to improve development outcomes and accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on a par with the other larger states. Implementation of the DRS programme will focus in the first two years in a small number of selected woredas (districts) in each region to allow partners to pilot new approaches and learn lessons for effective integrated programming before scaling up activities to include a larger number of woredas in a second phase.

The Programme aims at addressing major issues that are constraining development in the four regional states though interventions focused on three thematic areas:

1. Building Capacity for Quality Local Governance which will focus on developing systems and capacities necessary for effective planning, budgeting, human resource management and community participation,
2. Improving Delivery of Basic Social Services which will focus on strengthening capacity for delivery of core services including education. Health, water and sanitation and social protection,
3. Building Capacity for Environmentally Sustainable Livelihoods which will focus on creating a sustainable momentum for economic growth by building the capacity of local economic stakeholders and facilitating investment in economic infrastructure and services.
The programme is coordinated by the Ministry of Federal Affairs (MoFA) at the national level which has responsibility for coordinating special federal support to the four Developing Regional States with all development partners. Programme coordination will be provided by the Bureaus of Finance and Economic Development (BOFEDs) at the Regional level. Programme activities will be implemented by relevant sectoral bureaus at the regional and woreda levels.

The DRS Joint Programme officially began implementation in July of 2011 with a preliminary phase focused on ensuring detailed identification and planning of the full set of joint programme activities which will begin implementation from January 2012.
Functional Responsibilities

The Chief Technical Advisor will provide strategic and technical leadership and overall programme management for the DRS Joint Programme.  S/he will ensure that Programme’s outputs are delivered and achieved within the approved timeframe and budget, and ensure smooth and efficient implementation and management of the Programme in line with UN rules and regulations. S/He will be responsible for supporting the activities of the federal level programme governance and management structures and for providing guidance and support to the 4 national technical advisors deployed at regional level. S/he will have a key role in maintaining active coordination between the diverse UN agencies, government partners and other key stakeholders involved in the programmes development and implementation.

The DRS Chief Technical Advisor will perform the following functions:

PLANNING AND COORDINATION
a) Takes the lead role in ensuring that all partners work together in the planning of the Joint Programme activities;
b) Oversight of Regional and Federal level Work Plans;
c) Consolidation of  Annual Budget and present  to the Joint Programme National Steering Committee for review and approval;
d) Consolidation of mid-year and end of year progress review report for presentation to the joint programme national steering committee and coordination of actions agreed upon at the midyear review
e) Acts as the secretariat for the deliberations of the Joint Program National Steering Commitee (JPNSC) drafting agendas, recording  and disseminating action points and follow-up thereon;
f) Ensures close liaison with MoFA, MoFED and other Government Ministries;

IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT
g) To support all partners’ implementation of programme activities through direct assistance and technical and operational advice and capacity building;
h) Supports MOFA in its leadership role within the joint programme including quarterly review meetings and, when necessary, strengthens MoFA’s capacity to play this role;
i) Coordinates all activities at national level including procurement of goods and services through the government and international development partner systems as necessary;

REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
j) Compiles the Single Programme Report for the Joint Programme including narrative progress summary and all financial reporting on the basis of Regional and Federal reports and other inputs from Participating  UN Agencies and ensures timely submission to the JPNSC for approval and onward transmission to Administrative Agent through the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office ;
k) Ensures all reporting requirements of international development partners are covered in the Joint Programme Single Programme Report

FUND MANAGEMENT
l) Monitors release and use of funds for the Joint Programme.;

MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND AUDIT
m) Oversees  the regional programme implementation monitoring and evaluation plans;
n) Commissions additional monitoring and Evaluation work as may be required.;
o) Ensures  that corrective actions are taken as a results of M&E findings and of PSC recommendations;
p) Arranges for single Audit to be undertaken that meet participating international development partner requirements and submits Audit findings to JPNSC ;

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
q) Ensure effective implementation of the advocacy and communications plan in coordination with national  partners  and participating international development partners;
r) To produce knowledge products and disseminate programme outcomes at national level and advocate for broader systemic change and policy impact.
Competencies

Professional competences
• Broad experience programme management with a special emphasis on working in programmes involving several partners;
• Strong background in some or all of the following technical areas; local governance, public sector management systems, public sector capacity building, basic social service delivery systems, local economic development, livelihoods promotion, participatory development approaches
• Demonstrated capacity to work with both UN partners and government counterparts at different levels in a way that promotes dialogue and contributes to successful programme implementation.
• Strong skills in managing diversified teams.
• Proven ability to mobilise resources and create effective partners with donors and other development partners

Functional Competencies:
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions from different sources, conduct financial analysis and reporting.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills

Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Displays strong cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Education/Experience/Language requirements

Master’s Degree or equivalent in social sciences, development studies, economics or related field is required.

Minimum ten years of relevant experience at the national and international level in planning and programme management.

Experience working in cross-sectoral teams, preferably in the UN context and experience in coordinating complex, diversified work teams and working with government counterparts.

Fluency in English written and verbally is required.
Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Contract level: P5
Contract duration: 364 Days


For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/english/whoweneed/contract-types/Pages/United-Nations-staff-contracts.aspx

Additional Considerations

    Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
    Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
    Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
    Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
    UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post
    The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS
How to Apply;
https://gprs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=756