Dep.Electoral Adv/Proj.Manager

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years, UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Organizational context:

The UN Electoral Support Project (UNESP) is the international community’s programming vehicle to support the next elections in Afghanistan, including the parliamentary and district council elections announced by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for 7 July 2018. The project has two overall objectives – 1) to build the capacity of the Afghan electoral institutions (the Independent Elections Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission) to implement elections in line with the national electoral legal framework and Afghanistan’s international commitments; 2) to allow a programming mechanism for the international community to partially finance the elections as per the request of the Government of Afghanistan. The project follows previous UN projects in support of the Afghan electoral process, most notably the Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow (ELECT) projects, from 2006-2011 (ELECT I) and 2012-2015 (ELECT II), and the UNDP Project Initiation Plan that is in place since July 2015 – October 2017. The UNESP places the UN’s electoral support to Afghanistan directly under the political and supervisory oversight of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and reflects the growing sustainability of the Afghan electoral process, as evidenced by the Government of Afghanistan’s financial commitment to both electoral institutions, and the provision of significant in-kind support to the implementation of elections. The Project Board, under the overall political guidance of the UNAMA Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political, will be co-chaired by UNAMA DSRSG for Political and the Chairpersons of the IEC and ECC or their delegates. It will be comprised of all key stakeholders to oversee and approve UNESP’s budget, annual work plans and policy in support of the Afghan electoral institutions. Project implementation support will be provided by the UNDP Country Office, reporting, on fiduciary and operational matters, to the UNAMA Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Development/ UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative through the UNDP Country Director.

Along with support to both electoral institutions, UNESP will also support Afghan civil society’s civic and voter education and observation efforts to enhance the quality and quantity of participation in the electoral process. Overall, the project will have three outputs: (i) administration of credible elections is facilitated by the meeting of key IEC structural and planning milestones; (ii) credible electoral dispute resolution is provided by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) (iii) public outreach (along with support to civil society) to encourage citizen engagement in the electoral process. Mainstreaming of gender throughout the project is evident in key output indicators related to women’s participation in all three project outputs, reflecting the importance that UNESP places on increasing the position of women in Afghan electoral and political life. The project also aims at supporting the EMBs in strengthening integrity of the electoral process by enhancing accountability of responsible actors and supporting the implementation of electoral fraud mitigation mechanisms. Assisting the EMBs to implement measures to increase public confidence in election and democracy will be mainstreamed through the electoral assistance provided.

Organizational Context of the Post

Under the overall guidance of UNDP Afghanistan Country Director and direct supervision of UNDP Deputy Country Director (Programme), the incumbent will implement the project's activities and ensure its objectives are reached as per the project document. The incumbent will also be part of the UN integrated electoral arrangements with UNAMA. The incumbent reports both to the UNAMA Chief Electoral Adviser (for substantive electoral matters) and to the UNDP Deputy Country Director (Programme) on project management decisions.

Summary of key functions:

1. Electoral support
2. Project Management
3. Coordination and resource mobilisation
4. Reporting
5. Knowledge building and management

Electoral Support:

• When delegated by the Chief Electoral Adviser and as operationally required, assume the responsibilities of the CEA, and on all other instances act as Deputy Chief Electoral Advisor in the provision of technical advice to the Afghan authorities and electoral stakeholders;
• Provide advice, on technical electoral issues pertaining to the inception planning of forthcoming electoral operations, mainly options for voter registration, candidate registration, voting, etc.;
• Facilitate discussions on the above-mentioned issues, organize information sessions, discussion workshops and seminars for election stakeholders; prepare non-papers, discussion papers, background notes, etc. As part of the UN integrated electoral assistance, support the UN efforts with the planning and the implementation of the complementary electoral activities under UNDP responsibility throughout the different phases of the electoral process;
• Provide electoral advisory support to UNDP staff: RR, CD, DCD, programme officers involved in Governance Programme within UNDP Country Office;
• Support the UN efforts to coordinate the international community’s efforts on electoral assistance to Afghanistan;
• Ensure in all circumstances that the Project does not compromise the credibility of the UN System, the country’s interests and partners implicated in the process;
• Liaise and foster strategic cooperation with other partners to reinforce the dialogue between the stakeholders of the process.

Coordination and resource mobilization

The incumbent will be responsible for the implementation of project activities as well as the supervision of the following:

• Ensure with effectiveness the administrative and technical management of the project;
• Provide guidance and leadership to the project team;
• Plan and coordinate all project’s activities;
• Coordinate all his/her work with the UNAMA Chief Electoral Adviser;
• Coordinate the project’s work with the other governance projects within UNDP;
• Facilitate information sharing on electoral support to the Afghanistan authorities with development partners and other electoral assistance providers;
• Serve as Secretary to the UN-led coordination mechanisms with the international community and other implementing organisations;
• Ensure the resource mobilization for the electoral process and appropriate operational partnership arrangements.

Reporting

• Elaborate and submit periodic narrative and financial reports on the progress of the project to the UNDP and its partners;
• In collaboration with UNDP office and the Chief Electoral Adviser UNAMA prepare all necessary narrative and financial documentation for the coordination meetings with international partners.

Knowledge Building and management

Focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Promote cross-unit teamwork and skills development for the team members through coaching and mentoring;
• Capture and disseminate lessons learned and best practices to contribute to learning on policing and development elsewhere;
• Participate in international knowledge networks and other forum to draw on best practice and lessons learned in other similar contexts to apply to Afghanistan;
• Coordinate project strategies and activities with other UNDP projects to ensure the effective implementation of the Country Programme Document.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Preparing information required for advocacy for the inclusion of UNDP’s focus areas (democratic governance, poverty and MDGs, energy and environment, crisis prevention and recovery, HIV/AIDS and mainstreaming gender).  Devising and communicating strategies.  Influencing the public policy agenda.  Providing conceptual leadership for UNDP’s advocacy at the global level.

Influencing the public policy agenda

• Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
• Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
• Leverages UNDP’s multidisciplinary expertise to influence the shape of policies and programmes;
• Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, fact based approaches/solutions;
• Develops internal organizational policies promoting strategic approaches to UNDP’s focus areas (HQ);
• Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives;
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling disagreements with UNDP’s policy agenda in order to promote and position UNDP in complex environments.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Effectively managing core and non-core resources to achieve organizational results.  Moving from basic research to programme/project management, to programme design and conceptual leadership.

Achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies

• Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
• Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it;
• Makes use of a variety of resources within UNDP to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
• Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level;
• Ensures the integration of UNDP’s strategic concern in interagency, other multilateral initiatives and multi-sectoral development frameworks such as PRSPs, and SWAPs;
• Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Establishing, maintaining and utilizing a broad network of contacts.  Building partnerships and strategic alliances. Leveraging the resources of national governments and other development partners.

Building strategic alliances

• Identifies and prioritizes opportunities and obstacles in the political scene (government, civil society, parliamentarians, pressure groups) to advance UNDP’s agenda; identifies common interests and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners;
• Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
• Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UNDP’s agenda into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests;
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations;
• Leverages the resources of governments and other development partners.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

• Enhancing existing processes or products.  Developing original and innovative ideas and approaches.  Influencing others within UNDP and outside, to adopt new approaches.  Creating a culture of innovation and change.

Fostering innovation in others

• Influences and coaches others inside and outside UNDP in developing and implementing innovative approaches;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources;
• Leverages resources in support of new approaches;
• Facilitates change and influences senior decision makers to implement change strategies.

Resource Mobilization

• Ensuring that UNDP has the resources it requires implementing programmes and advancing a policy-oriented agenda.  Moves from providing basic inputs to resource mobilization strategies, through implementation of the strategies, to conceptualization and design of strategies.

Developing resource mobilization strategies at country level

• Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at regional (sub-regional) level (RSC, HQ);
• Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level;
• Shares information with country offices concerning opportunities to tap potential donors;
• Strengthens the capacity of the country office to mobilize resources.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline.  Focusing on the knowledge and skill areas necessary to effectively perform the functions of the post.  Identifying and seeking to expand knowledge and improve work processes.

Expert knowledge of own discipline

• Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Applies knowledge to support the unit/branch’s objectives and to further the mandate of UNDP;
• Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments.

Client Orientation

• Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs.  Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns.  Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs.  Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients.

Meeting long-term client needs

• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
• Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services;
• Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes;
• Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations.

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Law, International Relations, Politics, Social Science, or any other related field.

Experience:

• 10 years of work experience, in programme/project formulation, management and policy advice, of which 7 years in electoral assistance.
• Experience in large-scale post conflict electoral programs desirable;
• Experience in advising national electoral authorities and donors on electoral frameworks and systems and elections planning and operations;
• Proven management experience;
• Sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle
• Working experience in Afghanistan is an asset;Previous working experience for UNDP is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency or knowledge of Pashtu and/or Dari is desirable.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. For more information please click here and here.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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