Chief Technical Advisor(GDPP)

UNDP, in collaboration with its partners has launched a new multi-stakeholder governance programme entitled: “Governance and Democratic Participation Programme” (GDPP) in June 2017. The GDPP is a five-year programme spanning from April 2017 to March 2021 managed by UNDP. The overarching objective of the programme is to support the country to sustain efforts towards enhancing institutional capacities and frameworks for strengthening good governance and deepening democratic participation in line with the Constitution, the Growth and Transformation Plan II, the Global SDG agendas, and International Human Rights Conventions to which Ethiopia is a signatory. Progress in these areas are critical, and continued support will enable the country to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. The expected outputs of the programme are:

1. Political processes of federal and regional state legislative bodies are more inclusive and effectively delivering on their constitutional mandates;
2. Federal and regional state systems of governance are more accountable, transparent and are delivering public services in more inclusive and responsive ways;
3. Citizens are empowered to actively participate in decision-making processes at all levels of the development, governance and political processes and systems;
4. Systems and mechanisms for strengthening the federal system, promoting social cohesion, managing diversity, preventing and managing conflicts, fostering dialogues and building peace are further strengthened at national and regional levels and
5. Access to justice enhanced and human rights promoted and protected across Ethiopia.

GDPP is a complex and comprehensive programme expected to demonstrate tangible impact, which requires high-level and intensive engagement and advocacy with programme partners, high-quality technical assistance, as well as application of diverse programme management strategies and approaches, including advanced application of results-based management principles.  The programme involves multiple partners, most of which are confronted with capacity and other challenges, hence the need for closely coordination with programme stakeholders and ensure the programme can offer timely and effective support. Given the size and complexity of the Programme that encompasses many dimensions of governance, involving multiple implementing partners, UNDP is seeking the service of a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) who will be assigned in UNDP, and coordinating Programme Implementation Support Unit (PISU) that will be established to facilitate implementation under the overall leadership of country institutions.

The CTA, assisted by an M&E Officer and Communication staff in addition to contracted additional experts, and in close coordination with UNDP Governance Unit, is expected to steward the programme towards results through ensuring state of the art technical inputs and coordinating programme implementation on a daily basis. The CTA will collaborate closely with the Team Leader of UNDP Governance and Capacity Development Unit in planning and monitoring of project results, and coordinate and other teams in UNDP, with government officials, technical advisors and experts in the implementing partners ensuring effective coordination, successful programme management and optimal harmonization and alignment. The CTA also plays a central role in communicating effectively to external stakeholders on programme results, and acts as a key liaison with programme donor partners in order to leverage their financial and technical support to the programme for success.

Ensure, facilitate and track the achievement of programme results:

• Application of UNDP programme strategies to facilitate the achievement of results in governance under national leadership;
• Assist the Government counterparts in planning implementation to achieve intended results, including co-leading planning engagements and ensuring the relevance, high quality and timeliness of planning processes;
• Prepare issues papers, analytical policy memos and strategy papers to inform and enable UNDP’s and government’s agenda setting, prioritization and implementation decisions;
• Provide technical advice and assist the programme partners in monitoring and tracking implementation progress and assist in identifying course correction where necessary, using targets, benchmarking and other available strategic results framework;
• Guide UNDP and programme partners in monitoring and adjusting to unfolding country events and capitalizing on emerging opportunities;
• Facilitate the realization of synergies across the programme and between implementing partners;
• Advise UNDP senior management on unfolding critical programme context.

Provision of top quality technical advisory, and capacity development support

• Provide high quality policy advisory support to the government on relevant governance topics;
• Identify capacity gaps and challenges in implementing partners and design strategic approaches to address them in a sustainable manner;
• Oversee the procurement of top quality expertise in the programme and take part in the assurance of the quality of their deliverables;
• Introduce innovative ideas and benchmarks based on international good practices, and actively promote their application in the programme;
• Manage the recruitment of team and local consultants, as well as identifying short-term international & local experts as necessary as part of UNDP’s support to governance programme;
• Supervise procurement of goods and services including quality assurance of specifications, Terms of Reference (TORs) and Request for Proposals (RFPs) to accomplish results and in accordance with UNDP procedures;

Provision of high quality support to project management and achievement of performance targets

• Follow-up on the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Programme Management Board and Programme Technical Committee;
• Provide strategic advice and support in close cooperation and coordination with relevant national and regional stakeholders on the implementation of the programme elements;
• Timely preparation and quality control of substantive technical outputs, briefs and documents on governance issues, ensuring timely submission of progress and financial reports;
• Assist stakeholders in managing programme risks, for example by preparing analytical policy and programme briefs to UNDP, and through it to programme donors, the Programme Technical Committee and Programme Management Board; Review and update Risk and Issues logs regularly and identify issues that need the attention of UNDP and the PTC;
• Develop data collection system and executive dashboard to capture, analyse and report on programme progress and achievements;
• Coordinate and ensure the timely and high quality preparation of Programme Annual and Mid-Term Review meetings;
• Ensure the Secretariat function of the Programme Board (PMB) and the Programme Technical Committee (PTC), and as part of this function, distil, in coordination with the Governance Team Leader, issues that need to be tabled to PMB/PTC meetings, initiate agenda for the PMB and PTC;
• Supervise, lead and oversee communication, M&E and audit personnel in close collaboration with Governance Programme colleagues and other relevant units in UNDP.

Accountability for the use of donor funds and effective management of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization;

• Ensure the timely and high quality programme reporting to partners; escalate any issues that warrant senior management involvement;
• Ensure the use and application of donor funds in accordance with respective cost sharing agreement and UNDP regulations/practices;
• Strategic engagement with key regional and national stakeholders from government and civil society organizations, development partners and UN agencies to build synergy and collaboration, and to promote wider participation;
• Develop strategic partnerships among stakeholders to build consensus and momentum on activities;
• Develop a strategic framework for international community’s support to the Programme consistent with the UN’s human rights based approach;
• Strengthen UNDP relations with programme partners and other key stakeholders including UN and national/international organisations, civil society.

Effective communication and visibility of GDPP

• Ensure the availability of communication material on the programme and intended results in all relevant languages and for different audiences;
• Ensure the appropriate visibility of the programme in public media and in high-level channels;
• Facilitated and ensure the effective communication among all programme partners underpinning greater mutual understanding and the collective achievement of results;
• Prepare and disseminate high quality progress reports and analytical notes;
• Prepare high-level policy briefs and Op Eds on key programme issues;
• Organize programme monitoring visits, review meetings, evaluation missions;
• Prepare background documents, briefs, issues papers, and progress reports for meetings;
• Compile quarterly and annual reports to UNDP and donor partners;
• Distil, document, package and share programme success stories and good practices;
• Organize policy dialogue and debates to enhance programme impact involving high level politicians, parliamentarians, government officials, experts, development community, civil society, journalists and academics;
• Organize knowledge/experience sharing platforms and events in furtherance of programme results;
• Other communication activities that may be agreed from time to time and/or can enhance the results and visibility of the programme.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP's vision, mission, values and strategic goals;
• Display cultural, gender, religious, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge and first-hand experience of programme/project management cycle;
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills, including well-developed skills and demonstrated experience in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder processes and negotiation;
• Experience and specialist knowledge in building national and local capacities with focus on governance institutions;
• Specialist knowledge in governance and public-sector reforms, conflict prevention and management, building social cohesion and dialogue;
•  In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues, including gender mainstreaming;
• Sound understanding and capability to engage with national civil society organizations and media actors;
• Proven ability to incorporate into his/her work relevant international practices.

Management and Leadership Competencies:

• Good managerial and leadership skills;
• Demonstrate strong coordination skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive and constructive attitude;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Builds strong and harmonious relationships with clients and external actors;
• Demonstrates openness to change;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multi-cultural team environment;
• Excellent team-building, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills;
• Resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgment;
• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts;
• Ability to work under pressure, sometimes with strict deadlines.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Good Knowledge of Result -Based Management, and ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Result Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting;
• Ability to generate and lead implementation of innovative/new systems;
• Strong analytical abilities, particularly in the areas of governance, conflict resolution, capacity development and knowledge transfer.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Strong communication skills, both in writing and orally, including networking skills;
• Strong ability to persuade and influence others to cooperate;
• Ability to work in a complex environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors;
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, tact and diplomacy and judgment;
• Strong analytical, organizational and negotiation skills.

Client Orientation:

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external challenges and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients;
• Proven ability to build strong relations with partners, clients for positive feedback.

Education:

• Advanced degree in governance, law, political science, public policy, conflict studies, public administration, social sciences, development studies, or equivalent field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in advising governments, development partners on governance and public sector (i.e., governance programme support, capacity development support, technical and policy advice, governance assessments, monitoring and evaluation, etc.), with an excellent understanding of developing country context;
• Strong experience in project management preferably in governance programmes/projects;
• Demonstrated experience of working effectively with high level government officials;
• Highly developed organizational and communication skills;
• Ability to build consensus among a wide range of stakeholders;
• Proven experience in overseeing and ensuring technical soundness of research and analysis products;
• Experience in multi-stakeholder facilitation and consensus building;
• Previous experience of working successfully with governments in Africa on governance an advantage;
• Good understanding of UN/UNDP policies, procedures, programming modalities is an asset;
• Full computer literacy, in internet searching and Microsoft Office applications.

Language requirement:

• Excellent knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

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. 

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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