Development Cooperation Specialist, CPG Secretariat

In order to ensure effective coordination of development assistance in Myanmar, the development partners (DPs) have engaged with the Government of Myanmar (GOM) and other stakeholders through a number of coordination mechanisms.

With the change in Government in April 2016, there have been several developments in development cooperation. The 12-point Economic Policy was issued in August 2016 and a new Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) in GOM was established in November 2016, chaired by the State Counsellor. 10 Sector Coordination Groups (SCG) and 3 Non-Sector Coordination Groups (SCG) were launched in mid-2017, which contain GOM, DP, INGO, CSO and Private Sector representatives. The Government has also recently developed a new Development Assistance Policy (DAP), which will provide guidance to all stakeholders on development priorities and best practices for managing development assistance.

An Aid Management Information System (AIMS) has been developed under the Ministry of Planning and Finance to track aid projects and programmes, and a variety of open data sources have emerged, such as the Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU). This has improved aid transparency and predictability.

On the DPs’ side, a new Cooperation Partners Group (CPG) was launched in July 2016 as the main coordination mechanism for international development partners, with 78 member agencies at present. The mandate of the CPG is to enhance effective development cooperation in Myanmar, in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, through providing a forum for members to share information and exchange views on development issues and plans, coordinating CPG members’ actions, and identifying common policies, positions and messaging. The CPG engages with a range of actors, including government, civil society and NGOs. It also focuses on specific issues and engages with stakeholders through CPG workstreams, for example the development-humanitarian-peace nexus. The CPG has provided trainings and seminars to the government and parliamentarians to raise awareness about aid effectiveness.

The CPG operates with the support of a Secretariat, which is composed of two full time UNDP staff (one international and one national) and a EU and Italy-funded part-time international consultant, in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders including development cooperation partners (including non-traditional/emerging/regional partners), Government, INGOs, civil society, the private sector, etc. The day-to-day functions of the Secretariat are carried out in close collaboration with the full-time national UNDP officer and the EU and Italy-funded part-time consultant. 

While the day-to-day work of the Development Cooperation Specialist will be guided by the CPG, and in particular its Facilitators, administratively this position will be placed in the CPG Secretariat in the Strategic Results, Partnerships and Innovation Unit of UNDP Country Office in Myanmar and report to the head of unit. 
 

The role of the Development Cooperation Specialist is to manage the CPG Secretariat in its role to provide support to the CPG.  

1.    Management of overall CPG secretariat programme activities, by focusing on the following results:

• Development, implementation and monitoring of the CPG secretariat work plan ensuring that activities contribute to the achievement of targets and results outlined by the CPG.
• Under the above work plan, formulate procurement, human resources, communications, monitoring and risk management plans for the secretariat, as needed.
• Management and oversight of the CPG secretariat budget, in accordance with the work plan above. Monitor the use of the budget and achievements made and develop lessons learned reports, as required.
• Reporting, both narrative and financial, on secretariat outputs and financial status as per UNDP rules and regulations.
• Participation in UNDP programme meetings and supporting activities (e.g. recruitment, work planning, reporting) in line with UNDP staff requirements.
• Supervision and overall performance management of UNDP secretariat personnel.
• Management of outsourced CPG analysis and translations through subject matter experts; ensure their successful achievement by developing Terms of Reference, contracting the expert(s) in line with the UNDP policies and procedures, and supervising their implementation, and reviewing and approving deliverables.

2.    High-quality support to all CPG-related meetings:

• Production of agendas, talking points, pre-meeting briefs, meeting summaries and action points, and post-meeting follow up actions for CPG monthly meetings.Provision of similar ad hoc support to other CPG-related meetings, including, but not limited, to:

             - CPG workstreams (i.e. working groups under the CPG)

             - Government-led national development cooperation dialogues

             - Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) - CPG meetings

             - Foreign Economic Relations Department (FERD) - CPG meetings

              - Workshops on specific priority issues such as Development-Humanitarian-         Peace Nexus, Private Sector Engagement, 2030 Agenda/SDGs, etc., including appropriate budgeting required

• Ensure that CPG-related meetings and activities promote the development effectiveness agenda at country level (i.e. through the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) principles), in collaboration with a wide range of national and international stakeholders (e.g. Govt., INGO, CSO, private sector, parliament).
• Monitor satisfaction of CPG members and other stakeholders with CPG secretariat services and make improvements, as needed.
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3.    Liaison between Government of Myanmar and Cooperation Partners Group (CPG)

• Effective linkage between the CPG and the Government’s Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU), and the CPG and the Foreign Economic Relations Department (FERD) (as DACU secretariat).
• Streamlining of communications between DACU/FERD and CPG and lowering of transaction costs, for example through collating and sharing information that Government requests from CPG on a range of issues such as development cooperation architecture, development policies, etc.
• Support Government, as needed, on implementation of the Development Assistance Policy.
• Provision to CPG of relevant and timely information from Government, including translation into Myanmar language.

4.    Knowledge Management of Aid and Development Cooperation Information:

• Collation and sharing of aid and development cooperation information for the benefit of the CPG, including strategies/policies, studies and assessments, records of meetings, etc. This information will be managed by the CPG secretariat in collaboration with the Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU), and in future linked to a web-based platform for use by the CPG on the MIMU website.
• Provision of regular updates on new developments, studies, contact lists for CPG members, both proactively and on demand. Ensure that CPG documentation is updated including CPG Terms of Reference, and encourage CPs to share relevant public information (e.g. public studies, strategies, etc) openly through the MIMU platform.
• Share knowledge on, and promote understanding of, development cooperation with key national stakeholders, including developing their capacities in this area (e.g. for Government, civil society, private sector).

5.    Provision of analytical products for CPG

• Provision of significant added value to the CPG through preparation of analytical briefs, discussion papers, concept notes, etc. in development cooperation areas, as needed, to assist CPG in developing strategies about specific issues and emerging themes.
• Where such analysis requires outsourcing due to volume or time required, and dependent on budget, facilitation of such analysis through subject matter experts as mentioned in result area 1. above.
   

Impact of the Result:

Achievement of the Development Cooperation Specialist’s key results will contribute to overall development effectiveness practices in Myanmar and support wider development community coordination.

The efficient and timely achievement of the key results will also strengthen UNDP’s position as a strong and reliable development partner and provide satisfaction on the part of the development partners in the country.

Competencies and Selection Criteria
   
Core    
Innovation:
Ability to make new and useful ideas work- Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership:
Ability to persuade others to follow- Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management:
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction- Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication and Relationship Management:
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform- Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery:
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgment - Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional    
Primary    
Project Management:
Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals t Management- Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Partnerships:
Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships-Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Development Planning and Monitoring:
Ability to  develop business and  planning processes at the national and local level and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations- Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management:
Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge-  Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
 

Education:

At least a Master’s Degree in Development, Economics, Political and Social Sciences, International Relations or any other relevant fields.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in functions related to development cooperation and coordination as well as aid effectiveness.
• Strong knowledge of, and engagement in, global discussions on development effectiveness (Busan, Accra Accord, Paris Declaration, etc.), preferably at the country level.
• Demonstrable experience in coordinating and communicating with wide range of stakeholders, including government and development partners.
• Proven record of leading research and/or analysis work.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams and with varying levels of seniority.

Experience in Myanmar and/or other South East Asian countries will be considered as an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English.

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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