UNHABITAT - Programme Support Officer

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Syria Programme, and in coordination with relevant units at the Headquarters (HQs) and the Regional Office (ROAS), the Programme Support Officer (PSO) leads the delivery of accountability and monitoring aspects of the UN Habitat Urban Recovery Framework (URF) and UN Habitat Country Programme Document.  The PSO will coordinate and contribute to the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of the UN Habitat Country Programme Document, SDGs, and relevant national strategies.  The PSO ensures the effective implementation of the evaluation policy, sets minimum monitoring and evaluation requirements for the Country Programme and projects, and initiates and manages thematic and crosscutting evaluations, makes a consistent follow up on implementation of recommendations.  The PSO will support the development of new programmes/projects as well as for participating in government and donor liaison and programme reporting for UN Habitat Syria Country Programme.  The PSO will lead the delivery of accountability and monitoring aspects of the UN Habitat Urban Recovery Framework (URF) and UN Habitat Country Programme Document.

The Programme Support Officer supervises and leads the programme support staff.  The PSO is required to work in close cooperation with all UN Habitat Syria departments and Hubs as well as programme staff in other UN Agencies, Government official, technical advisors and experts, implementing partners, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Habitat programme implementation.

Ensures implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to Common Country Assessment (CCA), UN Assistance Framework, UN Habitat Country Programme Document, the Urban Recovery Framework (URF), and other strategic and programmatic documents;
• Support programme and project planning process and provides input, within the context of UN Habitat Country Strategies and the Urban Recovery Framework, into effective Field/Country workplans. Build UN Habitat capacity to assess, deliver, monitor and evaluate interventions;
• Manage the actual application of the Programme Management Cycle (PMC) across the UN Habitat office. Provide support to senior programme managers, technical experts, and Hubs in carrying out all phases of PMC with due focus on project management;
• Facilitate results-based program plans built on evidence and logical frameworks; incorporate efficient use of inputs, indicators of impact, outcomes and outputs.

Ensures effective management of the UN Habitat Syria Country Programme accountability and monitoring mechanisms focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of accountability and monitoring mechanisms achieving the following results:

• Facilitate results-based program plans built on evidence and logical frameworks; incorporate efficient use of inputs, indicators of impact, outcomes and outputs;
• Design and formulation of programme within the area of responsibility, translating UN Habitat’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
• Collaboration and coordination with other UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations on monitoring and evaluation and accountability such as accountability of affected populations and do no harm;
• Provision of the technical advice at the design stage of programmes/projects setting up a framework with defined indicators at the design stage to facilitate the evaluation at the later stages.
• Provision of evaluation feedback into policy/project/programme design, including comments on various documents;
• Follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations. Ensuring the optimal use of evaluations by providing guidance in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations and by developing a communication plan;
• Support the design and lead the implementation of UN Habitat’s Environmental and Social Safeguard System.

Build strategic partnerships and support the implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports;
• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UN Habitat, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;

• In-depth knowledge on development issues;

• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;

• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;

• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;

• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;

• Strong IT skills;

• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;

• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;

• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;

• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities or related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience at the national and international level in providing programme quality management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Demonstrated knowledge of project formulation, administration and evaluation techniques and Practices;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station – English and Arabic.

Special Conditions:

• Qualified candidates who are not selected may be rostered for similar future posts;
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply;
• Priority consideration will be given for internal qualified candidates;
• UN-Habitat reserves the right to re-classify the post, based on operational requirements.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

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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