Governance Advisor (Assistant Resident Representative)

Zambia has been a self-starter Delivering as One country since 2011. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zambia, led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative, developed the Zambia-United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework 2016-2021 which articulates the UN System’s collective support towards national development priorities. This process was done in close consultation with the Government, bilateral partners and civil society. Its implementation requires strengthening a transformative relationship with the Government and its partners in the operationalization of the 7^th National Development Plan, which localises the SDGs alongside Zambia's Vision 2030 of becoming a prosperous middle-income country by 2030.

Under the guidance of the Country Director, the Governance Advisor (Assistant Resident Representative) acts as a manager of and advisor to the UNDP Senior Management on all aspects of the Governance and Gender Zambia Country Office (CO) programme in line with the UNDP Country Programme Document 2016-2021 and lead technical advisor of the Governance Results Group under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework.

The primary role of the Governance Advisor is to support UNDP’s and the UN Systems contribution as a thought leader, innovator and integrator towards creating a conducive governance environment for a diversified economy as outlined under Pillar 5 of the 7^th National Development Plan. This includes growing, monitoring and managing the UNDP governance programme portfolio under the UNDP Country Programme Document 2016-2021 results and resource framework and lead technical advisor on governance under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework in line with the UN Reforms, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the coordination structures of the 7^th National Development Plan. The Governance Advisor leads the UNDP Governance and Gender programme team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency, innovation and South-South Cooperation under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework and the 7^th National Development Plan 2017 – 2021 priorities for creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities for good governance.

The Governance Advisor heads and supervises the Governance & Gender programme team. He/she works in close collaboration with the UNDP Programme Management Support Unit, the Strategic Policy Unit, other CO Programme/Operations Units, and the senior governance programme staff in the UNCT Agencies, UNDP HQs and Regional Service Centre staff, and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP contribution to national governance objectives and international human rights commitments.

UNDP has recently approved its new Strategic Plan 2018-2021, which sets out the direction on the organization to support countries to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality and achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNDP Strategic Plan calls for a cross-cutting and an integrated application of expertise to deliver on development results. The Governance Advisor will therefore focus on governance, gender equality and resilience but also support the other three signature UNDP Strategic Plan areas on poverty, environment, and energy, working in partnership with other UNDP Programme Units, UN Agencies under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework, and partner technical working groups and coordination mechanisms of the 7^th National Development Plan.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Contribute to high-level technical and strategic advice of UNDP programme contribution to the governance results of the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework and national development plans and strategies
• Management of the CO Governance programme and supervision of the Governance and Gender Programme team
• Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization and sound fiduciary management
• Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management 

As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of the UNDP governance programme, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of the Country Programme Document, the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework, and key programme and project documents to contribute to national development priorities.
• Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation for the Governance Results Group under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework and in line with the UNDP Country Programme Document.
• Technical advisory services and though leadership on good governance under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework, the UNDP Country Programme Document and the UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies, including for joint programming in-line with the UN Reforms.
• Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO.
• CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in results-based management and control of the workflows in the Governance and Gender Programme Unit.

Ensures effective management of the CO Governance programme and supervision of the Governance and Gender programme team, focusing on quality conrol of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation in line with the Project Programme Management Reforms, achieving the following results:

• Effective application of results based management (RBM) tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Design and formulation of the Governance programme portfolio translating UNDP areas of comparative advantage into local interventions under the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework Governance Results Group and national development priorities, which include - human rights; anti-corruption; electoral and constitutional reform; accountability and transparency; justice sector reform and support to Parliament.
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the Governance programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• The Governance Advisor (Assistant Resident Representative) performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval.
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the Governance programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme.
• Follow up on audit recommendations and ensuring that all exceptions are timely reported.
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.
• Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to governance projects in close collaboration with the UNDP Deputy Country Director (Operations Manager).

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization in cooperation with the Programme Management Support Unit and other Assistant Resident Representatives, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes.
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, and civil society.
• Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and partnerships with other development and donor countries.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services on Governance 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 learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners.
• Sound contributions to Governance knowledge networks and communities of practice, including communicating on good practices and UNDP’s governance portfolio in Zambia.
• Organization of skills development and career growth opportunities for the operations/ projects staff on the governance portfolio.

Impact of Results

The key results of the Governance Advisor will have an impact on the overall contribution and success of the governance country programme portfolio in achieving national development plans and strategies, the Governance Results Group of the Zambia-UN Partnership Framework and the UNDP Country Programme Document targets. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation, programming and monitoring of governance outputs, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships for good governance and human rights to leave no one behind as articulated under Pillar 5 of the 7^th National Development Plan.

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

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• 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
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit
• Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• 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 or related field.

Experience

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language requirements

• Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station – Lusaka, Zambia

Important applicant information

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

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Workforce diversity

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