Project Analyst (Only for Myanmar National)Parliament, Support to Effective & Responsive Institutions Project

 

Myanmar has embarked on a major transition towards democracy, market style economy and peace. Myanmar has low middle-income status (LMIC) and is committed to lifting itself out of Least Developed Country (LDC) status within the next seven years. Following the implementation of the first ever UNDP Country Programme during 2013-2017 and as a key development partner of the government of Myanmar, UNDP will implement a new UNDP Country Programme for the period 2018-2022, striving to deliver on a large and relevant programme portfolio that is responsive to the main development challenges facing the country.  

 

The UNDP Country Office in Myanmar is a key interlocutor and advisor to the Union government on rule of law, civil service reform, parliamentary capacity and institution building.  UNDP is expanding its programme at the State, Region and Township levels to ensure stronger institutions at all levels of government as well as broader civic engagement as part of the effort to build and sustain peace.   

 

The new UNDP Myanmar Country Programme (2018-2022) has been finalized and a new structure will be implemented to support a more integrated and collaborative way to help Myanmar achieve sustainable development and sustained peace. The Country Office has aligned the new office structure with the new CPD and designed new ways of working that will facilitate more collaboration across the office, create the foundations for more sub-national level work and higher delivery, facilitate the relocation of the Country Office from Yangon to Naypyidaw during the upcoming CPD period, and emphasize learning and support to national staff capacity development.

 

The Support to Effective and Responsive Institutions Project (SERIP) is a five year initiative that aims to strengthen the effectiveness of state executive and legislative institutions in responding to the needs and aspirations of the Myanmar people, in all their diversity but also growing inequalities, and in formulating, implementing and evaluating policies as well as in appropriating public resources in a way that provides effective, timely and equitable responses to these aspirations. The centrepiece of the project’s approach is to provide dovetailed support to: (i) core government functions that are essential building blocks of the machinery of government, i.e. the chain of decisions and actions that are needed to make policies deliver concrete results for people’s lives; and (ii) parliamentary processes, as Parliaments enact laws that organize a country’s public sector management system and are intended to make government more responsible and accountable. The project is organized into four key intervention areas: (1) Data for Development; (2) Policy Management; (3) Parliamentary Law-making; (4) Subnational Governance, and will ensure throughout all activities, in line with principles of the Agenda 2030, the imperative of leaving-no-one-behind by introducing and supporting innovative and effective approaches to mainstreaming gender equality, environmental resilience and conflict-sensitivity and, more broadly, to fighting vulnerabilities. Also, through SERIP, UNDP seeks to assist government authorities to shift gradually to a more decentralized system of public sector management, in accordance with the government’s vision for a federal arrangement.  

 

The project adopts a multi-level approach, from the Union down to Township level and is area-based, as it will locate its different workstreams in 5 Regions & States: Bago, Mon, Thanintharyi, Rakhine and Mandalay, where UNDP has a solid track record of achievements and is a trusted partner of subnational authorities. Under the Parliamentary output, the project will provide technical support in all Regions & States. 

 

The Project Analyst works under the direct supervision of the Parliamentary Specialist and the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor. The main role of the Project Analyst is to provide high quality technical assistance to parliamentary counterparts to strengthen the roles, functions and processes of the parliaments in Myanmar. The Project Analyst analyzes parliamentary issues, trends and good practices in parliamentary support, and participates in the implementation of technical support to Parliament at national and sub-national levels in line with the annual work plans.

 

The Project Analyst works in close collaboration with the Country Office Programme Unit, Programme Support Unit and other project teams, Government officials, technical advisors and experts, implementing partners, beneficiaries and civil society to support successful implementation of the project.

 

The Project Analyst will be based in Naypyidaw or Mawlamyine with regular travel to Yangon and the Regions and States. 

 

UNDP Myanmar is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

 

Summary of key functions:

 

 Coordination and implementation of project activities

 Provision of high quality technical assistance and training support to parliamentary counterparts

 Facilitates creation of strategic partnerships 

 Provision of top quality advisory services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management

 

 

1. Ensures coordination and implementation of activities relating to parliamentary support strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

 

 Analysis and research on the roles, functions and processes of the parliament.

 Produces analysis briefs and synthesis, and contributes to project design, project documents, and implementation of activities.

 Coordinates with parliamentary counterparts to implement technical activities including, for example, drafting correspondence, identifying timelines, and designing concept notes, terms of reference, approaches, methodologies, etc.

 Provides implementation support to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of technical assistance, by leading planning and organization of agreed activities.

 Monitors issues and risks related to project implementation, identifies mitigation measures, and implements agreed actions. 

 Provides inputs to project reports, audit and evaluation. 

 

2. Provides high quality technical assistance and training to parliamentary counterparts

 Supports assessment of capacity gaps of the relevant departments and functions, particularly in the areas of parliamentary services and MPs’ roles.  

 Provides day to day technical advice and training with the aim of strengthening capacities in the areas identified, including curriculum development, training, design of interventions, and managing other technical cooperation partners involved in project implementation

 

 

    3.   Supports creation of strategic partnerships focusing on achievement of the following results:

 

 Acts as the technical liaison with counterparts and stakeholders including development partners, academia/think tanks, civil society, I/NGOs, parliament, etc., and provides technical inputs, as required. 

 Analysis and research of information on donors, counterparts and implementing partners,  preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new project activities, active contribution to the overall project effort to mobilize resources.

 Organizes key events such as consultation meetings, trainings, committee meetings, etc. as needed for the implementation of UNDP’s technical assistance. 

 

   

4. Leads knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

 

 Documents the processes taken during the provision of technical assistance and lessons learned so that the know-how can remain within government institutions.

 Participates in design of monitoring tools and analysis of monitoring results to ensure achieving successful results of technical assistance. 

 Keep abreast of good practices in other countries and identifies learning points for Myanmar. 

 Identifies opportunities for government counterparts to share their experience with other countries and facilitates South-South cooperation. 

 

 

Functional Competencies:   

 

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

 

Level 1.2: Preparing information for advocacy

 Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

 

 

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

 

Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

 Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work

 Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration

 Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation

 

 

Building Strategic Partnerships 

 

Level 1.2:  Maintaining a network of contacts

 Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues

 Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

 

 

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

 

 

Level 1.2: Enhancing processes or products

 Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

 

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations)

 

Level 1.2:  Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

 Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors 

 

 

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

 

 

Level 1.2: Basic research and analysis

 Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

 

 

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

 

Level 1.2: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

 Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position

 Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks 

 Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning

 Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

 

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

 

Level 1.2: Preparing information for global advocacy

 Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences

 

 

Client Orientation

 

Level 1.2: Establishing effective client relationships

 Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion

 Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

 

 

 

Core Competencies:

 Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity  

 Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment 

 Self-development, initiative-taking 

 Acting as a team player and facilitating team work 

 Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively 

 Creating synergies through self-control

 Managing conflict

 Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.

 Informed and transparent decision making

 

 

Education:

 

Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Economics, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, or other relevant discipline.

 

Experience:

 

 Master’s degree or 2 years with Bachelor degree of experience in the implementation of democratic governance programmes and projects. 

 Solid knowledge of democratic governance issues and a good understanding of the functions and roles parliament and MPs. 

 Experience in coordinating with wide range of stakeholders, including government, development partners, academia/think tank, civil society, I/NGO, parliament, etc.

 Solid knowledge of project management principles and best practices.

 Project management experience, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency is an asset. 

 Computer literacy – MS office applications, web-based management information systems. 

 Demonstrated strength in interpersonal skills.

 Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

 

Language Requirements:

 

 Excellent command of written and spoken English. 

 Fluency in Myanmar.