Project Manager -Stabilization

Sudan is a country in transition with diverse development issues and challenges requiring a comprehensive stabilization strategy, with each area requiring customized interventions for stabilization and development. While Sudan is experiencing progressive economic growth, it is also fraught with economic crisis coupled with the issues of youth unemployment, displaced populations, migrants, reintegration of formed fighters, and prevention of violent extremism.   Protracted and post-conflict displacements pose both humanitarian and development challenges. Resolving these requires a more coherent and effective course to stabilization approach that end dependency on humanitarian aid and advance human development.

While UNDP continues to work with various stakeholders including the government of Sudan, it places emphasis on addressing these issues under SDGs, National and Strategic Plans. With the current economic crisis, Sudan requires support in promoting local economic development to ensure resilience of communities. Sudan can play a vital role in stabilization of the entire region as it stands as a bridge between Arab and African nations and this assumes more importance at the imminent drawdown of UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). 

Aligned with the Government’s development priorities, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), 2018-2021, and the multi-year humanitarian strategy, the Stabilization Programmes involve highly functional partnership models with line ministries, NGOs, UN agencies and the private. UNDP supports peace efforts to stabilize communities and strengthen social cohesion in at least 10 states. It will continue to support and advocate for dividends of peace, promote civic engagement, and work on reintegration component of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process for ex-combatants in Darfur and in the border states of the south, with an equal focus on host communities.

In principle, the incumbent will manage five projects targeting stabilization, inclusive development, Humanitarian Development Peace nexus, Prevention of violent extremism, DDR, Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultations, promotion of role of women in peace building and NRM. The incumbent will also articulate UNDP‘s approach towards the issues of migration through development lens in coordination with all national and international stakeholders.

The objective of the stabilization of the Programme, which is funded by diverse donors and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the national stakeholders and other UN agencies (as appropriate) it to promote social and economic resilience of local communities , especially youth women and displaced population  , through improved access to livelihoods , education , business skills , as well to address gaps in business and professional employment skills of youth across various categories like unemployed, displaced, returnees , ex-combatants , migrants, people having potential to join violent extremism . In doing so, Programme aims to increase the space for reconciliation, confidence building, social cohesion, women empowerment and natural resource management.

The Programme aims to achieve goal by reaching targets across the following objectives:

• Promoting humanitarian –development - peace nexus in all over Sudan including Darfur, Southern States and Eastern Sudan
• Promote inclusive development in line with the UNDP strategic plan to address diverse issues under SDGs with focus on displaced, migrants and ex-fighters.
• Improved access to sustainable livelihoods and promote local economic development
• Improved access to development arena to displaced, migrants and people with potential to join conflicts and violent extremism
• Enhanced dialogue across various stakeholders and target groups to promote reconciliation and peaceful co-existence
• Enhanced participation of women in socio-economic spheres
• Enhanced participation of private sector and promote business development skills  
• The overall objective of the Programme is stabilize communities and promote development by linking to transition from Humanitarian to development arenas.

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director and under direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director /Programme, the Programme Manager sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees the stabilization Programme with its diverse components across Sudan. He/she advises the country office senior management on development and implementation of the Programme, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges in managing the Programme.

He/she leads and supervises the Programme staff working in different geographic areas of responsibility of the Programme ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. He/she works closely with internal and external counterparts, including government counterparts, development partners, NGOs, civil society, private sector etc., to successfully deliver UNDP Programmes. He/she ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Programme leadership and management.
• Planning and coordination
• Programme implementation: Community security and stabilization
• Foster partnership building and donor liaison.

Programme leadership and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Work to ensure Stabilization Programme supports the overall local economic development peace processes in Sudan.
• Assist the UNDP Country director and Deputy Country Director/Programme in the overall management and delivery of the UNDP Mandate on the stabilization  initiatives, which will include promotion of humanitarian-development –peace nexus, inclusive local economic development through business development and value chains, prevention of violent extremism , support to local communities to be resilient towards displacement , promote peace and reconciliation , promote dialogue among communities to foster peace , address the issues related to migration through development lens , promote reintegration of IDPs and Ex-fighters.
• Manage strategic planning, and day-to-day Programme implementation, and overall coordination from substantive, administrative and financial aspects of the Programme across different geographical areas of Sudan.
• Oversee and guide the efforts and contributions of consultants, government counterparts towards the achievement of Programme objectives 
• Provide strategic vision and guidance, manage and supervise the staff and field operations across the country
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation processes are in place to measure the achievements in all phases of the Programme as per UNDP procedures
• Oversee and coordinate the public information and sensitization strategy for the Programme
• Contribute on resource mobilization and ensure coordination with donors, including the private sector, for stabilization initiatives.

Planning and Coordination of stabilization Programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Work to ensure that there is close cooperation and collaboration with national stakeholders and other implementing partners, such as other UN entities, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the donor community;
• Develop project concepts and proposals for future phases of community security and stabilization Programmes and related topics jointly with the Country Office;
• Build partnerships with other UN Agencies, NGO and Government to support the preparation and implementation of state capacity development and reintegration plans;
• Support various ministries and the commissions of the government dealing with the subjects of local economic development, displacement, migration, reintegration and prevention of violent extremism.
• Identify entry points for potential partnerships and complementarities with other relevant players including Government Ministries and Departments, Private Sector, NGOs, UNAMID, UN Agencies etc. to support capacity building activities;
• Participate in Government and DRA led State DDS Coordination Mechanisms to share information on Programme activities, identify linkages and partnership with other DDS Projects in areas related to capacity development of Government partners;
• Ensure that “ No one is Left Behind” while operationalizing development interventions Maximize the development by including all vulnerable sections of communities including unemployed youth, women, displaced population, migrants, people with potential to join Violent extremism, ex-fighters  by engaging government counterparts, development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and local agencies.
• Ensure internal communication and coordination at the Programme level, and effective and proactive communication between relevant CO units both Programme and operations units;
• Ensure private sector is actively engaged in the development initiatives;
• Explore the possibility of south-south cooperation initiatives;
• Coordinate and spin innovations towards development interventions;
• Collaborate with other UN agencies, UNAMID, Government, NGOs, and others in building synergies in Programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation;

Programme implementation: stabilization focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure the development of AWPs and writing up of progress and annual reports of the Programme;
• Ensure that regular updates and reviews of the Programme are done in ATLAS;
• Overall implementation and management of all aspects of the stabilization Programme and its projects across Sudan;
• Oversee the development and coordination of implementation of a comprehensive socio-economic reintegration framework for the members of armed forced and groups taking advantage of existing or planned recovery strategies and plans;
• Provide technical and policy advice and support as needed to the Commissions and Programme, and assist them in the development of strategies and work plans.

Foster partnership building and donor liaison focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Contributes to the development of the UNDP Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy;
• Identify new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the level through innovative approaches to partnership development;
• Boost ways of increasing the Programme funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities.

IV. Impact of Results:

• The Programme Manager will be responsible of Stabilization Programme of UNDP. The results of his/her work will have an impact in prompting stabilization, local economic and inclusive development and  will establish UNDP as a lead player in the development work .When requested by the Country Director or Deputy Country Director , the Programme Manager represents UNDP in international and national forums, liaises with external clients and a broad range of constituencies and UNDP counterparts in the stakeholders at local level, media, civil society as well as counterparts from other international organizations.

Core competencies:

Innovation:Ability to make new and useful ideas work:Level 6: Exercises stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / Programme / division

Leadership :Ability to persuade others to follow:Level 6: Ensures teams are resourced for success  and empowered to deliver.

People Management:Ability to improve performance and satisfaction:Level 6: Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity

Communication:Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform:Level 6: Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen

Delivery:Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement:Level 6: Accepts accountability for the outcomes of Programme delivery and facilitates improvement and innovation in the delivery of products and services.

Technical/Functional

Programme issues and analysis:Knowledge of Programme issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a stabilization perspective :Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Programme and Institutional Development:Knowledge of systems for Programming and capacity development and interagency collaboration and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations:Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Partnerships:Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships:Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Strategic thinking/visioning Ability to analyze the organization’s value proposition and shape visionary/long term plans.  Use insight to identify target audiences and partners and to inform communication objectives, messages and solutions:Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Coordination provider-recipient:Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement:Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Education:

Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Sustainable Development, Management, Economics, International Development or any other relevant field.

Experience:

• 10 years of relevant work experience, at least 7 of which involve implementation and management at senior level with proven experience in managing large Programmes, multiple projects and teams in multi-cultural settings.
• Experience in building and maintaining relationships with government institutions and other partners, civil society, private sector and UN agencies in sensitive political environments;
• Demonstrated experience and expertise related to local economic development, livelihoods, reintegration and prevention of violent extremism in development prism;
• Experience in resource mobilization, donor coordination, accountability and multi-donor trust funds;
• Experience in Sudan or Horn of Africa or Arab Region is an asset;
• Experience working in humanitarian, Post conflict and development contexts is an asset;Language Requirements:

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of English both written and Oral;
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.