Governance Specialist - Partnerships for a Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh Project

The United Nations Development Programme is looking to hire a seasoned governance specialist to help renew and expand its efforts to engage key government institutions including the Bangladesh Election Commission, Parliament, Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prime Minister’s Office, amongst others. UNDP hopes to identify new strategic entry points over the coming years that will lay the groundwork for sustainable governance engagement strategies. 
In addition, UNDP Bangladesh has a number of innovative governance projects, including the “Partnerships for a Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh” (PTIB) project to promote diverse and constructive narratives already present in the country. UNDP will support a better understanding of the challenges peaceful narratives face, working with government ministries to help Bangladeshis develop platforms and media for disseminating peaceful ideas.

The Governance Specialist, under direct supervision of the PTIB Project Manager and broad guidance of the Governance Cluster Portfolio Manager, and periodic support from the RCO Peace & Development Advisor, will provide programmatic advice and assistance to the UNDP Democratic Governance Cluster, particularly in the areas of elections, parliament, anti-corruption, governance assessment frameworks and the ongoing Partnerships for a Tolerant and Inclusive Bangladesh project.
 

Functions / Key Results Expected:

The Governance Specialist is assigned for 70% of the working time to PTIB, in which capacity she/he will report and work under the guidance and supervision of the International Project Manager. For the remaining 30%, the incumbent will be assigned to support the Democratic Governance Portfolio on elections, engagement with parliament, and other related issues, under the guidance of the Portfolio Manager for the Governance Cluster. The incumbent will do the following activities:

Summary of key functions:

1. Supports strategic review and provides technical inputs in programming for Partnerships for a Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh project activities, as well as for possible future activities involving elections, parliament and other governance projects;
    
2. Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, particularly within government;
    
3. Monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and knowledge sharing;
    

Detailed Duties:
 
1. 1. Supports strategic review and provides technical inputs in programming for Partnerships for a Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh project activities, as well as for possible future activities involving elections, parliament and other governance projects, focusing on the following results:
 

• Supports the PTIB Project Manager and UNDP senior management in preparing analyses on emerging political and developmental issues, and translates analyses into strategy development and programming;
• Provides technical support in design of project activities, and provides inputs to technical documents;
   
• Produces periodic updates and briefs on the country development situation, to be used by stakeholders, Country Office, Regional Bureau and HQ;
   
• Advises senior management and team members on policy options, particularly from a government perspective, to implement policies conducive to furthering tolerance and inclusion;
   
• Helps write, design and manage proposals and strategic documents related to new government engagement activities.

2. Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, particularly with government, focusing on the following results:
 

• Leads the development and implementation of PTIB government engagement strategy;
• Supports and organizes the coordination and implementation of government engagement activities at the national, regional and local levels (particularly conference attendance, workshops and speaker events);
   
• Advises on the development of partnerships with sister UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
   
• Coordinates with government partners and counterparts in building strategic partnerships with donors and implementation partners;
   
• Identifies synergies with other initiatives in the resilience and inclusive growth cluster, especially those who focus on national level sector governance reforms;
   
• Contributes to strategic partnerships and capacity building for key national civil society and academic counterparts and partners, including partnerships with other UN agencies;
   
• Participates in relevant meetings with governments, UN agencies and NGO personnel, as well as internal, inter-agency and donor meetings;
   
• Coordinates with the project manager and senior management in analyzing political developments, new research, or possible new funding sources, preparing substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation;
   
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
   

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3. Monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and knowledge sharing, focusing on the following results:
 

• Contributes to and helps manage knowledge networks and communities of practice through identification of best practices and lessons learned;
• Provides training and capacity-building support for UNDP staff, government officials, and public institutions on issues related to promoting peace and tolerance;
   
• Applies results-based management tools, providing guidance to colleagues and partners on the effective establishment of performance indicators and results monitoring;
   
• Provide inputs to publishing Annual Reports, success stories, and other publications;
   
• Provide substantive technical inputs to donor reports;
   
• Manage the inputs of consultants and undertake knowledge capture at national, regional and global levels as relates to peace and tolerance, and assist the creation of knowledge products tailored to the Bangladeshi context.

Impact of Results:

The Governance Specialist is to provide integral support and boost the effectiveness the Tolerant and Inclusive Bangladesh project, and the Democratic Governance portfolio. Accurate analysis and presentation of information for both internal and external audiences will strengthen the capacity of the team and promote UNDP efforts in these areas the candidate’s initiative will be decisive in achieving high quality results.

Corporate Competencies:
 

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Building Strategic Partnerships:
 

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda
• Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UNDP’s mandate
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings

Knowledge Management and Learning:
 

• Shares knowledge and experience
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral):
• Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners,
• Respectful and helpful relations with all partners and colleagues

Development and Operational Effectiveness:
 

• Confidentiality
• Ability to effective coordination with partners in and outside the UN organizations. 
• Knowledge of UNDP Rules and Regulations is an advantage

Leadership and Self-Management:
 

• Focuses on results for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control, and good humored under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view

Client Orientation:
 

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective

Core Competencies:
 

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Education:

Master’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Science or any other relevant field. 
 

Qualifications:

• Overall 7 years of experience and Minimum 3 years of relevant experience related to democratic governance and/or advocacy to promote tolerance and inclusivity in Bangladesh;
   
• Significant experience working with high-level government agencies and officials;
   
• Exceptional writing and oral communication skills;
   
• Experience in drafting and editing conceptual and analytical papers;
   
• UN experience preferred;
   
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages;
   
• Experience handling of web-based management systems (ATLAS) preferred.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC 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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