Head of Programme Support Unit

Development support provided by UNDP Iraq will continue to evolve in the future as the development challenges of the country change in light of its transition from a context of crisis and humanitarian assistance to one of recovery, resilience and sustainable development. The government’s vision for the post conflict period is being articulated via several instruments being developed simultaneously, namely 1) A vision 2030 being currently prepared with WB support; 2) A National Development Plan (NDP 2018-2022); 3) A Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS); 4) A major reconstruction effort defined by a “Post-ISIL International Construction Conference”. These and other instruments will be further fine-tuned by successive governments as a result of periodic democratic elections (the next such elections are scheduled for May 2018). As UNDP’s support evolves, it will also be guided by the UNDP’s mandate and strategic plan (2018-2021). This support will also be guided by the United Nations overall framework of assistance, which is also evolving to provide optimal support to the people and government of Iraq as they transition to a more stable, prosperous and equitable future. While both the UN assistance framework (UNDAF 2015-2019) and UNDP’s own Country Program Document (CPD 2016-2020) are likely to be significantly reconsidered in upcoming final evaluation and preparation for new programming cycle, UNDP has anticipated these reviews and is restructuring its program around three major pillars:

1. Governance and Reconciliation
2. Economic Diversification and inclusive growth
3. Environment and Energy

In line with the above, UNDP Iraq has prepared and continues to augment and refine a major pipeline of projects intended to respond to emerging development priorities in line with the above three pillars and in full coherence with the UN’s overall assistance framework. Translating this pipeline into signed and well-funded programs and projects and undertaking major resource mobilisation efforts are the key programmatic priorities of the Country office.

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative  / Programme, the Head of Programme Support Unit leads and coordinate the PSU team to ensure program and project quality assurance, reinforce communication of results to partners, and support the programme unit in ensuring compliance with UNDP’s programming guidelines, and project management rules, regulations and procedures, while leading on preparing Country Office responses to HQ compliance and reporting requirements.

• Ensures that programme activities respond to the development needs of Iraq and in accordance with the national and sub-national priorities as articulated in the Country Programme Document (CPD) and all relevant national and sub-national strategies
• Coordinate Operationalization of CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identification of possibilities for joint programming;
• Ensure accountability of the Country Programme to donors and counterparts through the delivery of outcome-level results and management of programme resources.
• 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 Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit;
• Ensures strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations and ensuring the implementation of clear accountability mechanisms throughout the programmes and in full compliance with quality standards and rules;
• Participates in internal control mechanisms for adherence to UNDP rules and regulations in contracts, assets, procurement, recruitment, etc. as required;
• Provides quality assurance to the programme/project boards by carrying out objective and independent programme oversight and monitoring functions;
• Oversees the implementation of the CO monitoring and evaluation plan as it relates to programme;
• Ensures synergies and complementarity between the various programme components and other units in UNDP/Iraq to achieve CPD outcomes

• In close consultation with programme leads and project managers, ensures the elaboration of coherent work plans and budgets for all activities in the Programme portfolio and the continuous monitoring of project work plans;
• Ensures timely and adequate reporting against plans in consultation with senior management, including providing timely and articulate progress reports and inputs to the Strategic Results Framework and Results Oriented Annual Report (ROAR);
• Preparation of high quality project documents and proposals, and encouraging adequate peer review of the same through established mechanisms (LPAC);
• Ensures that the three programme pillars coordinate their implementations at the field level and contribute to the expected outcomes of the CPD;
• Ensures that each programme pillar establishes management information which allows the efficient and effective collection of outcome-level data including sex and age-segregated data so that programme monitoring and evaluation can take place and progress can be measured;
• Contributes to the development of programme communication strategy and tools including fact sheets and brochures in close collaboration with the project teams and with CO communication unit;
• Supervises the PSU national programme specialists and programme associates and ensure their individual PMDs/Annual Evaluations are aligned with the overall vision of the programme and support delivery of programme outcomes;
• Represents the programme, as requested by the Senior Management;
• Drafts, maintains and supports the implementation of programme evaluation and audit plans for programme/projects. Support the drafting of TORs for internal evaluations;
• Champions for the achievement of Country Programme Outcomes and ensure the effective application of RBM tools for Programme effectiveness and achievement of results.

• Strategic Oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. HPSU performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
• Contributes to preparations for CO, DIM and NIM audits; 
• Ensures full HACT compliance and roll-out of related policies;
• Ensures the development and implementation of Audit recommendations for programme;
• Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager;

• Advises on the preparation and clearance of agreements with partners (donors, government, CSOs, UN agencies and other partners);
• Ensures communications of results to partners, both Government and donor partners, as well as follows up on overall visibility;
• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes;
• Develops mechanisms and instruments for selection of appropriate government and civil society partners in the implementation of the programme;
• Coordinates the country programme resource mobilization efforts under the leadership of Senior Management and in conjunction with programme pillar leads and project managers;
• Facilitates the engagement with non-traditional donors to support the programme;
• Leads and coordinates partner surveys and consolidation of the programme response and follow-up when and as required;
• Promotes closer linkages with the other UN Offices, programmes, agencies and IFIs, and other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance on the programme issues; Lead the development of Joint Programme Documents when needed.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing;
• Ensure regular and ad-hoc liaison with donors and partners as required;
• Assist CO in organizing regular donor meetings.

• Provides technical support and advice for programme implementation to Pillar Leads, project teams and counterparts based on CO programme priorities. 
• Identifies policy-driven issues, best practices and lessons learned on at global, regional and national level and ensure these are integrated into the programme planning and implementation;
• Advises on the design and implementation of coherent institutional capacity development strategies by the Programme Pillars ensuring these strategies contribute to the national development plan and SDG achievements;
• Proactively identifies risks and challenges to the on-going operations of the country programme and provides project teams on mitigation strategies;
• 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;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the projects staff on programme;
• Promote national staff skills and technical knowledge development through coaching, mentoring and encouraging staff learning and participation in specialized knowledge networks.

• Identifies new ideas and opportunities for the development of new interventions for the Programme. 
• Ensures that lessons learned, and best practices are captured and documented to inform wider policies and programmes and facilitate replication elsewhere;
• Leads proactive showcasing of the programme activities in regional and international for a and knowledge dissemination through existing UNDP global practice networks;
• Leads the development of new ways of engaging with non-state actors including traditional structures in the delivery of the country programme strategies;
• Supports capacity- and knowledge building of national counterparts;
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the CO.
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Designs with the relevant UNDP units and the donors, tools and methodologies to ensure the proper monitoring of activities and the evaluation of the impact of the CO Programme/Projects;
• Coordinates with Programme Leads and Project Managers on site evaluations and provide recommendations of improvements from a quality assurance perspective;
• Advise on the status of the delivery and financial status of the projects;
• Monitor Corporate data quality dashboards and follow up with relevant units to ensure that all requirements are met;
• Guides the identification of new areas for performance monitoring as required, and defines / improves indicators used in the performance monitoring system;
• Supports Senior Management in assessing country office programme performance;
• Coordinates inputs for corporate queries on performance-related issues;
• Monitors, reviews and contribute to redesign business processes to enhance performance and streamline procedures.
• Guide and contribute to preparations for CO, DIM and NIM audits; 
• Ensures full HACT compliance and roll-out of related policies;
• Ensures the development and implementation of Audit recommendations.

• Oversees and guides country office resources planning and monitoring;
• Ensures regular CO sustainability monitoring and prepares sound updates and analysis for Senior Management. Provides advice for risk management and for contingency planning, as required;
• Guided by the Resident Representative and in coordination with the Deputy Resident Representatives, facilitates country office resources allocation processes;
• Ensures the effective monitoring of resources allocation and delivery, raises delivery gaps and proposes adequate and sound solutions.

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

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, implementation, operations, monitoring and evaluation of development/cooperation projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments. Practical experience in development cooperation in middle income or developing countries.
• Proven experience in partnership building and networking; 
• Excellent knowledge of and experience with RBM methodologies and tools (project and programme management, design monitoring and evaluation and report writing);  
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Thorough knowledge of ATLAS and UNDP Procedures is an asset.
• Experience and Knowledge in UNDP ROAR and IWP is an asset.
• Knowledge and Experience in Programme Finance is an asset.

• Fluency in English (written and spoken)

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