Programme Specialist (ED & IG)

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 has articulated it’s vision for the post conflict period through the vision 2030, the National Development Plan (NDP 2018-2022); the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS); among others.  

UNDP programme in Iraq is guided by the Agency mandate and strategic plan and the United Nations overall framework of assistance,  to provide optimal support to the people and government of Iraq as they transition to a democratic, stable, prosperous and equitable future.

Both the UN assistance framework  and UNDP’s own new Country Program Document (CPD 2020-2025) are being developed and will be submitted for approval in January 2020.

A major pillar of the UNDP new programme focuses on supporting Iraq in diversifying its economic base, supporting economic development, and enhancing livelihoods and employment generation and private sector development. 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 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.

Operationally, UNDP Iraq will continue to be guided by serious budgetary constraints requiring scaling up the adaptation of “fast track measures”, carefully considered innovations and risks aimed at faster delivery, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness while increasing income generation through GMS and DPC to help ensure longer-term Country Office sustainability.

Under the overall supervision of the Resident Representative, and the direct supervision  of the Deputy Resident Representative/Programme / Programme, the Programme Specialist / Pillar Lead acts as a manager of the Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth portfolio in UNDP Iraq.

Her/his main role is to lead and coordinate the Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth portfolio within the Country Programme, including continued monitoring of implementation, project development and support to resource mobilization. She/he will lead the pillar team in strategic planning and identifying new programme areas while ensuring consistency with the UNDAF / CPD priorities and contribute to creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth Pillar Lead will work in close collaboration with the Management Support Unit, Operation team in the Country Office, Programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQ staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP Programme.

More specifically the pillar lead is expected to:

1. Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of issues related to her/his portfolio by tracking and monitoring developments at the level of national policies, measures and programs undertaken by government and other partners at national and sub-national levels;
2. Build and maintain an excellent relationship with all government and non-governmental partners relevant to her/his portfolio, provide these partners with technical support and policy advice as may be requested by senior management in such a way as to contribute to the country office’s efforts to position UNDP as the preferred and privileged partner of choice of the government of Iraq in developing and building its sustainable human development agenda.
3. Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of UNDP and UN policies, innovations, policy measures, programs, substantive and technical support resources and capacities at the global and regional levels, as well as, good practices, other country experiences, and other similar resources to bring to bear as she/he develops programs and projects in support of the government’s priorities in her/his portfolio;
4. Build-up, and be responsible for the implementation of, a strategic portfolio of programs, projects, initiatives and other support instruments that would optimally respond to the emerging needs of the government’s developmental priority in line with UNDP’s mandate, strategic plan and CPD (or other overall UNDP development support framework). This would include the development of a pipeline of projects, translation of this pipeline into signed project documents and be responsible for their implementation.
5. Build and maintain an excellent relationship with all donors and contribute to mobilising the necessary resources to fund the portfolio of projects that she/he and her/his team would develop.

• Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, AWP and other documents;
• Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation;
• Operationalization of UNDAF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identification of possibilities for joint programming;
• Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO;
• Contributing to mapping and improving CO business processes and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth pillar in particular and the Programme Unit;
• Increase awareness and advocacy for economic reform principles that contributes to sustainable economic development;  
• Provide strategic advice and technical guidance to the projects under the pillar; 
• Provide technical expertise to ensure coherence and complementation among pillar’s projects;
• Support South-South and regional cooperation on economic development and reform;
• Regularly briefing and consulting with Senior Management of developments in Economic Diversification Unit and its portfolio, and providing advice and information as required contributing to Country Office exercises and initiatives.

• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
• Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Programme Specialist performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme;
• Follow up on audit recommendations. 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 projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager.

• Ensure the preparation and implementation of CO Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy;
• Coordination of special donor events with a focus to generate buy in, fostering   of partnerships and mobilization of additional resources;
• Contribution to and updating of outreach/publicity/advocacy material geared towards partners and donors in partnership with the communications team;
• Participate substantively in peer reviews of s concept notes and project documents;
• Support financial and substantive evaluation of the projects, operational and financial agreements and contribute to development of innovative solutions in partnership with relevant operations and programme pillar;
• Overseeing and participating in preparing all corporate reporting requirements as well as reporting requirements of donors and other partners;
• Manages the day-to-day coordination between PSU/External Relations/Project Portfolio of UNDP Iraq, coordinates any requests for information/inputs to strategic UNCT/SRSG/SG reports or documents;
• Provides technical support to External Relations unit with regards to donor coordination mechanisms/processes and supports implementation of UNDP Iraq communications strategy and plan.

• 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 knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

• Ability to persuade others to follow.

• Ability to improve performance and satisfactionLevel. 

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

• Ability to create effective advocacy strategies and performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.

• Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support; 
• Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of UNDP.

• Ability to manage organisational resources and deployment in pursuit of innovative approaches and initiatives.

• Ability to identify and organize programmes  and projects to implement solutions and generate resources; 
• Analyses information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach and identifies and compiles lessons learned.

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

• Ability to anticipates client needs and demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider and solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

• Ability to understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines and keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field or Bachelor’s degree in the same disciplines with 7 years of experience in lieu of the advanced university degree is acceptable

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) 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.
• Experience in working with the national institutions, and excellent knowledge of the national context and the public administrative sector at the national and sub-national levels.
• Excellent inter-personal and team communications skills

• Fluency in written and oral Arabic and English.

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UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

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