Multi-Country Coordinator

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) in collaboration with the Country Offices in Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Barbados and the OECS undertook the formulation of a first Caribbean-wide Human Development Report (CHDR) on Citizens’ Security. Using Global UNDP HDR processes, analysis and methodologies, the Caribbean HDR reviewed crime and security in the Caribbean with data analysis and information from a human development perspective. The report defines short and medium term  policy recommendations  based on the social aspects of  security which impact on citizen safety, youth violence, education, unemployment and inequality, inclusive economic growth, migration, and drug use and alcohol abuse.  One of the primary recommendations from the report is the urgent need for the region to shift from traditional concepts of state security to a broader multidimensional concept that focuses on citizen security and safety and wellbeing of Caribbean citizens.  

While the CHDR victimization survey points to high levels of fear of violent crime amongst citizens and the failing of existing policies and approaches, stimulating robust public discourse on the topic presented a challenge. Given the region’s dependency on tourism as its main foreign exchange earner, enlisting the full and unconditional support of regional parliamentarians on the matter of facilitating rigorous public debate is critical. Reliable crime statistics are critical for measuring changes in crime levels, monitoring of national and regional responses, developing and evaluating effectiveness of citizen security policies, supporting the analysis and understanding of national and regional crime trends. Collection and organization of data into a statistical form is required to produce valuable information for use in decision-making and to allow for comparison of crime statistics across time and between countries. Lack of reliable and comparable national, sub-regional and regional statistics makes it difficult to fully comprehend the impact of crime and violence, and to inform the citizen security policies and strategies needed to effectively respond to these challenges.

An assessment of youth, insecurity and juvenile justice systems, conducted by USAID/ESC in the Caribbean point at the lack of standardized data on crime and violence and their drivers. Raw data is available in different forms and at different stages of the criminal justice process due to the diversity of entities that generate security statistics, the absence of clear guidelines, and weak inter-institutional coordination and information sharing.

National consultations and assessments conducted by UNDP in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean point at four interrelated key problems: 1) Deficient evidence-based citizen security policies due to lack of reliable and comparable national and regional statistics, 2) Weak coordination at national, sub-regional and regional levels, 3) Weak institutional and CSO capacities, and 4) The importance of up-to-date data inform prevention programme design, monitoring and evaluation. 

The data gaps resulting from these challenges are further aggravated by different definitions of security concepts, non-standardized indicators and inconsistent use of information; dispersion of information and a multiplicity of information sources; sporadic initiatives in the area of information management; lack of unified technical criteria and permanent technical capacities within the national and regional institutions; absence or lack of understanding of a preventive focus in information management; low citizen participation in discussions on citizen security; and absence of mechanisms and capacities to mainstream gender into the analysis and management of citizen security related information and public policies.

Based on this, UNDP seeks to work with countries in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) to improve institutional capacity for evidenced based decision making on youth crime and violence policy making and programming.  The focus of this project will be in improving data collection, analysis and use of data for decision making on youth crime policy making and programming.  The project intents to achieve two components: 1) improving the quality, comparability and reliability of data and information and youth crime and violence; 2) and regional collaboration and networking on youth crime and violence strengthened. These components will be achieved by improving regional and national institutional capacity to collect, monitor, and analyse citizen security and apply it to decision-making and policy formulation at both levels.

Under the overall supervision of the Project Team Leader, the Multi-Country Coordinator will provide coordination support with external stakeholders of regional tools (Police platform, Prison platform, DPP platform, Crime Analysis training program, and Citizen Security Policy design as well as oversee effective delivery of procurement services, including contract management and overall logistics.

Coordinate activities with the external stakeholders focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Under the guidance of the team leader, provide coordination support with external stakeholders in the areas of logistics, delivery of services;

• Ensure logistical support for smooth deployment of technology to the CariSECURE beneficiary countries;

• Coordinate technical support between the providers and the end beneficiary countries;

• Work in close collaboration with regional entities (Caricom and RSS) on sustainability plans and strategies.

Provide project management support and capacity building focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Coordinate CariSECURE implantation of IT solutions in beneficiary countries through the support of CariSECURE consultants

• Strengthen regional support through Caricom Impact and RSS and develop sustainability measures (maintenance, training etc)

• Coordinate the development of Crime and Security Applications/Platforms to fit with Project requirements and beneficiary countries needs

• Support CariSECURE focal points and Team Leader in all CariSECURE activities 

Ensure management and oversight of procurement processes focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Manage the entire procurement activities of the project in compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies;

• Assist project team in development of Terms of Reference for consultancy services and goods and other services to be procured under the project, including eTendering processes and evaluation, managing contracts and contractors, legal considerations and payment conditions, sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation and quality management;
 
• Provide researched information for formulation and implementation of contract strategy and strategic procurement in the project implementation unit and in collaboration with procurement colleagues in Country Offices;
 
• Prepare and finalise all procurement documentation for approval by the project implementation unit in close collaboration with the MCO Procurement Unit;

• Implement the effective internal control for proper functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system;

• Maintain centralized filing system for procurement documents including tenders, bid securities and purchase orders;

• Coordinate with MCO Programme and Operations staff towards increasing efficiency;

• Coordinate with the Project Team Leader and the project team for the preparation of audit(s) and evaluations during project’s lifetime;

• Prepare procurement plans for the project, its implementation and monitoring;

• Update the procurement plan on a regular basis as well as provide regular updates to the Project Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader;

• Organize procurement processes including preparation and conduct of RFQs, ICs and ITBs or RFPs, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations;

• Develop and update the roster of suppliers, implement supplier selection and evaluation;

• Coordinate joint procurement processes with national implementation units where necessary;

• Prepare documents for submission to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP), Regional Asset, Contract and Procurement Committee (RACP) and where necessary the Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP);

• Implement the internal control system which ensures that POs are duly prepared and dispatched; and

• Establish and maintain control of the supporting documents for payments and reimbursements.

Ensure proper control of tangible and intangible assets focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Serve as Asset Focal Point for the project;

• Arrange shipments of goods and supplies to meet deadlines; coordinate procurement related customs clearance and manage insurance;

• Manage office spaces and procure supplies as needed;

• Comply with USAID Branding and Marking requirements as it relates project assets;

• Ensure proper control of project assets, ensuring donor branding and marking requirements are met and implement physical verification and transfer of assets to the beneficiaries/grantees;

• Manage and coordinate of project assets including timely preparation and submission of periodic inventory reports and coordination of physical verification of inventory items;

• Prepare asset inventory and certification reports; and
• Present thoroughly researched information for planning of financial resources for procurement to the Project Team Leader/Deputy Team Leader.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on smooth deployment of technology to the CariSECURE beneficiary countries, securing regional support to the beneficiary countries through the development of a strong partnership with regional entities, and the overall efficiency in procurement and success in project implementation.

Corporate Competencies:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

 Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow 
Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction 
Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement 

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services 

Functional Competencies: 

      
• Maintaining a network of contacts, information and databases

• Builds Strategic Partnerships;

• Analyses general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives

• Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
• Generates new ideas, approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches;
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:
• Understands the main processes and methods of work relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work;
• 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.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development:
• Documents ‘best practices’ in organizational change and development within and outside the UN system;
• Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions.

Design and Implementation of Management Systems
• Uses information/databases/other management systems;
• Provides inputs to the development of simple system components;
• Makes recommendations related to work procedures and implementation of management systems.

Client Orientation:
• Maintain effective client relations;
• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients;
• Responds to client needs promptly.
• Works with Vendors for goods and services to ensure quality and value for money;

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management:
• Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems;
• Gathers and disseminates information on best practices in accountability and results-based management systems
• Prepares timely inputs to reports.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:
• Ability to administer and executive administrative processes
• Ability to extract, interpret and resolve operational problems;
• Ability to perform work of a confidential nature and handle large volume of work;
• Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations
• Ability to provide inputs to business processes and implementation of new system.

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 degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.
 
Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years experience in procurement

• Minimum of seven (7) years experience in Project Management and support to regional/international initiatives;

• Experience in planning, developing, managing procurement and contractual aspects of projects of significant complexity related to worldwide procurement and diverse services and commodities.
 
• Experience working in the Caribbean region or within a multi-country context;

• Experience in working with governments, donors, non-governmental organisations and international development organizations is required;

• Experience in working for a UN agency/within the UN Common System would be a distinct asset.

Other: 

• Certification in procurement is highly desirable.
• Completion of Prince2 Foundation and Practitioner would be required upon successful recruitment.
• Understanding of Security Sector and Rule of Law is desirable

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English