Township Governance Officer (Only for Nationals)- SC8

Job Title:                      Township Governance Officer 

Grade:                          SC-8

Duty Station:                Bilin Township, Mon State

Starting Date:               1^st August 2020

Contract Duration:       (initially for 6 months, with possible extension)

UNDP’s Township Democratic Local Governance Project (TDLG) addresses the institutional challenges in Myanmar’s local governance structures, emphasizing planning at the township level as one entry point in trying to make local governments more inclusive and responsive to people’s needs. The project is designed along four work streams to strengthen the capacities of township administrations to meet local needs for public services; to facilitate information sharing and meaningful participation by the public in planning processes; to facilitate township administrations engaging with Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) on service delivery coordination (and involve them in township planning processes); to foster participation of civil society in local governance/ township planning; and to utilize lessons learned by the project to advocate for policy change. 

The Township Democratic Local Governance project (TDLG project) contributes to UNDP Country Programme 2018-2022, Output 1.1.: “Effective public institutions enabled to develop and implement evidence-based policies and systems that respond to the needs of the people.”

In 2019, UNDP has commissioned a forward-looking mid-term review of TDLG to assess the progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the project document and identify early signs of project success and areas for improvement to guide the future direction of the project. The MTR report points out a number of positive developments in terms of strengthening institutional capacities at the sub-national level, improved vertical and horizontal information flows, greater emphasis on participatory and inclusive bottom-up planning and etc. At the same time, recognizing the constraints in which the project operates, a number of strategic entry points were identified to strengthen project performance through greater emphasis on learning and knowledge transfer for policy change.

The Township Governance Officer (TGO) will work under the overall guidance of the Project Manager and direct supervision of the Senior Technical and Management Specialist in Mon State. The Township Governance Officer will provide high quality support to implementation of the project in the assigned township in close collaboration with the project staff and the UNDP Country Office in Myanmar. S/he will manage and coordinate UNDP’s activities in the assigned township in line with the annual work plans and MTR recommendations. The Township Governance Officer will promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Technical support to township administration and Township Planning and Implementation Committee (TPIC) in the development and implementation of annual township plans.
2. Effective coordination and management of UNDP’s activities in the assigned township.
3. Strategic partnership management.
4. Facilitation of monitoring, knowledge building and learning.

• Analyzes trends and good practices in local governance and engages in the design of UNDP’s technical assistance to counterparts in the assigned township. 
• Collects data and information on the real-time socio-economic and political situation of the assigned township, synthesizes and analyses the situation in respect of supporting to programme/project formulation and implementation; and reports timely/regularly to project management.
• Provides trainings and workshops, including hands-on coaching, based on the agreed methodologies; Adopts trainings to different needs of various participant groups (eg. TPIC, W/VTAs, Hluttaws, civil society, women representatives, etc.); Promotes leave no one behind principle and applies human rights-based, ‘do no harm’, and conflict- and gender-sensitive approaches.  
• Participates in the process of developing and implementing township annual plans as well as in the related tendering and procurement processes; and provides hands-on coaching to TPIC and procurement selection committees to ensure processes and decisions are in line with the Grant Manual, Procurement Manual, and any other agreements signed with the government.
• Provides hands-on coaching to TPIC, W/VTAs and Hluttaws for their various consultation efforts in the assigned township; Ensures that the entire process of developing and implementing the township annual plan is participatory and inclusive.
• Provides facilitation support to the bi-weekly meeting between the township administration and W/VTAS.
• Organizes and facilitates trainings for the relevant stakeholders on monitoring of the township annual plan and social accountability.
• Provides hands-on coaching to TPIC for effective management of the township annual plans, including monitoring performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, and preparation of reports in accordance with the Grant manual.
• Provides high-quality and client-oriented technical support to the township administration for timely administration of the Township Grants, including preparation of the FACE forms and other supporting documents in line with the Grant Manual, Procurement Manual, and any other agreements signed with the government. 
• Provides technical guidance to the Implementing Partner(IP)/Responsible Party(RP), if any, and ensures standard methodologies are applied in the assigned township.

• Provides inputs to concept notes, terms of references, job descriptions and work specifications that are necessary for the initiation of project activities, as required; 
• Organizes and facilitates trainings/workshops or other agreed events in a timely and strategic manner. 
• Acts as the focal for the Implementing Partners (IPs)/Responsible Parties (RPs) in the assigned township; Provides effective support to IPs and RPs, including coordination of UNDP process for disbursing financial resources to them through agreed modalities. Facilitates timely receipt of IPs/RPs’ progress updates/reports. Monitors and analyzes any implementation issues IPs/RPs may be faced with and discusses with IPs/RPs to identify solutions. 
• Sets up an implementation calendar to monitor project events, contractors’ delivery timelines, payment schedules, and logistical timelines;
• Ensures timely implementation of the project activities in the assignment townships and communicates timely any bottlenecks to minimize delays;
• Provides coordination support for audits; 
• Ensures full compliance with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms. In all project activities, ensures appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations.
• Supports creating a motivating and professional work environment. 

Functional Competencies:             

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Level 1.2: Preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 1.2:  Maintaining a network of contacts

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 1.2: Enhancing processes or products

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 1.2: Basic research and analysis

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 1.2: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• 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

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

Level 1.2: Preparing information for global advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences

Client Orientation

Level 1.2: Establishing effective client relationships

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

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:

• Bachelor Degree in Economics, Management, Finance Management, Accounting, International Relations, Development, Public Administration/Policy and/or related fields;
• Bachelor Degree in other subjects with a formal training certificate in the subject areas above.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of experience relevant to development programme/project management.
• Experience in working with senior level officials in the government.
• Good knowledge of the local context is a desirable asset.
• Sound knowledge in the area of local governance is a desirable asset.
• Experience in designing and providing trainings and facilitating workshops is a desirable asset.
• Experience in supervision and monitoring of infrastructure projects is a desirable asset.

Language and Other 

• Myanmar national only with good oral and written command of English and Myanmar language.