UNDP

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP Lao PDR

UNDP in Lao PDR works with the Government to build on the impressive progress in economic growth and poverty reduction that has been made over the past two decades. The proportion of poor people has dropped from 46 percent in 1992 to 23 percent of the population in 2015, and annual growth rates are above 7%.

However, these achievements have been accompanied by widening gaps between rich and poor, women and men, ethnic groups, and residents of different regions of the country. Poverty and near-poverty remain widespread in rural areas, standing at nearly three times the rate of that in urban areas. Ensuring that growth is achieved with equity and benefits poor people is central to UNDP’s role in assisting the country in a smooth graduation from Least Developed Country status.

Governance Unit, UNDP Lao PDR

The UNDP Country Programme for Lao PDR (2017 – 2021) approved by the UNDP Executive Board is currently being implemented. The Country Programme is anchored in its four broad priority pillars – Inclusive Growth and reduced inequality, support to UXO institutions for clearance eventually leading to achieving the national SDG 18, building resilience and environmental sustainability and capable and more responsive Governance. UNDP’s Governance support focuses on 4 core areas of work reflecting the national priorities of the Government of Lao PDR:

1. Public administration reform to improve people’s equitable access to social services:

Through the Governance for Inclusive Development Programme (GIDP), UNDP supports the Government of Lao PDR’s priority to strengthen its public administration’s ability to achieve better delivery of quality services that respond to citizen’s needs. It also promotes wider Governance improvements and increased citizens’ systematic engagement, especially at the local levels.

2. Strengthening the legal/justice sector and the rule of law:

UNDP is partnering with the Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders in the sector, to continue the efforts to develop a more coherent, effective, transparent and responsive legal system that protects and advances access to justice and the full exercise of rights by all people of Lao PDR. Capacity building and dissemination are therefore key actions. UNDP also supports the translation of international obligations and standards into domestic laws and policies, with particular emphasis on compliance with international human rights treaties and follow up on UPR recommendations.

3. Enhancing People's Participation Through Community Radio:

Citizens’ access to information and ability to express their opinions play an important role in the national development process. However, especially rural illiterate ethnic communities living below the poverty threshold often face challenges in participating in the dialogue. To support inclusive development and community awareness, UNDP and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) established the first community radio station in Khoun District, Xieng Khouang province in 2007. The bottom-up, two-way communication approach of community radio has been providing a platform for local people – including the marginalised and most vulnerable – to receive information relevant to their needs and interests, express their thoughts and issues, share knowledge, validate their culture and as a result, make informed decisions.

4. Enhancing people’s participation in the decision-making process:

Here, UNDP focuses on two streams of work: Engagement with the National Assembly (NA) and with the People’s Provincial Assemblies (PPAs) to contribute to more effective institutions; and giving all people, particularly the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, more public voice and information through the medium of community radios. Efforts are underway to strengthen capacities of the NA and PPAs to deliver even more effectively their key law-making, oversight and representation roles. UNDP aims to support the enhancing role of the NA and PPAs in advancing sustainable development and better representing citizens’ interests and becoming more effective, inclusive and responsive.

5. Ending violence against women and gender-based violence:

Under a joint project with UNFPA, and in partnership with KOICA, UNDP will provide support to the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) to establish a platform for policy dialogue on gender and violence (GBV) against women in order to strengthen the governance framework and promote women’s participation. UNDP will engage in community outreach, working to support rurally based women in ending GBV and responding to COVID-19, and also work with the LWU and relevant government agencies to strengthen the capacity of the justice and policing sectors to provide services for victims and survivors of GBV.

Overview of Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Governance Unit, and overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Programme Analyst provides overall quality assurance of the CO’s Governance programme management and delivery. The Programme Analyst is responsible for the support of UNDP’s Governance programme including but not limited to in the areas of public administration reform, people’s participation through support to the Community Radios, and enhancing people’s participation in the decision-making process through the National and Provincial People’s Assemblies (NA and PPAs). The Programme Analyst analyzes political, social and economic trends, leads the formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities within his/her portfolio.

The Programme Analyst possibly supervises and leads other programme staff working in the same areas and coordinates their activities. He/she works in close collaboration with other members of the Country Office and HQ other UN Agencies and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, other bilateral Development Partners and civil society. Government partners include the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), the Governance Sector Working Group Secretariat hosted by MoHA, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Formulation and implementation of Governance programme strategies.
• Management of projects within UNDP’s Governance programme. 
• Creation of strategic partnerships and support to the implementation of the resource mobilization strategy of the office on issues related to programme support.  
• Provision of top-quality advisory services to the Head of the Governance Unit, Government and UNDP Senior management.

Expected Results

1. Ensures formulation and implementation of Governance programme strategies in support of strengthening public administration reform, people’s participation through support to the community radio in Lao PDR, and enhancing people’s participation in the decision-making process through the NA and PPAs, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Compliance with corporate management standards, CO guidelines and procedures, finance guidelines and corporate planning tools and frameworks.
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the Governance sector. 
• Country Office business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management. 
• Ensuring quality and effective implementation of programme activities and strategies.

1. Ensures effective management of the Country Office programme within the Governance area (public administration, people’s participation through support to the community radio, and enhancing people’s participation in the decision-making process through the NA and PPAs) focusing on quality control and assurance from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

• Ensure the governance programmes implement effective application of Results-Based Management tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.   
• Support partners to review and agree on the annual and quarterly work plans determination of required revisions, coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through proper review exercises.
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions.
• Participation in audit of NIM projects.
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.
• Evaluation of the programme impact. Monitoring and analysis of the programme implementation on regular basis.
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of reports for Development Partners.

1. Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Assist Head of the Governance Unit to conduct Resource Mobilization for the Governance programmes 
• Maintain the excellent partnership that UNDP has with the Government of Lao PDR.
• Maintain strong partnership with all bilateral / development partners of the projects and facilitate information sharing and reporting requirements.
• Maintain partnership/relationship with other Development Partners working in the Governance sector under the guidance of the head of the unit.

1. Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services to the Unit Head, UNDP Senior Management, and the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to Governance programme country policy goals.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Governance programme issues.

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

A Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through the following link: https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

Core

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 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

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

Technical/Functional

Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

 and hiring managers are encouraged to familiarize themselves for more information

Technical

Governance, Planning, and Development

Knowledge of Governance, Planning, and Development and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Functional

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

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

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Partnership

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Capacity Development

Ability to support partner countries' capacity to manage ODA resources effectively and harmonize with national policy and financing frameworks 

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Education:

Master's degree or equivalent in: Public Administration, International Relations, Political Sciences, Development studies, Law or another relevant field.

Acceptable would be a bachelor’s degree in relevant profession with 2 years plus of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in project management.
• Experience in Governance or related disciplines would be advantaged.
• Experience in Programme or Project Monitoring and/or Implementation. 
• Experience in human right, gender issues or related areas.
• Skilled usage of computers and office software packages.
• Previous working experience with UN or UNDP is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• English and Lao (fluent written and orally)

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS 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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