RE-ADVERTISEMENT : Peacebuilding Fund Coordinator - RCO

The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) supported its first intervention in Somalia in 2009 under the Immediate Response Facility. Since then, the Fund has invested 55.6 million USD through 29 projects implemented by 15 UN entities. Somalia was first declared fully eligible for PBF funds in 2016 following the development of a Peacebuilding Priority Plan and the launch of the first two interventions funded under the Peacebuilding and Recovery Facility (the Daldhis and Midnimo projects). The PBF has raised its profile in Somalia since 2018 as a result of increased investment, new partnerships, strategic communication, and a strengthened PBF secretariat in the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC. In 2018-2019, the PBF invested approximately 24 million USD, as compared to 31 million USD in the nine years prior to that. The raised profile of the PBF in Somalia has led to increased requests for funding. As an example, the UN Country Team developed 15 concept notes for the 2019 Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative (GYPI), with four officially put forward for consideration by the UN and one granted funding - a testament to the attractiveness of the PBF as a partner and the funding gap for youth- and gender-focused peacebuilding initiatives.

On 21 July 2020, the Secretary-General approved Somalia’s request for renewed PBF eligibility for a new five-year period. The request followed a comprehensive virtual consultation process in which 400 Somalis from across the country and 70 key stakeholders from government, civil society and international community collectively agreed on new peacebuilding priorities. The four thematic priorities identified are 1) reconciliation, 2) justice and rule of law, 3) security, and 4) governance. Women, peace and security as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 will be a cross-cutting imperative and the PBF has committed to dedicate a majority of its resources to initiatives that directly support women’s role in peacebuilding.

Concerted efforts in were made in 2019 to strengthen partnership with civil society, resulting in a first civil society-led project under GYPI implemented the Life and Peace Institute in partnership with Somali Peace Line. The improved partnership with civil society saw its participation in the consultation process leading to the identification of new peacebuilding priorities for the new eligibility period and regular interaction with the Peacebuilding Working Group under the Somalia NGO Consortium. Donors have become more engaged in the work of the PBF and expressed their support for it to act as a trailblazer for their bilateral peacebuilding support and to operate at the frontlines of peacebuilding in Somalia. At the same time, there is a need to manage expectations on the PBF at the country-level, clarify its role within the UN's peacebuilding architecture, and further strengthen the strategic relevance of PBF-funded initiatives.

An independent portfolio evaluation of the PBF’s support to Somalia 2016-2019 was carried out in the second half of 2019. The evaluation concluded that while comparatively modest in amounts, the PBF’s investments have added value in demonstrating and piloting new approaches and forward-leaning initiatives, thus strategically positioned itself in the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus in Somalia. The PBF was appreciated for having contributed to the achievement of peacebuilding strategic outcomes described in the larger peacebuilding framework for Somalia such as the extension of state authority and promotion of rule of law. The six major contributions of the collective PBF portfolio 2016-2019 have been to: 1) delivery of basic services; 2) improved social cohesion; 3) increased federal, state and district cohesion; 4) enhanced community and district mobilisation for development;  5) improved mechanisms for rule of law and settlement of grievances; and 6) improved economic opportunities. The evaluation also cited a wide variety of catalytic effects generated by the PBF’s support, including unblocking political processes, promoting joint programming, leveraging funding from other donors, and scaling up of concepts and approaches.

The volatile context in Somalia remains the main challenge to implementation of PBF-funded projects and puts increasing emphasis on the need for flexibility and risk management capability. The PBF’s niche and its focus on timely, risk-taking and catalytic approaches makes this even more important in an environment where all donors are already accepting a considerable amount of risk as default. Persisting security restrictions for UN personnel hampers the UN’s access across the country, to the detriment of the organisation’s contextual understanding, its ability to reach those most left behind and to monitor implementation.

With Somalia approaching a critical juncture in its peacebuilding and state-building process, and considering the positive trajectory since 2016, the PBF is well-placed under its new eligibility period to continue providing catalytic support to sustain peace. The coming year will have a transformative impact on Somalia, notably because of the electoral process underway. The ongoing constitutional review process, more strategic approaches to national reconciliation, and the critical importance of supporting gains made in women’s political participation, empowerment, and their role in peacebuilding.

As a member of the Integrated Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia (Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC), the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Coordinator is under the overall supervision of the DSRSG/RC/HC and the direct supervision of the Head of the Integrated Office. The Peacebuilding Fund Coordinator supervises one national staff and one seconded staff. The incumbent will work closely with all sections of the Integrated Office, members of the UNCT, UNSOM staff, and is required to spend 50 percent of their time in Somalia. The PBF Coordinator will have an indirect reporting line to the PBF Programme Manager responsible for Somalia in the UN’s Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs at UN Headquarters in New York.

The UN Peacebuilding Fund Coordinator will support the United Nations, Government, and Recipient UN Organizations implementing the UN Peacebuilding Fund programmes in Somalia in the following functions:

• Portfolio Coordination;
• Programme Support;
• Communication;
• Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning;
• Fundraising;
• Strategic Planning.

Key results expected include:

• Project proposals developed in line with the National Development Plan, PBF priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and other relevant policies;
• PBF portfolio management structures organized and administered to ensure strategic oversight, coordination and alignment;
• Ensure an effective monitoring system for the PBF portfolio based on a portfolio-level results framework;
• Support quarterly joint monitoring visits to PBF programmes with implementing partners;
• Provide guidance to implementing partners on common methodology for project design, monitoring and evaluation and related issues;
• Engage with PBF donors through the PBF Donor Group and ensure the PBF’s support and achievements are reflected in other relevant fora and corporate reports;
• Nurture close partnership with government counterparts to promote national ownership;
• Lead strategic communication efforts on established social media channels and other outlets.

The function will also serve to document lessons learnt in Somalia to inform best practices in peacebuilding in fragile states and share them with the Peacebuilding Support Office.

He/she will have for main responsibilities:

Portfolio Coordination and Quality Assurance

• Ensure the implementation of a coherent, high-quality and gender-sensitive portfolio of PBF-funded projects in Somalia, aligned with national frameworks;
• Support the development of programmes to be funded by the PBF in close partnership with counterparts from government, UN and civil society;
• Coordinate the annual call for proposals for the PBF’s special Gender and Youth Promotion Initiatives;
• Oversee compliance with PBF Guidelines in programme implementation and reporting;
• Ensure information-sharing between PBF portfolio partners and facilitate partnerships and synergies between programmes;
• Coordinate the annual strategic report of the Resident Coordinator to the PBF;
• Contribute to the Secretary-General’s annual reports on the Peacebuilding Fund and on peacebuilding and sustaining peace as required.

Programme Support:

• Provide technical advice to implementing partners on how to improve the implementation of their programmes and how to resolve bottlenecks;
• Strengthen the government’s and local partners’ capacity to integrate peacebuilding goals into their planning framework by training counterpart staff and establishing baseline data and indicators within an M&E framework for interventions designed to yield measurable peacebuilding impact;
• Promote and facilitate peacebuilding activities, ideas and concepts in the country;
• Ensure the quality and timeliness of progress reports by PBF implementing agencies;
• Advise PBF implementing agencies on additional activities required in order to meet the expected results within the project implementation dates.
• Ensure the overall quality of all documents;
• Support the organization of capacity building activities to enhance conflict-sensitive programming for implementing partners.

Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning:

• Lead the development and implementation of an effective monitoring, evaluation and learning system, in collaboration with the M&E Specialist, including an outcome-level portfolio results framework to measure progress against priorities agreed under PBF eligibility;
• In collaboration with the M&E Specialist, set up a dynamic data collection system to regularly measure the progress made by the programmes and advise on course corrections needed;
• Provide a substantive contribution to improve the performance of the different monitoring tools and structures of the priority plan. To this end, the Peacebuilding Fund Coordinator will facilitate periodic meetings, analyse the opportunities for new partnerships, etc;
• In collaboration with the M&E Specialist, oversee the monitoring of the different programmes implemented by the various UN and FGS agencies and proactively provide solutions to any bottle necks that may;
• In collaboration with the M&E Specialist, support project-level M&E officers of each implementing partners with the collection of data against each indicator of their project documents;
• Establish a knowledge management system to document lessons learnt based on the different PBF projects;
• Develop case studies based on the lessons learnt from the different PBF projects in Somalia and share them with stakeholders in Somalia and the PBF global community of practice;
• Coordinate the organization of reviews of the PBF portfolio in Somalia and take part in the review of PBF programmes.

Fundraising:

• Coordinate peacebuilding project design processes with partners;
• Draft funding strategies and proposals for bilateral and multilateral donors;
• Proactively engage with other peacebuilding stakeholders inside and outside the UN;
• Contribute to raise a minimum of five million dollars annually in new peacebuilding  programming per year for the UN in Somalia, drawing on the catalytic function of the PBF;
• Ensure effective communications and visibility of PBF investments and partnerships in Somalia, and contribute regularly to PBSO communication products.

Strategic Planning:

• Collaborate with UN counterparts to develop new projects and strategic plans for peacebuilding;
• Support FMS and district level integrated (UNCT and UNSOM) strategic planning efforts related to peacebuilding;
• Facilitate inter-agency coordination on peacebuilding support, including through convening the Peacebuilding Support Group;
• Coordinate prioritization and investment opportunities with PBSO;
• Provide additional support to the DSRSG/RC/HC and Head of the Integrated Office as requested.

Core Competencies:

Innovation : Ability to make new and useful ideas work ;  Exercises stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / programme / division

• Leadership : Ability to persuade others to follow ; Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers;
• People Management : Ability to improve performance and satisfaction ; Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity;
• Communication : Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform ; Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen;
• Delivery : Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement ; Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions.

Functional  Competencies:

• Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda : Analysis and creation of messages and strategies; Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses; Results-Based Programme Development and Management : Participates in the formulation of project proposals; 
• Building Strategic Partnerships : Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN's mandate and strategic agenda;
• Innovation and Marketing New Approaches : Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals; Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations; Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Resource Mobilization: Support to development and implementation of resource mobilization strategies; Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Client Orientation: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client; Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Communication : Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to produce high-quality work and manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines    

Education:          

• A Master's Degree in political science, development studies, public administration, conflict studies or related fields.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experiencemay be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:      

• A minimum of 7 years of international experience in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding projects;
• Experience in, the following thematic areas: Peacebuilding, Do No Harm, Strategic Planning in Post Conflict Countries, Monitoring and Evaluation; Programme Management in fragile countries; Strategic Communication.
• Knowledge of the context, social political environment of Somalia and the Horn of Africa is desirable;
• Proven networking and coordination experience;
• Knowledge of the UN system and its practices is desirable;
• Proven experience in the use of basic office software (MS Word, Excel, Access, etc.)

Language Requirements:             

• Fluency in English is a requirement. Other official language of the UN is desirable.

Other:   Describe any additional qualifications:

•             Professional experience from the region is highly desirable.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

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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