Local Governance Officer

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Please note that the person selectedfor this position will be offered a contract with UNDP under its National Personnel Services Agreement (N-PSA) modality. More information about the N-PSA is available here [link to the N-PSA POPP https://bit.ly/3gaGFud).

Strengthening the Role of Local Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)- Phase 2, is a joint project of the Government of Switzerland and Sweden, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH in a partnership with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, the Ministry of Justice of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska (RS), the Government of Brčko District and both Entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities.

• Outcome 1: Local governments create a conducive environment that enables pro-active engagement of MZs in decision-making and community-led local development.
• Outcome 2: MZs as legitimate and sustainable community spaces translate citizens’ voice into quality, gender-responsive and inclusive services and use MZ networks for replication of successful MZ models countrywide.
• Outcome 3: Higher government authorities take responsibility and act in response to increased citizens demand for an improved MZ regulatory framework, moving forward broader local governance reforms at country level.

The expected Project achievements will be ensured by working on-system, i.e. by using as much as possible the existing country systems and tapping into the efforts of committed partners. It is assumed that this will result in systemic local governance and community governance changes and durably improved quality of citizen participation and public service delivery at local level. The second Project phase will work directly with 41 local governments and 199 MZs, distributed throughout the country.

1.Technical advice and guidance in the area of local governance and related policy and regulatory frameworks

• Provide backstopping support and technical guidance to the Project Manager with respect to local governance issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the context of the Project;
• Contribute to the design of Project activities and interventions, preparation of inputs for budgets and reports as per the Project Document;
• Provide on-going support to the process of public discussions, joint initiatives, and advocacy for municipal and higher government level policy and legal frameworks;
• Analyse and link local governance initiatives undertaken by relevant government authorities with the processes led by the Project;
• Interact effectively with and provide advice to field staff related to the field implemented activities;
• Contribute to and engage in the broader UNDP local governance/local development programme, in order to ensure close connectivity and synergy with the Project interventions;
• Provide inputs in identification of linkages between the MZ Project and other local governance initiatives in BiH or beyond, maximizing the efficient and effective use of resources and multiplying Project results.

2.Technical advice and expert contribution to the design, implementation and quality assurance of the Project’s assistance to partner local governments and target MZs

• Provide management and oversight of the technical assistance packages implemented in the partner LGs and MZs by the selected responsible parties and service providers;
• Guide the design, steer, monitor and assess the effects of the technical assistance packages delivered to partner local governments and their MZs, with the focus on the MZ-specific grass-root processes;
• Provide expert input in the design of institution-building and capacity-building trainings, and other related types of Project’s assistance;
• Provide direct management and oversight of implementation of institution-building and capacity-building trainings to local governments and MZs;
• Support conduct of Project surveys at the local level, so as to effectively contribute to measurable review of results and longer-term Project effects, as per the Project M&E plan and logical framework;
• Participate in the Project established committees, policy and capacity development working groups and events;

3.Support the overall design, oversight, implementation and monitoring of the Project’s assistance related to LG-level customized package of financial assistance and establishment of an MZ performance-based incentive scheme;

• In cooperation with the Project’s field staff, provide strategic and technical inputs to the design and impactful implementation of Project interventions related to the MZ priority projects, revitalization of community hubs and other types of Project’s direct financial assistance;
• In cooperation with the Project’s field staff, manage, monitor and quality assure the overall implementation of the MZ priority projects, revitalization of community hubs and other types of direct financial assistance;
• Prepare analytical reviews and systematically capture lessons learnt and development effects from the priority project implementation;
• In cooperation with the Project’s field staff provide strategic and technical inputs to the design and implementation of MZ performance based incentive scheme;
• Ensure proper monitoring, including collection of necessary data, and reporting for knowledge management and evidence-based interventions.

4.Pro-actively support partnerships, networking and advocacy in the Project implementation, as well as in the broader UNDP local governance/local development programme:

• Capture and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of Project achievements, particularly with regard to local success stories;
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with relevant Project counterparts and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insights;
• Encourage active participation of all stakeholders in order to promote empowerment and ownership of national counterparts and stakeholders;
• Support awareness raising on and mainstreaming of gender equality and social inclusion principles within Project implementation;
• Represent UNDP professionally at internal and external meetings and gatherings;
• Capture lessons learnt in the process of delivery of Project’s assistance. 
• Based on the afore-mentioned functions, the incumbent will agree on the workplan with the direct supervisor.  

Institutional Arrangement

• Civic Engagement (includes CSOs)
• Civil Society Engagement
• Inclusion and Participation
• Public Administration and Local Governance
• Youth Leadership and Participation

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

• Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

• Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

• Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact
• Consistently strive to meet or exceed excellence standards
• Hold self and others accountable for results
• Efficiently establish appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals

• Look beyond conventional approaches and established methods
• Propose new ideas, approaches and solutions to problems
• Seek patterns and clarity outside boxes and categories while resisting false certainty and simplistic binary choice

• Actively pursue opportunities for learning and self-development professionally and personally
• Keep abreast of new developments in one’s professional area
• Proactively seek feedback, demonstrates a desire to learn from others as well as from experiences, both positive and negative
• Contribute to the learning of others

• Be flexible in handling change, and adopt new ideas, approaches and ways of working
• Seamlessly adapt to working within new situations or contexts, with new people, and in different ways
• Participate in, support, contribute to or drive meaningful change in UNDP

• Pursue everything with motivation and drive
• Not give up in the face of adversity and setbacks; demonstrate resilience and composure
• Demonstrate courage, self-motivation and initiative to act on opportunities without being prompted by others
• Be authentic and modest, get things done without unnecessary noise

• Act in a way that demonstrates empathy and emotional intelligence, showing consideration for the needs and feelings of others
• Demonstrate and encourage teamwork and co-creation internally and externally to achieve joint objectives and results
• Establish and develop networks that deliver powerful collaborations
• Encourage and respect the views of others; accept views and ideas other than one’s own

• Treat all individuals with respect, consider ethical implications and respond sensitively to all differences among people
• Fully accept and value all people, creating an inclusive environment
• Understand that inclusion is multi-faceted (e.g. race, gender, age, disability, culture, etc.)
• Understand and appreciate issues from the perspective of others
• Treat everyone fairly and equally
• Demonstrate honesty and transparency 

• Master’s degree (MA) in law, public administration, political sciences, social sciences or a related field.
• University degree (BA) in law, public administration, political sciences, social sciences or a related field with additional two years of experience may be taken into consideration in lieu of the master’s degree.

• Two years of relevant professional experience in the field of local governance and local development in BiH for candidates with BA.
• Experience in the design and delivery of assistance to local governments, in particular related to local planning and policy design, as well as implementation of local development projects, and similar.
• Experience in partnering and interacting with governmental institutions at various levels of government, and with civil society organisations.
• Excellent understanding of the overall political, administrative, and institutional set-up of local governance in BiH.
• Previous practical work at the MZ level is a distinct asset.

• Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English and the official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NPSA 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.

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