SDG Governance Portfolio Analyst

The challenge of reaching Agenda 2030 was already significant globally, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Compounded by a climate emergency, political polarization and challenged multilateralism, continued conflicts and forced displacement, the number of people living in poverty rose in 2020 for the first time since 1998 by an estimated 119-124 million. Inequalities are growing, and the traditional social contract is no longer working for many.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), in line with its 2021-2025 Country Programme, UNDP focuses on sustainable and inclusive growth, people-centred governance and social cohesion. UNDP is fully committed to support BIH with regards to its Agenda 2030 commitments as well as the European Union (EU) accession process. The UNDP Country Programme Document for BIH outcomes correspond to three outcomes of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 (outcome 1 on resilient, sustainable and inclusive growth, outcome 4 on accountable and transparent governance systems, and outcome 5 on social cohesion and trust).

UNDP in BIH implements a portfolio of projects that engage and support a wide range of stakeholders, including institutional partners and socio-economic actors, strengthening their capacities for pursuing relevant socio-economic reforms and implementing the SDG Framework in BIH. In this context, UNDP implements several initiatives through its Good Governance Sector, one of the key initiatives being Translating the SDG Framework in BIH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, a three-year initiative primarily funded by Sweden. The project is implemented jointly with UN Women and UNICEF. Other projects belonging to this portfolio under the Good Governance Sector include: Public Finance for Development; BIH SDG Financing Ecosystem; Digital Transformation in Public Sector; and Municipal Environmental Governance (MEG).

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Sector Leader, and in line with relevant project documents, UNDP rules and regulations, as well as the UNDP internal control framework, the SDG Governance Portfolio Manager is responsible for management of the thematic portfolio.

The SDG Governance Portfolio Manager analyses political, and social trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of project activities within his/her portfolio. The SDG Governance Portfolio Manager supervises and leads programme support staff and coordinates activities of the projects’ staff. The SDG Governance Portfolio Manager works in close collaboration with other project managers, the operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

• Provides overall coordination and takes overall management responsibility for the implementation of the programmes: Translating the SDG Framework in BIH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth and BIH SDG Financing Ecosystem.
• Contributes to the coordination and quality assurance of other projects in the portfolio.
• Effectively applies Result-based Management (RBM) tools, establishes management targets (BSC) and monitors achievement of results.
• Prepares annual activity and procurement work plans, as well as budgets based on expected year-end outputs, and ensures close monitoring of activities and delivery.
• Builds, motivates, and leads a high performing team consisting of project/programme personnel, consultants, service providers, and conducts performance assessments of team members.
• Secures proper and efficient use of programme budgets, as per the programme document; Ensures full accountability, transparency, and the principle of competition in the allocation of resources, procurement of services, works and goods and selection of recipients.
• Manages financial allocations and approves expenditures according to the authority delegated and ensures timely payments in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Monitors and analyses progress, using applicable monitoring, evaluation and risk management tools.
• Reports to the Programme Board to assure the overall direction and integrity of the programme.
• Leads analytical reviews and systematically captures lessons learnt from the programme implementation; identifies follow-up actions and submits them for consideration to the Programme Board.
• Ensures regular communication and coordination with relevant partners and beneficiaries, as well as develops and maintains effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insights.
• Acts as a thematic lead and ensures exchange of information and practices, consolidation of efforts and synergies among projects in the portfolio.

• Takes the lead and coordinates formulation of the CO programme within the assigned portfolio, translating UNDP’s priorities into project interventions.
• Coordinates efforts resulting in the preparation of fully-fledged project documents, with incorporated overall and specific findings, leading to full harmonization between UNDP and the country’s priorities.
• Identifies and ensures implementation of innovative approaches/solutions towards increased impact in the assigned portfolio.
• Identifies and supports the realization of synergetic initiatives and/or contribution from various stakeholders, which would add value and maximize results in the assigned portfolio.
• Participates in high-level consultations and working meetings with the donor and government counterparts.

3.) Provision of top-quality policy advice services to governments and facilitation of knowledge building and management

• Identifies sources of information related to policy-driven issues, identifies, and synthesises best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the assigned portfolio. 
• Provides conceptual guidance and technical advice to government and other counterparts, with focus on Agenda 2030 and policy reforms.
• Supports development of policies and institutions that will address the country challenges and needs in collaboration with the governments and other strategic partners.
• Collaborates with UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub in supporting cross-country thematic networks through a formal and/or informal platform for exchange of experiences.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 

4.) Creation of strategic partnerships and contribution to the implementation of the resource mobilization strategy

• Develops partnerships with UN Agencies, government institutions, civil society, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, international financing organizations, and private sector in the assigned area of responsibility based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities. Identifies government and donor funding opportunities based on the UNDP programmatic agenda.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active 
• Analyses information on donors, facilitates information sharing and dialogue within the donor community, prepares substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identifies opportunities for initiation of new projects and contributes to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
• Participates in UNDP programme-level committees and working groups, national and international forums, making substantive contributions as appropriate.

5.) Mainstreaming gender equality and ensuring knowledge management

• Ensures gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout relevant activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analysed in detail.
• Ensures gender equality is mainstreamed throughout the team, consultants and staff management activities.
• Ensures knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in programme knowledge management activities and products.
• Supervises dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective implementation and facilitate knowledge building.
• Ensures sufficient time for own and team’s learning and up-dating of knowledge of UNDP processes.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will be direct supervisor to personnel under Translating the SDG Framework in BIH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth programme.

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies