Programme Specialist (Nationals Only)

1. Economic Management, Human Capital Development and Poverty Eradication
2. Governance and Human Rights.
3. Environment and resilience Development

The Gambia is at the cusp of transformation despite the multitude of development challenges, notably restoring good governance, stabilizing the economy, empowering youth, and making the private sector the engine of growth, transformation, and job creation. The Gambia is in the process of articulating its next Development Plan that will guide its investments, and to which the United Nations Development Plan will continue align and support. UNDP is and will continue to be a partner in this transformative process.

The UNDP’s 2022-25 Strategic Plan, which provides the overall guidance, is a comprehensive framework to support countries, including The Gambia, on their path towards attaining the SDGs through country programs driven by national development choices. And UNDP Gambia is further guided by the UNDP Africa offer whose overarching goal is to accelerate the attainment of the 2030 SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It within this context that the UNDP Gambia focuses on (a) inclusive economic growth and poverty eradication; (b) governance and human rights; and (c) environment and resilience development. These efforts are part of the UN partnership in the Gambia and are in support of the national priorities.

The Programme Specialist – Head of Governance is a Senior Member of staff and anchors UNDP’s support to The Gambia transformative efforts. He/she anchors efforts to integrate and accelerate the SDGs, Africa agenda 2063, and related international and regional commitments. This, he/she does in partnership with other teams with UNDP, the wider UN, government, and other partners.  

Position Purpose

The Gambia is undergoing a transition from 22 years of authoritarian rule to an embryonic democratic dispensation. During the past 22 years of authoritarian regime, justice institutions were systematically manipulated to preserve the regime in power. Justice delivery has been slow and there has been a marked deficit in access to justice for the population as well as very limited state support mechanisms or legal aid services available for victims, and defendants. This has reinforced the public’s lack of confidence in the system. Building an inclusive and effective justice system based on the rule of law and human rights is requisite for a stable democracy and sustaining peace in The Gambia. Such a justice system will contribute to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16 aimed at promoting a peaceful and inclusive society for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Legal reform and  the strengthening of the justice system is  necessary to re-establish standards and procedures, to enhance the capacity, accountability and oversight of the judiciary and justice institutions in line with basic principles of independence of the judicial process, to ensure fair justice service delivery to all Gambians, in particular women and children, and to deal with the past and address grievances and prepare the future to build democracy based on rule of law and human rights. To consolidate democratic governance in The Gambia, the Government in its 2018-2021 National Development Plan (NDP) identified governance as a key priority for reform to assure the durability of peace, transitional justice, and reconciliation. The new administration embarked on several reform initiatives including national reconciliation, constitutional review, and security sector reform.  UNDP Governance Portfolio supports Government’s implementation of governance priorities through our work in Transitional Justice, Security Sector Reforms, Elections Support, Rule of Law, support to Parliamentarians, Social Cohesion and enhanced transparency and civic engagement as well as decentralization.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative the Programme Specialist/Head of Governance (HoG) acts as a manager of UNDP Governance Portfolio and is a member of the UNDP Gambia Senior Management Team providing strategic guidance to the Resident Representative. The Programme Specialist will lead and supervise the Governance team in supporting the government achieve its plan of advancing its Governance priorities, ensuring that UNDP is adequately positioned to contribute innovative policy options and initiatives in support of Government programme. The HoG will bring strategic thinking, thought leadership and innovation to UNDP’s Governance programme ensuring the initiation of collaborative research in response to emerging Governance priorities in The Gambia.

The Programme Specialist/Head of Governance will build new partnerships with think tanks, academic institutions, and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme of support to The Gambia’s governance priorities. The incumbent leads the Governance Programme team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas and policy initiatives consistent with United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF)/ Country Programme Document (CPD).  The HoG will also ensure that strategic partnerships are established with other UN agencies in The Gambia and draw on UNDP’s regional and global assets. The incumbent will work across thematic clusters within UNDP and across UN agencies and strengthen strategic partnerships with relevant, bilateral, and multi-lateral donors and private sectors groups in The Gambia.

1. Strategic thinking and thought Leadership - Ensuring the strategic direction of UNDP Governance portfolio
2. Portfolio Management - Management of the Country Office (CO) Governance portfolio and supervision of the team
3. Partnership and Resource Mobilization - Strategic partnerships development and support to resource mobilization
4. Policy Advice and Knowledge Management - Provision of high-quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management including initiating tailored collaborative research.
5. UN Collaboration - Effective contribution to and provision of substantive inputs to the UN Governance work

As a member of the CO senior management team, provides the strategic direction of UNDP Governance portfolio focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis of the political, governance, peace, and security situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNSDCF, CPD, AWP and other documents and lead collaborative research and identification of innovative approaches.
• Provide strategic direction and thought leadership to UNDP across governance issues to support the government in achieving its strategic goals.
• Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation for UNDP, in consultation with development and government partners, civil society and private sector, applying a system thinking and whole of society approach
• Lead the Governance team in the development and operationalization of UNSDCF and CPD, including joint programming.
• Support gender and human rights responsive programming, CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit.
• Collaborates across thematic areas including the Environment, Poverty clusters as well as the Communication team to conceptualise, deliver and communicate UNDP results and achievement strategically to partners.

Ensures effective management of the UNDP Governance portfolio and supervision of the team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

• Design and formulation of CO portfolio within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions, including innovative approaches.
• Establishment of programme of engagement with key stakeholders and coordination of portfolio implementation with the implementing partners and responsible parties.
• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of programmatic targets (BMT), early planning and monitoring and reporting on achievement of results.
• Provide supervision and mentoring of personnel in Governance Team and Governance projects.
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the portfolio, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.  Performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects.
• Preparation of annual reports, regular portfolio briefs, and reports, including but not limited to donor reports

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization in cooperation with Senior Management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development and implementation of the CO and the Governance partnerships and resources mobilization strategies.
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN entities, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society, academia, think tanks, etc.
• Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on Government strategic goals, UNSDCF, UNDP strategic plan and country needs.
• Lead the team in identifying strategic partnership opportunities with key development partners, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, resource mobilization, programme co-creation and cost-sharing.
• Lead and support programme networking, linkages and partnership development and donor reporting
• Co-Chair the Development Partner Technical Working Group on Governance.

Ensures provision of high - quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Initiation of policy alternatives and innovative policy options in support of Government’s programme and targets
• Initiation of tailored research(es) in search of policy alternatives and innovative approaches
• Lead the development of Governance knowledge and information management systems -promoting platforms for sharing of best practices, data and for integrating analysis for access by partners and stakeholders
• Establish partnership with think tanks and academic institutions to promote, knowledge sharing, evidence-based programme and policy development in the Gambia
• Establish partnership with relevant UNDP and UN knowledge platforms and networks for access to current data and policy options

Effective contribution to and provision of substantive inputs to the UN Governance work for the achievement of the following results:

• Effective participation and provision of substantive inputs to the UN Governance-related groups, including joint annual planning and reporting, in particular act as the technical lead on the relevant governance results group of the UNSDCF;
• Identification of joint interventions programming in the governance areas
• Collaborative preparation and/or revision of CCA, UNSDCF, CPD and other documents.
• Provide substantive inputs to the Government and other stakeholders related Governance technical working groups
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and good practices from the portfolio
• Support the Government and CO on the UPR process and other international reporting obligations of the country, if requested
• Support the CO as may be required to achieve its strategic goals.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

• Business Direction and Strategy - Strategic Thinking
  • 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
• Business Direction and Strategy - Effective Decision Making
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• Business Management - Risk Management
  • Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Business Direction and Strategy - Negotiation and Influence
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions
    through compromise and creates win-win situations
• Business Management - Monitoring
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
• Business Management - Results-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Business Management - Partnerships Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

• Master's degree in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, law, human rights, development studies or a related area.

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at national or international level in leading strategic governance programs, projects, and portfolios
• Demonstrated analytical and thought leadership capacity including research and publications in broad governance areas in a developing country context
• Strong hands on advisory, strategic, operation planning and implementation of field activities in broad governance thematic areas such as human rights, legal and judicial reform, anti-corruption, and legal aid
• Experience in engaging with Government at senior level on policy issues.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating and sustaining working relationships with diverse stakeholders including government, civil society, communities, and the private sector.
• Strong evidence of networking, partnership development and resource mobilization capabilities.
• Experience working with project teams and knowledge of project cycle management.
• Sound knowledge of organizational management, asset management, information and communication technology, administration, financial and human resources management, preferably with the UN/UNDP would be an advantage.
• Experience working in a decentralization environment and understanding of local governance in a developing country context.
• Experience in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing programs on decentralization/local governance, human rights, accountability, transparency and participation, legal and judicial reform, anti-corruption, and legal aid, would be an advantage  
• Experience with working on gender equality, disability and youth issues would be an advantage
• Knowledge of discourses on justice and security sector development, state building and stabilization, peacebuilding, governance and of the international policy environment in which these issues are addressed may be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and complex environment.
• Ability to produce reports and high-level political analysis and capacity to dialogue with high-level political actors as well as donors from the international community is an asset.
• Experience working with the UN or other multilateral agencies, in the framework of multi donor projects and related to the Gambia is an added advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in English language. Working knowledge of other UN language desirable
• Knowledge of at least two local languages will be an advantage
  • Mandinka
  • Wollof
  • Fula

Important: