Social Services Analyst (NPSA-8)

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, including the Joint Programme (JP) Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) through Enhanced Inter-municipal and Inter-entity Cooperation on Local Services (SPSC).

Implemented by UNDP in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the JP aims at strengthening social cohesion within and between communities located in the western part of country including communities in Canton 10 and Una-Sana Canton in the entity of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH), as well as in the entity of Republika Srpska (RS). It works with municipal authorities and other local actors to organize and sustain community dialogues and civic engagement, strengthen social structures and services, and create opportunities for young men and women to engage in meaningful exchanges with youth and leaders across communities. Funded by the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, the JP will be implemented over 24 months in close cooperation and coordination with relevant institutional partners and other actors.

Implementation of JP support related to the improvement of social services in targe localities:

• Designs and coordinates implementation of JP support related to the improvement of social service delivery.
• Coordinates rapid participatory assessment of availability, accessibility, and quality of social services, in order to identify needs and critical gaps in each target locality.
• Provides analytical support and expert guidance towards prioritizing and implementing measures for the improvement of social services (at least one service in each locality), including putting in place the necessary infrastructure, human resources, technical preconditions, etc.
• Provides support to local governments and other relevant institutions to embark on a people-centered approach to responding to the needs of people facing deprivation and social exclusion in their localities.
• Promotes inter-municipal and inter-entity cooperation in delivering social services.   
• Provides recommendations and supports piloting of social service delivery at a regional level (through inter-municipal cooperation), towards improved accessibility and efficiency of service provision.
• Coordinates and supports UNV Community Volunteers, including in the process of rapid participatory assessment, community outreach, as well as provision of social services.
• Ensures financial contributions for improvement of social services from partner local governments, and if and when applicable, other institutions.
• Monitors and analyses progress using applicable monitoring and risk management tools.

Support to overall JP implementation:

• Contributes to design of overall JP plan, budgets, procurement plan, etc.  
• Supports the Project Coordinator in dialogue with municipal (and where relevant – cantonal and entity) partners to discuss and ensure full institutionalization, financing and sustainability of the improved social services.
• Support the Project Coordinator in drafting formal UNDP documents for cooperation with partner governments/institutions such as Memorandum of Understanding / Letter of Agreement / Co-financing Agreements, etc.
• Conducts field visits to the specific locations requiring technical assistance and based on performed assessment, provide recommendations for further interventions.
• Contributes to the selection of experts and service providers, in line with the identified needs and JP work plan.
• Collects gender-segregated data, keeps relevant records, prepares reports and analyses on the status of indicators and accomplishment of targets set under the JP.

Partnership and advocacy

• Works closely with the IOM and UNV on the JP implementation.
• Establishes and maintains good working relations with relevant institutional and organizational partners at state, entity, cantonal and local levels, as well as with main international organizations as relevant for the JP implementation.
• Actively works on the relationships with the local authorities and other JP stakeholders, ensuring full understanding, cooperation and a best fit of the programme activities with the needs of the beneficiaries.
• Identifies opportunities to create synergies with other UN or interventions by the international community supporting social services, youth employability, entrepreneurship, skill development and entrepreneurship development, economic development, public service improvement, etc. in target localities.

Gender equality mainstreaming and knowledge management:

• Supports gender mainstreaming throughout the JP activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyses it in detail.
• Supports the Project Manager in knowledge management on gender equality issues as well as that knowledge is incorporated in activities and products of the Country Office (CO).
• Engages in continuous learning and contributes to the UNDP in-house thematic knowledge and practitioners’ networks.
• Prepares analytical reviews and systematically captures lessons learnt from the JP implementation, identifying follow-up actions, and submitting them for consideration to the Project Board.
• Establishes connections of exchange and learning with national and regional local development networks and resource persons.
• Ensures all JP products and heritage are duly stored and made available to the broader programme.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Social Services Analyst will be responsible for coordination of operational activities and support of actions that improve social service delivery in target communities.

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Business Management - Results-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Business Management - Partnership Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and public sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Business Management - Communication
  • 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
• Partnership management - Resource mobilization
  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
• Partnership management - Relationship management
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
• Business Direction & Strategy - Entrepreneurial Thinking
  • 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
• General (across the functions - Event planning and execution
  • Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate. 

• Master’s degree in social work, economics or other social sciences. 
• Bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience will be considered in lieu of the Master's degree. 

• Minimum 2 years (with Bachelor's degree) of professional experience in the field of social protection or social care services development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Required skills and competencies

• Thorough proven understanding of the overall policy, legal and administrative set-up related to social protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.  
• Ability to identify discrimination, address it, and maintain an enabling working environment based on fairness, respect and freedom from any forms of harassment and abuse.
• Understand the language associated with gender, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• In-depth contextual knowledge of gender relations and social structures in BiH Excellent computer skills and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Extensive experience in partnering and interaction with governmental institutions at various government levels, as well as with civil society organisations.
• Previous experience in the implementation of development cooperation projects (experience on UN-implemented projects will be considered an asset). 
• Ability to apply knowledge of empirical facts about gender aspects within the thematic/policy area and activities, and the ability to correctly classify and interpret gender-disaggregated facts and data.

Required Language(s) 

• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills in English and official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian).

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position. Also, the motivation letter shall include the candidate's understanding of the position requirements. 
3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.