Project Specialist -Pacific Digital Governance Initiative

Although Pacific Island countries vary considerably in size, population, economic development, cultural and physical resources, they face common challenges, including the lack of economies of scale, limited economic resources, tyranny of distance, lack of personnel capacities and poor connectivity. These challenges have made delivering services to populations outside the main capitals a huge challenge for PIC governments. While decentralisation of government, and therefore service delivery, has been one structural approach that many PIC governments have attempted to implement, the practical reality is that many Pacific islanders continue to feel disconnected from their governments, as they struggle to access services and, more fundamentally, have difficult participating in policy-making and decision-making, due in large part to their physical distance from major national and regional power centres and PIC governments’ inability to systematically implement efficient consultation processes. 

Digitalisation of government systems and harnessing those processes to promote more inclusive e-government and e-participation could go some way to more efficiently and effectively tackling some of these serious challenges. Already, a number of PICs have started to progress efforts to more systematically utilise increasingly cheap and accessible information and communication technologies (ICTs) for government purposes. In the four target countries of this Project – namely, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands and Tonga – each country has some form of national digital strategy. 

In order to ensure that the four target countries can harness digitalization for the benefit of all of their people, this Project will work with government officials and civil society (including NGOs, academia, the media and the private sector) to build their commitment to and understand of digital rights and digital development principles, in order to support the design of regulatory frameworks which properly respect and protect human rights in the context of digitalization. The Project will in particular build the capacities of partners civil society organizations and governments to design and roll out digitalization initiatives that are people-centred, gender sensitive and rights-based, with specific attention given to sharing knowledge of good practice and lessons learned from around the region and the world. 

UNDP is looking for a Project Manager and Specialist to support the efficient management of the Pacific Digital Democracy Initiative funded by the EU. The Project Manager will ensure effective results-based project management, Strategic partnerships and alliances management, Resource mobilization and Technical advisory support and policy development 

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Team Leader- Effective Governance will maintain close cooperation with operation team in the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, as well as project focal points in the different countries under the project. 

The Project Manager/ Specialist will execute the duties and responsibilities outlined above under the guidance and supervision of the Team Leader. 

The specific duties and responsibilities during the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Effective results-based project management 

• Ensures the achievement of outputs and project results in line with the approved work plan through the day-to-day planning, management coordination and implementation of activities.
• Manages the human and financial resources to achieve quality results as outlined in the project document, on time and on budget. 
• Analyses and monitors progress and advises on timely corrective actions for proper delivery.
• Leads the preparation and implementation of annual work plans. 
• Coordinates project activities with related and parallel activities both within UNDP and with external agencies.
• Develops, oversees and maintains the monitoring, evaluation and communication frameworks.
• Undertakes monitoring visits to project sites and report on project progress and constraints. 
• Ensures timely preparation of quarterly and annual reports for UNDP, and donor progress and impact reports as required.
• Represents the project in Project Board and UNDP project review and project management meetings. 
• Ensures identification of risks and timely updating of risk logs in QUANTUM and to the Project Board

Building and management of strategic partnerships and alliances 

• Ensures project stakeholders are continuously engaged and facilitate coordination and synergies in line with the project document. 
• Maintains continuous dialogue with the government and other key partners to provide knowledge-based advisory services and to ensure proper integration and co-ordination of other related development efforts.
• Provides professional opinions in areas of expertise to promote networking and teamwork between counterparts and the general donor community.
• Supports the development and implementation of UNDP’s strategy in relation to digital democracy issues.
• Liaises with other UN agencies and with donors to promote partnership and collaboration for the effective management of law enforcement in the Pacific
• Ensures adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders of the project.
• Identifies synergies with other partners and projects to maximize impact and results

Resource mobilization 

• Develops partnerships to ensure wide participation and sharing of development of best practices, and positions UNDP as a leader in the field of digital democracy. 
• Contributes to resource mobilization efforts of the project and Country Office to secure additional cost-sharing resources from the government, donors and regional partners for the project work. 
• Represents UNDP in sector coordination forums to position UNDP as a critical actor in the law enforcement and security sector reform sector.

Technical advisory support and policy development 

• Leads in the creation and dissemination of knowledge products related to national and international know-how in the subject area. In this context, partner with practitioners and members of the UNDP global networks, leadership of the practice and sub-practice teams in BDP, BCPR, Regional Centers and other related Bureaux;
• Ensures close and integrated collaboration with key stakeholders identified in the project document and by the board in the development and delivery of high-quality technical advice and support
• Promotes the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration and compatibility with other practice areas.
• Contributes to the production of strategic papers, think pieces, reports and publications, and serves as a peer reviewer.
• Assists the project in implementation of activities at national and sub-national level through the provision of technical and operational expertise.

Provide capacity building for CSO grantees and partners

• Lead in the assessment of CSO capacities
• Support the design of capacity building actions
• Monitor capacity building initiatives and provide support as needed
• Performs any other tasks assigned by the UNDP Team Leader and Senior Management

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required