•  Participate in the inter-agency Programme Management Team (PMT) meetings to represent UNDP when assigned by the DRR-Programme; coordinate submissions from UNDP to the PMT as required, under the guidance and clearance of DRR-Programme for joint reporting to the UNSDCF.

Ensure POQA unit management, leadership and supervisory function

•  Manages the overall POQA roles and responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner, working closely with other relevant UNDP Portfolio teams, Units, and UNDP Senior Management, as well as other partners as required;
•  Leads the staff in the POQA unit to ensure workloads are evenly distributed and the team functions effectively to deliver on its mandate;
•  Leads the formulation of the POQA AWP, is accountable for its implementation and ensures appropriate prioritization of resources at all times;
•  Formulates Terms of References for all POQA team members and leads Unit recruitments’ processes, as necessary;
•  Ensures appropriate supervision, reporting and performance management mechanisms for all staff recruited under POQA;
•  Ensures establishment of an enabling training/working environment of all POQA team members.
•  Coordinate the bi-weekly Programme Meetings under the guidance of DRR-Programme; maintaining the meeting roster, keeping minutes and ensuring follow up of action points from the meetings.

Lead the development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the country programme

•  Leads the development of internal Monitoring and Evaluation tools and ensures their regular implementation, to measure impact of UNDP programmes and projects and to advise Portfolio and Project Managers on corrective actions;
•  Leads the Country Office in preparation of the Results-Oriented Annual Report (ROAR) through role assignment, coordination of inputs from programme team, operations team and Senior Management, ensuring quality results reporting supported by evidence and clear linkage to the CPD, UNCF and SP;
•  Coordinates design and content of trainings on results-based management, programming principles to enhance capacity of project and counterparts staff in RBM, monitoring and quality reporting;
•  Coordinates programme monitoring for activity verification and data collection to generate evidence for programme reporting to the CPD, Strategic Plan and UNCF;
•  Guide POQA team in formulating CO evaluation plans, and commissioning projects’ mid-term and end evaluations in line with UNDP Evaluation Guidelines;
•  Leads implementation of Third Party Monitoring (TPM) arrangements;
•  Reviews and clears Programme’s and projects’ semi-annual and annual reports before submission to Senior Management and/or MPTF.

Ensure internal control and oversight in line with HACT policy/framework

•  Advises portfolio and projects teams on financial regulations and rules, including ATLAS (or Quantum) budgeting and ensure consistent application of policies across portfolios;
•  Ensures Annual Work Plans (AWPs) are in accordance with project budgets prior to committing Country Office resources; ensure correct cost recovery policies are applied including GMS and DPC (now termed Delivering Enabling Services);
•  With support from Programme Finance Specialist, reviews General Ledger Journal Entries (GLJEs) for correction, reversal and adjustment entries of expenditures between projects, donors and/or funds;
•  Actively participate in the Risk Management Unit (RMU) monthly meetings and use the information to improve on risk management and mitigation; share relevant information as required by RMU for collective UN efforts in mitigating against programmatic and operational risks;
•  Coordinates implementation of HACT Micro-Capacity Assessments of Implementing Partners/ Responsible Parties; implementation of HACT assurance plan (audits, spot checks and programme monitoring) and use the recommendations to strengthen capacities of Responsible Parties, CO staff and perform risk rating adjustment in line with HACT policy
•  Coordinates the CO preparation for HACT and DIM audits and ensures follow up and implementation of audits recommendations;
•  Supports portfolios/project in timely implementation of HACT assurance recommendations to ensure the CO meets the HACT Certification requirements;
•  Supports portfolios on project operational and financial closures; tracking the programme financial management indicators in the integrated financial dashboard and take necessary action including advising Senior Management on corrective measures, or seeking their approval on proposed actions;
•  With support from Programme Finance Specialist, monitor and track programme financial delivery and identify bottlenecks that need to be addressed to improve performance, the same with performance in resources mobilization targets and revenue which are monitored in IWP and Stream;
•  Reviews and verifies projects financial reports for timely submission to donors and partners;
•  Review and approve Funding Authorization and Certification of Expenditure (FACE) forms and payment vouchers on direct payments, reimbursement and cash advances;
•  Approves accounts payable requests up to USD 50,000 for further submission to GSSU as Manager Level 2 in the Internal Control Framework, as well as reviews and clears payments requests above USD 50,000 before approval by Senior Management;
•  Works closely with the CO Operations team to identify solutions for operational and financial management challenges/issues;
•  Coordinates formulation and delivering of training curricula for projects staff on financial issues and reporting, including FACE forms in collaboration with CO Operations.
•  Any other tasks and responsibilities as requested by the Supervisor.

Coordinate and lead in capacity development for UNDP staff and national counterparts

•  Leads the development of training and capacity development strategies and approaches and ensure correct implementation principles are maintained at UNDP and Responsible Parties’ level;
•  Regularly reviews the impact of the training and other capacity development efforts on quality in programming, project implementation, corporate dashboards as well as satisfaction of Responsible Parties of the cooperation with UNDP;
•  Promotes a consistent one-UN approach in building capacity of Implementing Partners/Responsible Parties in line with the HACT framework.
•  Ensures that gradual and increasing alignment is realized with the use of National Systems in UNDP cooperation management arrangements as and when appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place and functioning effectively

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The Programme Specialist and Head of POQA supervises a team of 7 national and 2 international staff at professional and general service levels.

Competencies

Core Competencies

•  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

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

•  Business Direction and Strategy – Systems Thinking: 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
•  Business Management – Results-based: Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus to 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
•  Programme & Policy – Engagement & Effectiveness: Programming (PPM) policies and procedures
•  Business Management – Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
•  Business Management – Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
•  Business Development – Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related field

Experience:

•  7 years of relevant experience at national or international level in providing policy and management advisory services, providing oversight and quality reviews, hands-on experience in programme design, concept note drafting and peer-review, project formulation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of development projects.
•  Excellent knowledge of UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP), in particular the Programme and Project Management (PPM) policies and provisions is a requirement.
•  Proven programme and project management experience at a middle-management to senior level with UNDP or UN Agencies.
•  Proven qualities in leadership, staff management and team-building.
•  Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural/multinational/multi-stakeholder setting is essential. Experience in designing and delivering capacity building/training for different groups of audience and stakeholders is essential.
•  Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
•  Experience in hardship, post-conflict and/or fragile states environments would be an advantage.
•  Fluency in English language is required

Language:

•  Proficiency in oral and written English.

Important:

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

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Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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