Project Specialist

Job Description
Agency: UNDP
Title: Project Specialist
Job ID: 27843
Practice Area - Job Family: Crisis Prevention and Recovery
Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 04/01/2020
Duty Station: Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic
Education & Work Experience: I-Master's Level Degree - 5 year(s) experience
Languages Required: French
Desired: English
Grade: P3
Vacancy Type: TA International
Posting Type: External
Bureau: Africa
Contract Duration: 6 months

Background
From mid-2016 until late 2017, the Kasai Region was marked by violence against civilians and displacement, caused by the Kamwina Nsapu insurgency and the forceful response it generated from national security forces. Throughout 2018, a lull was observed, allowing return movements of populations. Although overall security has improved during this period, the humanitarian situation has remained very preoccupying due to outbreaks of cholera and measles, compounded by the forced return of more than 400,000 Congolese persons from Angola since October 2018, who arrived en masse into the provinces of Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Kwango, Kwilu and Lualaba. This massive and continuous influx of Congolese citizens from Angola presents a risk for the peace, security and economic recovery in communities of return, as it creates new tensions in the face of the scarcity of existing resources, as well as a potential deterioration of food security and nutritional conditions.

It is in this context of vulnerability and acute needs that, following the election of President Tshisekedi, members of the Kamwina Nsapu group have recently informed local Governors of their willingness to lay down their arms.
Currently, the most dramatic concerns are in the 3 provinces of Kasai, Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental, where it is estimated that over a thousand Kamwina Nsapu members, including many children, have laid down their arms in January and February 2019. These numbers have overwhelmed the provincial governments, which lack the resources, expertise or legal frameworks to disarm and demobilize the elements quickly and to reintegrate them effectively. As a result, a large number of idle, resourceless and hungry ex-combatants are waiting for a demobilization process in Kananga, Kasai Central and Kasai Provinces, and there are reports that criminality, including looting, is rising. As of this date, the figures of self-demobilized ex combatants are approximately estimated at 8000- 9000 individuals, basically young people and children.

The permanent presence of Kamuina Nsapu self-demobilized elements represents an impediment to humanitarian action and is causing both a protection risk and additional multisectoral needs. As the security situation remains tense and the influx of expellees from Angola continues, humanitarian actors are monitoring the situation to allow resumption of activities in Kasai for expellees and their hosts, including assistance under the US$ 10 million CERF allocation.
In this context and in addition to his previous interventions supported through SURGE Plan in 2018 in Kasai Central Province, UNDP mobilized USD 3 millions catalytic funds from Peace Building Funds (PBF) in order to continue supporting more projects/programme related to reintegration and Community Violence Reduction (CVR) and consolidate community stabilization initiatives previously developed in Kasai Central Province in 2018.
Therefore, in line with UNDP CO efforts to implement relevant and early recovery activities including preventing SGBV violence in the framework of community stabilization and resilience building in the Kasai provinces, there is need of hiring a Project Coordination Specialist, who would support swift implementation of the programme, with particular emphasis on (i) leading the implementation of components 1 (community dialogue and conflict prevention) and 2 (livelihoods stabilization and economic recovery) of the programme strategy, (ii) Organizing the participatory targeting and prioritization exercises, (iii) leading the process of selecting implementation partners for quick roll out of immediate activities, (iv) Coordinating initial assessments in the implementation zones, (v) training implementation partners, and (vi) monitoring implementation in the project locations.
Under the strategic guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative & Programme Director and the direct supervision of the Team Leader of Inclusive and Sustainable Development Unit, in collaboration with the relevant technical team of UNDP CO, the Programme Coordination Specialist will be directly in charge of the overall coordination and implementation of the Community Stabilization and Resilience Programme strategy in the Kasai Region. He /She will be responsible of the following tasks:

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

1.Project/Programme, Coordination and Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation, Support of Staff
2.Policy, Strategy and Planning including capacity building
3.Communications, Information, knowledge management, Systematization
4.Partnership, projects formulation and fund-raising
5.Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the CO

Under direct supervision of the Team Leader of Inclusive and Sustainable Development Unit the incumbent performs the following functions:

Established and developeeffective, innovative and enabling framework and mechanisms for the managing of the resilience and CVR/reintegration projects/programme, providing strategy and criteria for effective programme development and implementation

-Lead the management, project/programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
-Ensure the Project/programme technical, operative and administrative relevance and coherence within the framework and objective of UNDAF 2019-2023;
-Build solid relationships with the Cuban local, provincial and regional entities in order to ensure the full participation and appropriation of the UN reintegration approach and methodology in post conflict situations;
-Provide high quality and comprehensive technical support to local and regional/provincial partners interested in operating within the framework of resilience/reintegration process;
-To ensure appropriate and updated monitoring and evaluation systems, that it is applied effectively and to develop and apply training methodologies as required.
-Participate to negotiate and formulate programmes and projects related to the CVR, reintegration and local development programme in the Kasai region;
-Contribute to plan and arrange joint programming, monitoring and evaluation missions with Provincial and local administration, potential donors, Central Government Ministries and other stakeholders, including visits to the field;
-Provide adequate technical and administrative support to the Project/Programme staff at local level, supervising their performance including monitoring of priorities, workloads and effectiveness, ensuring high quality performance and a smooth contract management in accordance with agreed personnel procedures;
-Undertake other assignments that may be required by the Supervisor.

Managerial Functions

-Coordinate the elaboration of the annual work plan and budget and other planning tools, its submission and approval, and seek the corresponding authorizations required to undertake project activities.
-Establish the functional organization of projects/programme staff to guarantee a smooth operation and programme implementation.
-Identify and select technical human resources required for the effective and high-quality management and implementation of the CVR/reintegration programme.
-Ensure the application of open and transparent procedures by all programme staff.
-Ensure that local procurements are in line with UNDP rules and procedures

Define, build and update CVR/reintegration programme strategy periodically together with local partners at Province/regional levels:

-Contribute to promote innovative approach in CVR/reintegration interventions supported by UNDP CO;
-Develop strategy/methodological notes for democratic dialogue and livelihoods stabilization in collaboration of relevant technical teams and in accordance of the overall programme strategy
-Train and reinforce capacities of UNDP colleagues, and implementation partners for programme implementation and monitoring;
-Manage key external relationships for the programme development, partnerships and stakeholders, ensuring that systems are in place to provide accurate and timely information and data
-Establish standards and criteria for programme development in line with UNDP organizational and corporate priorities and policies;
-Contribute to the strategic direction of the programme by implementing the strategic plan and reviewing progress and overall programme direction as necessary
-Represent, at Province/regional level, UNDP DR Congo as required with partners and other necessary networks to enhance UNDP´s supported projects impact and ensure synergies and shared learning.

Develop an adequate partnership and diversify funding base for the new projects/programme work

-Identifies programme and resource mobilization opportunities;
-Conducts discussions with government at regional and local levels, decentralized cooperation partners and UN agencies towards the mobilization of a critical mass of resources for the programme.
-Maintain close relationship and collaboration with other UN agencies and substantive sections of the MONUSCO for strategic alignment and programme implementation;
-Organize visits of donors in the pilot locations after start of the programme implementation

Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the CO:
Results and good practices achieved by the Community based and reintegration projects/programme are shared with all the stakeholders

-Develop and stimulate the use of knowledge management tools across the project/programme structures and its partners.
-Ensure the systematization and dissemination of good practices and learnt lessons;
-Share and communicate information about the programme within UNDP CO, the UN system in DR Congo and other partners/stakeholders at local and reginal levels;
-Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices.
-Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Core competencies

-Innovation- Ability to make new and useful ideas work: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them
-Leadership-Ability to persuade others to follow Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers
-People Management-Ability to improve performance and satisfaction: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others
-Communication : Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform : Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others
-Delivery-Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technicel/Functional Competencies

-Representation: Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues)
-Relationship Management :Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, Inter-Agency Coordination and forge productive working relationships
-Report Writing : Ability to prepare quality reports
-Partnerships : Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships
-Project Management : Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
-Resource Mobilization : Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources
-Knowledge Management : Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge
-Innovation : Ability to manage organizational resources and deployment in pursuit of innovative approaches and initiatives
-Operational Efficiency : Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency
-Risk Management: Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize action around mitigating themResults-based Management : Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results
-Trends and emerging areas analytics : Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiaves to bring into policy and programme design
-Conflict Analysis and Risk Assessment : Knowledge of conflict analisys and risk asessment concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
-Learning and Development : Knowledge of enterprise learning and development issues, concepts, and principles, and ability to apply them to enhance the fulfillment and performance of employees

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
-Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in social sciences, international relations/affairs, law, development or a related field.

Experience:
-A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, coordination or related areas; field experience in crisis and/or post-conflict settings highly desirable;
-Experience in the field of area-based development approaches with a focus on recovery and reintegration in crisis and complex contexts, including experience at the international level;
-Experience in partnership building and/or inter-agency coordination in post-conflict and/or post-natural disaster settings in particular at the field level and working with donors and NGOs;
-Proven ability to interact at the highest governmental and inter-agency levels
-Familiarity with UN common procedures and tools, especially regarding needs assessments, pooled funds and joint programming
-Experience in project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
-Living and working in a developing country

Language Requirements:
-Fluency in oral and written French is essential;
-Good knowledge of English (spoken and written) is an asset..

Other :
-Demonstrated skills in leadership and management
-Focuses on client needs and results
-Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
-Establishes priorities for self and other members of the team; schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources
-Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills
-Demonstrated commitment to UNDP mission, vision and values.
-Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
-Able to make decisions, take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the decisions make.
Sound judgment, vision and high-level negotiation and communication skills
-Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
-Patience and sensitivity to develop and nurture commitment with an innovative team of people
-Participative and collaborative working approach
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary programmatic issues regarding the transition from relief to recovery;
-Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of the UN Coordination Effectiveness;
-Ability to lead the design and implementation of UN joint programme activities, strengthening of strategic partnerships for Early Recovery;
-Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
-Demonstrates the capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations; evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems;
-Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, management and reporting;
-Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategic plans/frameworks.

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