Back Local Governance Specialist

The Capacity Development for Local Government (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country. These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank. The Government of Sri Lanka will implement the Local Development Support Project (LDSP) in four provinces – North, North Central, Eastern, and Uva – to strengthen local service delivery and local economic infrastructure, and enhance bottom-up approaches to support public engagement in local decision-making processes, including through participatory planning and feedback mechanisms for service delivery. Specifically, LDSP will focus on developing Local Area Participatory Development Plans (LAPDP) at the LA level, based on aggregated plans from the ward level, and synergized with sector plans of ministries.
The overall objective of the CDLG project is to strengthen the capacities of LAs to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable and be able to plan, enhance resilience, and deliver better services. The capacity development support, coupled with the fiscal support (through Basic Transfers and Performance Transfers provided through LDSP project) for inclusive service delivery and economic investment, is aimed at strengthening the role of elected representatives at the local level. It is about improving local governance systems and making local governments “fit for future”, as well as increase downward accountability of elected officials and local governments. The project also aims to strengthening mechanisms for public engagement in local decision-making processes.
The CDLG project is implemented within the framework of UNDP Sri Lanka’s Flagship Portfolio on SDG16+ on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which brings together the governance and peacebuilding work under one umbrella. The portfolio intervenes across three inter-related pillars: (1) Parliament and Independent Commissions; (2) Rule of Law and Access to Justice; and (3) Public Sector and Local Governance. The portfolio approach allows UNDP to provide a cohesive and integrated support to the national as well as to all levels of sub-national governments to achieve their governance and development objectives.

Post Context

In this context and under the direct supervision of the Project Manager-CDLG and overall  guidance of the Portfolio Manager of SDG 16+ portfolio, and the Programme Quality and Design Analyst- Governance, the local governance specialist provides technical expertise in both local governance and local resilient development. He/She will guide and share project implementation strategy. He/She is responsible for ensuring synergies within/between the CDLG project and the LDSP and STRIDE project. He/she is responsible for providing technical assistance to facilitate vertical and horizontal collaboration between devolved and deconcentrated units and between different levels of subnational governments. He/she will lead on institutionalizing participatory processes in local planning, budgeting and implementation processes, and strengthening socio-economic infrastructure and promote integrated approaches to achieve development objectives.

 

Ideas and expertise

• Responsible for liaising with all relevant actors from national to provincial to local level on technical issues related to project implementation
• Responsible for ensuring synergies between the larger Local Development Support Programme and the CDLG
• Based on capacity assessments, and in collaboration with the Learning and Knowledge Specialist, support development of tailored capacity development initiatives for local authorities (including in planning and budgeting) to implement priority projects
• Lead on conducting studies and assessment to support project implementation  
• Support development and adoption of different tools, including visualization tools for better planning purposes
• Oversee and facilitate collaboration with different local government bodies to improve data management system and utilization of data by local authorities
• Provide guidance on increasing citizen engagement in local planning, budgeting, monitoring
• Support design thinking workshops involving different stakeholders to develop solutions for local problems
• Engage with relevant technical bodies in the countries including Disaster Management Centre to provide capacity development support to local authorities in integrating resilience in local infrastructure development.
• Lead on development of various systems for local governments, including complaints and grievance mechanisms, revenue management systems, procurement and accounting systems etc..,
• Provide overall guidance on resilient local economic development and ensure linkages with provincial development plans
• Lead on Gender mainstreaming into all project activities and providing targeted support to women councillors
• Provide technical assistance on localizing SDGs targets and integrating localized targets in local development plans.
• Provide technical assistance to develop by-laws, guidelines and regulations to institutionalize best practices stemming from project implementation

Collaboration and engagement

• Develop working relationship with technical experts and different institutions at the sub-national level that are responsible for providing capacity development support to local governments for joint implementation of relevant project activities.
• In collaboration with project manager, identify and engage in policy dialogue on strengthening the role of local governments across sectors and issues and with all actors including government, NGOs and citizenry, UN partners and the private sector,
• Engage the international policy dialogue on local governance, SDGs and South-South Cooperation, identifying linkages and supporting evidence for local governance programme.
• Develop and convene networks of collaborators both conventional and novel who are willing to participate in the dialogue, are attracted to local governance issues and can advance the work and profile of UNDP.  
• Demonstrate empathy for new partner perspectives by adapting analysis and policy to reflect their priorities.

Knowledge building and management

• Produce policy briefs, and other knowledge products, in collaboration with project team, based on insights from project implementation.
• Support establishment of community of practice in target areas to facilitate knowledge exchange.
• Capture and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of Project achievements, particularly with regard to local success stories;
• Ensure linkages with broader UNDP programmes

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work, and openness to the use of new technologies to improve local governance systems

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: 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

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Local governance and local development           

Knowledge and expertise in democratic governance, and local governance and local development issues in Sri Lanka

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Political Economy Analysis

Knowledge of the interaction of political and economic processes in a society; including distribution of power and wealth between groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time, and how these dynamics both affect, and are affected by, UNDP's development support

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Participatory Processes

Expertise in facilitating engagement between different stakeholders on local governance issues and developing integrated solutions to address multi-dimensional challenges.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

SDG localization

Expertise in localizing SDG targets and integrating localized targets (including related to climate vulnerability and disaster risks) in local planning processes

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Capacity development for development effectiveness     

Know how in using capacity development support to transform local development and ensure development effectiveness

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Governance principles

Knowledge and capacity to integrate governance principles (inclusion, non-discrimination, transparency and accountability) as well as gender and human rights into project implementation

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Gender

Lead on Gender mainstreaming into all project activities and providing targeted support to women councillors

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Education

• Master's degree or Bachelor’s in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area.
• Master’s Degree with 5 years or Bachelor’s with 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in development sector with experience in local governance and local development.

Experience

• Experience managing and coordinating projects, specifically local governance projects.
• Experience in supporting capacity development of local government institutions and strengthening systems  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in the UN System is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil with excellent English communication skills.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: One (1) year with possibility of extension