Back Programme Analyst - Results and Resources Mgt

Over the past decade Sri Lanka has recorded steady economic growth, declining poverty, and improving social development, bringing the country into Upper Middle -Income Country status.  At the same time, the debt burden, disaster risks, inequalities, regional and group-based disparities, uneven progress against reform commitments, unresolved tensions and fragmentation between identity groups, and governance reforms continue to challenge the country’s paths to sustainable development and people’s well-being.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a universal framework for action to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. Sri Lanka together with every Member State of the United Nations signed on to this ambitious and transformative agenda, in recognition of significant, persistent challenges despite growth and progress. The Government of Sri Lanka’s National Policy Framework places SDG achievement as a crucial focus, policy driver and means to address its development challenges. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka has an important role in providing integrated support for SDG implementation  to UN member states and UN system efforts. UNDP’s four streams of work underlie its approach to accelerate progress and mainstream into national development efforts: Data and Analytics, Policy and Programming, SDG financing, and Innovation and Learning.
To support this, UNDP Sri Lanka operates under an integrated collaborative business model. To respond to a fast-paced and rapidly evolving socio-economic and political environment, UNDP Country Programme implementation and CO Business operations are supported by a central Results and Resources Management Team that ensures CO-wide robust and integrated strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance.  
The RRM Team supports overall Country Programme design, implementation and quality assurance within the context of the Sri Lanka UNSDF. RRMT ensures CO and programme-wide integrated strategic planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, while providing cross-programme results and resources support services to ensure effective project design, implementation and quality assurance. The RRMT guides, facilitates and supports CO teams in results-based management principles, evaluation and learning, and meeting programme quality standards. The team oversees and facilitates CO-wide exercises, including supporting preparation for audits, adherence to the HACT framework, ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and maintaining the integrity of programme financial services.  RRMT is the custodian of CPD and CO level integrated, planning, monitoring, and results and donor reporting processes. The RRMT is responsible for corporate programming policies and processes including building the capacity of CO staff on Programme and Project Management (PPM) and other relevant policy areas, as outlined in the POPP.
Fostering programmatic and substantive collaboration across different clusters within the country office requires that the team consistently approaches work with energy and a constructive attitude and strong client orientation. Under the guidance of senior management, the team acts as CO focal point for relations with the External Resources Department to facilitate joint CPD design and implementation as well as project design/ approval processes and the resolution of project implementation bottlenecks. The RRMT ensure strong partnerships with the UN system through the various thematic working groups (on Data and Analytics) and sub-thematic working groups on Monitoring and Evaluation as important to pursue common performance metrics for achieving the commonly agreed results of Sri Lanka’s UN Sustainable Development Framework and UNDP Country Programme.
Under the direct supervision and strategic guidance of the Resident Representative—matrixed to the Deputy Resident Representative—the Programme Analyst- Results and Resources Management identifies country priorities and emerging issues, ensures alignment/linkage of projects with country programme and the Strategic Plan, monitors programme implementation, and supports the UNDP CPD and CO strategy and business planning based on analysis of development trends while promoting organizational learning. S/he provides oversight services to senior management with respect to policy and programming funds and resources and provides proactive impactful substantive and technical support during all stages of the strategic planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The incumbent develops and implements innovative methods that strategically capture and share technical knowledge from all teams and partners to improve program effectiveness through a management approach that values creative collaboration over narrow silos of self-verifying expertise and practice.
The Programme Analyst -RRM is responsible for a wide variety of activities related to identifying, managing and disseminating key information to advance technical practice and provide team members and collaborators with the tools they need to reach new audiences, attract new partners and perform better work. S/he models the commitment to creative collaboration and team accountability in support of Sri Lanka’s development priorities.                  

 

In this section list the primary responsibilities of the position (Typically five).  As needed add additional context below the responsibilities.  Tip: Focus on what the job entails not how to do the job.

Ideas & expertise:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, Country Programme Document (CPD), and other documents. Continually test the alignment of UNDPs efforts with Sri Lanka’s development priorities and assess the value of its contribution proposing specific measures for recalibration.
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic and cross-sectoral areas.
• Coordinate CPD and CO level integrated planning, monitoring, and results and donor reporting processes. Support development of, and associated reporting such as ROAR, which are related to, annual Country Office Business Plan and Integrated Work Plan, CO team work plans, and project annual workplans) and targets in alignment with strategic resource allocations (Human Resources and Finance).
• Support CO business processes mapping and lead preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management.
• Analyse and present reports on programme and organizational performance results, performance and gaps;
• Support CO management to track, analyze and propose measures to mitigate risks against enterprise risk management policy and framework;
• Ensure compliance with corporate programming policies and reporting cycles
• Ensure effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.
• Coordinate overall design and formulation of CO programme, translating UNDP’s priorities into interventions. Support Teams with coordination of programme implementation with responsible and implementing agencies.
• Introduce and monitor programme wide performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones.
• Support policy and programme teams with initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review.
• Perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects.
• Coordinate programme financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the CPD and projects, identification of operational challenges, development of solutions.
• Facilitate programmatic audit and project audit preparation and follow-up.
• Develop and support evidence-based programme and project assessment processes, as well as evaluation of programme impact. Monitor and analyze the programme environment, suggesting timely readjustments in portfolios.
• With RRM Team members, define services that go beyond conventional practice where new clients and collaborators see their perspectives and are compelled to join and invest in UNDP.
• Manage portfolio resources approving transactions and work planning.

Partnership engagement:

• Engage that policy dialogue and programme interventions reach across sectors and actors including UN partners, the private sector, government and civil society ensuring the voices of all are heard by, and seen in, the work of UNDP as SDG integrator.
• Monitor and oversee programme teams’ donor reporting for timely, quality submissions
• Work with Policy and Engagement team to ensure effective implementation of CO Partnerships and Communication Strategy and Action Plan
• Cultivate relationships with technical experts locally and internationally demonstrating UNDP Sri Lanka’s expertise and innovation.
• Develop and convene networks of collaborators both conventional and novel who are willing to participate in the dialogue, are attracted to the issues and can advance the work and profile of UNDP.  
• Deliver programme implementation advice to national counterparts
• Act as UNDP’s representative to UNCT monitoring and evaluation practices including with the UNSDCF M&E and data groups

Team Collaboration & top quality programme management services to Government, UNCT/UNSDCF processes and  facilitation of knowledge building and management

• Empower, facilitate, guide and supervise the RRM Team
• Strategically utilize portfolio management tools and practices to keep resources aligned to actual and evolving priorities rather than rigid, preset planning targets.
• Prepare results and lessons learned reports, based on annual monitoring and analysis for dissemination to a range of audiences and through various medias
• Sound contributions to associated knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings for programme and project teams on programme issues.

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

In this section list all core competencies as well as the most relevant technical/functional competencies the role will require along with the appropriate level.  A Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through the following link: https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional

Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

 and hiring managers are encouraged to familiarize themselves for more information

Community (of Practice) Management

Ability to maintain a community on assigned thematic areas

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Global Conversations and Outreach  

Ability to manage global conversations and knowledge campaigns

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Curation   

Ability to turn raw information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to stated need

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Facilitation           

Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share Competency Definition

Level 4: apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Gender

Effective programming for gender equality

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 or bachelor’s degree in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area.

Experience:

• Master’s with 2 years or bachelor’s with 4 years of progressive relevant professional experience as well as a proven professional record as a practitioner in programme areas for development in international context;
• Experience in leading/managing integrated programme management including results and resources planning and M&E, and product development and dissemination.
• Work experience within UN or other multi-lateral organizational settings in Sri Lanka will be an added advantage

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and in the national languages. Knowledge of other UN official language is desirable

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS 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: 1 Year with possibility for extension