Back Programme Associate - Governance - NPSA7 (Open to Eswatini nationals only)

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Eswatini is a landlocked, low Middle-Income Country with has a population of approximately 1.1 million of whom 51% are women. The median age of emaSwati is 20 years old with 47,37 per cent of the youth being unemployed. Approximately 59 per cent of the population live below the national poverty line and 20.1 per cent below the extreme poverty line. The country is prone to shocks from climate-action including drought conditions that exacerbate the country’s risk to increased food insecurity. Approximately, 27 per cent of the population continue to face chronic food insecurity.  The country faces high unemployment, especially of the youth and government interventions to curb the impact of COVID-19 on economy, social welfare, health, and education are considered ineffective. GBV, sexual abuse and discriminatory sexual behaviour and practices remain a major concern in a country that has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world with approximately 27.3 per cent of the population affected.

The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated preexisting economic challenges in the country. Additionally, the Kingdom of Eswatini was recently faced with unprecedented violence and civil unrest across the country. During the month of June, there were calls for systematic political reforms through various forums including mass movements to deliver petitions to community leaders. This was followed by violent protests and extensive damage of private and public property and infrastructure, as well as widespread looting.  The situation calmed down following the deployment of armed forces. Most areas of the country remain calm, but there is a tense political atmosphere. It is characterized by irregular acts of arson targeting public infrastructure, especially schools.

The added civil unrest in the country presents grave challenges to all parties involved on how best to chart a way forward and how to manage the change necessary to get there. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) a key trusted partner to the Kingdom of Eswatini over the years is supporting the country to assess the new circumstances to leverage more appropriate support for the Government and the people of Eswatini.

Building on the provisions of the new UNDP CPD and the strong partnerships UNDP enjoys with key governance institutions, UNDP is strategically positioned to provide technical and advisory support to facilitate peaceful resolutions to the current crisis. Thus, UNDP will leverage and harness its comparative advantage to respond to identified country needs, in accordance with national plans, needs and priorities and respecting national ownership.

The UNDP has mobilized technical and financial resources to support the country during and in transitioning from these shocks. There is a Governance Advisor who will provide technical guidance in the transition process and programmatic direction for three months. The mobilized resources will be used to undertake short term activities aimed at ensuring protection of human rights which include documenting and engaging government on findings on the ground and opening space for dialogue. These funds will also provide seed funding for a development investment for medium and long-term purposes. All the activities will build on each other and on the CO’s governance portfolio prior and current engagements to ensure sustainability. Therefore, the Program Associate will support these interventions and related governance work technically and administratively.

Under direct supervision of the Governance Specialist, and the overall guidance of the DRR (P), the Programme Associate provides programme support services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project staff in the CO and UNDP HQ as required to exchange information and support programme delivery.

Scope of Work

Summary of Key Functions:

• Support to formulation of programme strategies as informed by the CCA, UNSDCF, CPD and other relevant documents.
• Support to management of the CO governance programme in particular the Rule of Law , Human Rights programs.
• Provide administrative support to the Programme Specialist-Governance
• Support to resource mobilization activities.
• Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing activities.

1. Supports formulation of programme strategies and the Country Programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Collection, analysis and presentation of information for identification of areas for support and programme formulation/ implementation, particularly in addressing governance issues (such as human rights, legal and judiciary reform, decentralization, parliament strengthening, anti-corruption, and cross cutting issues such as transparency, accountability and participation, youth, gender and disability,) facing the country in partnership with government and relevant stakeholders.  
• Conduct an analysis of the groundwork necessary for the effective execution of the governance project post the unrest.
• Administrative and technical support towards the implementation of the governance Rule of Law and Human rights Programs.

2. Provides effective support to management of the governance program and maintenance of strategic partnerships focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Creation of projects in Atlas, preparation of budget revisions, revision of project award and project status, determination of unutilized funds, operational and financial closure of a project.
• Presentation of information for audit of NEX projects, HACT and other reporting obligations.
• Supports presentation of background information for formulation of country programme, as well as draft project documents, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements for the GOV programme. 
• Supports Programme Specialist in establishing tracking mechanisms of RBM tools and maintenance of RBM database.

3. Provides administrative support to the Programme Specialist-Governance focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Facilitate development of partnership agreements, convening of partner meetings, and documentation of the same.
• Provides guidance to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects, based on corporate policies and procedures.
• Systematic follow up of partnership to ensure effective implementation and timely reporting
• Preparation of non-PO vouchers for development projects.
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system including timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers.
• Creation of requisitions in Atlas for development projects, register of goods receipt in Atlas.
• Making budget check for requisitions, POs and vouchers.

4. Supports resource mobilization and strategic partnerships focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support resource mobilization efforts for the governance program through preparation of supporting documentation as necessary. 
• Analysis of information on donors and development partners, preparation of partner profile, in support of resource mobilization landscaping and formulation of strategies
• Systematic follow up on available resources and reporting modalities.
• Review of contributions agreement, managing contributions in Atlas.
• Support in the development of strategic partnerships with UN agencies, IFIs, Government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in governance thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donor priorities.

5. Supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Facilitate partner trainings on UNDP requirements for effective program management and other related trainings.
• Participate in the trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall performance of the governance unit and success in implementation of programme strategies. Accurate data entry and financial information have an impact on the quality and implementation of the UNDP programme. A client-oriented and efficient approach impact on the image of UNDP in the country.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Associate – Governance reports directly to the Programme Specialist –Governance with overall Supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (P).  The position is office based at UNDP Eswatini and it is fulltime.

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Strong project management skills.
• Positive, constructive attitude and consistently approaches work with energy.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback.
• Demonstrates/safeguards ethics and integrity  
• Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitates team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Education

• Secondary Education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance. University Degree in Law or Social Sciences would be desirable, but it is not a requirement.

Experience

• Minimum seven (7) years of experience (with Secondary education and specialized certification), or minimum four (4) years (with Bachelor’s degree) with progressively responsible experience in design, monitoring & evaluation of programmes, project planning in the governance and human rights or related fields.

Language

• English and SiSwati are required.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NPSA 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.

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Contract Duration: One Year