Back Programme Officer_IGP

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the Maldives to achieve the 2030 Agenda.  As part of the UNDP team your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find country specific solutions that ensures no one is left behind - and we reach those furthest behind first.     

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors.  We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in the Maldives.    

You must have strong knowledge and demonstrated experience in one or all of the following: governance; social cohesion; institutions and partnerships development; and peace building.  Your role will be to contribute to building a portfolio of activities that help to shape effective development policy and programs in the Maldives. 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Manager/Analyst, the Programme Officer ensures effective delivery of Integrated Governance Programme (IGP) by supporting and coordinating the implementation of the programme activities. The Programme Officer works in close collaboration with both the programme and operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

He/She will have demonstrated knowledge of government institutions both at national and sub-national level and will have demonstrated substantial experience in partnering with the private sector / civil society and other key stakeholders such as youth, women, and marginalized groups.

Background of the project

In view of the existing challenges and needs, UNDP Maldives has developed Phase II of the Governance Programme described herein to consolidate its ongoing support to democratic governance and maintain its relevance in a rapidly evolving political context. Programme support will focus on priority areas identified in the situational analysis to promote further democratic consolidation, strengthen democratic governance in an evolving political context, through the two result areas:

The Programme Officer will contribute to the implementation of the overall Governance Programme. A multi-pronged strategy will be undertaken towards addressing the issues of lack of engagement and representation of women in public and political life, increasing dialogue among multiple stakeholders, building leadership, consensus-building, strengthening capacity of civil society and conflict prevention capacities of key actors such as political party leaderships and members, parliamentarians, civic leaders and elected officials at the island and atoll/province level

The Programme will also focus on strengthening access to justice and protection of rights, especially in a context where legal aid system needs to be developed and awareness of legal and human rights needs to be increased. Interventions will be developed building on the findings from the access to justice assessment, working with local actors who have already been trained under the first phase of the governance programme such as women’s development committees and other grassroots organisations. Focus will be on supporting these local actors to take on the role of public awareness raising and acting as ‘paralegals’ to provide legal advice and assistance to people on outer islands who have no access to lawyers. Gender-based violence and women’s access to justice and rights will be prioritized, given the prevalence of violence and continued impunity as well as the threat to women’s equality.

The Programme Officer would also provide support to applying lessons learnt and building on results of UNDP supported projects, support to knowledge generating and evidence-based decision making and building relevant capacities. In addition, the Programme Officer will work with the Peace and Development Adviser to support his/her mandate and to build capacity for social cohesion and conflict sensitive programming

Implementation of programme results;

• Day-to-day management of project activities;
• Coordinate with relevant Government implementing partners and UNDP to ensure that expected outputs are delivered in a timely manner;
• Ensure project is implemented in compliance with UNDP and Government’s Procurement and Human Resources Guidelines, and financial requirements;
• Ensure that project is executed according to work plans and within established budgets;
• Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures);
• Put in place and facilitate results-based implementation of programme activities; and,
• Performance of other duties as required in support of project implementation

Implementation of reporting, monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies:

• Effective monitoring for ensuring implementation of project activities;
• Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods used to verify progress and the results;
• Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, submit new risks to the Project Technical Team for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risks Log;
• Be responsible for managing issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log;
• Prepare the Project Progress Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures) and submit the report to the Project Management Team;
• Ensure timely submission of quarterly financial and activity progress reports to UNDP as well as adequate financial management of allocated resources;
• Oversee timely preparation of reports for UNDP to donors and other stakeholders;

Prepare presentations to donor partners, government and other stakeholders as required.Liasion, partnerships and Coordination with external and internal partners:

• Create strategic partnerships with government, non-government, and private sector stakeholders and beneficiaries;
• Actively support the  implementation of the resource mobilization strategy and maintain close relationships with donor partners;
• Closely liaise with the teams for programme results 1 and 2 to ensure coherence and synergy among all governance project activites of UNDP Maldives;
• Support the Peace and Development Advisor in key functions and capacity building;
• Build relationships with other UN agencies and build upon common activities to ensure maximum impact of project activities especially when targeting vulnerable groups such as children, youth and women;and,

Advise team members and management on new developments regarding key partners and stakeholders.Knowledge Building and management:

• Provide quality advisory services to the CO and RPs/IPs and  facilitation of knowledge building and management
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories; and,
• Contribute to the design and implementation of appropriate learning strategies for stakeholders.

Core competencies

• Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work
• Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow
• People Management - Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
• Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
• Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional competencies

• Quality Assurance - Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled
• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
• Local Governance - Knowledge of local governance systems and institutions, decentralizations policies and laws, basic service delivery and recovery planning and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Operational Efficiency - Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share.
• Team building - Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals

Core competencies

• Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work
• Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow
• People Management - Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
• Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
• Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional competencies

• Quality Assurance - Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled
• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
• Local Governance - Knowledge of local governance systems and institutions, decentralizations policies and laws, basic service delivery and recovery planning and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Operational Efficiency - Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share.
• Team building - Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals

Education

Master’s Degree or equivalent in political or social science, human rights, or any other related Social Sciences with at least one year of relevant experience. Or in lieu of Master’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree in political or social science, human rights, or any other related social sciences fields with at three years of related experience

Experience

Language

Fluency in English and Dhivehi.

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.

Scam warning

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Recruitment methodology

The Recruitment of this position will include a screening process (written test/technical test); followed by an interview. Details of the process and dates will be shared ONLY with shortlisted candidates.

Remuneration

The take home pay will be approximately MVR 26,000.00.

For more information please email Nazra, mariyam.nazra@undp.org 

Contract Duration: 12 months