UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
As the crisis deepens in Syria and after more than nine years of escalation of hostilities and violence, the United Nations Development Programme, is scaling up its emergency humanitarian and livelihoods interventions to reach out to the most vulnerable and affected populations. The Syria crisis has left an estimated 13.5 million people in need of some form of humanitarian assistance and protection. Moreover, 6.5 million people are displaced within Syria and 4.2 million are registered refugees in neighboring countries and North Africa. Support mechanisms are under increasing pressure due to limited and depleting resources of host families and local communities, over-stretched basic services and community infrastructure and limited housing space.
UNDP in its efforts to provide critical support to the Syrian people has initiated its Resilience Programme supporting affected Syrians through assistance to working under three main portfolios: Social Cohesion and Local Development, Infrastructure and Basic Service Rehabilitation, and Socio-economic Recovery.
Under the direct supervision of the area manager, and technical supervision and guidance of the Social Cohesion Team Leader (SCTL), Coastal Area, Haskaeh & Deir Ezzor’ Social Cohesion Associates will support the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of Social Cohesion and Community Resilience activities in the field Area Offices.
The Social Cohesion Associate will be responsible and accountable for the day-to-day management and delivery of the programme and project outputs, including the use of programme funds, and will also be responsible for the provision of technical advice on social cohesion, community security and legal support programming. The Social Cohesion Associates will work in close collaboration with other programme teams (livelihoods and infrastructure), the operations team, area offices team, programme staff in other UN agencies, UNDP Country Office and government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation in the three locations advertised.
Summary of Key Functions:
- Social Cohesion and Community resilience: Support social cohesion and local development projects’ design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; promote links between the various portfolios’ activities; map social cohesion actors; and contribute to developing their capacities.
- Context Analysis: Support the drafting and regular updating of analysis up to the local level; ensure a context sensitive approach by UNDP and partners.
- Community Based Approach: Support local initiatives, community mapping of threats and resources, project design and implementation by communities.
- Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.
Supports design of the Social Cohesion & local development Projects’ and implementation focusing on achievement of the following results:Any other tasks requested by the Area Manager and/or Social Cohesion Portfolio team.
- Collects, analyses and presents of background information for preparation of Project Documents.
- Researches and designs project ideas and implementation for the expansion of project portfolio; identification of stakeholders and negotiation of project strategies.
- Contributes to monitoring of the situation in local areas, such as through context analysis.
- Identifies and communicates with current/potential community partners.
- Assists with organization of programme activities.
- Monitors programme/project activities in the geographical area of responsibility.
- Oversees implementation of project field interventions programmatically and operationally ensuring achievement of results and following UNDP’s rules and regulations, policies and procedures;
- Develops partnerships with local partners to facilitate implementation in the target areas;
- Coordinates with the programme, projects and operations teams on operational matters including procurement, financial, logistical, and implementation support functions;
- Collect data and conduct research to support the analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the area of assignment and provides input that would feed into strategies, planning processes, reports, and other documents;
- Supports the development and update of a context analysis document of the sectors targeted by UNDP; identifies needs, monitor changes and progress, and supports the drafting of reports and position papers related to operational activities;
- Supports mapping of stakeholders and building partnerships with active partners, UN Agencies, private sector, NGOs/ CBOs and other local partners in area, depending on the specific thematic areas and strategic goals of UNDP and local priorities;
- Supports capacity assessment of partners and facilitates NGO capacity development activities in the field;
- Actively participates in liaising with NGOs, CBOs, local authorities, FBOs, communities’ representatives, and other active stakeholders as well as local municipal and local institutions in coordination with the area manager and as per the agreed upon area-based plan;
- Supports the communication strategy of UNDP, ensure their visibility, and develop success stories, lessons learnt, best practices…etc.
- Follows up on grant agreements signed with local partners and ensures proper delivery of results and financial disbursements according to plans, review progress reports and advises UNDP of any issue or concerns.
- Follows up and monitor the implementation of activities in the field in close coordination with the area manager, portfolio managers and project managers according to the approved work plans and ensures proper reporting on progress in line with the country office and donor reporting requirements.
- Supports technical/thematic officers in the field as required.
- Supports preparing TORs, evaluation of project proposals and documents, including project amendments, annual work plans, budgets…etc.
- Ensures proper monitoring and reporting of project activities in the area of responsibility including providing information for updating IMRP system;
- Organizes the logistics of workshops, training seminars and coordination meetings as required;
- Perform the functions of security focal point as required/assigned;
- Applies UNDP RBM tools (integrated workplan, risk logs, Results Oriented Annual Reports).
Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Organization of training for the projects staff and local communities on the SCCR programme
- Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Social cohesion.
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Support coordination efforts particularly in relation to humanitarian and economic and early recovery axis.
Core:
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:
Team building:
- Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals.
Collaboration and Partnership:
- Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (programmes/projects/operations) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Knowledge of methodologies, assessment tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations.
Social Cohesion:
- Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility.
Gender:
- Issues & Analysis Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a gender perspective.
Jobs and Livelihoods:
- Knowledge of Employment Creation, Income Generation, emergency employment and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Learning and Development:
- Knowledge of enterprise learning and development issues, concepts, and principles.
Education:
- Secondary Education with specialized certification in Economic and Social sciences /sociology or related field would be desirable.
- A first-level university degree in combination with 3 years of qualifying experience may be accepted.
Experience:
- 6 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel…etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
Language Requirements:
- Proficiency in English and Arabic.
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.
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Contract Duration: 1 year with possibility for extension