- Analyzes trends and good practices in local governance and engages in the design of UNDP’s technical assistance to counterparts in the assigned Region/State and the target townships. Applies solution-oriented approach while engaging with key stakeholders.
- Leads collection of data and information on the real-time socio-economic and political situation of the target townships in the assigned Region/State, synthesizes and analyses the situation with respect to supporting programme/project formulation and implementation; and reports timely/regularly to project management.
- Leads project teams in target townships, ensures high-quality provision of technical services, provides continuous coaching for successful implementation of the agreed methodologies and standards.
- Designs and provides trainings, workshops and hands-on coaching to key counterparts including the Region/State government, township administrations, TPICs, W/VTAs, Hluttaws, civil society, women representatives, etc., as requested; Applies demand-based approach and ensures use of interactive methods.
- Facilitates government counterparts in identifying capacity needs and supports them in preparing capacity development plans.
- Provides inputs to project reports, audit and evaluation.
- Coordinates with government counterparts to implement technical activities including through drafting and documenting correspondences/communication, coordinating timelines, and designing concept notes, terms of references, etc.
- Facilitates government consultation and adoption of processes and procedures relating to the Township Grant Manual, Procurement Manual, and other relevant documents.
- Ensures high-quality and timely implementation of the project activities in the assigned Region/State as per the project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) timelines as well as M&E, procurement and recruitment plans.
- Provides timely updates on project implementation and real-time issues and problems to project management, together with analysis and suggestions for solutions.
- Compiles data to feed M&E plan and provides substantive inputs to corporate and donor progress reports;
- Provides regular analysis on project performance including through regular review and update of activity issues/risks, budget resources and expenditures, procurement, and assets. Identifies operational issues and proposes innovative solutions.
- Leads timely drafting of project reports by applying results-oriented reporting style and in line with UNDP requirements and standards as well as donor specific requirements.
- Facilitates, as required, UNDP’s capacity assessments for Implementing Partners (IPs), coordinates programme verification and spot check missions in the assigned Region/State.
- Acts as the Focal Point for Implementing Partners(IPs)/Responsible Parties(RPs) in the assigned Region/State. Provides effective support to IPs/RPs, including through coordination of timely disbursement of payments to and reporting by the IPs/RPs as per the signed Letters of Agreement, Responsible Party Agreements, etc. Facilitates timely receipt of IPs/RPs’ progress updates/reports. Monitors and analyzes any implementation issues IPs/RPs may be faced with and discusses with IPs/RPs to identify solutions.
- Coordinates project team’s support to audits. Ensures audit recommendations are implemented in the assigned Region/State. Leads collection of inputs to audit management responses.
- Manages an implementation calendar in the assigned Region/State to monitor project events, contractors’ delivery timelines, payment schedules, and logistical timelines.
- Supervises project teams in target townships and manages project personnel and consultants, as assigned. Supports creating a motivating and professional work environment within the project team, including with RPs. Establishes performance objectives and ensures timely and appropriate feedback. Provides support to ensure optimum performance and professional development.
- Supervises management of project assets, attendance records and filing system.
- Complies with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms. In all project activities, ensures appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations.
- Facilitates and maintains strategic dialogue with the counterparts, including Region/State government, township administration, W/VTAs, Hluttaws, civil society, women representatives, etc.; Liaises with Region/State government at senior level ownership of the development results.
- Meets regularly Region/State level government departments, as well as township administrations as needed, to discuss project implementation status to ensure that intended results and objectives are duly met.
- Provides inputs to communications plan of the TDLG project and supports its implementation in close collaboration with the Country Office Communications Team; Coordinates donor and external stakeholder missions to project sites.
- Represents the project locally at meetings and workshops, as required; Acts as the technical liaison with counterparts and stakeholders including development partners, academia/think tanks, civil society, I/NGOs, Hluttaws, etc., and provides technical inputs, as required.
- Organizes key events such as consultation meetings, trainings, committee meetings, etc. as needed for the delivery of UNDP’s technical assistance. Proactively explores and employs synergies for complementary efforts and issue based collaborative partnerships.
- In accordance with UNDP quality assurance and monitoring requirements and in close coordination with the Project team, provides inputs to development of project monitoring plan and facilitates monitoring of the project activities, including through field trips for data collection, compilation and analysis for informed project planning and decision making.
- Provides technical assistance to Region/State government and township administrations to document lessons learned and key positive changes in the process of developing and implementing Region/State as well as township annual plans/budgets, and in township public financial management; Contributes inputs to substantive briefs and dialogues for policy change.
- Ensures timely management of the filing system of Region/State plans/budgets, township annual plan and budget related data and information in support of project implementation in general.
- Provides technical support to the Region/State government, township administrations, and relevant counterparts on monitoring performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, and preparation of reports in accordance with the Township Grant Manual.
- Keeps abreast of good practices in other countries and identifies learning points for Myanmar.
- Identifies opportunities for government counterparts to share their experience with other countries and facilitates South-South cooperation.
- Creates effective advocacy strategies
- Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
- Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration
- Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
- Participates in the formulation of project proposals
- Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda
- Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
- Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings
- Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
- Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
- Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
- Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor
- Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach
- Identifies and compiles lessons learned
- Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
- Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms
- Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
- Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
- Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
- Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
- Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level
- Anticipates client needs
- Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
- Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
- Solicits feedback on service provision and quality
- Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
- Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
- Self-development, initiative-taking
- Acting as a team player and facilitating 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
- Master’s Degree in Economics, Management, International Relations, Development, Public Administration/Policy and/or related fields.
- If Bachelor Degree in Economics, Management, International Relations, Development, Public Administration/Policy and/or related fields, 7 years relevant working experience is required.
- At least 5 years of experience in management, implementation and monitoring of development programmes/projects; Solid knowledge of project management principles and best practices.
- Proven experience in local governance and institutional capacity development; Experience in designing and facilitating trainings and workshops at the sub-national level.
- Experience in coordinating with wide range of stakeholders at the high-level including government, development partners, academia/think tank, civil society, I/NGO, etc.
- Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
- Project management experience, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency is an asset.
- Sound knowledge of the local context, specifically on participatory planning and budgeting process at the sub-national level is a distinct asset.
- Myanmar national only with strong verbal and written command of English and Myanmar language.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Proficient in office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
Contract Duration: Initial 8 months contract with possibility of extension