Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in more than 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Development challenges in the Pacific Islands Countries are multi-faceted and complex. To respond to these challenges, the UNDP Samoa Multi-Country Office (MCO) concentrates its efforts on building the capacity of the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tokelau to promote inclusive, blue-green, and pro-poor growth, effective governance, and sustainable and resilient development that leverages innovation and digital transformation and seeks to catalyze financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We help our partners in identifying relevant solutions to their most significant development challenges and offer policy and implementation services to address these challenges.
Guided by the UNDP Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories 2023-27, the MCO’s policy, advisory, programmatic, and implementation services focuses on the following areas:
Peace: inclusive governance, justice, and peace
Prosperity: inclusive, blue-green, and sustainable growth
Planet: sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity conservation, strengthened climate and disaster resilience and management.
UNDP’s programme is anchored in the principle of leaving no one behind, with specific focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment including the fight to end violence against women and girls, and empowerment and engagement of youth and Persons with Disabilities. The MCO serves the four countries from its office located in Apia, where it hosts approximately 40 personnel.
In line with the two MCOs’ MCPD commitment “to adopt a portfolio approach to ensure that interventions create value for money through an effective policy-practice nexus, fieldwork-based feedback loops, and effective collaboration among outcome areas”, the Samoa MCO is designing two portfolios that will integrate existing and relevant pipeline projects both MCO-specific projects as well as Pacific regional (governance and / or environment) projects covering Samoa MCO countries managed out of the Fiji MCO.
Effective management, coordination, and implementation of the assigned portfolio:
Manage and Coordinate implementation of the assigned portfolio to ensure complementarity and coherency, providing strategic advisory support to the GPRU and ECCU on key governance and environment matters as applicable Supervise and coordinate projects under the portfolio, ensuring results are in accordance with Portfolio framework, Project Documents, and in full compliance with UNDP policies and procedures as stipulated in POPP. Oversee the day-to-day management of both organizational and substantive operations of the portfolio planning, budgeting, overall implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and timely reporting in full compliance with UNDP financial regulations and rules, policies, and standard operating procedures, internal controls, and Donor requirements. Oversee ALL relevant procurements and contract management of the portfolio, including the development of terms of references, ensuring timely execution of procurement processes, supervision of all portfolio contracts for goods & services, and monitoring of contracts in accordance with policies and procedures. Monitor portfolio expenditures, commitments, and balance of funds within the Project(s) budget(s) and make changes to the budget as necessary. Hold overall responsibility for achieving budget utilization targets set in the agreed Portfolio Annual Work Plans, and Country Office Annual Business Plans. Effective Risk Management for ALL Projects under the Portfolio, with close tracking and timely execution of remedial Risk Treatments in accordance with processes and procedures Effective Coordination of ALL Stakeholders and Partners both internal and external of the portfolio in ALL 4 Countries, development partners, and donor community.Strategic partnership and systemic knowledge management
Develop partnerships with government institutions, private sector, civil society, UN Agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other key stakeholders in relevant thematic areas based on portfolio trajectory and strategic goals of UNDP, countries’ needs and donors’ priorities. Ensure growth of the portfolio, by conceptualizing ideas into pipeline concepts in response to key priority needs of the countries, and develop joint partnership, resource mobilization and sustainability strategies. Conduct systematic research and analysis on donor intelligence, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects for the portfolio, and/or continuation and scalability of the portfolio, actively contributing to the overall office effort in resource mobilization. Proactively apply best practices and lessons learnt and leverage global knowledge networks in the field to help achieve Portfolio Outputs and Targets. Ensure knowledge sharing through communication products and publication and networking with national and international stakeholders, and oversight for systematic filing of project documentation. Undertake horizon scanning and explore opportunities for engaging new partners for the Portfolio and coordinate activities with multiple stakeholders/partners; and,Effective Monitoring and Evaluation of results
Actively monitor and timely report on the Progress both at the Portfolio and Project level against the Country Office M&E Framework, Project M&E Frameworks, and contribute to the MCPD Results. Coordinate ALL Portfolio inputs on results achieved for the MCO Results Oriented Annual Reports (ROAR), and timely submission of Project Results Report on Quarterly, Bi-Annual, and Annually to Project Boards, Stakeholders, and Donor Partners Ensure the timely execution of ALL Project evaluations under the Portfolio, with the subsequent findings and tracking of key management actions as responses. Ensure that evaluation findings and recommendations are incorporated into Project strategies and plans, and so as the Portfolio overall framework and approach.Advocacy and Coordination:
Lead and coordinate all relevant portfolio communications both internal and external with key Stakeholders, development partners, and donor agencies. Design and provide oversight for the implementation of the visibility, communication, and advocacy strategy of the Portfolio. Ensure that the content generated strategically communicates programmatic work in line with UNDP’s values and ensuring that updates and images used in public campaigns such as media, website articles and social media are in line with policy. Ensure regular communication and coordination with donors and partners and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insights; and, Provide general oversight, ensure quality assurance and effective gender, disability, and environment mainstreaming in all knowledge, awareness and visibility plans and materials.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2021-12/PeopleManagementCompetencies.pdf
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management
Business Direction & Strategy
System Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to considering how altering one element can impact on other parts of the systemBusiness Development
Human Centered-Design. Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving processPartnership management
Resource mobilization. Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements2030 Agenda - Properity
Inclusive Growth. Development Planning2030 Agenda - People
Climate. Climate Change Adaptation: Cross-sectoral climate resilient livelihoodsData
Data Analysis. Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making Required Skills and ExperienceRequired languages:
Fluency in English and Samoan are required. Knowledge of either Cook Islands Maori, Niuean, and Tokelau Languages is desirable.This vacancy is archived.