Back Programme Analyst, Effective Governance and Democracy

This job description is a direct response to UNDP’s improved business model in Mexico. It reflects a new office structure that has recently been put in place to support the vision expressed in an emerging portfolio of Country Office (CO) programmes and to facilitate a more collaborative approach to work across the office and with external partners. This structure is also designed to provide the foundation for a new emphasis on sub-national level work, support higher delivery rates, and to transform UNDP into a learning organization and ‘fit-for-purpose’ to deliver on Agenda 2030 which in turn will support national staff and institutional capacity development.

By supporting Mexico’s State Governments to integrate the 2030 approach into their planning and budgeting processes, and the whole public policy cycle, UNDP advances inclusion and equality in the country. Also, as an engagement strategy, this is expected to allow new areas of joint work to be identified. Also, the CO has been tailoring localized integral solutions to specific sustainable development issues and is crafting methodologies and toolboxes to get those solutions ready to be deployed and escalated in other geographical areas.

The diversification and localized solutions strategy initially increase the number of initiatives to be managed by the CO, many of which handle small budgets to be allocated in a wide set of activities. This combination requires excellent programme management and oversight of operational processes and an organizational structure ready to deliver and scale results.

In this context, the Effective Governance and Democracy portfolio within the programme team provides thought leadership on cross-cutting development issues in Mexico, and globally, to ensure that UNDP’s mandate of convening development partners in support of the national development agenda, informed by a commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, is amplified by internal knowledge, research, and stand-out policy advice.

The Effective Governance and Democracy portfolio leads UNDP work to fight corruption and increase citizen participation, capacity building for electoral bodies and the strengthening of the global links of the country. During 2020 has been the area running the initiatives to support for the Health System response to the COVID-19 pandemic; including the procurement of medical supplies.

Currently, the anticorruption portfolio integrates the following initiatives: A three-year-long project funded by USAID (in its second phase), an initiation plan that will address corruption risks in the medicine supply chain, and similar work with INFONAVIT, a federal entity that provides housing credit in Mexico to formal workers. This portfolio will take the lead in close collaboration with the Gender Analyst to provide strategic support to the Spotlight initiative and a project with the National Electoral Institute to boost women participation in politics.

The Programme Analyst, Effective Governance and Democracy works under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative who heads the Programme team. Notably, the programme analyst plays an important role in analyzing political, social and economic trends, coordinating risk analysis and mitigation strategy and participates in the formulation, management, implementation and evaluation of the UNDP CO programme activities in the assigned  thematic area generating analytics and reviews that measure quality standards and identifying potential trouble areas.

Analysis and advice provided by the Programme Analyst are focused on design, delivery as well as systems, tools and work methodologies that impact quality and effectiveness of the country office.  The Programme Analyst systematically reviews new approaches for viability and acts as a sounding board for both technical rigor and performance standards and ensures the transfer of knowledge between the three main pillars of the portfolio.

S/he works in close collaboration with programme and the operations team as well as with the Management Analyst, Gender Analyst and M&E Analyst.  S/he liaises with 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.  The incumbent will also endeavor to contribute to collaborative policy discussions under the oversight of senior management, with project staff to ascertain emerging needs in the thematic area as well as opportunities to capitalize on new or innovative programme strategies as well as to ensure coherence of programme strategies and activities as well as the observation of the UNDP Gender strategy.

Incumbent is expected to display initiative, a positive approach and a strong client orientation. As such, s/he might be required to undertake other emerging tasks and additional duties as required by direct supervisor or senior management

Summary of Key Functions:

1) Supports strategic development of Governance and Sustainable Effective Governance and Democracy Programme activities from design through implementation, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• In collaboration with the DRR and programme/project teams ensures contribution to the CPD though ongoing Effective Governance and Democracy programmes and projects and in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identifies opportunities for new programme/project development including joint programming with UN agencies;
• In collaboration with the DRR and programme/project teams contributes components of UNDP Effective Governance and Democracy portfolio translating programme priorities into local interventions and ensuring coordination and networking with clients, stakeholders and programme partners;
• Collaborates with colleagues in Panama regional Office and HQ to apply in country programming new global and regional initiatives, polices and knowledge products that further the Effective Governance and Democracy Portfolio.

2) Manages assigned programme components, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provides technical guidance, subject matter input on the Effective Governance and Democracy portfolio;
• Ensures effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of result, as quality assurance, ROAR, IWP etc.;
• Supports with the development of programme / outcome level work plan, monitoring plan, human resources and procurement plans;
• Supports in the preparation of ad hoc reports; ensures timely completion of required quarterly and annual reports;
• Ensures project and programme reviews and evaluations take place;
• Maintains regular contact with project and programme counterparts in order to ensure monitoring of projects' progress, monitoring of unit work plans, programme effectiveness and achievement of results;
• Organizes regular coordination across outcome teams and other projects to ensure synergies and integration; promotes cross component and cross programme collaboration;
• Supports audit exercises of portfolio work if/when required;

3) Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implements CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategy to achieve programme outcomes;
• Researches and analyses information on existing and new partners;
• Develops ideas and concepts for possible areas of cooperation;
• Establishes close working relationships and creates programmatic linkages with relevant government agencies; UN Agencies, IFI’s, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society;
• Suggests programmatic areas of co-operation based on UNDP´s strategic goals, country needs and donor priorities;
• Identifies funding opportunities for ongoing and new projects;
• Identifies and supports development of national partnerships for service provision to projects in areas such as monitoring, training, and others;
• Represents UNDP at external meetings within his/her area of programming.

4) Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identifies sources of information related to policy-driven issues; identifies and synthesizes best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Coordinates and ensures integration in project design the development of policies, institutions and advocacy that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Supports the establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks;
• Implements relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns with key partners;
• Ensures that lessons learned from projects are captured and recorded into the CO knowledge networks;

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

Primary

• Trends and emerging areas analytics

Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design

• Results-Based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

• Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

• Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals t Management

• Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge

Secondary

• Resource Mobilization

Ability to identify and organize programmes  and projects to implement solutions and generate resources (definition is unclear and not well linked to the stated competency)

Education:
 

Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in International Law, Human Rights, Development Studies, Political Science, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Effective Governance or related fields;
 

Experience:

Master’s with 0 years or Bachelor’s with 2 years of progressively responsible experience in Governance and Sustainable Effective Governance and Democracy programme/project management in international development organizations, bilateral development agencies and/or international NGOs. ·
 

Experience of working with UNDP or another UN agency would be an asset. · 

Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

Proven programme management experience with sound knowledge of all aspects of the project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation). ·

Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills

Language Requirements:

 Proficiency in Spanish and English.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS 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