UNDP in Iraq designed and initiated the Iraq Crisis Response and Resilience Programme (ICRRP) in 2014 and the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS) in 2015 – the two primary and largest Project platforms through which to support the Government of Iraq to respond to the crisis that had broken out in the country, and to stabilize the areas that were formerly under the control of ISIL. Both Project platforms were anchored under the Stabilization Pillar of UNDP Iraq’s Country Programme framework.
The ICRRP, which was set up at the end of 2014, promotes the recovery and resilience of communities vulnerable to multi-dimensional shocks associated with large-scale returns and the protracted displacement of Iraqis and Syrian refugees. This is achieved through immediate crisis response and medium-term programming, integrating crisis management capacity building, rehabilitating basic service infrastructure, livelihood recovery and social cohesion. ICRRP activities have been implemented in 11 Governorates in Iraq. While initially set up to provide immediate support to IDPs, Syrian refugees and host communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the increasing number of returnees to newly liberated areas (NLAs) and the protracted displacement of individuals facing security challenges or a lack of livelihoods opportunities, resulted in a geographic and strategic shift, shaped by a need for greater self-reliance amongst target communities. ICRRP activities are implemented through Responsible Parties spanning government, civil society and private sector entities. The ICRRP also manages coordination of the Emergency Livelihoods Cluster, the Livelihoods Sector for Syrian Refugees and co-leads the Inter-sector working group on Syrian refugees.
The position of the Programme Analyst (Programming) will be part of the ICRRP Livelihood team, which is anchored under the Stabilization Pillar of the UNDP Iraq. Under the overall supervision of the ICRRP Livelihood Specialist, the Programme Analyst (Programming) will support in managing livelihoods projects through the Responsible Party Agreements and Contracts for Services. In doing this, the Programme Analyst will work closely with the ICRRP partner NGOs, the UNDP Operations unit, the Programme Management Specialist, the Programme Management and Support Unit (PMSU), and the Service Center.
- Contributes to research and analysis to identify needs for livelihoods interventions in Iraq;
- Keeps abreast of the key players in the livelihoods sector, the scope of their work and the areas of work; e.g. government ministries of Iraq and Kurdistan region, UN agencies, NGOs, chambers of commerce and private sector;
- Keeps abreast of UNDP’s livelihoods and economic development projects and finds avenues for building synergies, while avoiding duplication;
- Maintains good working relationships with relevant government, UN, NGOs, chambers of commerce and private sector stakeholders by participating in relevant forums and strong networking;
- Prepares the TORs and procurement packages for hiring the services of Responsible Parties for the implementation of livelihoods projects;
- Maintains online all necessary documentation with regards to the sub-contracting of Responsible Parties, including the signed Responsible Party Agreement (RPA)s, Contracts for Services, supporting documents etc.
- Prepares monitoring plans, and risk and lessons learnt logs with regards to each Responsible Party Agreement;
- Manages good working relationships with the selected Responsible Parties for the successful implementation of various livelihoods projects;
- Organizes regular meetings with the Responsible Parties (RPs), including the Project Kick off meetings, inception meetings, progress review meetings, and project end meetings, develop the meeting minutes, and share them with the RPs in order to ensure that the UNDP and RPs are on the same page;
- Receive progress reports on implementation of the various projects from the Responsible Parties and maintain them on the ICRRP ShareDrive;
- Conducts field visits, including planned and surprised visits to monitor progress, identify any irregularities and take preventive or corrective action in a timely manner;
- Provides technical advice to the Responsible Parties to ensure compliance to UNDP standards in management of the livelihood projects;
- Maintains the ICRRP livelihoods database to track progress against agreed indicators and targets as per donor agreements, and as per Responsible Party Agreements;
- Contributes to donor reporting by sharing the tracking information with the M&E Officer and the Communications and Reporting Officer, as needed.
- Plans and organizes the work of the livelihoods staff under her/his supervision concerned with the Responsible Party management;
- Assigns routine responsibilities to the team members with regards to management of the Responsible Party Agreements;
- Provides management and technical advice to the staff as needed;
- Organizes regular planning and progress review meetings with the team members, identifies problems and identifies and implements decisions in consultation with the Livelihoods Specialist and the ICRRP Programme Manager.
- Participates in Emergency Livelihoods Cluster meetings to share about UNDP work on livelihoods and learn about the work of other cluster members;
- Stays aware of the 4Ws (who does, what, where and when) of the Emergency Livelihoods Cluster;
- Drawing upon the knowledge of 4Ws, contributes to design of UNDP/ICRRP livelihoods interventions and their management;
- Keeps abreast of cluster guidelines and applies them in management of UNDP livelihoods projects.
- Actively participates in organizing roundtable discussions, briefing sessions, interviews, launch events with regards to ICRRP work on livelihood, employment creation and economic recovery;
- Supports the collection and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to ICRRP’s livelihood work;
- Prepares writeups and opinion pieces to contributes to UNDP’s community of practice on livelihood, job creation, employment generation and economic recovery;
- Participates in ICRRP and UNDP-wide working groups on livelihoods, as requested.
- Performs any other tasks as required with regards to UNDP Iraq’s Livelihood work, and as requested by the Programme Manager.
- Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
- Ability to persuade others to follow.
- Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
- Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
- Ability to get things done.
- Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals and generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situation.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals. Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others and responds flexibly & positively to change through active involvement.
- Ability to plans and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals, organizes and oversees work processes efficiently to achieve quality results.
- Ability to identify client’s needs, understanding of client’s perspective and offer appropriate solutions, establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients and keep them informed of problems or delays in the provision of services. Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider.
- Promotes a learning environment in the office and facilitates development of individual and team competencies and empower staff to address their development needs and promotes an open atmosphere of mutual feedback and support.
- Knowledge to create and implement civil society initiatives and apply across UNDP’s development work.
- Knowledge of employment creation, income generation, emergency employment and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
- Master’s degree in economics, business management, international development, social sciences or related fields.
- Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in design and implementation of livelihood, economic recovery or poverty reduction projects;
- Proven experience in result-based management, reporting and communications;
- Demonstrated experience in implementing cash for work, vocational training, asset recovery, SMEs grants and private sector partnerships for job-placement;
- Proven experience in supervising projects through third parties; i.e. NGOs;
- Proficiency in usage of computers, office software packages and advance project management software as well as in handling of web-based management system;
- Past experience of working with UN is an asset;
- Experience in post-conflict environment is an advantage;
- Experience and knowledge of development issues and challenges in Iraq is an asset.
- Fluency in English language is essential;
- Knowledge of Arabic will be an added asset.
- Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource;
- Proficiency in MS Office, Excel, Word and standard organizational IT based tools.
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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension