Programme Specialist

Job Title: Programme Specialist

Organization: UNDP

Job Identification: 11705

Location: New York, United States

Apply Before: 07/17/2023, 06:59 AM

Job Schedule: Full time

Grade: P3

Vacancy Type: Fixed Term

Practice Area: Management

Bureau: Bureau for Management Services

Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 5 year(s) experience

Required Languages: English

Desired Languages: Another official UN language

Mobility required/no mobility: mobility required

Job Description

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.

The Secretary-General’s PBF is the UN's financial instrument of first resort to sustain peace in countries or situations at risk or affected by violent conflict. The Fund invests with UN entities, governments, regional organizations, multilateral banks, national multi-donor trust funds or civil society organizations. The Fund works across pillars and supports integrated UN responses to fill critical gaps; respond quickly and with flexibility to peacebuilding opportunities; and catalyze processes and resources in a risk-tolerant fashion. The PBF approves approximately $200 million a year for new projects in over 40 countries. In addition to financing peacebuilding initiatives, the PBF guides and supports the identification of strategic peacebuilding priorities and outcomes at country level and offers technical support to design relevant and innovative peacebuilding initiatives. 

The PBF is a UN system-wide fund managed by the Financing for Peacebuilding Branch of the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) which is situated in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) of the United Nations and for which UNDP’s Multi-Partners Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) is the Fund’s Administrative Agent.

The Programme Specialist supports Senior Strategy & Partnerships Advisor with the substantive development and oversight of Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) projects in 5 - 7 countries eligible for PBF funding. Working closely with Portfolio Lead Programme Officer, the Programme Specialist is part of a Programming Team and leads on quality assurance, reporting, and problem-solving of PBF projects.

Duties and Responsibilities
Support peacebuilding prioritization and program development processes in PBF countries

• Supports with the identification of strategic peacebuilding priorities for PBF support in a portfolio of recipient countries, on the basis of conflict analysis and prioritization exercises, in consultation with UN, donor, Government and civil society partners, including through in-country missions.
• Acts as lead focal point for select countries receiving PBF financing, under the supervision of the Portfolio Lead Programme Officer. 
• Supports the preparation of countries’ requests to the UN Secretary-General for eligibility to the PBF.
• Engages with UN entities, including UN Secretariat regional divisions, across all pillars to inform and ensure integrated in-country peacebuilding support.
• Supports PBF project design processes, including through technical advice on project coherence, logic, peacebuilding focus, gender and conflict sensitivity, value for money and results management, in line with PBF project quality criteria and the PBF strategy;
• Prepares and presents projects for consideration of the PBF Project Appraisal Committee, and for final approval by the Assistant-Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support

Support PBF programme implementation and results-based reporting

• Monitors the implementation status of projects within the assigned portfolio of countries and ensures timely project reporting and other administration measures throughout the project cycle.
• Liaises with in-country programme focal points to anticipate implementation blockages and consider corrective or risk-mitigating actions.
• Manages technical consultants from PBF’s Programme Support Team roster as requested to support programme design, monitoring and evaluation in recipient countries.
• Reviews bi-annual project reports to oversee and score project implementation, extract results and lessons learned, and follows up on any implementation challenges;
• Accompanies project monitoring and evaluation exercises, liaising with PBF’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team for quality assurance, and paying attention to priority issues from the PBF strategy including, among others, women peace and security, youth peace and security, cross-border/regional conflict dynamics, and UN mission settings.
• Liaises with the Fund’s administrative agent, the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO), to ensure aid transparency through up-to-date information on the MPTFO Gateway;
• Extracts and analyses peacebuilding project and country level results for use in PBF thematic, regional and annual reporting.
• Prepares briefs on countries in their portfolio for PBSO management as needed

 Facilitate coordination, representation and communication of PBF priorities and activities

• Coordinates with other PBSO branches to ensure synergies between PBF engagement, activities of the Peacebuilding Commission, and other UN partnerships and strategies as required.
• Represents PBSO in inter-agency coordination mechanisms such as ITFs and IATFs and prepares briefings for PBSO senior management’s engagement in high-level coordination mechanisms.
• Raises awareness amongst the donor community and UN agencies about PBF activities and the Fund’s added value in the countries in his/her portfolio.
• Prepares communication materials and events working with PBF in-country focal points, recipient agencies, and PBF’s Communications Team

Provide knowledge management, guidance and technical advisory services

• Analyses trends and data in her/his portfolio of countries on project performance. 
• Provides inputs into advocacy and background material based on PBF projects 
• Identifies and articulates lessons learned on peacebuilding interventions in her/his portfolio and shares those with the team, in-country focal points and partners to promote cross-learning;
• Contributes to the formulation of PBF guidelines, procedures and thematic guidance notes to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of PBF operations;
• Provides technical advice and capacity building to PBF Secretariats and Resident Coordinators’ Offices in countries in her/his portfolio with a view to strengthening PBF project design, implementation and M&E;
• Provides capacity building support to recipients of PBF funds, as required;
• Supports delivery of PBF trainings organized periodically for the PBF Community of Practice and recipient agencies.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization 

Competencies
Core competencies -  UNDP Core Competencies can be found here

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination:   LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• System Thinking:  Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content or responsive to a stated need
• Legal Analysis and Report Writing:  Ability to apply legal analysis to a diverse range of complex issues, and express themselves clearly ability to communicate well, to all levels of staff and contractors/consultants, governments et.al.
• Advocacy strategy and Implementation:   Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies 
  which lead to impactful change
• Relationship management:  Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 
• Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
• Portfolio Management:  Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

 Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social policy, public policy, politics, peace and conflict studies, economics, development studies or a related area.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of increasingly responsible experience in international development and with international organizations, including experience with UNSDG agencies gender-sensitive programming experience in conflict-affected settings.
• Specialized expertise in at least two specific peacebuilding areas, e.g. conflict analysis, DDR, violence reduction, reconciliation, social cohesion, rule of law, women, peace and security;
• Prior experience working with UN agencies, funds and programmes highly desirable.
• Familiarity with relevant UN assessment, planning and policy frameworks.
• Ability to travel regularly to tropical and conflict-affected contexts.

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Fluency in another official UN language desirable. 

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. 

Disclaimer 

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders) 

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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