Job and Career Info

Job Vacancies United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Position: International Consultant: Coordinating a Flagship Democratic Governance Publication
Location: United States of America (The)
Closing Date: Thursday, 30 June 2011

Background
UNDP’s Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is responsible for articulating UNDP’s development policy, using evidence gathered through country applications, regional experiences and global interactions. BDP has a key role to play in helping country offices to accelerate human development by supporting the country offices in the design and implementation of programmes and projects that effectively contribute to the national-level policies and results.
UNDP’s work in democratic governance is reinforced by its network of over 166 offices and its global partnerships with democratic governance institutions. Democratic Governance Group (DGG), which is part of BDP, tracks governance policy, promotes knowledge networks, and contributes to shaping the global dialogue on governance. The work of DGG focuses on fostering inclusive participation, strengthening responsive governing institutions, and promoting democratic principles. Driven by demand, and working through the Regional Bureaux and the Regional Service Centres (RSC), DGG provides the tools, analysis and capacities that country offices need to make a real difference in UNDP’s practice areas.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall strategic supervision of the Practice Director of the Democratic Governance Group, and the operational direction of the Practice Manager, the Consultant will mainly have managerial responsibilities. Although the Consultant is expected to provide substantive inputs, s/he will not be the primary author of the publication. Instead, s/he will be responsible for the overall management, coordination and leadership on this initiative, will ensure that the various contributors produce high quality and timely inputs, and is responsible for ensuring a high quality final output, within the agreed time frame.

Specific responsibilities include, but will not be limited to:
* Initial consultation with DGG, Oslo Governance Center and other HQ and regional advisors and stakeholders to ensure their structured inputs into the overall conceptualization and framing of the publication.
* Supporting the DGG Director, Practice Manager and Senior Advisors to identify and organize recruitment process for the Lead Author/Authoring Institution and other contributors, ensuring that strong contributions are received from the South.
* Developing a realistic workplan, timeline and budget for the completion of the project, and actively monitoring this throughout the project.
* Supporting the Lead Author in organizing meetings, collecting inputs from various sources, providing comments on specific issues, writing briefs and quarterly progress reports and developing TORs for other contributors.
* Ensuring an appropriate internal and external peer review and revision process of individual contributions and the overall publication.
* Ensuring final editing, design, lay-out and printing of the publication.
* With appropriate support, develop a dissemination and communications strategy around the publication, including a launch event.

Competencies
* Strong understanding of development programming and the current development agenda;.
* Excellent management skills.
* Ability to write and communicate in a clear and concise manner.
* Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks.
* Experience of working in a multi-cultural team.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
* Advanced degree in Development Studies, Law, Economics, International Affairs, Political Science, or other relevant field.
* Knowledge of UNDP’s Democratic Governance work an advantage.

Experience:
* Minimum of 10 years international experience in the field of democratic governance.
* Experience in research management and the production of publications.
* Proven research skills in the area of democratic governance.

Language:
* Proven publication record in English.
* Fluency in English required. knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

United Nations Development Programme
304 East 45th Street
New York
Telephone: (212) 909-7940

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