Job Vacancies United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), March 2011

Job Vacancies United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Position: Portfolio Advisor (EUR-CIS) DPF
Location: United States of America (The), New York
Closing Date: Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Background
The overall goal of the Country Support Management Team (CSMT) is to lead and coordinate all BCPR support activities provided to Country Offices (CO) in line with the Bureau’s overall strategic goals and priorities, managing the effective interaction of BCPR Teams and Regional Bureau counterparts for more integrated country support. The CSMT works closely with the Regional Bureaux and other BCPR Teams to ensure timely, coherent, relevant and high quality support to UNDPs COs and UN Resident Coordinators before, during and after crises. The CSMT aims to provide regular analytical updates to support Early Warning. It also supports and coordinates BCPR’s crisis response capacity and takes the lead in a UNDP-wide approach to CPR capacity strengthening.
Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator (Support Management Team), the Portfolio Advisor for EUR-CIS, will be based in the New York Headquarters and, in a matrixed reporting relationship with the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (RBEC), will be responsible for the following key functional areas:

Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
* Manages a regional portfolio of countries supported by BCPR, ensuring the effective provision of technical advisory and crisis response support
* Engages continuously with Regional Bureau focal and BDP points to ensure alignment with regional priorities, integration of RB inputs into BCPR country support and coherence with related development practices.
* Keeps abreast of developments and provides analysis of crisis-related events and trends in countries within the regional portfolio to inform planning, prioritization and decision-making, in close coordination with the BCPR early warning capacity
* Supports resource mobilization for country-windows of Thematic Trust Funds (TTF)
* In collaboration with Regional Bureaux, liaison with relevant UN partners and donors in relation to operational country-specific issues, and ensures BCPR support to country-specific UN Planning exercises such as Integrated Task Forces

1. Manages a regional portfolio of countries supported by BCPR, focusing on achievement of the following results
* Lead in providing strategic technical support/advice to UNDP country offices in the respective region on policy issues and programming pertaining to crisis prevention and recovery in both pre-and-post conflict situations
* Management of the Regional Team’s programme delivery to ensure that country offices in the region receive effective, integrated and well-coordinated services
* Coordination with the relevant BCPR technical and programme support teams in developing strategic frameworks and programmatic strategies for country-specific engagement, based on thorough review and analysis of the relevant developments on the ground
* Management of the support provided to the UNDP country offices in the development and implementation of crisis prevention and post-crisis recovery initiatives, as well as in their efforts to mainstream crisis prevention elements into national development programmes and programming frameworks
* Substantive contribution to programme policy development including the in-depth review and analysis of issues and trends related to Crisis Prevention and Recovery in the region
* Effective management, monitoring and reporting on BCPR’s programme and administrative resources deployed in country offices in the region
* Lead in ensuring synchronized, consistent, coherent and comprehensive support to country offices in the region, in close coordination with BCPR Technical Teams
* Continuous liaison with country offices and Regional Bureaux on the implementation of CPR programmes

2. Engages continuously with Regional Bureau focal and BDP points to ensure alignment with regional priorities, focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Convening and leading Country Support Teams for priority countries to facilitate joint analysis of context and emerging trends, monitor project implementation, plan BCPR technical and financial support to the relevant CO, and provide country-specific recommendations for Senior Management
* Substantive support and technical advice to the design and implementation of Regional Programmes in close collaboration with Regional Bureaux

3. Keeps abreast of developments and provides analysis of crisis-related events and trends in countries within the regional portfolio, focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Abreast of major political, economic and social events in the region and specific countries in the region and lead in the preparation of country profiles and briefs for BCPR senior managers and relevant units
* Management of the preparation of regional CPR analysis with the Advisory and Programme Support Division (APSD), Policy and Planning Division (PPD) and the Regional Bureau
* Contribution of in-depth regional and country analyses to the bureau’s priority setting and strategic planning mechanisms (AWP, BCPR strategy, MYRF, DFID)
* Lead in ongoing dialogue with Country Support Management Team (CSMT) on emerging trends and needs in priority countries
* Thorough review and in-depth analysis of relevant developments at the country and sub-regional level, especially as they relate to emerging and potential crises; provision of high-quality analysis to the relevant country offices
* Identification of hot spots and tracking of recovery processes in countries included in the portfolio

4. Supports resource mobilization for country-windows of Thematic Trust Funds (TTF), focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Support to country offices in the development and implementation of their resource mobilization strategies
* Collaboration in BCPR’s resource planning for the region, including supporting the preparation of the financial pipeline based on impact and value added
* Ensuring establishment and maintenance of regular contacts and information exchange with major donors, in coordination with the External Relations Team, including collaboration in the preparation and submission of donor reports, project fact sheets and briefing notes

5. In collaboration with Regional Bureaux, liaisons with relevant UN partners and donors in relation to operational country-specific issues, focusing on achievement of the following results:
* Lead in the preparation of briefing notes and background documents, including speeches, for BCPR’s participation in corporate or inter-agency meetings for the region or specific countries in the region (such as the Policy Committee; the Executive Committee for Peace and Security, ECPS; the Executive Committee for Humanitarian Affairs, ECHA, etc.)
* Effective representation of UNDP and the Bureau in corporate or inter-agency policy discussions related to Crisis Prevention and Recovery issues in the region or in specific countries of the region
* Ensuring the establishment and maintenance of regular contacts and information exchange on major developments in the region with relevant focal points in DPA, DPKO, PBSO, OCHA, DSS, the Framework Team and relevant UNDP bureau/departments (BDP, BRSP, DOCO, BOM, OIST, other)
* Lead in the mobilization, forging and facilitation of the implementation of external partnerships behind BCPR initiatives
* Collaboration in the development of inter-agency work on crisis prevention within the UN system, ensuring full coordination with the political, humanitarian, and peacekeeping arms of the UN system in providing the aforesaid support
* Lead in the building of strategic alliances and partnerships, especially with key regional, sub-regional and national think tanks and research organizations, non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental organizations

Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on both the countries in crisis or post-conflict and BCPR. The post enhances BCPR’s ability to support those countries in crisis and post-conflict situation in Europe and CIS region. Within BCPR, it will coordinate and provide an efficient, coherent and integrated programme and operational support to country. The countries will have an increased capacity to respond to crisis and post-conflict situations as well as natural disaster. The key results will have a substantive impact on the performance of the functional unit and the reputation and success of teams.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:
BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Level 3: Building strategic alliances
* Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships
* Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
Level 3: Developing resource mobilization strategies at country level
* Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level
* Shares information with country offices concerning opportunities to tap potential donors

PROMOTING ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Level 3: Participating in the development of policies and innovative approaches and promoting their application throughout the organization

* Actively seeks and promotes innovative methodologies and leads the development of supporting policies/tools to encourage learning and knowledge sharing
* Develops and/or participates in the development of policies and new approaches and participates in training of staff in their application throughout the organization

JOB KNOWLEDGE/ TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:
Level 3: Expert knowledge of own discipline
* Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in crisis prevention and recovery, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures
* Keeps abreast of new developments in area of crisis prevention and recovery and seeks to develop him/herself personally
* Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
* Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments

CLIENT ORIENTATION
Level 3: Meeting long-term client needs
* Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services
* Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations

Core Competencies:
Promoting Ethics and Integrity / Creating Organizational Precedents:
Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status

Organizational Awareness:
Building support and political acumen. Uses understanding of the organizational culture and key players to gain support for initiatives and to determine optimum timing to launch initiatives and address issues

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring:
Building staff competence, Creating an environment of creativity and innovation. Takes appropriate risk in developing new or adapting existing methods and approaches to more effectively perform tasks or to solve problems in new and unique ways

Working in Teams:
Building and promoting effective teams. Encourages and creates mechanisms to share expertise and team approaches between HQ Units, Country Offices and regional centers, as well as with other partners and stakeholders

Communicating Information and Ideas:
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
Creates an environment for open communication and encourages others to be diplomatic and use tact and sensitivity in dealing with colleagues and partners

Self Management & Emotional Intelligence:
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization. Demonstrates a genuine passion for the work, and leverages political forces and tacit knowledge to support the achievement of organizational goals and priorities

Conflict Management/Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements:
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards. Acts as a role model for positive handling of potentially situations of conflict to others inside and outside the organization

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning:
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Creates, supports, and promotes an enabling environment for organizational knowledge sharing and learning including the use of technology

Appropriate and Transparent Decision-making:
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking. Ensures that criteria and reasons for important decisions are communicated and explained to all those affected, especially in the case of tough or sensitive decisions

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent development studies, political science, public administration, international relations, other social sciences or in development-related fields.

Experience:
* At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional development experience in the related areas;
* Field experience in a country in special development circumstances, including post-disaster settings preferable
* Understanding of UN/UNDP programming modalities
* DEX experience is an asset
At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional development experience in the related areas;

Language Requirements:
Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required; working knowledge of other UN official language is 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.




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