Latest Jobs at The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Job ID: 26028
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P2
Agency: UNDP
Posting Type: External
Vacancy Type: FTA International
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension
Practice Area - Job Family: Crisis Prevention and Recovery - STABILIZATION
       
Background
Millions of civilians continue to grapple with extreme adversity across north-east Nigeria and the rest of the Lake Chad region where a recent surge in violence has uprooted tens of thousands more people, exacerbating an already dire crisis situation. An intractable extremist insurgency that has left tens of thousands of people dead, approximately 2.5 million displaced, and more than 10 million people in the region affected and in need. It is unlikely that security responses alone will be sufficient to address the complex factors that gave rise to the insurgency, and which continues to sustain it. There is increasing consensus that military efforts must be coupled with significant investments in complementary stabilization activities to benefit the local population with both local and Lake Chad Basin (LCB) regional levels, if the security-humanitarian-development nexus around Lake Chad is to be effectively addressed.

While robust national and multi-national military operations have re-taken territory previously controlled by Boko Haram, a new approach is required to consolidate these gains and establish the conditions necessary to transition from military to civilian responsibility for security, and from the provision of humanitarian assistance to the resumption of stalled development processes.  To this end, UNDP has launched Lake Chad Basin Regional Stabilization Facility, supporting four Lake Chad Basin countries (i.e., Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad) as well as LCB regional institutions, such as the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

The Facility will act as a rapid-response package– delivering within 90 days of target area selection – that relevant authorities can sequence with military operations as necessary, to ensure immediate follow-up in specific locations and curtail the ability of armed opposition groups to re-infiltrate and exploit any security vacuum or community perceptions of non-responsive Government by extending an organized and effective civilian security umbrella, consolidating military progress with development ‘dividends’ for the local population.

The National Window of the Regional Stabilization Facility for Nigeria aims to address the needs of immediate stabilization in the target areas in North-East Region of Nigeria with high degrees of insecurity, promoting the phased transition of insecure areas toward greater security, and the reduction of current volatility whereby previously secure areas have become more rather than less vulnerable.

It is expected that various donors, such as Germany, Sweden, the UK and the EU, will make their financial contribution to the Regional Stabilization Facility. Given the extremely complicated crisis situations in the North East (NE) region of Nigeria and the LCB region as a whole, establishment and maintenance of effective donor relations is indispensable for successful implementation of the Regional Stabilization Facility and UNDP’s projects in North East Region of Nigeria. To this end, UNDP Nigeria is seeking for a qualified expert to identify, establish, and promote partnership with development partners and promote resource mobilization for the Stabilization Facility and other projects in NE Nigeria.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Resident Representative, the Partnership Specialist will be required to:

• Support and maintain strong relationships with donor and government partners;
• Support Senior Management in ensuring compliance with donor agreements and requirements;
• Facilitate reporting and communications with donors and development partners;
• Support Senior Management’s engagement with donors;
• Support resource mobilization for the Stabilization Facility and NE Projects in general.

Support and maintain strong relationships with donor and government partners:

• Assist Senior Management in UNDP Nigeria and the Programme Team for the Stabilization Facility Nigerian Window in facilitating partner dialogues to market UNDP’s comparative advantages and obtain buy-in from the partners for their support to UNDP’s Stabilization Facility.
• Ensure that all donor partners are well-informed on the progress and issues related to the Stabilization Facility in Nigeria and NE Projects in general, by providing pertinent and timely information, responding to the inquiries, and producing ad-hoc reports/information brief whenever required.
• Collect donor intelligence information and conduct donor actor mapping for identification or establishment of innovative partnership and potential partners (e.g., emerging donors, the national/local government, CSOs, academic institutions, private sector);

Support Senior Management in ensuring compliance with donor agreements and requirements:

• Support Senior Management in UNDP Nigeria and the Programme Team for the Stabilization Facility to meet the requirements of donors, especially those relating to earmarking or special conditions outlined in agreements;
• Facilitate partnership agreement/formalization process with new potential partners to determine concrete areas and modality for the partnerships (e.g., financial, in-kind contribution, information sharing, technical cooperation).
• Facilitate management of donor agreements in collaboration with the respective offices (e.g., PMSU, Finance, NE Sub-Office) to ensure compliance with donor agreements, including the contribution deposit schedule, fund earmarking/restrictions, and due diligence/validation exercise.
• Support the Programme Team in NE Sub-Office for preparation and organization of donor site visits
• Ensure the government and donor visibility, including organization of the donor visibility occasions and issuing the public announcement on the partnerships (e.g., press release) in close collaboration with Communication Team.

Facilitate reporting and communications for donor partners on the Stabilization Facility:

• Oversee donor-specific and corporate reporting, ensuring reporting is in line with donor agreements and corporate standards;
• Harmonize communications and reporting products in collaboration with M&E Officers, PMSU, and Communication Team;
• Ensure linkage and synergy between public outreach with donor/partner outreach and communication needs in collaboration with Communication Team

Support Senior Management’s engagement with donors:

• Support Senior Management meetings with high-level officials or donor meetings;
• Support content development for presentations, briefing notes, or other documentation required for Senior Management donor engagement and meetings;
• Support senior management outreach to regional donors and host national government to communicate developments, the strategy of the Country Program Document, and priorities.

Support for resource mobilization for the Stabilization Facility in Nigeria:

• Assist in drafting proposals to current or potential donors in line with the donor’s interests and requirements.
• Develop materials, strategies, and other communications or products to support resource mobilization with donors;
• Support engagement with regional donors and with the host-country government to contribute resources to UNDP.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Development, International Relations, Business, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience at the national or international level in stabilization, partnerships, including demonstrated experience in partnerships with donors and people management.
• Previous experience of working in donor institutions in either humanitarian or development assistance can be an asset;
• Knowledge about the UN coordination systems, particularly on humanitarian or early recovery, would be an advantage;
• Previous experience with UN or international organization working in crisis-affected country, would be an advantage;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly

Building Strategic Partnerships:

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Resource Mobilization:

• Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors
• Develops a database of project profiles.  Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate

Client Orientation:

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Proficiency of French is an asset.

Other:

• Highly effective written and verbal communications skills;
• Effective organizational skills;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

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Job ID: 26036
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: P4
Agency: UNDP
Posting Type: External
Vacancy Type: FTA International
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension
Practice Area - Job Family: Crisis Prevention and Recovery - STABILIZATION
       
Background
The nexus of security-humanitarian-development issues around Lake Chad has given rise to an intractable extremist insurgency that has left tens of thousands of people dead, approximately 2.5 million displaced, and more than 10 million people in the region affected and in need. While robust national and multi-national military operations have re-taken territory previously controlled by Boko Haram, UNDP recognizes that a new approach is required to consolidate these gains and establish the conditions necessary to transition from military to civilian responsibility for security, and from the provision of humanitarian assistance to the resumption of stalled development processes.  In this context, the UNDP is strengthening its presence in the North East region by establishing a sub-office in Maiduguri. 

The sub-office will serve as the centre of operations for programming which will include a Regional Stabilization Facility, a Disengagement, Disassociation, Reconciliation and Reintegration (DDRR) and Recovery and Resilience programme.  The Sub-Office (SO) for North East (NE) Region of Nigeria has been operational since 2017 and UNDP has established an Operations Service Centre to support management and operations functions related to the effective delivery of programmatic results.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative – Operations (DRR-O) and direct supervision of the Head of Stabilization, the Service Centre Manager acts as an advisor to on all aspects of the Sub-Office (SO) management and operations and will be responsible for and contribute directly to the effective and efficient operations of the UNDP SO in Maiduguri, Nigeria.  He/she will liaise directly with the relevant staff to ensure coordination of delivery as appropriate.

The Service Centre Manager is responsible for strategic financial and human resources management, efficient procurement and logistical services, and ICT and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations. The Service Centre Manager ensures consistent services delivery to the programmes and projects in the Northeast (NE) region of Nigeria. The incumbent will lead in applying policies and methods to maximize the SO performance in operations demonstrating capacity for innovation and creativity and providing advice to Management on readjustment of the operations to take into account changes in the operating environment as and when needed.

The Service Centre manager leads and guides the SO Service Centre Team and fosters collaboration within the team and with other UN Agencies operating in the NE, consistent with rules and a client-oriented approach. The Service Centre manager works in close collaboration with programme and project teams in the SO, operations staff in the CO in Abuja, other UN Agencies in the NE, and State Government officials to successfully deliver operations services.
   
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensuring strategic direction of operations
• Financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team
• Human Resources Management and supervision of the HR team
• Efficient procurement and logistical services and supervision of the Procurement team
• Supervision of ICT team
• Common services organization and management, establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies

Ensures the strategic direction of operations focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Compliance of operations with UN/UNDP rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Provision of advice on strategies, policies and plans affecting SO operations, delivery of practice advisory, knowledge and learning services.
• Collaboration with CO Management to establish collaborative arrangements with potential partners, a Client Relationship Management System for resource mobilization purposes and appropriate operational partnership arrangements.
• SO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Logistical and ICT services, Results Management.
• Constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, quick readjustment of the operations, advice on legal considerations and risk assessment.
• Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the SO, organization of the operations staff trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper planning, expenditures tracking and audit of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, performing the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for vouchers.  Approval of pending disbursements as the “third authority” (cheques, bank transfers, EFT). Approval of bank reconciliations.
• Management of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the SO to projects and other UN Agencies. Accurate planning, forecasting and reporting of extra-budgetary income.
• Proper management of the contribution management business process and accounting for contributions to ensure that the money due to UNDP is properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation.
• Organization and oversight of SO cash management processes, including liquidity management, risk assessment, bank relationship management; timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site.
• Member of the bank signatory panel.
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at the CO and Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained and ensure that all financial transactions are identified, recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.

Ensures strategic human resources management and supervision of the HR team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• SO compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies.
• Optimal staffing of the sub-office and projects.
• Oversight of recruitment processes and performance management systems ensuring link of job design with recruitment, performance management and career development.

Ensures efficient procurement and logistical services management and supervision of the Procurement team, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• SO compliance with corporate rules and regulations in the field and management of the SO procurement strategies including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement promotion and introduction, performance measurement.
• Management of the SO contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, managing the contract and contractor, legal implications. Oversight of procurement processes and logistical services in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, acting as Manager Level 2 in Atlas for Purchase orders approvals.
• Proper management of UNDP assets, facilities and logistical services, including full compliance with IPSAS in the accounting for the procurement, utilization and disposal of the SO’s assets.

Ensures effective and adequate supervision of ICT team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Designs and maintains appropriate Business Continuity management mechanisms and plans
• Maintains a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequately plans for disasters and recoveries
• Use of Atlas functionality for improved business results and improved client services.
• Identification of opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the issues of efficiency and full accountability.
• Promotion of different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge sharing, information provision and learning including e-registry, web-based office management system, etc.

Ensures proper common services organization and management, establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Elaboration of the strategic approach to implementation of common services in line with the UN reform, the latest developments in common services and the best practices.

Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of CO operations as it relates to the use of corporate resources in the following areas:

• Financial services
• Human Resources
• Procurement and logistical services
• ICT
• Common Services and the implementation of the UN agenda on common services and joint procurement.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.

Experience:

• 7 years of relevant experience at the national and international level in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP systems, preferably PeopleSoft.
• Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is highly desirable.
• Experience in crisis country will be an asset not a requirement.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

Building Partnerships:

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Develops and/or participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologie

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration)
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Promoting Organizational Change and Development:

• Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation

Design and Implementation of Management Systems:

• Carries out research into existing systems to identify best practice and make recommendations to management on applicability to UNDP
• Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation

Client Orientation:

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management:

• Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability and results-based management

Core Competencies:

• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, Procurement, HR, Accounting and Finance will be an asset

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement.