Programme Advisor & Manager, Job Ref. SS/UNDP/0509/23-013

Job Description

BACKGROUND

Since the December 2013 crisis, the Republic of South Sudan continued to face a worsening spiral of humanitarian, development, economic and security crises of unprecedented proportions. The country is riveted by a mutually reinforcing conflict dynamic that involves several actors. Several drivers of conflict, some new and others heightened by the conflict, have emerged around poorly managed decentralization, corruption, marginalization, ethnic rivalries and exclusionary politics, and unaddressed local grievances that have fed localized militias in the country.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

UNDP South Sudan seeks to engage a qualified, experienced, and competent Peace building Programme Advisor and Manager (PA&PM) for the Peace and Community Cohesion (PaCC) Programme. The PA & PM, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative – Head of Programme will; provide policy and strategic advice on peacebuilding for the R-TGoNU and UNDP, guide implementation of peacebuilding initiatives in South Sudan and lead capacity building initiatives for national institutions on peacebuilding, substantively support the deepening of results-based management in UNDP programme, integration of gender perspectives in projects; lead partnerships and resource mobilization and identification of governance and peacebuilding programming options in line with national priorities, UNDP Strategic Plan, CPD and evolving context.

Under the direct supervision of the deputy Resident Representative – Programmes, the Programme Advisor and Manager for PaCC will:

• Provide policy and programming advisory support on peace building.
• Effective Programme Management of Peace and Community Cohesion Program.
• Enhance coherence and coordination of peace building strategy and civil society strengthening.
• Ensure deepening of results-based management and undertake resource mobilization for the portfolio.
• Provide advisory and leadership for UNDP’s strategic initiatives on conflict prevention, early response and responding to political and social drivers of conflicts.
• Provide leadership and strategic guidance in the design and implementation of Peace building Fund programmes, where applicable.
• Strengthen UNDP’s peace building support in the context of R-ARCSS to the Ministry of Peace building and the independent commissions such as Revitalized Peace and Reconciliation Commission, Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration and the Commission for Truth, Healing and Reconciliation.

Provide policy and programming advisory on peacebuilding:

• Engage stakeholders’ actors, as appropriate, to promote a common approach towards implementing SDG 16 social cohesion, conflict management and UNSCR 1325 on women peace and security and UNSCR2250 on youth peace and security.
• Undertake continuous analysis on political developments and conflict analysis to inform policy and programs in collaboration with the UN, UNCT and other stakeholders.

Effective Programme Management of Peace and Community Cohesion Program:

• Manage in a result-oriented manner peace and community cohesion, ensuring synergy with other stakeholders, sustaining strategic partnership for resources mobilization and effective people management.
• Manage program resources prudently and ensure sufficient resources are mobilized for the program.
• Ensure quality and timely reports to donors, UNDP and government counterparts.
• Identify areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders in strengthening national legal and policy frameworks to prevent conflict and reduce violence in communities.
• Strengthen national capacities for conflict early warning and response in line with regional and international best practices.
• Engage with other national and international actors, as appropriate, to promote a common approach towards implementing SDG 16 and supporting social cohesion, conflict prevention, peace building, including gendered dimensions of peace building, SCR 1325 and 2250 on youth.
• Provide continuous analysis and reporting on political developments and conflict dynamics and participate in related meetings and fora representing in the UN where necessary. Ensure the gendered dimensions of conflict are adequately reflected through analysis and meaningfully addressed through programmatic efforts.
• Manage project field locations in the seven conflict clusters.

Enhance coherence and coordination of peace building strategy and civil society strengthening:

• Work closely with UNDP’s global Crisis Response Unit (CRU), UN, UNCT and UNDP strategy formulation and programme development,
• Identify ‘entry points’ for conflict prevention and recommend appropriate strategic responses for UNDP, ensuring that gendered dimensions are reflected in both analysis and programming.
• Explore Strategic partnership and collaboration with development partners, other UN agencies and Government for resource mobilization and to ensure delivery of programme results.
• Ensure delivery of high-value capacity development and training to staff and key national partners including CSOs on conflict analysis, conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development.
•  Lead identification and promotion of joint programming opportunities with other UN agencies, and development partners on areas of peace building and conflict prevention.
• Lead in civil society strengthening for sustainable engagement in programming.

Ensure deepening of results-based management and undertake resource mobilization for the portfolio:

• Provide technical guidance in the design and implementation of programme/ projects M&E frameworks and plans, ensuring alignment of project results frameworks and M&E plans to the UNCF and CPD results frameworks.
• Coordinate Country office evaluations and the Evaluation Resources Center (ERC) and follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations; ensuring UNDP is represented in the UNCT M&E working groups and related events/workshops.
• Ensure UNDP quality and standards are maintained in the Project/Programme progress reports, annual progress reports, ROAR, integrated work plan (IWP) update and other accountability reports.
• Ensure the Country Office has a management information system for programme data and tools are developed for systematic data aggregation across the country office.
• Liaise with M&E Officer to enhance project-level indicators and data collection to improve data analysis.
• Prepare information related to progress on project indicators for progress reports.
• Support development of annual workplans, project documents and concept notes, ensuring alignment with the UNCF, Strategic Plan and CPD
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products such as monthly updates, learning papers and articles.

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders, regional and international actors, and development partners on issues related to sustaining peace, and conflict prevention:

• Establish and maintain networks and strategic partnerships for sustaining peace-related strategies and initiatives and the implementation of the national Peacebuilding Strategic Framework.
• Liaise closely with national, regional, and local stakeholders, including civil society, academia, think tanks, women’s and youth networks, and key international actors to identify entry points, foster dialogue, and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships on conflict prevention, trust- and confidence-building, and reconciliation initiatives.
• Maintain close liaison with relevant development partners, the diplomatic corps, regional organizations, and other actors supporting the UNDP’s conflict prevention and peace building efforts. Promote strong partnerships with relevant government and civil society actors in relation to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
• Contribute to the results-based management efforts of the Joint UNDP-PBF Programme, including by setting up mechanisms to assess and measure the impact of peace and development initiatives at the country regional and Headquarters level.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

• The PA & PM will work in close collaboration with the South Sudan programme and operations staff and with Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society in the successful implementation of the Democratic Governance and Stabilization Unit portfolio.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Law or related field.
• A Bachelors ‘degree in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience maybe considered in lieu of Master’s.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of 10 years (with Masters) or 12 years (with Bachelors) of relevant experience at national or international level in project management, governance, peace and security or peace building.
• Demonstrated programming and managerial experience in post-conflict environments, and ability to work in hardship conditions.
• Experience in conflict analysis, policy advisory, advocacy and strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization. Hands-on experience in designing, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects; and establishing partnerships among international organizations and national governments.
• Experience in national and community-level dialogues, conflict prevention and peace building initiatives and programming.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in oral and written English language is requirement.
• Knowledge of other UN languages is added advantage.

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