Programme Associate United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

BACKGROUND

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As the recently elected New Dawn Government together with its Cooperating Partners including UNDP Zambia move into 2022, and advance further into the Decade of Action with only 8 years left to achieve the SDGs, the world and individual countries are still grappling with COVID-19 response and socio-economic recovery. In this context, as it develops its new Country Programme Document (CPD), UNDP Zambia revisits its approach to programming and delivery to ensure constant relevance and effectiveness in supporting the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) to address key issues and most important priorities, while concurrently exploring innovative and creative ways to accelerate the achievement of the objectives set out in intertwined Agendas 2030, 2063 and the finalized 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) using a strategic approach to planning resulting in an efficient and effective delivery of the Country Programme to promote sustainable human development.

Against this backdrop and building upon the lessons learnt over the past months, UNDP Zambia is strengthening its Governance and Gender Cluster to rollout the vision of repositioning its CO programme through an optimized planning exercise to ensure smooth and accelerated delivery that delivers on UNDP mandate in Zambia. Governance and Gender is one of three pillars of the Programme Unit along with the Inclusive Growth and SDGs and the Environment Energy and Climate Change Clusters. Each cluster is headed by a Programme Specialist, Head of Unit and supported by a Programme Analyst and a Programme Associate in addition to the personnel of projects under each pillar.

Position Purpose

The Programme Associate supports the Assistant Resident Representative – Governance & Gender and the Unit to ensure the achievement of the country programme results and provision of thought leadership and strategic positioning on gender & governance issues. S/he supports contributes to the CO efforts to ensure the achievement of the country programme results and provision of thought leadership and strategic positioning on good governance and gender issues, including digitalization (e-govenance), public sector reforms, institutional strengthening and universal access to effective, efficient, accountable and transparent service delivery, rule of law, conflict prevention and human rights, participatory and inclusive democracy, decentralization and cross thematic considerations on SDG acceleration, women/youth empowerment.

S/he provides administrative, logistical and technical support to the Head of Unit – Governance and Gender to help drive integration of work at all levels, from overall direction setting to ideas generation, design, implementation – and further on to reporting, partnerships and communication. Success in achieving results in this portfolio is reliant on robust national and international partnerships. The Programme Associate contributes to strengthening partnerships and resource mobilization through regular analysis of information on donors, preparation of donor’s profile and database.  This includes tracking and maintaining contacts for key stakeholders including government, private sector and civil society.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

Ensure administration and implementation of programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for preparation of Common Country Analysis (CCA), UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Country Programme Document (CPD), project documents, Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and other documents, effective application of RBM tools and establishment of management targets (BSC). Establishment of the mechanisms to track use of RBM tools and maintenance of RBM database.
• Presentation of information/ reports for identification of areas for support and interventions.
• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies, preparation of reports.

Provide effective support to management of the Governance and Gender cluster focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for formulation of country programme, preparation of project documents’ drafts, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements.
• Initiation of a project, entering project into Atlas, preparation of required budget revisions.
• Provision of guidance to programme/cluster project portfolio team and the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources.
• Follow up on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports.
• Analysis of the situation in programme, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions.
• Preparation and conduct of audit of DIM/NIM projects, implementation of audit recommendations.
• Organization of events, workshops and conferences, when required;
• Assisting with official correspondence and communication with GRZ counterparts and partners;
• Take accurate and clear minutes of meetings as appropriate;
• Assist with timely preparation of periodic programme/cluster project portfolio progress reports;
• Liaison with project key stakeholders, UN agencies, implementing partners, donors and GRZ counterparts in order to maintain quality partnerships and ensure effective project implementation;
• Monitoring of project’s assumptions, assessing risks and proposing mitigation measures;
• Review of disbursement forecasts and monitoring of programme/cluster project portfolio delivery;

Provides support in creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy   focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Analysis of information on donors, preparation of donor’s profile and database, establishment of contacts with donor counterparts.
• Track and reporting on mobilized resources.
• Review of contributions agreement, managing contributions in Atlas
• Implementation follow-up, focusing on:
  • Tracking resources
  • Maintaining risk dashboard
  • Maintaining links with implementer.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing   on achievement of the following results:

• Organization of trainings for the programme/cluster project portfolio operations/ projects staff on programme.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in programme.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Requirements:

Education

• A Full Secondary School certificate, preferably with additional certification in related area.
• Advanced Diploma in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political or Social Sciences. A University Degree would be desirable, but it is not a requirement.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• 7 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages; experience in the use of web-based management systems.
• Fluency oral and written English

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy – Effective Decision Making Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Direction & Strategy System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements co-exist within an overall process or system and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management – Partnership Management Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Management – Results-based management Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management – Project management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Development – Knowledge facilitation Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Development – Human Centered Design Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process

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