Team Leader - Governance and Human Rights

Team Leader - Governance and Human Rights, Addis Ababa


Background

Ethiopia is in a process of institutional transformation. The development of the capacity and credibility of its democratic institutions as well as ensuring citizen confidence are important elements to the stability of the country and its economic and social development. Ethiopia is facing a major governance challenge and UNDP -- as the UN agency with the mandate to strengthen governance -- must now position itself as the lead player in governance in the country. The Team Leader will lead the UNDP Governance and Human Rights programme team in the Country office and, as appropriate, serve as strategic advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator, and the UNDP Senior Management.

The Team Leader facilitates UNDP's positioning as a key player in the governance in Ethiopia. He/she provides substantive support and advice to the UNDP Resident Representative as Co-chair of the Development Assistance Group and Resident Coordinator. He/She represents UNDP in the Governance Technical Working Group and other UN Governance and Human Rights thematic groups.

The Incumbent will provide key guidance to senior Government officials and members of the Development Partners Group in the spirit of harmonization in the policy dialogue related to the institutional transformation of the major democratic institutions including parliament, Justice, National Human Rights Commission, and Ombudsman. The policy dialogue will be guided by international norms and standards. He/She will organize structured debates, fora and advocacy meetings around key issues.

The incumbent will also provide strategic advice and managerial oversight to guide the design, implementation and monitoring of UNDP Governance and Human Rights programs/projects, working as Programme Manager for all Governance and Human Rights interventions to jointly ensure programmatic coherence and effective interlinkages of the broad portfolio. The Team Leader will also facilitate UNDP's broader advocacy and capacity building efforts in relation to civil society engagement, legal empowerment of the poor and other key governance areas within the framework of the UN. He/she will lead UNDP's Governance and Human Rights Team's contributions to the UN Governance Technical Working Group and Delivering As One Agenda.

The Team Leader covers a broad range of programmatic issues ranging from participation in CCA and UNDAF processes, joint programmes and UNDP projects and programmes within the UNDAF Results Matrix in the areas assigned.

The Team Leader will report to the Deputy Country Director (Programme). He/she will provide advice to senior management on key developments within the governance area and implications for UNDP. The Team Leader will regularly seek guidance from senior management, i.e. Resident Representative and Country Director, on key sensitive matters and service their role in the DAG and UN with timely and effective briefings and support.

The Team Leader is responsible for supervision and guidance to the team and ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. He/she advocates for UNDP global and local priorities and liaises with other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of country programme activities relevant to his/her portfolio from programme design through implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The Team Leader leads the UNDP programme portfolio with the following expected results:

Thorough analysis of political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, CPD CPAP and other documents;
Operationalization of UNDAF/CPD/CPAP in collaboration with main partners (both governmental and non-governmental) and other UN Agencies;
Leads the Governance and Service Delivery programme unit in programme formulation and networking to ensure a programme which is relevant and responsive to changes in the country context;
Leads the Governance and Service Delivery Team to ensure a visible, dynamic governance/human rights programme which positions UNDP as one of the key governance agency in the country;
Ensures the UNDP Programme is designed with gender sensitivity fully incorporated and ensures a Human Rights Based Approach to programming within the UNDP Country Programme;
Advises UNDP senior management on country programme development and delivery, identifies approaches and modalities to achieve development targets;
Analyzes and keeps abreast of the country's political and socio-economic environment as well as UNDP policies and priorities in the areas assigned, identifies and proposes areas for UNDP support in light of national priorities and UNDP strategic areas of focus and comparative advantages;

2. Provide strategic and substantive contributions in the Donors' Governance Technical Working Group focusing on the following tasks:

Organizes debates, fora and meetings to discuss and share knowledge on governance issues and promote good governance;
Assists National counterparts in meeting international obligations related to International Conventions and promote internationally accepted principles, norms and standards linked to Governance (Human Rights, Justice and democracy).
Participates in the Technical Working groups
Reviews documents and reports and contribute to the TWG's comments and observation to the Donors groups;
Shares UNDP's experience, knowledge with members of the group.
Prepares regularly briefing and position papers
Keeps Senior Management regularly updated on key issues emerging from the Technical Working Groups.

3. Ensures effective management and quality of UNDP programmes and projects under the Governance Portfolio focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to on achievement of the following results:

Works closely with the Team members and Project Managers to assist in monitoring ongoing projects substantively through review of work-plans, progress and performance, evaluation missions and proposes directions and solutions to emerging issues
Ensures effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitors achievement of results
Provides strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. The Team Leader performs the function of Manager Level 2 or senior managment rights in Atlas for development projects transactions approval
Ensures effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation through constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, ensures timely readjustment of programme.
Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions and puts in place necessary corrective actions. Informs supervisors of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
Provides guidance in the implementation of advocacy of thematic programme.

4. Facilitates any NEX audit process, arrangement management response to audit recommendations and ensures that audit recommendations are timely carried out Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Contributes to the development and implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes.
Ensures effective creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI's, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.

5. Ensures provision of top quality policy advisory services to the Government, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Access UNDP's worldwide and regional knowledge, distill best practices and facilitates dissemination in the CO and to partners; Promotes identification of lessons learned from the country programme for organizational sharing and learning;
Advocates for UNDP with Government counterparts and ensures access to best available expertise,
Drafts policy/issues/briefing papers directly related to areas of responsibility, as requested by senior management and maintains upstream dialogue with partners to provide development/policy advisory services
Supports development of policies that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
Contributes knowledge to networks and communities of practice.

6. Facilitation of knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Systematic recording of best practices and lessons learnt in the areas assigned
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice
Coordination of internal and external reviews and evaluations.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting
Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects
Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
Ability to manage for results: translates strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitors them, making periodic adjustments as required.

Management and Leadership

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
Demonstrates outstanding communication skills oral and written communication skills
Negotiation skills: capacity to work with diverse partners including Government, donors and civil society;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education

: Master's degree in International Development, Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Public Administration or other relevant field

Experience

: Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in the area of Governance, Human Rights in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting, in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

Experience working with Human Rights Institutions or working with Electoral/Parliamentary assistance programmes will be an asset but is not essential.

Fluency in English is required (written and verbal).

Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.

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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