PROGRAMME SPECIALIST (REINTEGRATION)

PROGRAMME SPECIALIST (REINTEGRATION)
Location :     Bor, Jonglei State (covering 2 states Malakal & Bentiu), SOUTH SUDAN

Additional Category    Management
Type of Contract :    FTA International
Post Level :    P-3
Languages Required :
English  

Duration of Initial Contract :    One Year
Expected Duration of Assignment :    TBC

Background
In accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and Security Council resolution SC 1590 of March 24, 2005, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) was mandated to provide support and assistance to the Government of National Unity (GONU) and Government of South Sudan (GOSS) in planning, developing and implementing the national Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme. To this end, an integrated UN Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (IUNDDR) unit was established with Headquarters in Khartoum and Juba and field offices in North and South Sudan. In line with the Integrated DDR Standards, while DPKO was providing guidance for the DDR process as a whole and leading the planning and implementation of the D & D components, UNDP, through voluntary contributions, acted as the planning and implementation agency for the reintegration component.

The DDR Program (now considered Phase 1) meant to enhance short-term security through capitalizing on peace dividends through reintegrating individual ex-combatants (XCs) and Special Needs Groups (SNGs), while also contributing to longer-term peace and stability. It aimed at contributing to the implementation of the remaining CPA and post CPA by creating an enabling environment to enhance security through the provision of technical and material support to the national authorities is coming to end by December 31st 2011.

On July 9, 2011 the New republic of South Sudan was born as a result of the January Referendum. A new page in the history of the country opened up along with a new direction to the DDR program in South Sudan as a new DDR policy paper was prepared and submitted to the Council of Ministers and a participatory planning workshop for Phase 2 conducted in July-August.   

With support from the international community, the upcoming Phase 2 main objectives will be to disarm, demobilize and provide appropriate support to the reintegration into civilian life of the 150,000 eligible participants (80,000 SPLA and 70,000 Police, Fire Brigade and Forest Protection agents) and to contribute to the rightsizing of the New South Sudan Armed Forced (SPLA/SSAF) building an army of development.  

Acting under Security Council Resolution 1996 (2011), the new UNMISS increased its presence and move DDR staff from Khartoum to Juba to better support the South Sudan DDR Program. In this context, UNDP is in the process of strengthening its DDR support to the Government of South Sudan by recruiting senior technical staff to help complete Phase 1 of the DDR programme and contribute to planning and implementation of Phase 2 due to commence early 2012.   

Under the overall guidance of DDR Reintegration Advisor and direct supervision of the DDR Project Manager, the Programme Specialist for Reintegration will be responsible for the preparation, planning and implementation of the reintegration component of the DDR Programme. Moreover, the Programme Specialist will be responsible for the management of the Reintegration Unit staff & affiliate state Reintegration Officers, along with the implementation of the capacity development (including training) of staff under his/her supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Programme Specialist (Reintegration) will be in charge of the respective State Offices and will perform the following duties:

Manage the preparation, planning and implementation, at the state level, of the reintegration component of the DDR programme;
Provide value-added advice to the state level DDR Commission in the design and conceptualization of reintegration packages for ex-combatants;
Act as a technical resource for skills development and employment schemes;
Train a team of national officers and case workers to enable them to undertake information and counselling of ex-combatants, as well as referral to implementing partners, trade associations and selected private sector entities;
Ensure all projects aim a at and lead to self-employment/employment;
Crosscheck on the outcome of the mapping process in the state, oversee the collection of information, analyze and formalize it;
Work with and train DDR Commission staff at the state level to develop and oversee consistent implementation approaches;
Develop monitoring plans, assess trends, progress and results achieved by the IPs and report to Deputy Programme Manager/Reintegration Advisor level;
Undertake financial monitoring of ongoing projects to ensure efficient and timely delivery of inputs and the realization of the targeted expenditure level;
Liaise with UN, NGO, private and public sector reintegration and livelihoods actors to gather labour market information, identify synergies and program activities suitable for reintegration of the ex-combatants;
Travel frequently to remote areas to provide technical support;
Identify success stories for public information purposes;
Identify successful ex-combatants to be promoted as inspirational examples to other clients;
Work closely and provide needed technical assistance to relevant line ministries to support an appropriate level of understanding of reintegration requirements and explore possible programmatic response;
Perform any other tasks as required by the DDR Programme Manager, Deputy Programme Manager, Reintegration Advisor and/or Regional Coordinator.

Competencies

Vision: An in-depth understanding of the Programme’s strategic direction and ability to transform it into a results-oriented work programme;
Professionalism: Proven expertise in area of DDR; in-depth understanding of and an ability to evaluate international;
Leadership: Proven ability to provide effective leadership and transfer advice and knowledge to staff at all levels and from different national and cultural backgrounds;
Managing Performance: Proven effective supervisory skills; ability to mentor staff and provide guidance and support;
Planning and Organizing: Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organize, coordinate and monitor own work plan and provide advice and guidance to others; in-depth understanding of division's strategic direction; resourcefulness, sound judgment and decision-making skills;
Judgment/Decision-making: Demonstrated sound judgment in resolving issues/problems; ability to proactively seek and recommend sound policy initiatives;
Creativity: Ability to actively seek to improve programmes/services, offer new and different options to solve problems/meet client needs;
Communications: Excellent and effective communication (verbal and written) skills, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations by clearly formulating positions on issues, articulating options concisely conveying maximum necessary information, making and defending recommendations; diplomacy and tact; ability to convey difficult issues and positions to senior officials;
Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
Demonstrated ability to write concise, analytical and well-articulated reports in English is a must.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in business/public administration, agronomy/agriculture, economic development, vocational training, civil engineering, or other relevant fields.

Experience:

At least 5 years experience in post-conflict project implementation and/or programming, in livelihoods, income generation, business development, vocational training schemes, and employment support;
Private sector experience in small business development/finance schemes/agro processing would be an asset.
Management experience is a must;
Experience working in post-conflict setting – ideally, in a situation of demobilization, return and reintegration of ex-combatants;
Experience in working with conflict victims, people with disability, socially excluded groups would be an asset;
Experience working in remote areas. Preference will be given to candidates with a wide experience in UN field operations;
Experience in developing and adapting training materials for use in low-literacy environments would be an asset;
Experience in capacity building with local/national organizations

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable

Other skills and requirements:

Knowledge of resource mobilization with the UN and other international agencies will be highly desirable;
Knowledge of the political and economic situation in Sudan is highly desirable;
Excellent command of MS Office applications (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.)

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.

No Fee

AJS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AJS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.

SOME EMPLOYERS MAY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR APPLICATION.