Background

The Regional Programme for Africa is a flagship programme for UNDP that responds to challenges and opportunities facing the African Continent and to the priorities and aspirations of Africa as articulated by the African Union and other regional organs. These are convergent with the vision, areas of work and guiding principles of the UNDP Strategic Plan and the directions of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. The three priority areas/outcomes of the 2018-2021 Regional Programme are:

Priority Area 1, the Regional Programme will embark on supporting the African Union and RECs to deliver on their mandate, especially cross-cutting issues related to structural transformation and building resilience - will build upon UNDPs wealth of knowledge on capacity development; the Regional Programme’s past footprint and partnerships with all targeted institutions; and, respond directly to the UNDP Strategic Plan to build regional capacities. This priority area contributes to UNDP Strategic Plan Outcome 2.

Priority Area 2 also contributes to UNDP Strategic Plan Outcome 2 and focuses on supporting an inclusive growth agenda that is risk-informed and able to respond the most pressing challenges to ensure that regional growth is inclusive, sustainable, and economic inequalities reduced.

Priority Area 3 focuses on building peaceful and inclusive societies, whereby regional institutions sustain peace and build resilience to crises and shocks, an area that contributes to UNDP Strategic Plan Outcome 3 and responds to the Report of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Group of Experts on the 2015 Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture, the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly resolutions on ‘sustaining peace,’ which acknowledge the inherently political nature of conflict prevention efforts.

The implementation of the UNDP Regional Programme for Africa is coordinated from the Regional Service Center in Addis Ababa. The Programme Management Specialist will be based at UNDP’s Regional Service Center for Africa under the supervision of UNDP’s Regional Programme Coordinator for Africa and work in close collaboration with UNDP Country Offices and UNDP’s policy, programme, managment and operation teams at HQ, Regional and Country levels.

The Programme Management Specialist will provide technical, advisory, oversight and coordination support and effective programme quality assurance throughout the programme and project implementation cycles, from their formulation to the closing, and including but not limited to the planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting. In addition, the Programme Specialist will work to strengthen strategic partnerships and resource mobilization and will establish the sound programme support functions with a focus on programme/project compliance with UNDP programme policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Provide support to strengthen the strategic direction of the UNDP Regional Programme in Africa;

Ensure effective programme management support to the Regional Programme focusing on quality control of the full programming cycle, and focusing on integration of RBM perspectives;

Ensure sound financial management, planning and monitoring of the regional programme resources;

Support establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide support on strategic direction in relation to the Regional Programme Document and UNDP Strategic Plan and coordinate planning and reporting on the activities, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Support the development and operationalization of the Regional Programme Documents, in collaboration with the partners;

Support and advise on the development, management and implementation of the regional projects under the Regional Programme;

Coordinate with other units in the Regional Bureau for Africa, including Regional Service Centers, Country Offices and Central Bureaus, and support project managers and Regional Programme Coordinator with development of Annual/Integrated Workplans (AWP/IWP), Regional Programme annual report, Results-Oriented Annual Reporting (ROAR) and other corporate planning and results reporting exercises;

Conduct business process mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures to ensure the Regional Programme follows efficient workflows amongst the projects and adheres to and complies with corporate policies and dashboards;

Support and coordinates knowledge building and management in the Regional Programme.

Ensure effective programme management support to the Regional Programme focusing on quality control of the full programming cycle, and focusing on integration and deepening of RBM perspectives, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Provide advisory support to project managers throughout the project cycle, including formulation, implementation, monitoring, reporting and closing while ensuring the application of UNDP Programme policies and procedures;

Promote effective application of RBM tools in programme and project cycle management; establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results

Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation with the aim of measuring the impact of the Regional Programme;

Provide technical support to project managers and Regional Programme Coordinator in relation to Quality assurance of project documents, PQAs and e-PACs for regional projects

Provide technical advice on utilization of different implementation modalities and programming instruments and support preparation and provide clearance and quality assurance for legal documents, including LOAs, MOUs, RPAs, etc based on UNDP rules and regulations.

Providetechnical support to project managers and coordination support Regional Programme Coordinator in relation to results monitoring and Transparency dashboards

Facilitate project evaluations, assessments and review in accordance with UNDP Evaluation Policy.

Provide coordination support to the regional projects audit exercises among programme, project and operations staff and ensure compliance with audit quality standards and timeframes.

Ensure sound financial management, planning and monitoring of programme resources, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Strategic oversight of financial planning, budgeting and costing, implementing and monitoring of the programme and projects, tracking the use of financial resources;

Ensure implementation of effective internal control systems in collaboration with the operations unit and ensure overall accountability for the use of funds as well as the strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations in all project operations;

Work closely with various units and project teams, HQ and Regional units ensuring successful financial performance by providing programme resource analysis for effective planning of resources;

Provide technical advice and coordination support to Regional Programme Coordinator in reviewing and setting up quarterly and annual delivery targets;

Regular monitoring and preparation of management financial reports on delivery, resource mobilization, TRAC Allocations, programme revenue management and cost recovery;

Periodic monitoring of dashboards and exceptions, troubleshooting on budget errors, funds availability, provision of COAs, other issues and identification of remedial actions;

Monitor financial reports and follow up with project managers on outstanding obligations, facilitate project closures, open items clearances, deficits and NIM/NGO Advance aging and liquidations;

Support project teams in creating new projects in Atlas, GMS set up and managing budget revisions in line with approved AWPs/ProDocs;

Processing revenue transfers to COs that implement activities and inform the respective COs and the project managers, in close collaboration with the finance unit;

Support HACT implementation for regional projects including the assurance activities in collaboration with other COs on behalf of Regional Programme as per HACT guidelines;

Support the training of partners and project managers, as applicable, on utilization of NIM/NGO advances and FACE forms.

Support the establishment and maintaining of strategic partnerships, support resource mobilization and ensure effective reporting of regional programme activities:

Support development and implementation of the regional programme resource mobilization strategy.

Support creation, deepening and coordination of partnerships with the UN agencies, intra/governmental institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.

Ensure timely clearance and effective implementation of all contribution agreements related to the regional programme.

Initiate, assure compliance and finalize all co-financing/contribution agreements, in close consultation with the project managers and Regional Programme Coordinator.

Ensure high quality of the proposals submitted to the donors, validating relevancy and accuracy of programme implementation modalities and budgeting, as per UNDP programming guidance on budgeting, costing and cost recovery policies.

Guide project teams and clear prepared financial reports and provide quality assurance for the content and presentation of the substantive reports.

Ensure timely coordination, finalization and submission of high-quality donor reports (financial and narrative) in full accordance with UNDP’s contractual obligations

Maintain the sound filing system, develop donor reporting database and alert programme teams on pending milestones and due reporting obligations.

Follow up on outstanding contributions with the partners.

Track expiration of agreements and facilitate timely extension of agreements if required.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow.

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers.

People Management:

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others.

Communication:

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others.

Delivery:

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions.

Technical/Functional:

Programme Resources Planning and Management:

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, build efficient workflows, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals and improve performance.

Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise.

Knowledge Management:

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge. 

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Partnership Management:

Establishing, maintaining, and utilizing a broad network of contacts. Building partnerships and strategic alliances. Leveraging the resources of partners. 

Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Organisational Development:

Knowledge of organizational development concepts, issues and principles and the ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.

Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of progressive and relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services;

Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation, measuring performances of development projects;

Experience in budgetary and financial management of programmes, projects or funds;

Strong knowledge and experience of implementing UNDP corporate compliance and programme implementation modalities, policies, tools and methods, as well as risk management processes, audit and internal control frameworks;

Knowledge and experience in the Africa region, and within an UN agency or international organization, are an asset;

Experience of working with and in relation to UNDP Country Offices programmes, especially in all, and in conflict/post-conflict, settings is an advantage (if internal);

Experience in managing and supporting global or regional initiatives and supporting multi-stakeholder institutions and inter-relationships among international organization/ development partners/governments;

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluent in English.

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