UNDP
Job Description
UNDP’s work in the area of governance in Malawi contributes to the aim of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework [UNSDCF 2019-2023] through supporting governance institutions at all levels to harmonize policy, legal and organizational frameworks; strengthen data systems and oversight institutions for enhanced accountability; strengthen gender and human rights frameworks, institutional systems, civic engagement; and improve public participation in democratic processes.
While governance is pivotal to all other pillars of the UNSDCF, UNDP’s work focuses on contributing to the achievement of three outcomes: 1) Rights holders access more accountable and effective institutions at the central and decentralised levels that use quality disaggregated data, offer integrated service delivery and promote civic engagement, respect for human rights and rule of law; 2) Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls enhanced; and 3) Malawi has strengthened institutional capacities for sustaining peace, inclusive societies and participatory democracy.
The UNDP’s current Country Programme Document considers Good Governance as the core to ensuring poverty reduction and sustainable development. It looks at Governance as having a maximum multiplier effect on achieving the SDGs and a leverage point for development. Governance has also been one of the strategic pillars in the development agenda of Malawi’s government. The national development strategy considers governance to be the “the backbone for an efficient and effective public sector” and acknowledges the extent to which mind-set changes and behavioural shifts are needed to sustain profound transformations.
UNDP has recently developed a new Governance Portfolio around three main pillars: Pillar I – Effective, Accountable and Responsive Institutions; Pillar II – Civic Engagement and Empowerment; and Pillar III – Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law.
Pillar III – Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law focuses on support to anti-corruption and accountability institutions; improving the State, NHRI and civil society capacity to promote and protect human rights, and enhancing the capacity of access to justice and rule of law institutions to deliver on their mandates.
Under the overall guidance and the supervision of the Portfolio Manager, Governance, the Programme Analyst is responsible for the management of UNDP’s Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law pillar of the Governance Portfolio in the CO in Malawi. The Programme Analyst supports the programme team’s efforts in the strategic planning and the identification of new programme opportunities within these thematic areas while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF/ CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Programme Analyst analyzes political, social and economic trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities within his/her pillar, while contributing to the overall work of the Governance Portfolio. He/she contributes to policy dialogue with the government counterparts providing policy advisory services as well as supporting the identification of top-notch national and international environment practitioners to further this dialogue.
The Programme Analyst will contribute to the promotion and observation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy particularly with regard to the mainstreaming of gender equality in all programmes and projects under her/his management.
The Programme Analyst supervises and leads programme support staff, coordinates activities of the projects’ staff as they relate to her/his pillar. She/he works in close collaboration with UNDP´s programme staff, the operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and trust funds as well as civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.
The Programme Analyst also supports the identification of emerging opportunities for resource mobilization with external donors and trust funds as they relate to areas of Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law while leading and providing guidance in the development of internal and external knowledge networks of practitioners in these thematic areas.
S/he will be dynamic, creative, and willing to work as part of an international team.
- Conduct thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs on programmatic instruments;
- Identify areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas under Pillar III – Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law, especially in the areas of anti-corruption, human rights, access to justice and rule of law;
- Design new initiatives and project proposals in the above sectoral areas in line with the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023-2028 of UNDP Malawi;
- Contribute to the promotion and observation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 particularly with regard to the mainstreaming of HIV and gender equality in all programmes and projects under her/his management.
Management of programming under Pillar III of the Governance Portfolio
- Effectively apply RBM tools, establish management targets (BSC) and monitor achievement of results;
- Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
- Initiate projects, including presentation of the project to PAC, entering project into Quantum, developing and finalizing contribution agreements; coordinating the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, executing closure of projects through review. Programme Analyst can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Quantum for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects;
- Conduct financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of NEX projects;
- Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
- Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.
Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy
- Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
- Conduct analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs in close collaboration with Academia and top-notch practitioners, on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
- Mobilize resources in support of the new project proposals to be designed under this assignment as well as other regional initiatives on Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law.
Provision of top-quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management
- Identify sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
- Develop policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
- Develop communications materials concerning programming;
- Develop and distribute contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice with particular attention to best practices published in social networks such as Teamworks, Fusion, Twitter etc;
- Organize trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: This position will supervise a Programme Associate assigned to Pillar III under the Governance Portfolio.
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
People Management competencies:
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Technical and Cross-functinal competencies:
Business Management:
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Partnerships 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 Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order.
2030 Agenda: Peace Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights:
- Rule of Law, Justice and Security
- Justice Sector Development
- Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups
- Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Political Sciences, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Economics or related fields.
- Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.
- Minimum 2 years (Master’s degree) or 4 years (Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at national or international level in providing management and substantive advisory services;
- Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the field of Oversight, Human Rights and Rule of Law desired;
- Experience in developing and overseeing the implementation of budgets, financial management, procurement and human resource management is an asset;
- Experience managing programming with an international or multi-lateral institution desired;
- Experience working directly with national partners is an added advantage;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and social knowledge networks desired.
Language:
- Proficiency in English is required;
- Working knowledge of other UN official language or other language at the duty station is an asset.