Background Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil-society and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people centered justice and people centered security. The project is aimed at institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers, for inclusive, expeditious and transparent access to rights and services. The Project will work with key UN partner agencies including the One-UN strategy to leaving no-one behind. Key beneficiaries will include vulnerable and at-risk men, women, girls, transgender persons, persons with disabilities as well as marginalized and vulnerable populations in general. UNDP will leverage its partnerships with government, statutory bodies, private sector and civil-society stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels for the institutionalization of a rights-based approach to development across Pakistan. A cross-cutting programmatic area of the DHL project is its interventions related to strengthening national human rights institutions, promoting gender equality, and the inclusion of vulnerable populations in Pakistan.
Duties and Responsibilities The incumbent will report directly to the Chief Technical Advisor of the DHL Project.
The National Technical Specialist will assist the Chief Technical Advisor in providing high quality professional project implementation support and technical advice and assistance in the overall delivery of the Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance Project in Pakistan.
The incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:
Project implementation support in the overall delivery of UNDP’s DHL Project
- Ensure timely implementation of multiple projects under the DHL Project including submission of progress reports to donors, development of annual work plans and budget monitoring, project monitoring and evaluation, trouble shooting in close coordination with Democratic Governance Unit.
- Manage and supervise approximately 4-5 national programme staff as well as approximately 10 national and international short-term consultants.
- Contribute constructively to the development of terms of references and initiating procurement and HR processes to hire experts, service providers and programme staff as required by the DHL Project.
- Undertake regular programmatic and operational monitoring in close coordination with programme’s M&E, Operational and Finance team.
- Provide programmatic related advice and assistance in the implementation of democratic governance, decentralization and local governance related initiatives in close coordination with the Chief Technical Advisor.
- Act as the deputy for the Chief Technical Advisor as and when needed.
- Provide technical and policy advice and assistance in the overall implementation and further development of the DHL Project in Pakistan.
- Provide technical and policy advice and assistance in the overall implementation and further development of the DHL Project in Pakistan.
- Contribute to the project’s regular analysis of political and security and justice context in Pakistan to inform the DHL Project’s overall business continuity including to improve Programme’s agility in responding to actual and perceived risks and challenges as well as managing and mitigating them.
Partnership building and coordination with project’s implementing partners to ensure timely and efficient project activities delivery.
- Strengthen government partnerships and coordination at federal, provincial and local levels.
- Identify and develop new partnerships with government and non- governmental interlocutors in Pakistan to add value and complement UNDP’s DHL Project’s components.
- Ensure coherence and identify and foster synergies with relevant UNDP programmes and projects.
- Support in improving coordination and collaboration other UN Agencies for the promotion of multi-partner joint planning, coordination and implementation.
- Assist in donor coordination and timely submission of internal and external reports as agreed with partners
- Contribute in providing strategic support, guidance, and advice in shaping the overall trajectory of UNDP’s DHL Project in Pakistan.
- Work with the pillar leads (e.g. Rights-Based Development Expert) in managing the day-to-day implementation of DHL’s project components to strengthen institutional capacity and improve access to human rights including engagement with external government and non-government stakeholders.
- Actively engage key stakeholders to advance UNDP Pakistan’s work on local governance, democratic processes and decentralization.
Represent the DHL Project at strategic and technical levels at project planning and coordination meetings/ events.
- Act as lead facilitator and primary focal point for project’s internal and external coordination and planning.
- Attend relevant workshops, conferences and events and contribute constructively to advance inclusive governance, human rights, social inclusion, gender equality and community stabilization.
- Develop meeting minutes, briefing notes, and presentations related to above representations where appropriate in a timely manner.
- Ensure timely preparation of documents, briefing notes, reports, and related documentation for project review/ steering board meetings and related events as advised by the Chief Technical Advisor
- Undertake field visits and site visits to oversee project implementation, progress documentation and explore further areas of engagement as advised by the Chief Technical Advisor.
Documentation review, writing and quality assurance support
- Ensuring timely documentation of project activity updates, data gathering, lessons learned, best practices, and case studies for monthly, quarterly, and yearly reporting purposes in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor, M&E lead, and other relevant project colleagues.
- Undertake review and also assist in writing project progress reports, policy briefs, progress updates, and related documents in close collaboration with DHL Project Colleagues.
- Undertake review and assist in writing and reviewing assessment reports, M&E reports, research papers, strategies, policies corresponding to key project deliverables in close coordination with the Pillar Leads.
- Identify new, innovative and context specific areas of engagement and act as the sub-lead in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor in the development of concept notes/ project documents for future programming.
The incumbent of the position will uphold the non-discriminatory behavior and ensure that:
- Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
- Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UN”;
- Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
- Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
- Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
- Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy
- System Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Management
- Results-based Management. Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
- Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
- Partnerships Management. 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
- Monitoring and Evaluation. Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
2030 Agenda: Peace
- Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights. Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups
2030 Agenda: People
- Gender. Gender Equality and Institutional Transformation
Required Skills and Experience Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Social Sciences or related area is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of seven years (with Master´s degree) or nine years (with Bachelor´s degree) of professional experience in democratic governance and, or development sector with field experience in Pakistan is essential.
- Track record of experience in providing policy and strategic level technical advice and assistance on democratic governance at a senior level in a multi-lateral setting is essential.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of the governance sectors in Pakistan is essential.
- Proven professional track record experience in governance, human rights, gender sensitive programming, and inclusive multi-year programme development and implementation with hands on field experience in Pakistan is essential.
- Experience in knowledge management and research is highly desirable.
- Field experience in crisis/ conflict/ complex contexts in Pakistan is highly desirable.
- Experience in report writing, drafting policy briefs, and related documentation is essential.
- Familiarity with UN/ UNDP policies, processes, and programming frameworks is an added advantage.
- Previous work experience with UNDP/ UN agencies/ international organizations will be an added advantage.
- Excellent organisation skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Urdu languages is required
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Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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