Chad: Programme Specialist, Crisis Prevention and Recovery

May 16, 2021 | UNDP
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The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations and advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves.

Background

Over the last decade, the four countries around Lake Chad Basin, including Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, have experienced unprecedented levels of crises, exacerbated by repeated incidences of violence from the Boko Haram terrorist group. These crises have deepened instability, slowed economic growth and engendered deep humanitarian concerns in the region. Additionally, the spread of radicalization especially amongst youth remain an imminent threat to peace, stability and development. Absolutist ideologies that reject co-existence, tolerance and progress represent an existential threat to these countries. As such, these ideologies have found recruits amongst the youth who believe that the state has failed them and that they are excluded from legitimate political and economic processes from time to time. Largely overlooked now due to Boko Haram activities in the region as well, the crisis has created an urgent humanitarian need for about 10.7 million people in the region. Almost a quarter of these people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or food shortages largely brought on by Boko Haram’s insurgency.

In response to the crisis, the African Union and the Lake Chad Basin Commission in 2015 signed an agreement for the operationalization of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency in the Region. Despite the significant progress made by the MNJTF, it is agreed by all stakeholders that overall success of the collective effort will be contingent upon coherent acceleration and completion of the second phase of the mandate, namely to “facilitate the implementation of overall stabilization programs by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Member States and Benin in the affected areas, including the full restoration of state authority and the return of the Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) and refugees”. To achieve this, the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) was tasked by its Member States to facilitate the mechanisms and processes required to consolidate the gains of the MNJTF.

In light of the above and with the support of the Africa Union and UNDP, the LCBC developed a five years stabilization strategy - “Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery & Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected Areas of the Lake Chad Basin (RSS)”. The RSS provides a comprehensive, integrated and multi-level framework for overall stabilization, comprising nine inter-related pillars which include military support to the MNJTF, provision of humanitarian assistance and key interventions to secure early recovery and longer-term resilience. The Strategy recognizes the nexus between security, humanitarian and development issues and calls for a “New Way of Working” to be at the heart of the response to the Lake Chad Basin Region crisis. Achieving the “New Way of Working” will require strong coordination between Governments at central and local levels, regional and continental institutions and between UN agencies and entities, including international community partners, civil society actors and the private sector.

UNDP support to the stabilization of the region is at two key results. Result 1 focus on immediate Stabilisation of specific target areas, builds on UNDP experience in Iraq and elsewhere to offer activities to secure the following three outputs understood as the basis of successful stabilisation. Result 2 focus on strengthening the capacity of LCBC to implement the Regional Stabilization Strategy as adopted by the LCBC Ministerial Council on 30th August 2018 and endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Committee summit on 5th December 2018.

To achieve the two key results, UNDP developed the Regional Stabilisation Facility (RSF) to support the operationalisation and implementation of the Lake Chad Basin Regional Stabilisation Strategy and will resource a Stabilisation Secretariat with full capacity to lead and deliver on the two result areas. The Secretariat will be responsible for programming and implementation; building strategic partnerships, mobilizing resources; technical coordination and oversight as well as managing knowledge and communication that will lead to the achievement of the key results

To manage the programme implementation of the RSF and RSF , UNDP is looking for a Programme Specialist that will be responsible for ensuring coherence and consistency in preparation of the Territorial Action Plans (TAPs) in each of the eight target States/Regions and will further ensure the cross-border regional dialogue. The Programme Specialist will work closely with national windows, UN Resident Coordinator Office, State-level authorities, UN agencies to ensure coordinated approach to stabilisation work. The Specialists will be directly responsible for Governor’s Forum, Civil Society Forum, Private Sector Forum and the management of Pillar Working Groups.

Duties and Responsibilities

Coherence and consistency in preparation of the TAPs and in Operationalising the Pillar Working Groups:

  • Conceptualise consistent plan for the development of the Territorial Action Plans (TAPs);
  • Under the leadership of the Coordinator, mobilise technical expertise to support the Governors in the development of the TAPs;
  • Under the leadership of the Coordinator, mobilize various UN other humanitarian and development agencies to support and participation in the development and implementation of the TAPs;
  • Articulate and conceptualise the Pillar Working Groups (PWGs) ensuring broad based consultation with various UN agencies as well other humanitarian agencies;
  • Ensure the operationalisation and roll out of the PWGs including the coordination and representation of LCBC and RSS in the PWG meetings;
  • With support from the M&E Specialist, produce annual report.

Managing of Regional Platforms and Dialogues

  • Work closely with State-level authorities on the implementation of the RSS and RSF;
  • Work with government and representatives;
  • Ensure coordination of regional and cross boarder initiatives;
  • Conceptualise and implement the regional CS platform including the convening of the CS Forum;
  • Conceptualise and implement the regional private sector platform including the convening of the CS Forum;
  • Build relationship with other development and humanitarian partners towards implementation of the RSS and RSF;
  • Identify and follow up on strategic entry points for the operationalisation of the RSS and RSF;
  • Manage working groups and provide analysis input into the work of working groups.

Programme formulation, Research and, Analysis

  • Provide sound analysis and briefing note on the work of the secretariat;
  • Development training programme and lead in sharing best practices with national windows;
  • Under the guidance of the Head of Stabilisation lead other team member in conceptualising training programme and harmonising of standards between;
  • Build partnership with think tanks, academic and research institutions and lead on specified action researchers that will contribute to the implementation of the RSS and RSF;
  • Generally, provide inputs and technical guidance for strategic planning, design, development, and implementation of the Regional Stabilization Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected Areas of the Lake Chad Region through the RSF;
  • Facilitate innovation and knowledge sharing mechanisms to contribute to internalizing improved practices on New Ways of Working and foster higher levels of engagement in new forums;
  • Enhancing effective, proactive and targeted representation, coordination and visibility of LCBC Regional Strategy and UNDP’s assistance by advising on an effective strategy for UNDP’s engagement and support towards the coordination of New Way of Working (NWoW) initiatives, including the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and other resilience/recovery coordination forums;
  • Continuously review and analyse the emerging issues that impact on the work of the secretariat;
  • Support the thematic portfolio teams in drafting and revising technical concept notes and proposals;
  • Support the monitoring of overall implementation of projects based on programmatic indicators making use of the Strategy;
  • Support the preparation of donor briefs, presentations, progress overviews and snapshots based on monitoring reports;
  • Liaison with field coordination unit for field monitoring.

Support the UNDP corporate and donors reporting requirements including narrative and financial reporting:

  • Planning and elaboration of a reporting strategy based on donors’ agreements, corporate requirements for reporting schedules;
  • Drafting and finalization of corporate and donors’ narrative reports including progress, annual and ad-hoc ones focusing on highlighting progress of targets against agreed upon indicators; analyzing impact, reflecting on lessons learned and operational challenges;
  • Review financial reports as per donors’ agreements in close collaboration with Financial Management Associate;
  • Liaise with Communication team to finalize outreach, communication and reporting materials and packages to support senior managers in donors’ conferences and/or meetings for resource mobilization.

Facilitates knowledge building and knowledge

  • Identification and formulation of lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader RSS knowledge management efforts;
  • Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
  • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religious, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Additional Skills & Requirement:

  • Experience in maintaining tools and strategies for data collection, analysis and production of reports;
  • Hands-on experience in Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation, including in designing and developing M&E systems, conducting ME&R activities including data collection required;
  • Demonstrated ability and willingness to travel to deep field locations in harsh living conditions required.

Computer Skills

  • Excellent computer literacy and skills on MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, database systems, statistical analysis and overall report writing;
  • Expertise in analysing data using statistical software is an asset.

Competence and Values:

  • Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
  • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations;
  • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment;
  • Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects activities;
  • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
  • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards colleagues, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social policy, public policy, politics, environmental economics, development studies business administration, political science, international relations or related field.

Experience:

  • A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in governance, policy work or project management or the private sector and/or crisis/ post conflict management or other related area is required.
  • Experience with experience in civil-military coordination, or experience in the military forces dealing with humanitarian operations is desirable.
  • Experience working in a country with a peace-keeping operation is desirable. Relevant field experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is desirable.
  • Experience in the UN Common System is desirable

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English and/or French.

Disclaimer

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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