South Sudan: Portfolio Manager

Aug 3, 2015 | UNDP
View Original

The Republic of South Sudan became an independent state on July 9, 2011 after 99% of the population voted for cession from northern Sudan in the January 2011 Referendum. Whilst the attainment of independent by South Sudan opened an unprecedented window of opportunity to turn the devastation of over 20 years of civil war, displacement and underdevelopment into a new era of peace and prosperity, the December 15th 2013 conflict has altered the development context of the country.

The South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) outlines priorities of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan in the interim period from independence to the end of 2016.  The overarching objective of the SSDP is to ensure that: "South Sudan is a united and peaceful new nation, building strong foundations for good governance, economic prosperity and enhanced quality of life for all".

The SSDP identifies national policy goals and priorities across four priority pillars:

  • (1) Governance;
  • (2) Economic Development;
  • (3) Social and Human Development; and
  • (4) Conflict Prevention and Security.

South Sudan is a near complete oil revenue dependent economy although it has unexploited reserves of natural and mineral resources. The recent volatility and sharp fall in global oil prices jointly with the drastic reduction in oil production levels since the onset of the conflict in mid- December 2013 has significantly reduced oil revenue receipts, impacted fiscal balances, fiscal sustainability and the overall macroeconomic stability in the country. The states have vast service delivery responsibilities at the subnational levels and there is a steep vertical imbalance between service delivery responsibilities and budgetary allocation to the states. Meanwhile, the domestic resource generation system of the state governments is still weak with the staff largely untrained.

The Human Development and Inclusive Growth Unit is mandated to support the state governments on maintenance of core Public Finance Management functions including stepped up efforts to diversify and generate domestic resources in a systematic manner. In addition the Unit supports the government on employment generation and training programmes on sustainable livelihoods with a focus on the private sector as a key driver. The government also needs support on sustainable natural resource management and agriculture upon which a majority of the rural population depend for their livelihood and sustenance needs.  These efforts also expected to mitigate the extant risks of conflict spill-over in the relatively peaceful states, and prevent to some extent, potential adverse development fallouts at the local level.

Interalia, the HDIG Unit is managing the following programme portfolio of activities:

  • Inclusive Growth and Trade Capacity Development (IGTCD) cluster of issues designed to support livelihoods stabilization and early recovery for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The programmes seek to lay the foundations of early recovery leading to economic revitalization, livelihoods and employment generation for IDPs and host communities in the country;
  • Disaster risk reduction and Natural Resource Management issues including building community resilience on flood and food insecurity and creation of sustainable livelihoods. The flood and food security projects aims to strengthen local institutions and community capacity to respond to floods and food insecurity, with particular reference to IDPs and host communities whilst the Protected Areas Network Capacity building project funded by GEF aims to strengthen sustainable management of protected areas including for sustainable livelihoods;
  • Public Financial Management issues which aims to support the Government of South Sudan’s efforts to strengthen and close the gaps in the current financial management system particularly at the state level in line with national priorities. The state governments particularly the ones in the relatively peaceful states, have an imperative to step up on their efforts on diversifying and generating domestic resources in a systematic manner, enhancing the capacity of tax officers and developing sustainable and efficient revenue generation system as a medium term objective. This is also expected to mitigate the extant risks of conflict spill-over in the relatively peaceful states, and prevent to some extent, potential adverse development fallouts at the local level.

The Portfolio Manager will be responsible for day-to-day program management, supervision of project team of staff and international and national consultants. The Portfolio Manager ensures that all activities are implemented in close cooperation with UNDP Programme and Operation Units. The Portfolio Manager will also maintain a network with colleagues from UNDP, relevant UN Agencies, INGOs, NCRC, and other development partners, related government counterparts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society. The Portfolio Manager will report to the Team Leader, Human Development and Inclusive Growth Unit for strategic Programme direction, harmonization, linkages and coordination and work closely with relevant staff.

Duties & Responsbilities

Summary of Deliverables for the Portfolio Manager:

  • Ensure sound management including provision day-to-day financial and administrative support for the delivery of the inclusive growth portfolio including, public financial management, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and early recovery project and protected areas network capacity building project activities;
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships and coordination with key counterparts and ensure the strategic positioning of UNDP in the public financial management accountability sector; disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and early recovery, private and natural resource management and other key related sectors;
  • Actively support resource mobilization, financial accountability and human resource management;
  • Efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

Ensure sound management including provision day-to-day financial and administrative support for the delivery of the inclusive growth portfolio including, public financial management, the disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and early recovery and protected areas capacity building project activities:

  • Achievement of program outputs through strategic direction and implementation guidance to the  program teams and responsible parties;
  • Ensure overall positive direction and integrity of the inclusive growth portfolio through close coordination with the Programme specialist, technical advisors and HDIGU Team leader and in consultation with management, project oversight mechanisms;
  • With the support from the Programme specialist(s) and other technical advisors establish and maintain  strategic engagement with government counterparts including the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry of Humanitarian  Affairs and Disaster Management, the National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment;
  • Support the Project Board(s) oversight through preparation of the project Annual Work Plan (AWP), drafting of the program financial and narrative reports and submission in coordination with HDIG Unit for quality assurance and dissemination;
  • Establishment of suitable monitoring mechanisms;
  • Undertake regular monitoring and reporting on program progress and constraints; updates the implementation plan as required; 
  • Collect, maintain and update key Programme data to strengthen Programme reporting and accountability;
  • Ensure regular reporting to the Country Office management team to ensure oversight of emerging program issues.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships and coordination with key counterparts and ensure the strategic positioning of UNDP in the public financial ,management accountability sector; disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and early recovery, private sector and natural resource management sectors:

  • Support the overall coordination of partners and the strategic position UNDP in the economic development, and disaster risk reduction working group. Accountability sector then UN cluster system;
  • Support the development key policy framework especially the South Sudan disaster risk management  policy, trade policy, revenue generation and natural resource management  related policies;
  • Support consultative processes amongst the key counterparts through the provision of timely and relevant Programme narrative and financial reports;
  • Ensure effective collaboration with key UN agencies, development partners especially the partners engaged in the PFM, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and early recovery and trade development.

Support resource mobilization, financial accountability and human resources management:

  • Support resource mobilization and accountability through effective Programme results reporting; and
  • Develop and maintain Programme communication strategy and communicate  Programme achievements and best practice to potential donors;
  • Effective application of UNDP financial oversight through the Atlas enterprise management system, including processing purchase orders, requisitions and payments;
  • Provision of effective services to counterparts including procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management in line with UNDP Rules and Regulations;
  • Prepare terms of reference and support recruitment and management of a team of national and international consultants and subject matter experts;
  • Manage Program Administration and Finance staff to ensure efficient and transparent use of project resources in line with approved budgets and within UNDP rules and regulations;
  • Performance management of the Programme team in line with the UNDP Rules and Regulations.

Efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E):

  • Assists in promoting coordination, dialogue, and good practice among different stakeholders;
  • Prepare advocacy and communication tools through effective use available flat-form including practice areas, teamwork etc.
  • Prepare monitoring and Evaluation plan and ensure implementation of the M&E activities.

Corporate Competencies:

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

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
  • Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

Management and Leadership:

  • Demonstrates team-building capacity including interpersonal and communication skills and ability to cope with a difficult environment where formal institutions of government are at the embryonic stage;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Deals diplomatically with challenging bureaucratic processes, and pressure to meet strict deadlines;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
  • Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

  • Contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
  • Builds knowledge in at least one practice areas, and shares;
  • Ability to provide quality policy advice services on related issues;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
  • Substantive knowledge of democratic governance processes, including constitutional making/review and elections

Competencies

Education:

  • Master Degree in economics or development studies, public administration or relevant social science field.

Experience:

  • 7 years of work experience with a multilateral international organization, I/NGOs, civil society organizations, in sustainable development preferably in a managerial profile; In this, 5 years should be of demonstrable experience in project /programme development and management preferably in at least two areas of human development and inclusive growth, livelihoods, early recovery and recovery, pubic financial management and natural resource management/sustainable development;
  • Demonstrated capacity in project finance management including preparation of budgets, annual work plans and financial and project progress reporting is required;
  • Demonstrated experience in managing development projects dealing with aid coordination, aid effectiveness, political process strengthening and broader sustainable development issues;
  • Proven experience of effective partnership development with national counterparts, development partners and civil society is required;
  • Relevant technical experience in constitutional development, electoral processes, and working with civil society organizations is an asset;
  • Work experience in the sub-region and conflict affected countries will be an asset;
  • Proficiency in standard software applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc. is required.

Language:

  • Excellent Knowledge and ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English.