Interim Director – UNDP

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:

a) UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements;

b) If official travel is required, and subject to (local) Covid-19 health permission, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expense in accordance with UNDP’s travel guidance and policy, and the personnel shall receive a per diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate.

Office/Unit/Project Description:

The African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) was established as the coordinating arm for the African Union Commission (AUC) to implement the African Mining Vision (AMV). It aims to ensure minerals play a greater transformative role in the development of the continent. The role of the AMDC is set by the directive of the African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development. The twenty-sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government (AU-AHSG) held on 30th January 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia adopted the Statutes establishing the AMDC as a semi-autonomous Specialized Agency of the African Union (Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.589 (XXVI)). The AU Assembly Heads of State and government in its July 2018 summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania further decided the AMDC shall be hosted by the Republic of Guinea (under Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.697 (XXXI)).

Recently, the AUC and the UNDP have been partnering to support the AMDC in developing its five-year Business Plan and organizing the First Africa Forum on Mining. The AMDC is being supported through the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme (Phase II), initiated by the Secretariat of the OACPS (the Organisation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States, formerly known as the ACP Group of States), financed by the European Commission and UNDP, and implemented by UNDP at the request of the OACPS. This arrangement seeks to ensure the effective implementation of the services of the AMDC through a coordinated approach under a professional and semi-independent structure. This will allow the AMDC to respond to AU members’ needs with the flexibility and swiftness needed to address the current challenges in the mineral sector.

Therefore, UNDP is seeking to engage an Interim Director of the AMDC to oversee the Centre’s establishment and operationalization. The AMDC in the interim period of the first 12 months will comprise the Interim Director, three technical staff and several consultants.

Institutional Arrangements:

The Interim Director will report to UNDP’s Programme Manager of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme and will work in close collaboration with the AUC, Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM).
The position will be administered by the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme.

The Interim Director will be responsible for ensuring and overseeing the smooth transition, establishment and operationalization of the AMDC Secretariat and the ratification of the AMDC Statute by the quorum of AU member states. The Interim Director will lead the Interim Secretariat of the AMDC to become a center of excellence for minerals development and lead facilitator, in collaboration with partners, for the implementation of the AMV and mineral-led trade policies and regulatory frameworks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other AU Policy Instruments.
Particularity, the Interim Director shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership in managing the operationalization of the AMDC as a specialized Agency of the African Union and build the foundations for its institutional sustainability;
• Develop and execute the overall strategy for the Centre. Drive the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs including the continental agenda on minerals.
• Ensure the adoption and effective implementation of the Business Plan of the AMDC, ensuring alignment with the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme (Phase II);
• Provide  leadership and ensures effective and efficient functioning of the Centre.

Partnership building:

• Guide and assist the Member States of the African Union to accelerate the ratification of the Statutes of the AMDC;
• Develop and maintain regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member States and partner institutions. Build thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Centre;
• Build and maintain good working relations and collaboration with other AU directorates/departments, specialized agencies and units;
• Represent the Centre and its interests under the guidance and approval of the AU Commission (Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry, and Mining); and
• Organize fora and conferences to advance the goals of the Centre with other organizations and relevant partners.

Day-to-day management:

• Develop and oversee the implementation of guidelines and documents for institutionalization and operations of the Centre in line with the Centre’s legal framework/Statute of the AMDC, such as relevant concept notes, strategies, and work plans;
• Manage and supervise employees and consultants within the AMDC’s Interim Secretariat to ensure their effective performance and delivery of the Centre’s goals and annual targets.
• Develop and maintain robust monitoring and evaluation systems; and
• Ensure effective and efficient management of funds attributed to the AMDC, including effective budgeting, delivery of quality programs, and preparation of periodic financial, budget execution and programmatic reports in conformity with relevant rules, policies and procedures.

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s and AU’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the AU and the UN;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
• The individual will serve in his/her individual capacity and not as a representative of a Government institution, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP.

Required Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with the organization’s objectives, based on systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities. Linking the vision of the organization to reality on the ground,and creating tangible solutions to mineral governance related challenges.
• Negotiate and influence, engage and partner: Ability to reach an understanding with partners, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations. Ability to establish and develop networks that deliver powerful collaborations.
• People management: Aligns people and resources with organizational vision, strategy, objectives. Builds teams and motivates people. Delegates responsibilities appropriately; Provides constructive feedback, discusses poor performance in a timely manner, provides recognition as well as ensure accountability.
• Resource management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.

Desired Additional Competencies:

• Portfolio management; achieving results: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Efficiently establishes appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals. Demonstrates focus on achieving quality results and impact.

• Master’s degree in Economics, Business, Finance, International Development, Mining, Geology or another relevant field from a recognized educational institution.

Minimum years of relevant Work experience:

• Fifteen (15) years of experience in mineral governance, mineral policy advice and related areas, of which eight (8) years at managerial level.

Required Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of the Africa Mining Vision and its implementation instruments such as:
  • The Africa Minerals Governance Framework (AMGF);
  • AMV-Private Sector Compact;
  • Country Mining Vision (CMV);
  • Africa Minerals and Energy Classification Framework (AMREC);
  • African Union Commodity Strategy.
• Working experience in Regional or Global mining governance institutions;
• Ability to effectively use and apply the UNDP, AUC and/ or other comparable international organizations’ administrative, legal and operational procedures.

Language(s) (at working level):

• English is required;
• Proficiency in French is an added advantage.

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