Programme Specialist-Local Governance and Peacebuilding (3 Positions)

Location: Bahir Dar, Mekelle, and Semera, Ethiopia

Grade: NPSA-10

Closing Date: Feb 28, 2024, 06:59 AM

Job Description

The two-year conflict in Northern Ethiopia has triggered a major humanitarian crisis in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions with profound adverse effects on Ethiopia’s ambitious economic and governance reforms. The conflict resulted in significant loss of lives; displacement of millions needing humanitarian assistance; and large-scale damage to infrastructure and services. On 2^nd of November 2022, an agreement for lasting peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities was signed between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GoE) and the TPLF. Led by the AU, the Peace Agreement has ended active combat in Northern Ethiopia and raised hope for a gradual restoration of services and humanitarian operations in the region. This wide-ranging agreement committed, among other things, to an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities, the creation of an interim administration in Tigray region pending regional elections, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants (XCs), resumption of unhindered humanitarian access, the restoration of essential services, reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returning refugees, transitional justice, social cohesion and reconciliation, and recovery and reconstruction. The peace agreement also paves the way for the restoration of peace, security, and stability in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray Regions.

It is in this context that UNDP has developed a ‘Peace Support Programme/Facility (PSP/F)’ nested within the Federal Government’s Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) but focused on urgent actions over a period of 24 months to stabilize conditions, restore a sense of normalcy, and deliver a first peace dividend to conflict-impacted populations.  The approach is to fill the gap that is likely to open between the urgency of addressing a wide range of priority needs quickly to consolidate peace and stabilize conditions and the time it will take for the larger, longer-term, and more comprehensive 3R Framework to kick-in meaningfully, possibly in late-2024, at the earliest.  Moreover, the PSP/F is designed flexibly, so that it could potentially be scaled-up to become the foundation of a larger UN-wide effort in the same direction.  In line with this approach, the PSP/F is being implemented already in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions.

The strategic goal of the PSP/F is to contribute toward an irreversible peace process in Northern Ethiopia.  This will be pursued through an actionable set of measures that can build trust between communities and legitimate regional government authorities and lay the foundations for recovery, peacebuilding, and sustainable development, founded upon country leadership and ownership.

Working within the broader framework of 3RF, the PSP/F will focus on the following windows:

• Window 1:  Local Governance, Human Rights and Social Cohesion
• Window 2:  Basic Social Services (health, nutrition, education, WASH, protection)
• Window 3:  Economic Revival (enterprises and agriculture, demining)
• Window 4:  Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants
• Window 5:   Solutions to Internal Displacement

Geographic Focus:  Afar, Amhara and Tigray (Northern Ethiopia); Window 4 Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants (8 regions)

Target conflict-impacted populations:  10 million

Timelines for implementation:  June 2023 – May 2025

In view of this, UNDP would like to recruit a competent Local Governance Programme Specialist who would join the Peace Support Office team effectively delivering the on the Peace Support Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

1. Facilitate implementation of UNDP corporate and UNDP Ethiopia’s strategies in alignment with the current CPD, the results framework of UNDP Peace Support Programme’s Local Governance, Peacebuilding, Social cohesion, reconciliation, and Human Rights in the areas assigned.
2. Provision of technical advice and services internally within the UNDP Peace Support programme team, Governance and Peacebuilding Unit, and externally to regional government and non-governmental counterparts on implementation of the Local Governance, Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion activities in alignment with the PS/F project objectives
3. Regular monitoring and evaluation of Peace Support activities as per the project M&E framework and plan, analysis of programme data for promotion of data use for decision making.
4. Establish and strengthen the provision of support for strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ national actors, and development partners, and support and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office
5. Facilitation of knowledge building, management, communication, and outreach. 

1.Facilitate implementation of UNDP Peace Support Programme’s Local Governance, Peacebuilding, Social Cohesion, reconciliation, and Human Rights in the areas assigned focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, peace, conflict, and governance situation in the targeted regions  continuously with a particular focus of areas that have impacts on UNDP’s programmes/projects.,
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned based on the above analysis, as well as UNDP’s corporate priorities and comparative advantages.,
• Determination of required revisions/adjustments, and coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises.,
• Coordination of programme/project implementation with implementing partners according to agreed-upon priorities, Annual Work Plans, and available resources.
• Ensure adherence of UNDP-supported work to safeguards: HACT, ESS, human rights, ‘leaving no one behind and “do–no-harm”  updates risks and risk mitigation, to inform future plan.
• Forge close and practical working relationships with the humanitarian cluster system to ensure that HDP nexus issues are addressed on the ground.
• Contribute to policy analysis, beefing notes and dissemination related to reinstating and deepening local governance, peacebuilding, social cohesion, reconciliation, and human rights in the targeted regions and consolidation of the same with similar national policies and strategies.
• Ensures that approaches to gender equality are integrated into all aspects of planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

2.Provision of technical advice and services internally within UNDP Peace Support programme team, Governance and Peacebuilding Unit, and externally to regional government and non-governmental counterparts on implementation of the Local Governance, Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion activities in alignment with PS project objectives focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Identify programmatic entry points through gap assessments and actively contribute to the formulation of new interventions/activities within the area of responsibility, -Local Governance, Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion.
• Assess capacity-building needs in collaborating regional institutions and help develop well-structured and sustainable capacity development plans for addressing them,
• Keeping abreast of policy changes and trends regarding conflict dynamics, peace, and security as well as local governance and civil society, analyze them and inform PSO Management,
• Build strong and trusted relationships with regional counterparts, including zonal and woreda officials, as well as with target communities.,
• Develop concept papers, briefing notes, issues papers and analytical pieces to inform UNDP policymaking and programming,
• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues,
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt linked to programme objectives and priorities,
• Coordinate with the Governance and Peacebuilding Unit to align the works of the Peace Support project with the CO portfolio that falls under governance and peacebuilding.

3.Regular monitoring and evaluation of Peace Support activities as per the project M&E framework and plan, analysis of programme data for promotion of data use for decision making focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Regular monitoring and analysis of programmes and projects and suggest timely readjustments in portfolio as and when necessary.
• Effective application of RBM tools, monitoring achievement of results and contribution to team and office-wide initiatives and activities,
• Financial and physical substantive monitoring of projects, analysis of the programme/project environment, identification of operational and financial challenges and propose timely adjustments and/solutions,
• Regular field monitoring visits, reporting back on findings and recommendations, follow-up to ensure timely implementation of the recommendations to build the capacity of the implementing partners,
• Compilation of project/programme progress reports, distilling lessons learnt, contribution to UNDP corporate reporting requirements,
• Identify, document, and share lessons learned and generate recommendations for consideration of the UNDP management /Project Steering Committee to feeding into improved implementation of the PS project,

4.Establish and strengthen provision of support for strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ national actors, and development partners, and support on and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Ensure effective Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic coordination amonggoals of UNDP, country needs and partner’s priorities,
• Preparation of briefing notes, statements, talking points and speeches for Senior Management related to programmes and projects under custody,
• Maintenance of project staff, partners briefs and activity information for bilateral donors, civil society, academia, private sector, and other stakeholders, to support UNDP’s visibility activities.
• Lead local platforms of like-minded state and non-state actors to contribute to strengthening local governance, peacebuilding, social cohesion, reconciliation, and human rights in the targeted regions.

5.Facilitate knowledge building, management, communication, and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Support the project partners at regional and federal level to systematically build national capacities to independently take initiatives towards the realization of project objectives and their mission more broadly.
• Build strong and trusted relationship with regional counterparts, including zonal and woreda officials, as well as with target communities,
• Ensure good coordination and collaboration with suppliers, implementing partners, beneficiaries, and other key project stakeholders,
• Develop initiatives and coordination mechanism to facilitate functional partnerships between Government counterparts and other partners and actors working on areas relevant to the project,
• Promote close coordination with other partners and/similar initiatives on Local Governance, Peacebuilding, and Social Cohesion to ensure collaboration and constructive collaboration as much as possible,
• Sound contribution to knowledge building, networks, and communities of practice,
• Systematic recording of best practices and lessons learnt in the areas assigned,
• Coordination of internal and external reviews and evaluations and facilitation of application of lessons in future programming,
• Organization of trainings for implementing partners, operations/projects staff on programme management issues applying RBM tools,
• Synthesize lessons learnt and best practices in project/programme implementation and participate actively in relevant communities of practice.
• Prepare and/ or contribute to communications materials, including audio-visual products, on UNDP’s Peace Support Programme and other related efforts
• Perform other activities as assigned by supervisor

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Deputy Head of Peace Support or his/her designate, Local Governance and Peacebuilding Specialist is responsible for ensuring effective management of the Peace Support Programme, providing technical and operational support to the design, implementation and monitoring and reporting activities relevant to Window I. The position holder is also expected to assist in the interface between UNDP and its implementing partners in the targeted regions, most notably rule of law, justice, human rights, peace, and security institutions. The incumbent would be required to support the conduct of the requisite analytical and situational assessment to inform programme design and understand trends and patterns that impact on the programme. He/she provides policy and technical advisory services to regional government counterparts as well as UNDP.

The Programme Specialist is expected to work independently, with minimal supervision but in close collaboration with the programme colleagues within the Country Office, and to actively engage with government partners and other actors.

Impact of Results

The results to be delivered by the Programme Specialist will ensure effective implementation of UNDP’s Peace Support Programme in Northern Ethiopia. Further, it will enhance UNDP’s ability to enhance local infrastructures, systems and institutions for sustainable development and peace in the targeted regions, thus enabling the Country Office deliver on its commitments to partners – government, donors and protect communities.

UNDP’s stakeholders and partners are increasingly requiring that we demonstrate greater development results and harmonization by ensuring implementation of programmes and projects in a more integrated and coherent manner, and by adapting a results-based project management, ultimately ensuring sustainability of development results. This capacity would allow UNDP to offer to partners – government and donors, implementation of sound projects and programmes that are evidence-based, relevant and effective. The results will also facilitate a new paradigm by applying portfolio approach in programming that ensures alignment and complementarity, shared learning, and value for money.

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 Development – Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Business Management- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals, Business Management-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, policies, and priorities.
•  Business Management-Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
•  Business Management-Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.
• 2030 Agenda peace- Governance, Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion: Local governance, Planning and assessment, restoration of key government functions, Conflict Prevention, Dialogue, Mediation and Reconciliation, Violence Prevention and Reduction function.
• 2030 Agenda Peace–Governance, Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion: Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion; Conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity; Peacebuilding and reconciliation; Humanitarian-Development Peace (HDP) Nexus.
• 2030 Agenda peace- Governance: People with disabilities, planning and basic service delivery, inclusion and participation, civic society engagement.
• 2030 Agenda Peace- Conflict Prevention, Peace building, Governance and Social Cohesion Responsive Institutions: Crisis Assessment, Infrastructure for Peace Local Governance systems, Restoration of key government functions; Area Based Development; Sub-national and local government capacity (post-capacities for planning, coordination, and crisis).

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Regional/Area Development, Local Governance, Community Development, Development Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy, or related disciplines.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at national or international level in project management and provision of technical advisory services.
• Experience in the usage of advanced computers and office software packages, including Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common internet applications and handling of web-based systems.

Required skills:

• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, private sector, project staffs,)
• Practical experience in organization management, strategic planning of associations and public organizations at the national and regional level.
• Hands-on experience in the design, monitoring and evaluation and impact analysis of local governance projects and programmes.
• Demonstrated working level experience in governance institutions, public policy analysis and capacity development.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Ethiopia, including local governance, political, economic, and social context.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience and track record of engagement with and coordinating activities and initiatives that involve senior levels of government, the United Nations, and donors.
• Capacity for responsible problem-solving and troubleshooting.
• Experience in the field of post-conflict coordination and proven analytical capacity, especially for issues relating to local governance.
• Familiarity with programmatic issues related to local governance, peacebuilding needs, conflict assessment, stabilization, social cohesion, and relief to recovery transition processes.
• Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines related to peacebuilding, reconstruction, and development, and a good knowledge of the United Nations System and the multi/bilateral cooperation.

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English and local language of the duty station is required.

Application Instruction

• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position and also mention prefer duty station from Bahir Dar (Amhara), Semra (Afar), and Mekelle (Tigray) under subject line.

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