Democratic Governance Practice Leader
Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP
Location: Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Last Date: July 11, 2008
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE PRACTICE LEADER
Location : Bratislava, SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Application Deadline : 11-Jul-08
Type of Contract : 200 Series
Post Number : 6799
Post Level : L-6 (ICS-13)
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract : one year
Background
The Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is responsible for articulating UNDP’s development policy, using evidence gathered through country applications, regional experiences and global interactions. BDP has a key role to play in helping country offices to accelerate human development by supporting the country offices in the design and implementation of programmes and projects that effectively contribute to the national-level policies and results. Driven by demand, and working through the Regional Bureaux and the RSC, BDP provides the tools, analysis and capacities that country offices need to make a real difference in UNDP’s practice areas.
BDP’s support of UNDP’s strategic plan 2008-2011 is focused in 4 practices (Poverty Reduction, Governance, Environment and Energy, HIV/AIDS) and 2 thematic areas (Capacity Development and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment).
The practice management structure at the Regional Center-level is composed of a dedicated Regional Practice Leader (RPL) for each practice/thematic area and a Knowledge Management Team Leader (KMTL) at the 6 RCs in Bangkok, Bratislava, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg and Panama City. The RPL coordinates the regional community of practice, regardless of funding source, to promote consistency and coherence within the practice.
Democratic Governance Approach
UNDP’s democratic governance practice focuses on fostering inclusive participation, strengthening responsive governing institutions, and promoting democratic principles. Inclusive participation expands equal opportunities for engagement by the poor, women, youth, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups who are excluded from power. Efforts in this area aim to strengthen opportunities for civic engagement in the core channels linking people and the state, at the national, regional and local levels.
Work on governing institutions has traditionally emphasized the design and functions of the core pillars of the state, including the legislative, executive and judicial branches, at national, regional and local levels. Strengthening responsive governing institutions entails promoting the core channels of representation and accountability in the state at the national, regional and local levels. Responsive institutions mean that the state reflects and serves the needs, priorities, and interests of all people, including women, the poor, youth, and minorities.
Supporting national partners to strengthen democratic practices grounded in human rights, anti-corruption and gender equality require UNDP leadership in promoting integration, coordination and information-sharing of policies, practices, and strategies strengthening democratic governance within and outside of the UN family.
In order to provide timely and quality policy advisory services and knowledge products in democratic governance, the Democratic Governance Group (DGG) has organized its work and its staff along these three main clusters.
A core group of policy advisers representing capacity along these three clusters are based in Headquarters (New York, Geneva and Brussels) and in the Oslo Governance Centre, with a specific mandate of providing policy advisory services, knowledge management as well as partnership building and advocacy. As part of the practice architecture, which allocates decentralized capacity to the Regional Centers and Sub-regional Resource Facilities, a number of policy advisers are based in Johannesburg and Dakar (for Africa), Bangkok and Colombo (for Asia and the Pacific), Panama and Port-of-Spain (for Latin America and the Caribbean), Bratislava (for Europe and CIS) and Beirut (for Arab States).
Regional Context
The Bratislava Regional Centre (BRC) is UNDP’s main knowledge and advisory hub for the 31 countries serviced by UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS (RBEC). It connects the region to a global network of development experts, to build knowledge and capacity, and to forge partnerships to meet the development challenges of a large and diverse region. The BRC works to codify and disseminate development successes and best practices in the region, and to improve the impact of UNDP’s work through effective communications and advocacy
The BRC employs a team of in-house policy advisers, backed by an extensive roster of outside experts. Policy advisers provide user-driven advisory services, access to knowledge and technical expertise to RBEC country offices (and other UNDP and UN clients) in a timely and responsive manner. Specific services include diagnostic missions, on-site support to UNDP Country offices, programming and project formulations, expert referrals, capacity development, the development of briefs, strategies, and presentations for UNDP senior management, training and applied policy research. Policy advisers are also responsible for establishing and maintaining active regional communities of practice in their respective areas of expertise, as part of the global Community of Practice. Sub-practices in each thematic area also manage the Regional Programme, including project formulation and implementation.
Policy advisory services within BRC are grouped into practice areas forming organization units of the Centre. The Democratic Governance Practice concentrates expertise in, and provides advisory services on main priority areas in the region: public administration reform; anti-corruption; decentralization and local governance; and human rights and justice. In 2007, advisory support services provided in response to requests from Country Offices and other clients in democratic governance was equivalent to 850 person days.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Practice Leader’s role is to lead and strengthen the global practice architecture in the region, with emphasis on practice co-ordination with connection to global experiences. The incumbent will ensure the quality and relevance of programme and project services in the Democratic Governance practice in the RBEC region, ensuring consistency at the global level. To that end the PL ‘s functions are fully integrated in the Regional Service Centre structure, results planning and delivery. As a result, the incumbent will be accountable for the delivery and quality of results to both the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) at the RSC and the Practice Director (PD) in BDP, NY.
In addition, the Practice Leader will
Lead and manage, both substantively and operationally, large Regional Programme(s) for the Regional Bureau on which reporting will be only to the Director of the Regional Bureau;
Manage a large volume of financial resources being invested in the region from multiple sources with a high degree of accountability for delivery of those resources;
Manage, lead and coordinate several Policy Advisors at the L-4/5 level (5-22 – varies by region);
Manage the substantive area of work in a politically complex environment - crisis/conflict/post-conflict situation; and
Lead the practice area in the region ensuring UNDP’s credibility to deliver on a highly visible programme which in turn links to UNDP’s capacity to deliver on its Strategic Plan 2008-2011.
This integrated approach translates into joint work planning and joint performance assessment. The Career Review Group will take place in the RSC with the participation of the Practice Directors, who can ensure consistency between PL’s in the different regions and provide advice on learning and career development in the practice.
The incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:
Policy Advisory/Programme Support-Delivery;
Policy Development;
Practice Management/Coordination;
Practice Advocacy;
Partnership Building;
Quality Control and Assurance; and
Knowledge Management.
Policy Advisory/Programme Support-Delivery
Provide policy advisory services to the Governments and other partners in the region in democratic governance;
Provide policy advisory services on the Bureaux’s regional programme;
Contribute to the design and formulation of CO programmes/regional programmes drawing upon lessons from programmes and other initiatives in the region and from global experiences;
Provide effective support and backstopping for, and timely feedback and reporting on implementation of programmes in support of the practice architecture;
Strengthen internal CO capacity on the use of UNDP corporate practice development frameworks;
Promote the utilization of financial resources mobilized and allocated for practices in regional and country programmes and in HQ, thematic trust funds, ensuring that all policy advisors are able to facilitate access to these funds by country offices and regional projects;
Provide guidance on cross thematic issues and lead the development of cross practice synergy.
Policy Development
Develop corporate policy and guidance in focus area with the Practice Director (PD) BDP NY;
Provide substantive inputs to international fora to help shape global and regional development strategies, policies, norms and standards.
Practice Management and Co-ordination
Substantive Leadership
Provide substantive and managerial leadership of the practice team and coordination for all personnel engaged in related operational activities in the RSC including on the regional programme;
Lead advocacy in the practice area in the region including promotion of the practice’s global policies, norms and standards and the sharing of the practice’s global experience;
Collaborate with the PD and policy advisors in headquarters to ensure that the RSC-based practice team is up to date on evolving policies;
Lead the practice area in the region ensuring UNDP’s credibility in delivery on a highly visible programme which in turn links to UNDP’s delivery on its Strategic Plan 2008-2011;
Lead and manage the Regional Programme with accountability for delivery.
Coordination and Management
Develop and implement practice/cluster work plans including for the Regional Programme;
Provide practice/cluster programme management oversight including development/management of regional and global programmes;
Consolidate and anchor the practice architecture in the regions to support country offices;
Liaise with country offices to support the inclusion of practice areas at the planning stages of country offices (and regional programmes);
Identify sub-regional and inter-country development and integration opportunities and translates them into capacity development initiatives to address cross border issues;
Support the Global Tracking system for the practice;
Manage all activities related to the practice functions at the RSC including direct supervision, when appropriate, of the policy advisors and specialists, (approximately 12 professional and support staff) create positive team environment and ensure access to learning opportunities for all staff;
Ensure coordination and management of all related human and financial resources in a politically complex environment including the regional programme.
Mobilizing the Community of Practice
Promote the development of a community of practice (COP) at the regional level and catalyze and connect to global experiences including cross-regional/practice collaboration;
Coordinate and capitalize on the approaches and tools in other practices.
Practice Advocacy
Provide substantive and content leadership in UNDP corporate discussions and Inter-Agency coordination on practice issues;
Represent UNDP (and UN partner organizations) to advocate practice messages in the international development for a discussion;
Mobilize external partnerships behind UN/UNDP initiatives.
Partnership Building
Effectively position UNDP’s practice capacity within the UN system to foster consistency in approach, within the regional level by scanning and assessing activities of non-UNDP players in local context and in support of UNCTs and UNDP CO programming arrangements with government counterparts;
Provides guidance and leadership for the engagement of civil society in regional and country programmes, the promotion of civic engagement and the establishment of strategic partnerships;
Engage national and regional partners in practice policy and programme responses under the leadership of the country offices and the UNCT;
Lead regional partnership building with regional and local institutions and consultancies;
Develop with staff an expert roster for the region in the practice area;
Develop multi-partner programmatic initiatives;
Lead the formulation and implementation, in the practice areas, of the regional partnership to support the practice area and support resource mobilization strategies in liaison with the Regional Bureaux and other concerned units;
Scan partnership opportunities and donor intelligence and inform DRD of new partnership developments – e.g. donor priorities; pledges, new donor funding modalities, etc. ensuring that this supports the practice area;
Maintain and strengthen partnerships with key multilaterals (BWIs, Regional Banks, etc) and key regional institutions to support the practice architecture.
Quality Control and Assurance
Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
Co-ordinate delivery of demand-driven service delivery to country offices and regional programmes ensuring professionalism in support – e.g. timelines, responsiveness, quality in deliverables, etc;
Promote quality standards including long-term locally driven initiatives;
Ensure cross-practice approach and cross-regional collaboration back into the global practice level.
Knowledge Management (KM)
Develop with the Knowledge Management Team, in co-ordination with the Practice Director, region-wide lessons learnt, best practices and generate knowledge needed and lessons learnt to shape UNDP’s global strategies in the region;
Lead local KM sharing events and support the corporate KM agenda;
Support the development of a knowledge system and support the utilization of KM strategies and tools;
Link KM to business processes
Promote UN wide Knowledge Management Strategies
Impact of Results
The Practice Leader’s role will impact the strengthening of the global practice architecture of UNDP, the quality and relevance of programme and project services in the practice area and the results of UNDP’s programmes in the region in the practice area. In turn it will impact on UNDP’s capacity to deliver on its Strategic Plan 2008-2011. It will also determine how effectively UNDP fulfills its responsibilities within the UN agencies/partners and the division of labour in the sub-region and delivers on the practice architecture in the region.
Competencies
Corporate
Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional
Strong ability to apply various governance related development theories to the specific context, including translating practice principles into effective policy and programme interventions in the field;
Strong substantive knowledge of governance and ability to link knowledge to UN/UNDP global policies, treaties, processes and frameworks;
Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers in UNDP programme countries and other international development organizations;
Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products, represent the organization and present global policies, norms and tools;
Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of the democratic governance practice.
Leadership
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to provide credible leadership;
Innovative approaches/experience on global development issues;
Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic overview and corporate vision;
Demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis/resolution of complex issues;
Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills with proven track record of mature judgments ;
Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
Knowledge and expertise/recognized expert in practice area;
Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results;
Demonstrated ability to be accountable for practice’s global policies.
Managing Relationships
Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills;
Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
Excellent negotiating and networking skills with strong partnerships in academia, technical organizations and as a recognized expert in the practice area;
Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills and ability to accept accountability for management of large volume of financial resources.
Managing Complexity
Ability to address global development issues;
Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts.
Knowledge Management and Learning
Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Provides constructive coaching and feedback.
Judgment/Decision-Making
Mature judgment and initiative;
Proven ability to provide strategic direction in practice area;
Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve results.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
An advanced university degree in a development related areas – Governance, Public Pokicy, Development Management, International Relations.
Experience
15 years of overall relevant professional experience as well as a proven professional record in the practice area;
Proven professional credibility, as well as senior-level working experience in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization, in both developed and developing countries;
Work experience from a developing country context is highly desirable;
A sound track record of extensive national and international working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP’s practice areas and the ability to link to global policy development for UNDP;
Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.
Language Requirements:
Fluency and proficiency in English; working knowledge of Russian is desirable, command of other languages of the region is an asset
APPLY AT: http://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=5345