Location : home-based and Podgorica
Application Deadline : 12-Oct-10
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Nov-2010
Duration of Initial Contract : 12 months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 24 months
The fight against corruption is a priority for Montenegro in terms of EU integration objectives, and the Directorate for Anti-Corruption Initiative (DACI) the key preventive anti-corruption agency in the country, with an extensive, and expanding mandate: DACI assumed the supporting role for the Commission for monitoring the implementation of national anti-corruption policy.
The increased mandate means new challenges, and DACI has been working to meet them. Partnerships with a number of international organizations, particularly UNDP, and the assistance of donors, including Norway, have been extremely valuable in this respect.
However, the majority of the assistance received to date has focused on building DACI’s technical capacities at the individual level: i.e., developing the specialized knowledge and skills (expertise) necessary to perform particular anti-corruption tasks. While this support has been invaluable in promoting DACI’s role as one of the leading anti-corruption institution in the country, what has received less attention is the question of DACI’s organizational capacities.
Organizational capacity development has become a priority for DACI, inter alia, due to the agency’s growth and increased prominence in the recent years. DACI staff has increased from 6 in 2007 to 17 in 2009. However, while the additional human and budget resources have helped DACI’s to produce more outputs; they have also created new management and operational challenges. DACI has grown into an agency that would benefit from a more formalized strategic management processes, including, for instance, formalized and documented business processes. It needs to move to the next stage of organizational development to manage its capacity assets and meet new challenges comprehensively and systematically, with an appropriate emphasis on and sustainable development of organizational and strategic management capacities, along with the continued development of technical expertise.
UNDP has been an essential partner in assisting DACI to identify and develop a response to the task at hand. Of particular value has been the fall 2008 Capacity Assessment, which identified DACI’s key capacity assets and limitations, and identified the way forward. The CA report served as a diagnostic tool based on which an intervention aimed to enhance strategic operational capability of DACI was formulated.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives of the assignment and scope of work:
* The Chief Technical Advisor will be responsible for the provision of detailed, in-depth and continuous technical guidance, mentoring and support in undertaking key strategic management processes (SMP) and organizational development. S/he will conduct initial/periodical reviews, become fully familiar with the mandated tasks and organizational setting of the DACI and engage with the beneficiary institution in drafting and finalizing the procedures for key processes pertaining to strategic management. Under the direct supervision and in close cooperation with the Project Manager for Developing Capacities for Implementation of Anti-corruption Initiatives, the CTA will perform the following duties:
* Expert support in strategic management and organizational development
* Ensure overall support in the development of strategic management process in the DACI;
* Review best practices in the Western Balkans/European Union for stakeholder consultation management, draft and finalize procedures for stakeholder consultation in DACI;
* Conduct an initial review, draft and finalize procedures for the development of institutional/departmental/individual work plans;
* Facilitate the process and provide technical support in producing departmental/individual work plans for the DACI, as suggested by the procedures in point above;
* In close communication with the beneficiary, and based on a review of best practices emerging from similar activities pertaining to organizational development, draft and finalize procedures for institutional and individual performance monitoring and evaluation;
* Based on interviews and analysis, identify further areas where intervention to develop SMP is necessary and develop a concise plan of activities, including information on the deliverables and indicators of success;
* Where additional actions are proposed and approved, provide technical inputs to Project Manager for drafting of work plans, ToRs (if necessary) and identify potential partners;
* Conduct, at regular intervals, the review of the development of the SMP and submit progress reports in writing to the Project Manager, describing the work phases completed compared to the agreed project plan, and updates on emerging issues and proposed future activities, including corrective actions if needed.
Specific organizational development/management training
* Based on the available documents/analysis, interviews with Project Manager and key staff in DACI, provide recommendations on the need to organize a formal training for the DACI staff on SMP (including, but not limited to two-day retreat type events) where timing of the training will be determined based on the review of the development of the SMP. The trainings are to focus on:
* Institutional learning strategy development,
* Strategic planning and Work planning,
* Monitoring and evaluation,
* Project management;
* Recommend additional topics for SMP training in consultation with the Project Manager and the beneficiary institution;
* Draft working documents (agendas, plans of action, ToRs, etc.) for the recommended trainings;
* Facilitate the workshops (including, but not limited to two-day retreat type events);
* Produce a knowledge transfer assessment tool to be used in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the training and propose modifications/improvements in the delivery of trainings;
* Ensure coordination of training activities and overall expert assistance pertaining to the SMP development and training;
* Foster and support establishment of the mechanisms for exchange of information, knowledge codification and application between different participants/users (establishment of sustainable institutional memory).
Specific business process development
Conduct a review of institutional business processes and provide recommendations for restructuring selected business processes, including, but not limited to:
* policy analysis protocol,
* diagnostic research protocol,
* procurement and contracting processes,
* budgeting and financial management;
* Based on the review and in consultation with the beneficiary institution, recommend additional business processes to be restructured, if needed;
* Provide recommendations on activities where separate specialized expert support is needed and provide technical inputs for preparation of ToRs and other supporting documents.
Other duties:
* Provide technical inputs and support Project Manager in ensuring production of quality and timely outputs, as well as tools for promoting project visibility;
* Provide regular briefs, reports, assessments to the Project Manager on the advancement of the efforts undertaken by the project, including any dilemmas, outstanding issues, concerns and recommend corrective measures if needed;
* Provide analysis and recommendations in relation to linking with other relevant programs in Montenegro and elsewhere in Europe, so that experiences can be shared, project’s visibility in a larger setting ensured, and best practices utilized so as to maximize the impact of the project;
* Provide technical inputs and recommendations for further resource mobilization.
The expected results:
This intervention represents a sustained medium-term effort to develop and improve DACI’s strategic management capacities, through specialized training, supported by sustained expert advice and facilitation in applying the newly-imparted knowledge (mentoring). Hence, the expected results include:
* key strategic management learning objectives defined,
* work program for capacity development defined,
* institutional performance monitoring and evaluation protocols defined,
* knowledge transfer assessments for each training activity undertaken,
* selected business processes reviewed, formalized, and documented.
Monitoring and progress controls:
The CTA will be responsible to provide regular reports in writing to the Project Manager. The report is to contain sufficient detail and information that would allow for the appraisal of the effectiveness to date of the project’s activities, as well as further direction of the project.
The CTA will be responsible to provide regular reports in writing to the Project Manager. The report is to contain sufficient detail and information that would allow for the appraisal of the effectiveness to date of the project’s activities, as well as further direction of the project.
Time duration:
This is a 2 year engagement. The consultant will be engaged under short special service agreement immediately after the completion of the recruitment procedure. The first agreement will be issued for a period of twelve months. The extension is subject to the overall performance of the CTA, results and impacts of the activities s/he facilitated, supported and/or conducted the relationship s/he developed with the beneficiary institution, and the overall dynamics in the realization of the project.
Travel:
The CTA will be expected to provide long-distance advice and in-country consultations. Therefore, the CTA is expected to be able to travel to Podgorica or elsewhere in Montenegro, pursuant to the work plan of project’s activities. The consultant will be required to undertake one mission per month to Podgorica, Montenegro during the above mentioned period.
Competencies
* Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
* Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
* Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
* Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
* Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
* Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
* Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
* Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.
* Perform any other duty as may be assigned by the immediate supervisor.
* Express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in writing and orally,
* Research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize information,
* Conceptualize, plan and execute ideas,
* Work well under pressure and manage conflicting priorities;
* Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, particularly for building networks and partnerships;
* Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relations within the beneficiary organization;
* Demonstrated effectiveness and concrete results so far in providing continuous technical guidance, mentoring and support in undertaking key strategic management processes (SMP) and organizational development i.e. supporting organizational development of institutions such as DACI;
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
* Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, preferably in strategic management, organizational design and/or business administration;
Experience:
* Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in financial and/or organizational management;
* Minimum of ten years of relevant experience in strategic management process and/or organizational development;
* IT skills including word-processing, database applications, presentation software and use of internet.
Language Requirements:
* Fluency in both written and spoken English; knowledge of the local language would be an asset;
Application Process
Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications to UNDP Office in Podgorica by e-mail to consultancy.me@undp.org by Tuesday, 12th October 2010, CoB.
The application should contain:
1. Duly completed Personal History Form (P11) can be downloaded from
http://www.undp.org.me/files/jobs/index.html
2. Cover/Motivation Letter
The short-listed candidates only would be requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Duties and Responsibilities".
UNDP is an equal opportunity employer.
Apply Now at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=19418