Location : Kinshasa, CONGO, DEM. REPUBLIC
Application Deadline : 20-Oct-10
Additional Category Millennium Development Goals
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-5
Languages Required : English French
Duration of Initial Contract : 1 year
As the official responsible within the Integrated Mission for the coordination of the development activities of the United Nations and in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the Government and mandates and objectives of the UN Agencies, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General/ Resident Coordinator/ Humanitarian Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative (D-SRSG/RC/HC/UNDP RR) has established an United Nations Integrated Office.
Following more than a decade of armed conflict, the Democratic Republic of Congo is striving to consolidate important gains of the peace process and create favourable conditions for sustained political and socio-economic stability. Although the conflict has ended in large parts of the country, residual pockets of instability remain, with un-controlled armed groups that are mostly operating in the Eastern region. As part of their efforts to support the stabilization process, the United Nations System launched - in mid 2008 - a Security and Stabilization Support Strategy for Eastern DRC designed to consolidate peace gains and create the conditions for longer-term recovery and development. The UNSSSS, which draws on existing national, UN and other frameworks, is specifically aimed at 1) improving the security environment by supporting the disbanding of armed groups as well as security sector reform; 2) supporting political processes to implement relevant agreements; 3) supporting the restoration of state authority in conflict-affected areas; and 4) assisting the return and reintegration of IDPs and refugees, as well as community recovery. In 2009, the Government of DRC recognised the need to drive the stabilisation process and launched the stabilisation strategy for eastern DRC (STAREC) that is now considered as the main strategic reference to which UNSSSS and other UN and international partners interventions are fully aligned in the East. In May 2010, the United Nations Security Council passed a landmark resolution (1925) that transformed the peacekeeping mission (MONUC) into a peace consolidation mission (MONUSCO) and called for a strategic focus of UN interventions onto peace consolidation and stabilisation. The shift implies that UN agencies and MONUSCO move towards further integration and mutually reinforcing programmatic and structural collaboration. It is within this framework that in complementarity with the Stabilisation Strategy in Eastern DRC, the UN, the World Bank and other international partners have initiated a collaborative process to formulate a comprehensive Peace Consolidation Programme. This programme will play a catalytic role in the peace consolidation process, as it will harness international partners’ efforts aiming to provide peace dividends and create a conducive ground for sustained peace and pro-poor economic growth. The new peace consolidation programme will substantially draw from existing programmes and will be fully aligned with the new Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and priority action plans both at national and provincial levels. It will be a focused, integrated and costed framework that will be articulated around the strategic areas with direct impact on peace consolidation and where the System’s comparative advantages will be the most effectively used.
UNDP is expected to play a key advisory role in promoting policy dialogue, advancing socio-economic recovery and contributing to human development agenda of DRC as well as critical emerging issues such as climate change.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall coordination of the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR and the supervision of the Head of the Integrated Office, the Senior Policy Advisor has the following duties and responsibilities:
Function 1: Supporting policy dialogue and socio-economic recovery
* Support the Resident Coordinator and participate in high-level policy dialogue with the Government of DRC, donors, civil society, and private sector on socio-economic recovery.
* Provide substantive inputs to Government-led policy discussions for the advancement of the socio-economic recovery agenda
* Participate in the formulation of UNDP’s strategic policies and programmes including the identification of collaboration opportunities that strengthen national capacities and ensure coherence with sister agencies’ strategies and programmes.
* Advise and participate in selected studies/research on emerging economic recovery concerns that feed into government/development partners processes
* Provide quality analysis in the formulation or improvement of UNDP strategies in support to DRC’s socio-economic recovery.
* In collaboration with the Poverty Reduction Team Leader, facilitate UNDP support to government planning and policy formulation processes.
* Provide high quality advisory services to the Resident Coordinator/Resident Representative for the strategic positioning of UNDP in economic recovery policy discussions.
* Provide regular policy briefs to the Resident Coordinator on the country’s economic development situation with a view to facilitating a collective and coherent UN system support to the advancement of the socio-economic recovery agenda.
Function 2: Promoting Human Development and Millennium Development Goals
* Support policy advocacy for the Millennium Development Goals, Human Development and pro-poor and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.
* Support the monitoring of progress and formulation of strategies towards the promotion of human development and the achievement of millennium development goals.
* Provide substantive inputs to events and publications on Human Development issues including the elaboration of human development reports.
* Support the conduct of analytical work in support to sectoral policy formulation with a focus on Millennium Development Goals and human development.
* Compile, analyse and interprete economic and statistical data, thorough research of key economic issues in support to the formulation of UN and government policies and plans.
* Provide technical guidance on MDG country reporting and pro-poor policy reform to achieve MDG targets.
Function 3: Advising on other emerging strategic issues
* Support the Resident Coordinator in his dialogue with International Financial Institutions (primarily the World Bank), bilateral donors and regional partners on emerging policy issues.
* Advise the Resident Coordinator on the UN coherent support to the Government for its strategic positioning and participation in the global climate change debate as well as the coordination of national adaptation and mitigation response.
* Identify opportunities for partnership building with donors, private sector and other actors in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Advise on climate change-related resource mobilization, particularly available carbon financing options.
Impact of Results
* Supporting policy dialogue and socio-economic recovery
* Promoting Human Development and Millennium Development Goals
* Advising the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR on emerging strategic issues
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
* Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
* Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN System.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
* Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
* In-depth knowledge of economic recovery in post-conflict transitions.
* Ability to advocate and provide policy advice at high levels;
* Capacity to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
* Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.
* Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy documents;
* Sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts;
* Demonstrated competency to address the planning, human resources, financial and other issues that are central to high-level planning for economic recovery.
* Proven ability to incorporate into his/her work relevant international practices;
Management and Leadership:
* Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
* Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
* Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
* Strong oral and written communication skills;
* Ability to build strong relationships with clients and external actors;
* Team player, self-motivated and initiative taking, dedicated, creative, resourceful, flexible, energetic with sound judgment;
* Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
* Sound time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
* Advanced university degree (Masters Degree) in Economics or other related social sciences.
Experience:
* At least 10 years of senior level experience in policy and strategy development, and economic recovery.
* Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis.
* A proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior levels of government, United Nations, and donors.
* Experience working within a UN integrated peacekeeping operation or UN agency, post-conflict zones or a hardship non-family duty station would be an advantage.
* UN experience and experience in the region would be a major asset
Language Requirements:
* Fluent written and spoken in French and English
Apply Now at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=19319