County Governance Officer

Volunteering Environment

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF and UN Women in partnership with Government of Kenya through the State Department of Devolution have been implementing programmatic interventions in support of Kenya’s devolution, the latest of these being a Joint Devolution program (2021-2023) that supporting Kenya’s devolution process. The program focused on 14 counties and was implemented in partnership with key ministries and state and non-state organizations supporting devolution. Following the closure of the previous programme, the three UN agencies subsequently designed a successor program that is anticipated to start implementation 1 January 2025.

Implementation of the program will contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Country Framework (2022-2026) outcome and specifically, towards Strategic Result Area 1: People and Peace, Outcome 1.1 By 2026, all people in Kenya at risk of being left behind - particularly all women and girls, all youth and children, all in the ASAL counties and all in the informal urban settlements – inhabit an inclusive, enabling, socially cohesive and peaceful environment, while enjoying human rights, trust institutions and participate in transformative governance systems that are gender-responsive, just and rule of law compliant.

The JDP is a strategic partnership of UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women) working together with the Government of Kenya (GoK) to support enhanced county governance, decentralized service delivery, gender equality, systems for public participation and sustainable development for Kenya and Kenyans. The programme has been developed through a consultative and participatory process involving government entities, civil society, non-government organizations, the private sector, representation of the 4 LNOB groups (all women & girls, all youth & children, all in the ASAL counties & all in the informal urban settlements).

The objective of the program can be summarized as follows:

• Strengthened governance of devolved service delivery through enhanced public participation, social accountability mechanisms and transparency. • Promotion of sustainable development in line with SDGs 5, 10, 11, 16 and 17. • The JP has a strong focus on data, analyses and evidence-based knowledge management to support informed policy dialogues on devolution and development in Kenya. • The JP support equitable development of Kenya and Kenyans focusing particular on the needs of women, youth & children and PWDs (LNOBs).

The JP is organized in three strategic outcomes all interdependent on each other to achieve the objectives of the program:

1. Inclusive Public Participation and Civic Engagement including social accountability and oversight services.
2. County planning (CIDP/ADP) budget frameworks, execution, SDG localization and intergovernmental relations; and
3. Application of evidence based; data driven knowledge management to influence policy in devolved service delivery.

UNDP Kenya is seeking the services of 8 UNV national experts to support implementation of the joint program in 8 target counties: Wajir-Wajir town; Samburu- Maralal; West Pokot- Kapenguria; Homa Bay-Homa Bay town; Narok-Narok; Embu-Embu town; Kitui-Kitui town and Kwale-Kwale town. The expert UNV(s) will provide support to the respective county governments in implementing the joint program in close collaboration and supervised by the Program Implementation Unit (PIU) located in the State Department for Devolution, Nairobi.

The program will start with an inception phase September 1, 2024, in which a comprehensive local governance and service delivery assessment will be undertaken. An important task of the national county based experts (UNV’s) is to collaborate with the leadership of the respective county governments to prepare for the assessment and support the consultants during the assessment.

In addition to the specific support to the county governments during the inception phase the national experts (UNV(s)) are expected to support county governments in the implementing the outcome areas specified below:

1. Inclusive Public Participation and Civic Engagement including social accountability and oversight services: • Support strengthened citizen’s participation to enable meaningful engagement and influencing county planning and budgeting processes, including access to information. • Support development of systems/structures for public participation and civic engagement • Support county governments to strengthen citizen’s engagement at service delivery facilities in devolved sectors. • Support county government improving budget transparency and accountability mechanisms. • Support strengthened county public participation structures (through systems of ward participation).

2. Counties have planning and budgeting processes that promote equitable allocation of resources and execution processes and systems that ensure transparent and efficient service delivery, and oversight mechanisms are strengthened: • Support inclusive County Planning and Budget processes that enable adequate allocation, equity and targeting of resources to services that transform lives of the poorest. • Support county governments in developing budget execution processes and systems ensuring transparent, efficient, and equitable service delivery. • Support county governments strengthening data and statistics at the county assemblies and parliament. • Support development of evidence-based, gender-responsive and child inclusive budgeting and planning systems. • Support improved county budget reporting, M&E and accountability. • Support strengthening of the oversight mandate of the County Assemblies. • Support strengthened county social accountability. • Support county governments on SDG localization.

3. Counties utilize evidence-based data to influence inclusive policy dialogue, formulation, and intergovernmental mechanisms: • Support consultants and/or UN staff in research, assessments, analyses, development of knowledge products or lessons learned documentation on devolution and equitable service delivery. • Support county governments enhancing capacities to collect, analyze and utilize data. • Support county governments strengthening data management systems. • Support strengthened intergovernmental and coordination processes. • Support service delivery systems in counties and below. • Support county governments in policy dialogue.

4. Reporting and Efficiency (Writing and Reporting): • Concept Notes and Project Planning: Support the development of concept notes, project planning documents, and budget forecasts for devolution programs in Kenya. • Donor Reporting and Compliance: Coordinate all donor reporting activities, ensuring timely collection of key results, lessons learned, and other essential data for comprehensive and transparent communication with donors. • Internal Process Management: Guide the program team on internal UNDP procedures related to program implementation aspects like budgeting and contracting, ensuring compliance and smooth operation. • Progress Reporting and Monitoring: Manage progress reporting for all devolution program activities, providing clear and concise information on program advancement. • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with relevant units (communications, finance) and UNICEF and UN Women to ensure their activities support the program's overall impact on devolution within the Kenyan public sector. • Financial Strategy and Efficiency: Participate in decision-making regarding funding sources and financial structures for devolution programs, ensuring these decisions align with the program's resource allocation model and optimize efficiency. • Developing Cost-Effectiveness Benchmarks: Establish benchmarks and other methods to assess the cost-effectiveness of technical assistance provided through contracts, grants, and other program expenditures related to devolution initiatives. • Coordination- support coordination of different stakeholders at county level as relates to the JDP programme.

I. Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

II. Think Innovatively: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.

III. Learn Continuously: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning.

IV. Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

V. Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

VI. Engage and Partner: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

VII. Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

the area of local governance, community development or other relevant areas. • Demonstrated experience in multi - stakeholder engagement, capacity building and with an understanding of Kenya's devolution framework and related issues. • Demonstrated capacity to undertake analysis of devolution trends, challenges, and opportunities. • Competence in development of technical reports and policy briefs to inform progress in implementation and support project decision-making.

Additional Skills

I. Exceptional program management skills, including an entrepreneurial drive to develop and execute self-designed initiatives. II. Ability to lead large, complex initiatives with a diverse, multi-disciplinary set of internal and external stakeholder groups. III. Comfortable interacting with leaders across public, private, and civil society sectors. IV. Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive team player, with the ability to engage and influence peers and colleagues, generate buy-in and trust, and positively and productively impact at the programmatic level. V. Strategic thinking with a drive and passion for collaboration and tactical execution. VI. High-level analytical and organizational skills with intellectual rigor and flawless execution VII. Values-based, collaborative working style with a demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality. VIII. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to use common software tools for word processing, presentation, and spreadsheets.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. The UNV will be posted in one of the 8 select counties for the implementation of the UN Joint Devolution Programme. Counties are further divided into sub counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 50 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. Kenya’s population is composed of 42% children, 51% women and girls and 0.9% people living with disability. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). The assignment will be in one of the selected counties mentioned above, in the Arid and semi-Arid areas.

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is warm and hot tropical climate.

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Added 23 days ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: unv.org