Sub-national Government Specialist

Contract

This is a IPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-10 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel: UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station and their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only if the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements. The Project will provide full support concerning logistics, IT, and required services (including travel, workshops, etc.) to ensure the Project's successful implementation. Office space will be provided.

Background / Project Description

The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Governance for Resilience Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The projects theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. This is consistent with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which calls for the ‘mainstreaming’ of climate and disaster risk treating risk management as fundamental to all development decisions.

The Gov4Res Project three outcomes areas to work with countries across the region to address these risks by development: 1) government planning and financing systems enable gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; 2) country oversight and accountability systems require gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; and 3) regional organisations, policies and practices are actively supporting gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development.

UNDP is partnering with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Sub-national Government Specialist will be responsible for assisting government stakeholders at sub-national levels to integrate risks into planning, budgeting and decision-making processes, and ultimately supporting communities to better understand and respond to climate and disaster risk.

Institutional Arrangement: The Consultant will report to UNDP Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific Project Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

Working under the direction of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager, the Sub-national Government Specialist will be responsible for the following:

Integrate climate change and disaster risks into sub-national planning processes

• Identify entry points for climate change and disaster risk management interventions
• Develop products, tools and training materials that support incorporation of disasters and climate change into subnational planning processes in a manner that is meaningful to communities, and done from within existing planning mechanisms
• Strengthen linkages between sub-national planning and national planning, and budgeting
• Support communities to better understand and respond to climate and disaster risks: by integrating risk into their Community Development Plans or equivalent community planning platforms.

Support mainstreaming of CCDRM into community infrastructure projects

• Support and coordinate with local government, NGO and CSO counterparts to integrate risk (including CCDRM and gender and social inclusion) into small scale infrastructure projects
• Support CCDRM experts to monitor and analyse demonstration projects to ensure they are achieving outputs from a GESI perspective
• Identify any capacity development needs with regard to GESI staff and design and facilitate capacity development initiatives to mainstream GESI in conjunction with CCDRM activities.

Foster communities of practice and peer-to-peer learning

• Plan and manage peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and where there is value and interest development and operation of regional communities of practice, with the aim of facilitating knowledge and experience sharing, coordination and advancement, on relevant issues such as climate financing
• Facilitate peer-to-peer and COP interactions though organisation of e-discussions and using network as means for dissemination of new research and opportunities
• Facilitate joint learning, advocacy and ultimately resource mobilisation opportunities between country partners with common goals
• Prepare knowledge products from peer-to-peer exchanges including policy briefs, position statements, guidance and training material, toolkits etc.

Knowledge Management and Information Sharing

• Develop knowledge products and undertaking awareness-raising on good and effective risk informed development.

Contribution to UNDP Resilient Development Activities

As required, provide CCDRM advice to the UNDP Resilience and Sustainable Development team more broadly.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The overall responsibilities of the assignment are to:

• In partnership with the project team, provide strategic advice to government and lead the project initiatives and activities on CCDRM interventions through subnational government and at community level (ongoing)
• Support mainstreaming of CCDRM into small scale infrastructure projects by coordinating expertise within the project team, liaising with government and acquiring external technical support as required (ongoing)
• Foster communities of practice and peer-to-peer learning (ongoing)
• Develop knowledge products and undertaking awareness-raising on good and effective risk informed development (ongoing)

Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

Minimum bachelors degree social sciences, governance or discipline relevant to disaster risk management and/or climate change

Min. years of relevant Work experience

A minimum of 7 years of work experience in community development and planning, risk governance and/or climate change adaptation

Required skills and competencies

• Proven track record of working with or for local/subnational government, including experience in community development planning
• Experience working with NGOs, CSOs and development organisations
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of climate risks the Pacific region
• Excellent writing and drafting skills and experience of providing policy advice at the national and local level Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work
• Openness to change and the ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Proficiency in using office IT applications and the internet in conducting research
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Positive, constructive attitude to work
• Experience working in multicultural environments an asset Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Fluency of English language is required, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island languages and culture would be an asset.