Inclusive Governance Specialist

Inclusive Governance Specialist/Project Liaison (NPSA10)

Job Identification: 14006
Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: NB5
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Governance
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration: 10 months
Education & Work Experience: Master’s Degree – 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience
Required Languages: English and Nepali
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The Government of Nepal (GoN) initiated the Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme (PLGSP) in July 2019 as the national framework programme to build capacity of Provincial and Local Governments (PLGs) and to strengthen inter-governmental mechanisms (IG) for coordination and collaboration across all levels of Government. The European Union Mission to Nepal is the largest contributor to the PLGSP. As per the PLGSP Financing Agreement between the EU and GoN of March 2020, in addition to the EU basket funding to PLGSP of € 28m, the EU has earmarked a separate budget of € 2 for a complementary technical assistance project: the European Union Support to Inclusive Federalism (EUSIF) project.

The EUSIF Project Objective is to “provide impetus to strengthening the inclusiveness and responsiveness of Provinces and Local Governments to the diverse needs of people, especially women, historically excluded and marginalized groups, and to augment PLG provision of inclusive, good quality and sustainable basic services”. EUSIF will thus complement PLGSP efforts in enhancing inclusiveness, accountability, and sustainability of functioning of PLG systems and procedures with focus on Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development (GRID) approach. The project will engage specifically on PLG capacity for providing quality and sustainable services to all people as well as strengthening people’s voice in inclusive and resilient service design (demand) and on PLG performance accountability and transparency towards realizing people’s rights (especially for historically excluded and disadvantaged groups).

EUSIF Project Output is “Performance of Provincial and Local Government systems and staff is inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of people, especially women, historically excluded and marginalized groups”. The EUISF Project Results are:

Result 1: Inclusiveness, Community Benefit and Sustainability of Local Government and Ward Basic Services enhanced in line with Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development objectives.
Result 2: PLG data management, monitoring and reporting systems are evidence-based and enable achieving PLG Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development objectives.
Result 3: Capacity of Provincial Centres for Good Governance attuned to PLG Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development and Basic Service Delivery; and
Result 4: Capacity of Local Government Associations enhanced for evidence-based advocacy and representation of Local Government Voice.

EUSIF Project Approach

The Project aims foremost to enrich implementation of PLG systems and procedures for federal institution building and to initiate a multi-stakeholder learning process for accessing and scaling (largely) already available good practices. The Project will therefore (i) work closely within the ongoing federal reform process at Provincial and LG levels, to ensure pragmatic and relevant action in support to PLGs; (ii) capture and translate good practice from multiple sources into the present reality of PLG functioning; and (iii) create an intense collaboration and cross-learning way of working with the Provincial PLGSP TA teams to strengthen and embed overall PLG federalization support efforts. The Project approach is thus aiming to facilitate ‘structural transformation’, ‘leaving no one behind’, ‘systems thinking’ and ‘new cultures and ways of working’. EUSIF will be implemented initially in Karnali as the ‘Pilot-Province’, not only to capture, package and apply good practice and knowledge but also to test and document approaches to embedding such practice and learning within PLG systems and processes and service delivery. Successes from the EUSIF pilot in Karnali will then be scaled through PLGSP and partners into other Provinces.

The European Union funded project will be implemented by UNDP in close collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) and the Provincial Government of Karnali Province. Coordination and partnership will be established with LGs, PLGSP, LG associations, development partners, projects, (I)NGOs,civil society/community organizations and other stakeholders working at the local level on local governance and inclusive federalism. The total duration of the project is from 1 March 2022 to 31 August 2024.

Project Implementation Structure

The Project Management Unit (PMU)1 , comprising the PMU staff and TA team, will be based in the UNDP Field Office in Surkhet, capital city of Karnali Pilot-Province. The PIU will be led by the Team Leader cum GRID specialist, who is responsible for implementation of all project activities and day-to-day management and decision-making for the project, as well as ensuring that the project produces the agreed output and results. The project TA team and support staff based in Surkhet is directly accountable to the Team Leader. For national level liaison and coordination with MoFAGA, EU, other PLGSP donors and further stakeholders, a Kathmandu based Inclusive Governance Specialist will further act as project liaison and coordination officer.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Inclusive Governance Specialist will report to and work under the direct supervision of the Team Leader. She/he will establish a close coordination with the EU, Portfolio Manager and Governance Advisor of the Governance and Rule of Law Portfolio of UNDP and other UNDP country office departments for management and timely reporting in compliance with the EU and UNDP’s corporate requirements. She/he will also work closely with MOFAGA, Provincial Government of Karnali, PLGSP donors, ministries, working groups/tasks force on federalism, GESI and GRID, CSOs and other national and international stakeholders/ institutions working on inclusive federalism.

In her/his project liaison role the Inclusive Governance Specialist will be involved in networking with project actors and the development and facilitation of collaborations and partnerships under the project.

The Inclusive Governance Specialist, based in Kathmandu, will lead project assignments in inclusive federalism and inclusive governance, and will also provide technical advice and backstopping to the Karnali-based TA team, including on design and implementation of project assignments. She/he will provide substantial support to the Team Leader with all elements of Project Management and will furthermore liaise with national level project partners and stakeholders. The Specialist will therefore work in close collaboration with the Team Leader.

Below the specific ‘Liaison’, ‘Project Management’ and ‘Inclusive Governance’ tasks are presented, with the note that there will not necessarily be a clear distinction between these tasks and that result achievement will require an integrated approach.

Key Liaison Tasks:

• Pro-active engagement and networking with project actors (MoFAGA/PLGSP, MoF, sector Ministries, DPs, (I)NGOs, education/research institutes) and facilitating deliberations on project progress and learning, as well as stakeholder demand.
• Formal engagement with and representation in federalism platforms, PLGSP and DP technical networks, liaison, and coordination with national stakeholders.
• Establishing and facilitating collaborations and partnerships for the implementation of the project, notably for the capture, documentation, and scaling of good practice, especially in results areas 1) Enhancing Local Government and Ward level Basic Services; 2) PLG data management, monitoring, and reporting systems; and 4) Capacity of Local Government Associations.
• Reflective support to project implementation and coordination with other Provinces.
• Document project lessons and approaches and develop discussion-papers and PR notes. Share information, knowledge, and good practice amongst stakeholders (mostly outside Karnali) and facilitating engagement and collaboration on project implementation.
• Organizing network inputs and events on inclusive federalism, project result areas, and structural federalism/project progress and challenges.
• Ensure UNDP CO is updated on project progress and facilitate deliberations with UNDP portfolio teams on project progress and learning to ensure overall objectives of UNSDF and CDP are met

Project Management Support

The Inclusive Governance Specialist in her/his role as the Deputy Project Manager will manage, under direction of the Team Leader, delegated functions of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and selected project implementation activities.

Key Project Management Tasks:

• Support the Team Leader with all elements of Project Management, including PMU staff management, financial management, work planning, monitoring, and progress reporting as per detailed delegation and support agreement to be framed by Team Leader and IG-Advisor. Replace the Team Leader is her/his absence (ad interim).
• Support project engagement in the Project Board meetings, the PLGSP Provincial coordination committee meetings, as well as national level meetings.
• Engage with national level stakeholders and beneficiaries on project implementation issues.

Inclusive Governance

Key Inclusive Governance Tasks:

• Conduct in close collaboration with the GESI Analyst, Karnali PLG, MoFAGA, relevant federalism and PLG governance projects and other stakeholders an institutional system mapping and analysis of the inclusiveness and GESI performance of existing PLG systems and procedures.
• Support partnership approach between EUSIF, PSP and SNGP (PLG strengthening projects) for cross-learning and capture/scaling of good practice on inclusive PLG performance.
• Develop an overall strategy on how to ensure the Karnali PLG governance, systems, and processes, as well as staff capacities, will become (more) inclusive and participatory, in line with the project objectives and approach.  Develop a discussion and communication plan for PLGs on what ‘inclusive federalism and governance’ means, why it is important and how it can be achieved.
• Engage with other Provinces on good practice, learning and scaling opportunities.
• Inventory of existing inclusive federalism lessons and practices, and design/facilitate collaborative research assignments and deliberation events.
• Produce discussion and policy influencing papers.
• Support development of Provincial Data management, monitoring, and reporting system, with focus on inclusion and linkage with national systems.
• Support development of Local Government Basic Services system based on Inclusiveness, Community Benefit and Sustainability.
• Support capacity development of Provincial Centers for Good Governance as well as CD packages.
• Support capacity development of Local Government Associations.
• Participate in team meetings (virtually and physically) and provide in-depth analysis and technical advice on framing and implementation of TA assignments

Gender and Social Inclusion

• Ensure that GESI is mainstreamed in all four result areas of the project and targeted interventions planned and implemented to promote inclusive governance and federalism
• Create a culture within the PMU to respect cultural, social, and religious diversity and ensure zero tolerance for sexual violence at workplace
• Provide strategic guidance to the PMU to establish a system to collect gender disaggregated data, impact stories and results benefiting male, female, people with disabilities and marginalized groups and risks and challenges associated for their meaningful participation in federalism process, particularly service delivery.
• Ensure GESI is adequately captured in project progress reports, baseline survey and final project evaluation.

Estimated time allocations: PM/PMU support – 50%; Liaison 20%; Technical 30% (Result 1 – 10%; Result 2 – 10%; Result 3 – 5%; Result 4 – 5%).

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’sauthority, area of expertise and resources

Business Management

• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Governance: Localization of the SDGs; Municipal Planning and Basic Service Delivery (including budgeting & financing
• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Human Rights /HRBA
• Gender: Gender Mainstreaming

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public policy/Administration, Rural Development, Capacity Development and Change, International Relations, Political Science, Law, or any other relevant areas is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years (with Master´s degree) or seven years (with Bachelor´s degree) of progressive experience in governance, federalism, and project/programme management.
• Knowledge and experience in people /team management is an asset.
• Experience in establishing and facilitating collaborations with national and international stakeholders, ministries, CSOs, UN agencies and development partners, for synergy building and project/programme delivery is an asset.
• Practical knowledge and experience in promoting GESI for evidence-based policy formulation, policy advocacy and inclusive local governance
• Experience in results-based planning, monitoring, and reporting is an asset.
• Experience in UNDP’s project and programme management, quality assurance and reporting, as well as with UNDP’s project operations (including operating knowledge of Quantum) is an advantage
• Experience in EU reporting, visibility and compliance is an advantage  Excellent knowledge of computer including MS Office (Word, Excel, mail, and Power Point)

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English and Nepali

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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Apply Before: 10/20/2023, 11:59 PM

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