Joint UN Programme Coordinator in BIH - DFF

Background

Based on experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and at the initiative of the BiH Presidency, the participating UN agencies’ (UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO) country teams in BiH, Montenegro and Serbia developed a joint multi-country (regional) programme to foster regional dialogue and address barriers to social cohesion in and among the countries concerned. Due to BiH’s geographic position in the Western Balkans, its complex demographic structure and (in recent history) challenging political dynamics, inter-communal tensions and trends echo the loudest across this particular country. The impetus for the current multi-country programme recognizes that social divisions and negative dynamics in the region continue to generate tensions that hamper progress toward stronger social cohesion, stability and trust among all the populations living here.

This programme posits the hypothesis that if members from different (ethnic) groups in the region, and especially youth, are sufficiently capacitated to engage in constructive dialogue and provided structured opportunities to identify social cohesion priorities and communicate them to their elected leaders and relevant institutions through dialogue platforms, and address them through joint programmes and activities, then this will ensure broad-based participation and create partnerships across the participating countries in pursuit of commonly identified priorities because skill-building for constructive dialogue, identification of common social cohesion priorities and joint action to address them will help break down barriers among various groups and help build a sense of connectedness and understanding, which are requisite in resilience to conflict.

This joint multi-country programme is complementary to the European Commission’s Strategy for the Western Balkans (WB), adopted in February 2018, which puts reconciliation, good neighborly relations and regional cooperation in focus. Activities and results under this joint programme also contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly goals 4, 5, 11, 16, 17.

Activities planned under the joint regional programme have the following:

Outcome: Stability and trust in the region, and especially in BiH, are enhanced.

Output 1.1: Different groups in the region, and youth in particular, acquire and practice skills to help break stereotypes and constructively interact across divides.

Output 1.2: Citizens from different groups jointly identify and implement actions that can promote social cohesion in the region, especially in BiH.

Output 1.3: Policy recommendations to improve social cohesion in the region are effectively advocated for and endorsed by authorities and relevant stakeholders.

UNDP Country Office in BiH, in capacity of Convening Agent (lead agency) and on behalf of the recipient UN agencies, is seeking to recruit a Joint UN Programme Coordinator in BiH to ensure overall coordination and complementarity in programme implementation in BiH.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UNDP Justice and Security Sector Leader, and in close consultations with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (RCO) and participating UN agencies in BiH, the Joint UN Programme Coordinator in BiH will assume the responsibility for:

• the overall coordination of the joint programme in BiH
• UNDP-specific component of the joint programme in BiH

All responsibilities are in support of achievement of the expected programme results with due respect to lead agency rules and regulations, and in accordance with the lead agency internal control framework.

The Joint UN Programme Coordinator in BiH will be appointed by the three implementing UN Agencies UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO in consultations with the UN Resident Coordinator, and will administratively be hosted by the lead agency.

The Joint UN Programme Coordinator in BiH will report on the status of implementation to, and will receive direction from, the Country Steering Committee (CSC) consisting of representatives of the BiH Presidency, UN Resident Coordinator, the three Heads of Recipient UN Organizations (RUNOs), and RCO.

In close collaboration with UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, the RCO Peace and Development Unit, and the BiH Presidency, the Joint Programme Coordinator in BiH will have the following main functions:

1. Overall programme coordination, guidance, monitoring and reporting

• Provide overall coordination for the successful implementation of the programme;
• Report on implementation progress to, and receive overall guidance and direction from, the Country Steering Committee and Convening Agent in order to assure the overall direction and integrity of the programme, as well as to ensure that the programme is well-placed strategically within the UN Country Team’s overall peace and development programming;
• Prepare for regular meetings of the Country Steering Committee, elaborate supporting presentations and materials, etc;
• Ensure that the programme is implemented in full compliance with the UN Guidance Note on Joint Programmes, in collaboration with implementing partners and other stakeholders e.g. UN Agencies, BiH Presidency, local government, CSOs, etc.;
• Maintain strong working relations with relevant institutional and organizational partners (e.g. government authorities, international organizations and donors, civil society, media, other UN bodies, etc.);
• Coordinate the realization of the programme components, with particular focus on the programme outcomes;
• In cooperation with participating UN Agencies, prepare, and update joint annual work plans, budgets and reports;
• Ensure timely inputs to the semi-annual and annual narrative and financial reports to the donor, and other reports that may be required by the UN, the Country Steering Committee, etc;
• Coordinate activities and liaise closely with UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO and the RCO to identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, coordination, planning and implementation of the programme;
• Monitor the identified programme risks and issues; identify new potential risks, issues and provide strategic implementation advice to the CSC for consideration and decision if required; update the status of programme risks and issues by maintaining tracking records;
• Monitor and analyze the programme environment and progress, using applicable M&E and risk management tools where relevant and advise all agencies on timely readjustments of strategies and corrective actions as necessary;

2. Overall programme management of UNDP component in BiH

• Review on a regular basis programme implementation details, schedules, deliverables and budget as articulated in the Programme Document and Annual Work Plan (evidence of progress towards expected outputs, according to schedule, within budget) together with the UNDP programme team;
• Monitor and analyze the programme progress, using applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools;
• Guide the design and regular use of adequate programme monitoring tools and systems, enabling evidence-based tracking of progress, achievements and results, against the programme logical framework indicators;
• Ensure data and information inputs, as necessary, to the regular Country Office monitoring and reporting processes;
• Ensure diligent quality assurance for the programme’s financial, procurement, technical and administrative processes to attain the programme goals and desired impact in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations as well as in line with the Programme timelines;
• Ensure that all programme-related issues and risks are identified and reported in a timely manner and suggest corrective measures.
• Approves the inputs provided by the consultants, beneficiaries and contracted companies and communicates findings to the supervisor

3. Report regularly to the Country Steering Committee (CSC)

• Provides input to periodic and ad-hoc narrative and financial reporting to the Joint UN Regional Programme Coordinator, donor and other parties, as needed;
• Informs CSC members about programmatic and other developments related to programme implementation in BiH;
• Convenes meetings of CSC, while providing background information and documents as required.

4. Facilitation and support to knowledge sharing, exchange of experiences and partnership among partner agencies and country programme teams

• Supports promotion and facilitation of cooperation among participating UN agencies through exchange of information, good practices, peer-to-peer learning and joint coordination meetings;
• Participates in planning meetings of country programme teams, along with other joint programme coordinators from Serbia and Montenegro and programme staff, sharing lessons learned and best practices beneficial for advancing coordination and implementation modality of the joint programme;
• Facilitates and stimulates interaction and synergies between the programme and other stakeholders working in the field of development (donors, international organisations);
• Supports compiling and systematising programme knowledge, products and tools and their wide distribution to partners.

5. Support knowledge management and gender equality mainstreaming within the programme

• Ensures wide dissemination and visibility of programme achievements;
• Supports continuous learning of the programme team;
• Ensures dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective programme implementation;
• Ensures that achieved project key results, knowledge tools and products have been mainstreamed within the project field work, as well as within other relevant UNDP interventions and support their popularisation and application beyond UNDP scope of work;
• Manages the transfer of programme’s deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials to national beneficiaries;
• Collaborates with the Joint Regional Programme Coordinator in mainstreaming gender equality in the programme implementation;
• Ensures that all programme documents prepared by the incumbent are written using gender sensitive language;
• In the preparation of meetings/consultations/trainings ensures gender balance of participants as much and possible.

Competencies

Functional competencies

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis:

• Assesses Programme performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into Programme work;
• Researches linkages across Programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of Programmes/Programme implementation;
• Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for Programme development;
• Participates in the formulation of Programme proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Resource Mobilization

Level 1.1: Providing information for resource mobilization strategies

• Maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors
• Maintains database of programme files
• Provides data and information needed for

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Level 1.2: Preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 1.2: Maintaining a network of contacts

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 1.2: Basic research and analysis:

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 1.2: Enhancing processes or products

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Responds positively to new approaches
• Preparation of programme documents

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 1.2: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise
• Analyses ongoing trends, evolving needs and emerging issues to identify appropriate responses for capacity building
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Client Orientation

Level 1.2: Establishing effective client relationships

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Proven communication and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and cooperation with multiple actors including government representatives, donors and other stakeholders
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each employee.
• Informed and transparent decision making;
• High level of maturity, excellent inter-personal and negotiation skills and pro-activeness
• Solid analytical and drafting skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and to effectively handle multiple concurrent programme components

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Postgraduate degree in social sciences, management and business administration;
• University degree with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the postgraduate degree.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years (7 years with BA) of relevant work experience and demonstrated knowledge of peacebuilding/conflict resolution, communications and outreach, as well as programme/programme management;
• Previous strong experience in programming of local, country and regional programmes in the areas of social cohesion, peacebuilding, reconciliation/trust-building/dialogue, social inclusion, governance, human rights and/or other development sphere;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of information technologies, communications and media knowledge;
• Understanding of the overall political, administrative and institutional context of BiH;

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in official languages of BiH;
• Fluency in English with good drafting and presentation skills.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

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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.

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