Programme Management Specialist, Head of Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) (Open to Zimbabwe Nationals Only)
Harare, Zimbabwe
JOB DETAIL
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.
UNDP has been in Zimbabwe since 1980 and has partnered in delivering key results with various Government of Zimbabwe departments and ministries, development partners, UN Agencies, academia as well as CSOs over the years. In line with its Core Mission of ‘eradicating poverty, supporting sustainable development for all’ UNDP Country Programme in Zimbabwe is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which is aligned to National Development Strategy One. Thus, the 2022-2026 UNDP Country Programme is contributing to the achievement of the GoZ development aspirations in the four priority areas namely:
- People centered, equitable, human development and well-being. UNDP will contribute to the achievement of this priority area by supporting efforts to addressing structural and societal inequalities and strengthening capacities at subnational levels to deliver quality basic services and a well-designed system of social protection that ensures that no one and no place is left behind;
- Environmental protection, climate resilience and natural resource management. UNDP supports the Government in delivering on its National Environmental Policy, National Climate Change Policy and resilient ecosystems targets by focusing on key sectors such as mining and energy, agriculture, forestry and waste management, bringing benefits to rural and urban youth and women in the most climate-affected parts of the country, building on its ongoing whole-of-society and strong partnership approach for climate action. UNDP collaboration with the private sector is being expanded to enhance diversified, clean production and develop financing mechanisms that enable a national climate response that reduces impact on landscapes and ecosystems;
- Economic transformation, equitable and inclusive growth. UNDP helps to scale up investments to address institutional and policy gaps, strengthen capacity for smallholder farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and create entrepreneurship initiatives for agro-based informal sector players. UNDP is supporting expansion of local markets, strengthened rural-urban linkages, harnessing export trade opportunities, and accelerating technology transfer and the creation of on-farm and off-farm green jobs focused on youth, people with disabilities and women and the informal sector;
- Transformative, accountable, equitable and inclusive governance. Under the NDS1 Governance Area, the overarching objective is to improve public service delivery; justice service delivery; uphold national peace and reconciliation as building blocks for achieving equitable and sustainable national development. In this regard, UNDP builds on the current support to national-level government entities on the devolution strategy and rollout, as part of the ongoing public sector reform strategy. UNDP is supporting relevant institutional strengthening initiatives across the Executive, Judiciary, Parliament, and the Independent Commissions.
Position Purpose
Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and with a direct supervision by the Deputy Resident Representative (Programmes), the Programme Specialist/ Head of PMSU works in close collaboration with the programme and Operations staff, UN Agencies, UNDP HQ staff, Government officials and multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully support the implementation of the UNDP programme. In addition, the incumbent acts as quality assurance centre to Senior Management on all aspects of the Country Office programme. The Head PMSU provides advice to Senior Management and supports the programme units on Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Audit, Result Based Management policies and procedures, corporate compliance, resource mobilization, and donor reporting.
The Head of the PMSU reports to Deputy Resident Representative (Programme) and works closely with the Deputy Resident Representative (Operations), acting as a bridge and enhancing information sharing between Programme and Operations Units.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1) As a member of the CO management team, provides policy advice, coordinates, and ensures the strategic planning for the UNDP programme focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Support the alignment of UNDP programmes and projects to the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022-2026;
- Support the operationalization of the UNSDCF (2022-2026) and CPD (2022-2026) in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies;
- Support the development of the new UNDP Strategic Plan (2026-2029), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) (2027-2031), CPD (2027-2031);
- Represent the Country Office in the One UN Monitoring and Evaluation Group;
- Lead and coordinate with units in the Country Office on the timely preparation and submission of the IWP and the ROAR and other corporate planning and results reporting exercises;
- Advise and coordinates knowledge building and management in the Country Office.
2) Provides effective quality assurance of full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:
- Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
- Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation with the aim of measuring the impact of the CO programme;
- Ensure effective implementation of the Internal Control Framework in collaboration with the Operations Unit;
- Establish a quality and accountable reporting system;
- Coordinate the HACT and audit exercise among programme, project and operations staff and ensure compliance with audit quality standards and timeframes.
3) Advise and Support programme and project monitoring and evaluation focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Ensure that the projects have results-based Annual Work Plans with indicators, baselines and targets established at output and activity level;
- Oversee and execute M&E activities included in the Quarterly Annual Work Plan and the M&E plan, with focus on results and impacts;
- Coordinate with the UNDP Programme Teams and Operations Units to ensure the Country Office adheres to and complies with corporate policies and dashboards;
- Ensure quality contributions to the Results-Oriented Annual Reporting (ROAR), including provision of quality Programme data according to a predefined set of indicators and other requirements, etc;
- Support the process of UNDP quality results reporting by provision of M&E information for QUANTUM, Transparency Dashboard as well as facilitating the process of Programme/project Quality Assurance and Monitoring;
- Support update of Project Risk Log, Issue Log, Lessons Learnt Log and other UNDP instruments for effective implementation of the CO programmes and projects;
- Ensure evaluation of results achieved by the programmes/project against their targets and track overall progress in achieving objectives in accordance with UNDP Evaluation Policy, UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and UN Evaluation Norms and Standards;
- Ensure the preparation of consolidated progress reports for project management (including project quarterly and annual progress reports) capturing qualitative and quantitative aspects, according to the Annual Work Plans and log frame including identification of problems, causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation, and providing specific recommendations;
- Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed;
- Facilitate project mid and final evaluations, assessments and review;
- Monitor the project implementation activities follow up of evaluation and audit recommendations;
- Advise Unit Team Leaders, Chief Technical Advisers (CTAs) and Project Managers on preparation of work plan and quarterly work plan;
- Design and implement a system to identify, analyze, document and disseminate lessons learned.
4) Ensure sound planning and monitoring of programme financial resources focused on the following results:
- Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resource management system;
- Regular monitoring of the CO delivery, resource mobilization, pipeline management, TRAC Allocation, programme revenue management (GMS/DPC);
- Periodic monitoring of dashboards and exceptions, identification of remedial actions.
5) Provides financial analysis and donor reporting focused on the following results:
- Provides quality control on the preparation and submission of UNDP donor reporting;
- Works with Team Leaders, Programme/Project Managers to facilitate the adoption of new corporate reporting tools by the CO staff;
- Ensures regular progress reporting to donors;
- Prepare and share periodic strategic financial report for the senior management including information related to programme and projects financial status, expenditure, and weekly delivery report;
- Works with the Team Leaders, Programme/Project Managers to monitor delivery of core and non-core resources and alerts the management on projects with low delivery;
- Provides support for establishment and monitoring a sustainable cost recovery policy for the UNDP Country office in managing non-core contributions;
- Provides regular overview and analysis of all type of resources including TRAC, XB, Admin and operations budgets, etc.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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.
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.
Business Management: Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity;
- Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
Business Development
- Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
Business Management
- Results-Based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Partnership Management
- Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
Business Management
- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Policy and Programme
- Innovation: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Portfolios.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services is required;
- Hands-on experience in Programme Management Support, Strategic Planning, Programme Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments is desired;
- 3 or more years of senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexity is desired;
- Experience working with UNDP/UN organizations will be an asset;
- Experience in Quality Assurance of programming from formulation to implementation and experience in Audit (CO, DIM and NIM audits) is desired;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling web-based management systems is required.
Language(s):
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
- Knowledge of a local language (Shona or Ndebele) is desired.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
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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