Programme Specialist (DFP) P3

Background

UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) is the practice lead in UNDP and much of the UN system on the prevention of armed conflict, mitigation and prevention of natural disasters, and related recovery work. BCPR’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery Team (DRRRT) is responsible for practice development for DRRR. The goal of the Team is to provide support to UNDP country offices and UN Country Teams in their efforts to strengthen national capacities for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, recovery assessments, programmes and planning. The team provides high quality advice and programmatic support to UNDP country offices for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DRRR activities.

The DRRRT draws on expertise from four groups: 1. Disaster Recovery and Preparedness; and 2. Disaster Risk Reduction – both under the direct leadership of the DRRRT Coordinator; and 3. the Governance and Rule of Law Group (GRoLG) and; 4. the Livelihoods and Economic Group (LERG) – with ‘matrixed’ responsibility to both the DRRRT Coordinator and the Conflict Prevention and Recovery Team (CPRT) Coordinator.

Under the overall supervision of the Recovery Advisor, the Programme Specialist is responsible for leading and managing BCPR's needs assessment work related to natural disaster situations in collaboration with the APSD technical teams, as well as relevant UNDP Bureaux and UN system partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

* Provides technical support to UNDP Country Offices and national counterparts in the development of programmes and projects designed to support the development of national disaster recovery management capacities in high-risk countries
* Contributes to the design and delivery of capacity development programmes for pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster recovery in high risk countries
* Leads or participates in post-disaster missions to directly support affected countries in the development of recovery strategies and projects in pursuit of national recovery and to "build back better"
* Contributes to effective knowledge management through project and programme monitoring, analysis, reporting and through the codification of recovery experiences and lessons learned
* Contributes to the development of strategic partnerships and promotes close coordination with key international stakeholders in disaster recovery

1. Provides technical support to UNDP Country Offices and national counterparts in the development of programmes and projects designed to support the development of national disaster recovery management capacities in high-risk countries, focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Technical inputs for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP disaster reduction and early recovery initiatives at the national and sub-regional levels in the countries, including the formulation of national and regional capacity-building programmes
* Collaboration with the coordinators of BCPR’s thematic programmes related to risk identification, mainstreaming, capacity development, climate risk management, urban risk management, recovery and gender to make sure that regional and national-level programming is technically sound and gender-sensitive
* Technical support for project development and joint programme at the country level where requested

2. Contributes to the design and delivery of capacity development programmes for pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster recovery in high risk countries, focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Contribution to the development of strategy and approaches to increase national capacities for pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster recovery
* Development of training modules geared towards increasing national capacities for pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster recovery

3. Leads or participates in post-disaster missions to directly support affected countries in the development of recovery strategies and projects in pursuit of national recovery and ‘build back better’, focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Participation in field missions in post-disaster situations and support to the coordination and conduct of PDNA and the development of Recovery Frameworks (RF)
* Support to the UNDP country office in the development of recovery programmes and projects based on the findings of a PDNA or other relevant assessments

4. Contributes to effective knowledge management through project and programme monitoring, analysis, reporting and through the codification of recovery experiences and lessons learned, focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Compilation, analysis, reporting and codification of recovery experiences and lessons learned
* Support for the development and effective deployment of BCPR’s knowledge management and policy products
* Relevant substantive inputs to knowledge networking, including responding to country office requests for information on best practice and offering referrals to experts and expert institutions

5. Contributes to the development of strategic partnerships and promotes close coordination with key international stakeholders in disaster recovery, focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Contribution to the development of partnerships and alliances for achievement of UNDP’s overall strategic plans and policies, with other UN organizations (in particular OCHA, the ISDR Secretariat and other disaster-related programmes), multilateral organizations, regional member state organizations, civil society and the academia, and with donors and programme countries
* Contribution to the establishment of such partnerships, drafting of agreements and monitoring of implementation
* Conduct of regular meetings and coordination with the technical units on programme management to identify and address the key issues in a timely and systematic manner

Impact of Results

The key results have a positive impact on the work related to conflict and natural disaster situations in collaboration with the APSD of BCPR as well as relevant UNDP Bureaux and UN system partners.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships

* Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments
* Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved

PROMOTING ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Level 2: Developing tools and mechanisms

* Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
* Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms

JOB KNOWLEDGE/ TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:
Level 2: In-depth knowledge of the Subject-matter

* Understands more advanced aspects of crisis prevention and recovery as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
* Keeps abreast of new developments in area of crisis prevention and recovery and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
* Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments


CLIENT ORIENTATION
Level 2: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

* Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
* Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services

Core Competencies:

Ethics & Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity. Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status

Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment Understands the structure and hierarchy of UN/UNDP, process flows throughout the organization, products and services, their measures of effectiveness, and perceptions of clients

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring: Self-development, initiative-taking. Takes appropriate risk in developing new or adapting existing methods and approaches to more effectively perform tasks or to solve problems in new and unique ways

Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work. Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals

Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively. Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner

Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control Tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively

Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements: Managing conflict. Remains calm, composed and patient, regardless of his/her own state of mind in the face of conflict

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others
Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development and keeps abreast of new developments in his/her professional field

Appropriate and Transparent Decision-making: Informed and transparent decision making. Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A minimum of Master’s degree or equivalent in Development, Architecture or Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Social Sciences, International Relations, or other development-related field

Experience:

* At least 5 years of relevant experience in development, in a governmental, UN, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting
* Extensive knowledge and experience within the UN system, UNCT coordination, UN/WB needs assessments in post-crisis countries
* Extensive experience in conducting needs assessment in crisis or post-conflict situations.
* Working experience in crisis country.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required; working knowledge of other UN official language is an asset.