Pacific regional crisis prevention and recovery advisor/project manager

Background

The UNDP Pacific Centre provides support to the three UNDP offices in the Pacific and through them 15 Pacific Island countries. The UNDP Pacific Centre is one of three such Centres established in the Asia Pacific region, with the other two based in Colombo and Bangkok. The UNDP Pacific Centre will focus on the small vulnerable island countries of the Asia Pacific region and include capacity to provide policy and programme support in a range of areas including governance, MDG achievement and peace and conflict prevention.

The Peacebuilding and Crisis Recovery Project for the Pacific Region Project (PeacePac) is one of the regional projects in the UNDP Pacific Centre. The Pacific Regional Crisis Prevention and Recovery Advisor/Project Manger, who will work under the direct guidance of the Manager UNDP Pacific Centre, provides policy and technical advisory support in the area of Peace and Conflict Prevention, integrated regional programme delivery, knowledge management and networking and will be responsible for the implementation of a number of specific project activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support to the operations of the Pacific Centre and programme management
- Support the Pacific Centre Manager in the preparation of documentation and organization of the Pacific Centre Management Committee and Pacific Advisory Panel meetings
- Prepare quarterly reports on delivery and financial management of the Regional Crisis Prevention and Recovery Project for the Pacific as part of management and reporting processes of Centre
- Support resource mobilization, partnership building and knowledge sharing
- Act as Manager for the Pacific Centre when required

Policy and technical advisory support in the area of crisis prevention and recovery
- Provide high level policy advice, capacity building guidance and knowledge communication on a range of crisis prevention and recovery issues to Pacific COs and Pacific island countries
- Ensure that issues related to conflict prevention and peace-building are systematically addressed in UNDP and UN wide strategic planning and management tools in the Pacific island countries (e.g. through SRFs, ROAR, evaluation processes, the Multi-Country Programme Outline, CCA, UNDAF and other interagency coordination and management tools)
- Provide expert advice and guidance on UN policy and inter-agency processes related to conflict prevention and peace-building in the Pacific island region
- Analyze the social, gender, economic and political situation and trends in the Pacific and provide advice on need for programmatic support to avert or ameliorate crises and facilitate social and economic recovery through appropriate peace building, reconciliation, and rehabilitation initiatives
- Develop regional capacity to undertake peace and conflict analysis and oversee the strategic coherence, planning and impact of UNDP Pacific islands conflict prevention and peace-building strategies and programmes
- Facilitate regional information sharing on the peacebuilding and crisis recovery progress to strengthen partnerships and mobilize resources
- Initiate and lead identification of the specific needs and demands of the countries in the Pacific in the area of disaster reduction, and serve as a broker in harnessing regional and global support through BCPR and directly to respond to such needs.
- Provide leadership and technical input for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP disaster reduction and early recovery and recovery initiatives at the national and sub-regional levels in the Pacific region, including designing and leading assessments and formulating national and regional capacity building programmes.
- In post-disaster situations, support Country Offices in the Pacific in their recovery efforts including: utilization of emergency grants; post-disaster assessments; formulation of early recovery programmess in consonance with inter-agency early recovery frameworks supported by the global Cluster Working Group on Early Recovery (CWGER); reorientation, as appropriate, of existing CO programmes to meet recovery needs; and planning for longer term recovery.
- Publish at least one substantive piece that pertains to one of the specific issues of practice in the project

Integrated regional programme delivery, knowledge management and networking:
- Formulate technical support and capacity-building programmes to enhance government capacity for good governance, conflict management, and gender inclusive national reconciliation and rehabilitation in the countries of the region Formulate technical support and capacity-building programmes to enhance government capacity for good governance, conflict management, and gender inclusive national reconciliation and rehabilitation in the countries of the region
- Formulate gender inclusive and responsive programmes to strengthen the competence of non-state institutions and organizations and their active participation in the process of crisis prevention and recovery
- Support, through gender inclusive and balanced training and knowledge networking, the creation of a critical mass of UNDP, national, regional and partner staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond to the development challenges in crisis prevention and recovery, including the design and roll out of conflict analysis/assessment and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into national planning and programming training for field level programme and other staff
- Support the active participation of non-state organizations and agencies in post-crisis peace consolidation, social reconciliation, and economic rehabilitation; identify the needs and roles of local non-governmental organizations and civil organizations in democratization and social reconciliation; analyze conditions that support or hamper civil society development, and recommend strategies to improve current conditions
- Build strategic alliances and partnerships for peace and development and disaster risk reduction related strategies and initiatives and maintain close liaison with relevant donors and other actors supporting UNDP’s related efforts
- Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UNDP Headquarters and the Asia Pacific region, contributing to BCPR/UNDP corporate policies in crisis prevention and recovery as necessary;

Competencies

Managerial
- Displays strong corporate commitment – works to achieve the goals of UNDP as a whole making significant contributions to corporate priorities or initiatives led by other UNDP offices and bureaus;
- Demonstrates initiative and makes proactive attempts to engage clients and achieve desired results, and follows up regularly to drive successful implementation;
- Ability to build strong client relationships – establishes lasting relationships and substantive dialogue with clients that create valuable intervention opportunities;
- Ability to develop, communicate and monitor appropriate policies, standards, procedures and guidelines

Technical/Functional
- Demonstrates deep knowledge in one or more areas (process and/or substantive knowledge); applies existing knowledge to work
- Highly effective at networking and at securing information and expertise
- Motivated and responsive to the needs and interests of peers
- Demonstrates cultural and gender sensitivity and high ethical standards
- A clear, effective oral and written communicator
- Computer literate, well-versed on Atlas and willing to learn new applications

Required Skills and Experience

Education
- Advanced University Degree in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies or related field

Experience
- 10 years international development experience, including extensive field experience
- Substantive policy expertise in development/conflict/security, including familiarity with UN institutional relations; knowledge of UNDP and UN system policies and programming in crisis and post-crisis situations
- A demonstrated understanding of gender analysis and its applications to implementation of the programme
- Relevant experience in the Pacific and crisis areas
- Proven ability to facilitate and manage complex ideas and operations and to maximize the synergies effectively
- Experience in handling programme portfolios, monitoring & evaluation, and management of human and financial resources
- Strong communication and advocacy skills
- Familiarity with UNDP work in the Asia-Pacific region at country and regional level will be an asset.

Language Requirements
- Fluency in both spoken and written English; knowledge of another UN language desirable.