UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - SOMALIA
EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
I. Position Information
Title: Project Manager - Constitution Process
Type of contract: Fixed-Term (200 Series)
Level: L5 (subject to classification)
Duration: One year (with possibility of extension)
Duty station: Nairobi, with frequent travel to Somalia (possible relocation to Somalia
when security situation permits)
Date of Issue: 21st November 2008
Closing Date: 7th December 2008
II. Organizational Context
Under the overall supervision of the Head of the UNDP Governance Programme, the Project Manager for constitution process will have the responsibility of providing and coordinating policy advice, technical assistance and programme development support to the Constitutional process and other relevant ensuing transitional tasks. The Project Manager for constitution process will manage the UNDP Somalia Constitutional Support Project and is accountable for the achievement of project outputs.
The Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic 2004 provides that a new Federal Constitution be drafted within two and half years of the formation of a Independent Federal Constitutional Commission (IFCC) and be adopted by popular referendum during the final year of the five-year transitional period . A recent significant political development has been the signing, in August 2008, of the Djibouti Agreement, between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS). Under this agreement, a High Level Committee has been established, with a focus on political cooperation – including the development of a new Constitution.
A Consortium of international partners is providing support to this process in an integrated fashion through the Constitution-Making Support Project. It has been agreed that UNDP Somalia will be the coordinating agency for this Project, under the overall political guidance of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).
UNDP Somalia is composed of three main clusters; Rule of Law and Security (ROLS), Governance and Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods (PRSL). The governance programme of UNDP Somalia consists of three pillars:
1. Capacity building and institutional development,
2. Democratic governance (constitutional dialogue, referendum and electoral support) and
3. Local governance/decentralization.
The Constitution-Making Support Project forms part of the Governance programme and the Project Manager will lead implementation under the guidance of the Governance cluster Programme Manager. The Project Manager will be supported by Strategic Adviser(s) and a staff of 4 persons.
The PM for constitution process will also lead discussions with the TFG, the ARS, donors and other partners to the Constitutional process and work closely with all stakeholders to mobilize donors support for the project. The project is expected to be scaled up substantially in 2009.
III. Functions / Key Results Expected
Summary of Key Functions:
* Manage the UNDP Constitution-Making Support Project ;
* Ensure the overall coordination of the Consortium of partners and position UNDP as a lead player and donor/resource focal point in constitution building;
* Ensure close collaboration and coordination with UNPOS;
* Strengthen the relationship/coordination with the donors to minimize overlapping, reduce transaction costs and maximize impact and efficiency;
* Promote networking and knowledge sharing within UNDP and the UN System;
* Provide strategic policy and technical advice in constitution building.
* Implement – manage, monitor, evaluate and report - the capacity building programme underway with IFCC and other Somali stakeholders;
* Manage a team of national and international consultants and subject matter experts.
* Develop and implement a national dialogue and civic education programme.
* Design, develop an action plan for the referendum and manage the programme to its completion
* Design and develop a constitutional implementation programme, with focus on institutional development and capacity building.
* Contribute, in close collaboration and under the guidance of UNPOS and the UN Electoral Assistance Division, to the design and development of an electoral support program.
The Project Manager has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis. The Project Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making for the project. The Project Manager’s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost.
Under the day-to-day supervision of the Governance cluster Programme Manager and the overall guidance of the Country Director, the Project Manager is responsible for:
Project Management and Strategic Advice
* Ensures the realization of project outputs through activities; provides direction and guidance to project teams and responsible parties; coordinates with UNPOS; liaises with the Consortium Members and assures the overall direction and integrity of the project; identifies and obtains any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project.
* Responsible for project administration and liaison with any suppliers; will also perform Team Manager and Project Support roles as required.
* Ensures the preparation of the project Annual Work Plan and all project reports and presents to the Programme Manager for review and decision-making.
* Provides programme operational coordination, ensuring that all partners collaborate and work well together, propose modifications of the plan to respond to changes in the Somali political and security situation, develop MOUs and contribute to tasks, roles and work plans. Provides leadership and cohesion to the field teams and ensure that the processes and systems developed to support the project are imparted to the key Somali stakeholders.
* Prepares budgets and establishes suitable monitoring mechanisms, collecting, maintaining and updating data relevant to the project, plan and coordinating the deployment of teams and other project activities. Undertakes regular monitoring and reporting on project progress and constraints; further monitors progress against the initial quality criteria and updates the plan as required; prepares and maintains monitoring spreadsheets of project activities.
* Manages and monitors identified project risks and update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risk Log. Keeps the Programme manager and the Country Director abreast of emerging project issues and provides input to the Issues Log.
* Mobilizes goods and services to initiate activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications; further managing in consultation and coordination with the Programme Manager and UNDP Operations the procurement of equipment as per requirements of project activities and in line with UNDP rules and regulations.
* Meets regularly with UNPOS and all the members of the consortium to consult and discuss options and review the progress of the project. He/she would represent the lead agency on the Steering Committee comprised of donors and the Minister for Constitutional Affairs.
* Works closely with the legal team to provide guidance on options for the structure of the constitution-making process in response to changes on the ground, and facilitation of debate on these issues (e.g. how to bring into the process important interests such as the business community, elders and religious leaders).
* The Project Manager/Strategic Advisor would also be expected to work closely with UNPOS and the donors to provide political facilitation as needed on key contentious issues (both of substance and of process). There will need to be ongoing political dialogue with the key players to ensure that the constitution-making process is successful, inclusive, participatory, and results in a realistic constitution (e.g. inclusion of women, need for consensus, encouraging key political players to take a lead in encouraging dialogue and compromise etc.).
* The Project Manager would also act as the focal point for assistance to IFCC or TFG or ARS on constitutional making issues.
Financial management:
* Accountable for the use of project funds.
* Ensures the preparation and monitoring of the project budget. Is responsible for oversight of financial management through Atlas, including purchase orders, requisitions and payments;
* Provides leadership in overseeing of effective provision of services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management;
* Ensures the integrity of financial system and directly oversees the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the projects and advises the Governance team leader accordingly;
* Ensures that programme resources are used in a balanced way that confirms the application of the Human Rights Based approach and contributes to peace building;
* Is responsible for budgets and ensuring strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations;
* Liaises with field staff, reviews project requests for direct payment in consultation with the Programme Manager and Deputy Programme Manager, monitor payment requests from the field, inform finance section once cash facilitator has effected payments. Ensure empowerment of the field offices on operations issues.
Teamwork:
* Promote cross-unit teamwork and the development of operational skills of the team members, through coaching and mentoring.
* Promotes coordination among the various components of the Governance cluster.
IV. Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
* Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
* Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
* Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Functional Competencies:
* Demonstrated capacity and substantial project management experience with UNDP or an international organization in dealing with policy and strategic issues related to institution building and governance;
* Substantive knowledge one or more of the following: constitution, electoral, democratic governance, peace, mediation, and institution building processes and programme / project formulation and management;
* Demonstrated experience in managing development projects (preferably in conflict environments), in particular dealing with aid coordination, aid management, aid support to peace and reconciliation as well as broader development issues;
* Substantial pervious experience in working with senior government officials, donor representatives and civil society on policy and strategic issues;
* Substantial previous experience in institutional development and capacity building: governance, electoral process
* Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
* Strong communication skills (oral and written);
* Analytical skills;
* Results oriented, flexible and problem solving skills.
* IT literate.
V. Recruitment Qualifications
Education: Preferably an Advanced university degree in political science, law or related social science fields or comparable experience.
Experience:
* At least 10-15 years of work experience with UN/UNDP or international/multilateral organizations in programme / project formulation and management and policy advice in the areas of governance, conflict resolution and negotiation;
* Senior and relevant experience in constitutional development, electoral processes, civic education, political negotiation/mediation;
* Strong experience in promoting capacity building and governance in multi-cultural environments and dealing with multiple donors;
* Working experience in Somalia/Africa/Arab countries/conflict zones would be an asset.
Language Excellent command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of Somali or Arabic is desirable but not a requirement.
Other Although current duty station is Nairobi, this can be reviewed in light of ongoing field office strengthening and subject to evolving security situation. Incumbent should be ready to move to Somalia if requested.
VI. Submission of application
Please send your curriculum vitae, marked “Project Manager - Constitution Process, Governance” by 7th December 2008 to: The Deputy Resident Representative (Operations), United Nations Development Programme - Somalia, P.O. Box 28832, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya, e-mail: registry.so@undp.org. UNDP will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants are required to fill the P11 Form and submit it together with the application.
Find the P11 Form for Fixed Term Contract Holders on this link:
http://www.so.undp.org/P11_Form_For_Fixed_Term_and_ALDs.doc
UNDP will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
This vacancy announcement is also available on http://jobs.undp.org/ and on the Relief Web site (http://www.reliefweb.int/)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Project Manager - Constitution Process
