JOB AT UNDP : National Programme Coordinator : ( Deadline : 28 May 2019 )

 

JOB AT UNDP : National Programme Coordinator : ( Deadline : 28 May 2019 )

 

 

Job Description

Agency : UNDP

Title : National Programme Coordinator

Job ID : 23405

Practice Area – Job Family : Poverty Reduction

Vacancy End Date :  28/05/2019 (Midnight New York, USA)

Duty Station : Kigali, Rwanda

Education & Work Experience : I-Master’s Level Degree – 7 year(s) experience

Languages  : Required: English 
                        Desired:French 

Grade  : SB5

Vacancy Type : Service Contract (SC)

Posting Type : External

Bureau : Africa

Contract Duration

one year renewable-Rwanda Nationals only

 

Background

II. Job Purpose and Organizational Context

Over the last two decades, Rwanda has made considerable progress in implementing its policies and strategies, achieving significant development outcomes and sustaining some of the highest economic growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the government is finalizing its Vision 2050 strategy, with the aim of ensuring that Rwanda achieves upper middle-income status by 2035 with a good quality of life and decent jobs for its people and high-income status by 2050. Since July 2017, Rwanda is implementing the 7-year National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) which will run until 2024. NST1 is the key national strategic planning document for the remainder of Vision 2020 and for the first four years of the journey under Vision 2050. It integrates and mainstreams the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063 and its First 10-Year Implementation Plan, and the East African Community (EAC) Vision 2050.

 

Realizing the ambitious visionary agenda set out in Vision 2050 and the NST1 requires addressing stern challenges that the country confronts. The productive base of the economy remains insufficiently diversified and uncompetitive. Economic growth slowed to an estimated 5.2 per cent in 2017, constrained by falling commodity prices and a debt-conscious curtailment of public capital expenditure on large infrastructure programmes. Growth in the industrial and services sector slowed to an estimated 3.9 and 6 per cent respectively in 2017, far below the national targets of 14 and 13.5 per cent. Combined with low agricultural value addition, the economy is not generating adequate decent employment opportunities for Rwanda’s young population. With the modern wage sector providing employment to only 6 per cent of the working-age population and 91 per cent of the employed found in the informal sector, most Rwandans do not have adequate incomes and social safety nets and are vulnerable to poverty and financial insecurity in old age.

 

Also, the evaluation of the Millennium Development Goals showed that Rwanda had attained all targets except those for poverty, stunting and share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector. UNDP Rwanda is committed to continue its support to reduce poverty in Rwanda focusing on NST-1 priorities. In alignment with the NST-1 and the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) 2018-2023, and guided by the corporate Strategic Plan 2018-2021, the UNDP country programme is structured around two pillars: (a) inclusive and sustainable growth; and (b) transformational governance for sustainable development. To deliver impactful results in these areas, UNDP will expand its partnership base and continue acting as a catalyst to mobilize resources for key programmes. While building on foundations laid over the last programme cycles, the country office will provide policy advice, technical assistance and financing to programmes geared at promoting structural economic transformation, catalysing entrepreneurship, creating decent jobs, and generating data to better target and include vulnerable groups among others.

 

It is in this context that UNDP Rwanda is seeking to recruit a National Programme Coordinator (Socio-economic Development). Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Sustainable Growth Unit, the National Programme Coordinator will be responsible for socio-economic development trend and policy analysis, green and innovative finance, private sector engagement in economic growth, multidimensional poverty mapping and assessment (in collaboration with the Policy Support Unit), and for reviewing national policies, programmes and plans with a view to align UNDP socio-economic transformation programmes with the national development agenda. The Programme Coordinator will formulate strategies for implementing UNDP’s socio-economic transformation programmes, support the evaluation of programme activities within the portfolio, and provide policy advisory services. She/he will also provide support in mainstreaming human development including social protection strategies, income and employment generation activities, community-based development programmes and capacity building initiatives, into programme activities.

 

Furthermore, the Programme Coordinator will coordinate activities of the programme teams and other Programme Units, and work in collaboration with the operations team, programme staff in other UN agencies, UNDP HQ staff and government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bilateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

 

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

III. Functions/Key Results Expected

 

Summary of key functions:

 

Provide top quality policy advisory services
Ensure effective management of the country office programme
Create strategic partnerships and provide support in resource mobilization
Contribute effectively to the Delivery as One (DaO) Initiative
Provide top quality policy advisory services to the government and Country Office management in the area of socio-economic transformation

 

Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to UNDAP, CPD and other Unit documents;
Identification of sources of information related to policy driven issues and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
Support to the development/enhancement of policies and institutions that will address the country challenges and needs in collaboration with the government and other strategic partners;
Identification of areas for support and intervention within the thematic/sector areas. This includes identifying pathways for engaging private sector in economic growth, green and innovative finance, and economic empowerment programmes to help people emerge from poverty and extreme poverty;
Scan the policy and enabling environment to identify opportunities for strategic engagement on issues relating to socio-economic transformation
Ensures effective management of the country office programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme

 

Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
Design and formulation of country office programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audits of Nationally Executed projects;
Follow up on audit recommendations. Ensure that all exceptions are reported timely;
Ensure that reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.
Create strategic partnerships and support in the resource mobilization the country socio-economic transformation

 

Development of partnerships with other UN agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector and civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
Engaging interested representatives of national and international development actors in Rwanda, facilitating as appropriate their involvement in country-level processes relating to effective development cooperation;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new components/projects related to socio-economic transformation or other designated programmes; active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
Contribute effectively to the Delivery as One (DaO) Initiative and provide substantive inputs to the UN Results Groups 1 and 2

 

Effective participation to the UN Social and Economic Transformation Results Groups (RG1 and RG 2) and provision of substantive inputs to the work of both groups;
Identification of opportunities for joint programming or interventions in the area of the Socio-Economic Economic Transformation and Results Groups;
Support to ongoing M&E processes within the framework of DaO;
Collaborative preparation and/or revision of UNDAP, CDP and other documents.

 

 

Competencies

 

IV. Impact of Results

 

UNDP-MINECOFIN programme on Innovative Finance strengthened
New projects in the areas of socio-economic transformation and poverty reduction developed
Reports on the country socio-economic development trend produced
Policy documents and reports on green and innovative finance, private sector engagement in economic growth, multidimensional poverty mapping and assessment produced
UNDP socio-economic transformation programmes aligned with the national development agenda.
Strategies for implementing UNDP’s socio-economic transformation programmes are formulated
Human development mainstreamed into UNDP programme activities.

 

 

 

Required Skills and Experience

V. Competencies

Corporate competencies

 

Strong interpersonal skills
Maintain effective work relationships in a multi- cultural environment;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic goal of UNDP and partners

 

 

Functional competencies

 

Demonstrates strong technical knowledge in field of socio-economic development;
Proven practical knowledge of innovative finance and economic transformation;
Familiarity with Government of Rwanda systems and functions
Familiarity with UNDP and UN system and role of key institutions in the field of socio-economic transformation, finance and poverty reduction.
Knowledge of programming frameworks related to UNDP an advantage
Ability to multi-task
Attention to detail

 

Leadership

 

Takes initiative and calculated risks;
Focuses on impact and results for client;
Builds trust in interactions with others;
Displays positive attitude;
Makes decisions;
Manages relationships;
Builds strong client relationships;
Builds strong relationships with partners;
Communicates clearly and convincingly.

 

 

Task management

 

Provides quality outputs in a timely manner;
Analyses problems carefully and logically, leading to fact-based and practical recommendations;

Managing complexity

Supports development and implementation of clear programme strategies;
Develops and advocates for innovative solutions.

 

 

Building and Sharing Knowledge

 

Shares knowledge and experience with colleagues;
Actively builds deep knowledge in mainstreaming environment and climate change;
Makes valuable practice contributions in innovative finance and socio-economic transformation;
Promotes knowledge management

 

 

Disclaimer

V. Recruitment Qualifications

 

Education:

 

Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, finance, business administration or other development-related field.

 

 

Experience:

 

A minimum of 7years of relevant professional experience at national or international level in providing strategic advisory services in development finance, economic development or poverty reduction
Hands-on experience in project management
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages and handling of web-based management systems essential.

 

Language Requirements:

 

Excellent written and spoken English is required;
A working knowledge of French is an added advantage.

 

 

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