UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world’s needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development. UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe. In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position in the below project:
Vacancy Details
Vacancy Code: 2007/NAO/PAK/GOV01 Post Title: Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) Post Level: ICS-12 (L-5) Project: Support to Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) Duty Station: Pakistan Duration: From contract signature until 31 December 2007 (extendable) Closing Date: 16 February 2007
Project Background
The Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) is a non governmental organization created by the Government of Pakistan through the National Reconstruction Bureau to proactively promote the community participation elements of the Local Government Ordinance of 2001. The DTCE vision is of empowered community of proactive citizens engaged in self-development with the support of local governments. The DTCE mission is to create a new relationship between the citizen and the state based on shared rights and responsibilities for community development. The DTCE strategy promotes community participation through a combination of power and authority, participation and empowerment, networks and movements, markets and incentives, information and technology, ethics and sanctions.
Duties and Responsibilities
The CTA provides strategic direction to empirical and diagnostic research processes to support and optimize effective initiation and implementation of DTCE program components in DTCE partner Districts. The CTA will ensure quality research products highlighting DTCD experiences in relation to the achievement of outputs and outcomes to be presented in international fora. In addition, the CTA will advise the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the production of DTCE outcomes for the achievements of impacts and the National Project Director (NPD) on the production of project outputs and results. The CTA will assist the DTCE in donor relations, including the supervision of the periodic reports the National Project Manager prepares for UNDP and other cost-sharing donors.
Under the overall supervision of the Chairman of the DTCE Board of Directors and the UNDP Resident Representative for Pakistan and in direct coordination with the DTCE CEO and NPD, the CTA will undertake the following tasks:
1. Provide policy advice to influence both strategic organizational direction, as well as tactical and operational decision making both in DTCE headquarter functioning and in DTCE field operations. 2. Lead the research team in undertaking interventions that assess the process and outcome of DTCE field activities, as well as provide concrete information to support the development and design of new interventions. 3. Develop research tools that draw on multiple information nodes, include primary and secondary sources of data, involve internal and external stakeholders, and take into consideration the current devolution reform underway in Pakistan, its historical antecedents, and the opportunities and threats it may encounter. 4. Serve as Technical Advisor for the conduction of action research in DTCE activated districts to identify facilitating, obstructing, socio-political and other relevant factors and their respective solutions/recommendations related to DTCE program components. 5. Develop functional research networks with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaborative research projects and cross-fertilization of ideas related to sociological, institutional, political, and economic factors that underpin devolution reform and the community empowerment process internationally, and in Pakistan. 6. Give particular focus to advancing gender balance; optimizing effective implementation in urban districts, rural districts as well as resisting elite capture to advance empowerment of the poor keeping in consideration the policy environment, institutional environment, organizational processes and organizational results. 7. Formulate and regularly update Objectively Verifiable Indicators (OVIs) that measure quantitative and qualitative outputs and outcomes related to DTCE program interventions. 8. Assist the CEO, the Director Donor Relations and the NPD in donor relations and resource mobilization. 9. Undertake any other assignment involving expertise in governance, devolution or community empowerment, as and when required by the Chairman of the Board or DTCE management.
Required Competencies & Knowledge
The CTA should possess the following qualifications:
- Extensive international experience; - Extensive experience in presenting research outputs on high level international fora; - Strong leadership and problem-solving skills; - Leadership experience in a multi-cultural setting; Demonstrated ability to work effectively and harmoniously with people from different cultures/backgrounds; - Have sensitivity to gender issues.
Academic Qualifications/Experience/Language
- Post-Graduate degree, preferably at doctoral level, in Political Science, Sociology, Public Administration, or similar field with extensive research experience; - At least 15 years experience in advising and/or researching large scale governance programmes, with strong substantive knowledge and skills related to local government reforms and systems, decentralization and community empowerment; - Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.
Submission of Applications
Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest, complete Curriculum Vitae and an updated United Nations Personal History Form () to Ms. Gloria Wightman, via e mail to . Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title when applying (in the subject line by e-mail).
Additional Considerations
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. - Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified. - Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. - UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a selected candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
For more information on UNOPS, including its core values and competencies, please visit the UNOPS website at
