Job Description
BACKGROUND:
The United Nations is actively engaged in the development of organizational, societal and individual capacities in the new nation of Timor-Leste. It is helping establish from scratch the institutions of governance in the country. At the end of six years from the Proclamation of Independence, the mandate of the UN Security Council in Timor-Leste created an integrated mission. This marked the end of the UN and UNDP-supported Institutional Capacity Development Support (ICDS) and Human Resource Management (HRM) projects in the country aimed expressly at capacity development. In 2007, UNDP launched a project aimed at long term capacity development in the Public Sector while at the same time, addressing urgent capacity gaps, bearing in mind that gender equality issues will be addressed in all the outputs produced to achieve these outcomes.
The purpose of the Support to the Civil Service programme is “to support the development of strategic capacities (at the system, organisational and individual level) required to enhance professionalism and integrity in civil service management and to increase national ownership of the capacity development process and the management of advisory support in line with well-identified needs”. Specifically, the project will aim to achieve the following three outcomes:
Outcome 1: Integrity, transparency and professionalism in the civil service enhanced through targeted HRM developments
Outcome 2: Mechanism in place for the provision, management and monitoring of technical assistance in response to well-identified capacity development needs
Outcome 3: Efficiency and sustainability of capacity development efforts enhanced through improved education and training interventions to develop the capabilities in core state institutions
The Support to the Civil Service programme meets a critical demand of the Government of Timor-Leste and is implemented in close collaboration and under the overall leadership of Government counterparts. It is scheduled to run over a period of 4 years, with the possibility of extension. UNDP is the key international development partner of the Government in this programme and will work closely with other development partners, civil society organizations, academic and training institutions and overseas partners.
The advisor will work with a mixed team of national and international staff. In his/her capacity as the Public Sector Capacity Development Adviser, the incumbent will act as the principal technical advisor of the UNDP’s capacity development initiative and will be anchored in the national government agency Capacity Development Coordination Unit (CDCU), Office of the Prime Minister. In addition to management of project output Component 2, the position will be responsible for planning the process of the Ministerial Capacity Development Action Plans (MCDAPs) to be implemented across all ministries, and will coordinate and direct a team of Short-Term Capacity Development Advisers who will implement the MCDAP process. The position reports through a matrixed arrangement to the Director of the CDCU and to the project team leader (Civil Service Reform Advisor – Chief Technical Advisor).
I. Job Summary and Description of Main Advisory duties:
A. Advisory and Operational
- Preparing the Government-wide capacity development strategic plans, and related implementation modalities working with all government Ministries
- Conduct an institutional assessment as and when requested as part of the wider institutional development process of the government ministries and institutions.
- Assist in the identification and mobilization of technical assistance from the TASI and for the recruitment of short-medium and long-term advisors and overseeing their deployment based on the results and the requirements of the institutional assessment MCDAP’s.
- Advising and assisting in designing frameworks relating to capacity Assessments, Ministerial Capacity Development Action Plans; assist the M&E Specialist with developing the methodology and systems for capacity tracking and reporting
- Contribute to the development tools and standard methodologies to be used for support to capacity assessments, OD processes, preparation of MCDAPs, M&E methodologies and systems for capacity development etc.,
- Provide expert advice and knowledge resources on global good practice to all Ministries.
- Mentor, coach and advise government counterparts as may be required on a day-to-day basis
- Work closely with Government Ministries and coordinate the establishment of development teams in each Ministry comprising of senior officials who will become members of the Ministry specific MCDAP implementation working group(s) working closely with the short term capacity development advisors and meeting regularly to manage and direct the implementation process
- Provide advice to the SIP committee on public management on all relevant areas of capacity development wide matters.
B. Supervisory and Managerial
- Recruit and manage staff for the team against positions detailed in the project document (Outcome Component 2), in consultation with the project team leader and the UNDP programme officers.
- Coordinate the work of the team assigned to outcome 2 of the project
- Recruit and manage short and long-term consultants as per requirements stipulated in the programme document and workplan for outcome 2 (in consultation with the project team leader and the UNDP program officers)
C. Liaison
- Act as the UNDP focal point for the capacity development programme (Outcome Component 2) representing UNDP and liaising with government and other partners with respect to capacity development and resource mobilization including resource mobilization for the TASI Fund
- Ensure smooth collaboration with other donors operating in the same field.
- Serve as the main contact point for communications regarding and reporting on the programme with outside parties, including (but not limited to) donor and programme country Governments, UNDP and CDCU-GoTL.
- Ensure appropriate representation of the programme component at meetings of other UN bodies, agencies or government.
- Negotiate MoUs and agreements with other agencies as required
- Work closely with the TASI Fund Manager to ensure that the short-term and long-term strategies of capacity development are well harmonized and activities are synchronized.
- Work closely in the direct coordination in association with the Director of the CDCU, the work of bi-lateral advisors and their activities in government institutions ensuring that all external technical assistance interventions in state institutions are not duplicating but contributing towards the capacity development plan objectives of specific government institution as a whole.
- Ensure that systems are in place for measuring and reporting on capacity development and capacity transference; ensure dissemination of impact assessment results.
D. Resource mobilization and allocation
Assist in mobilizing resources for the project from various bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors including resource mobilization for the TASI Fund.
Ascertain that sufficient resources have been received or pledged to cover all actual and planned expenditures reflected in the budget
E. Reporting requirements
- Ensure six-monthly and annual reports on the state of capacity development in Timor-Leste and on the implementation of the workplan related to outcome 2 of the prodoc.
- Assist the project team leader in the development of annual workplans, and periodic progress reports.
- Together with counterparts in the UNDP Country Office, ensure budget control of expenditures in accordance to the workplan.
II. Competencies
- Proven track record of strong diagnostic, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge and experience in the field of capacity development, especially capacity assessments, preparing capacity development plans and monitoring capacity development.
- In depth knowledge of programme management including quality management and evaluation
- Team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to present coherent and convincing positions both in writing and orally.
- Good leadership and facilitation skills.
- Ability to deal tactfully with arising situations and advice the members of the capacity development team, the CDCU team and UNDP programme team.
- Ability to work under pressure, and to work on different projects simultaneously
- Excellent writing and presentation skills
III. Qualifications
- Advanced University Degree in Public Sector Management, Management, Economic, Social Sciences or other related field
- Experience of working in developing and or post conflict country environments
- At least 10 years’ experience in capacity development and or Public Sector Management
- Solid experience in program and project management, monitoring and evaluation.
- Solid experience in the use of institutional development and organizational functional review models tools and processes in government institutional settings
- Proven professional experience in designing training curriculum, developing training materials and facilitating and conducting training
- Solid experience in process facilitation
- Portuguese language skills an asset.
Vacancies Contact
Procurement Unit
UNDP Dili,
UN House Caicoli Street,
Dili, Timor Leste
