RDP Coordination Advisor

Job Description

Location : Nairobi, KENYA
Application Deadline :**14-Jul-08**
Type of Contract : 200 Series
Post Level : L-4
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract :One year
Expected Duration of Assignment :One year (with possibility of extension)

Purpose

To support the Somali authorities and other national stakeholders and the international partners of Somalia currently joined together within the Coordination of International Support to Somalia (CISS) in the delivery of a mutually agreed reconstruction and development Programme for Somalia through advisory and support services for the establishment and effective operation of an RDP implementation support architecture.

Background

The 5-year Somali Reconstruction & Development Programme (RDP) is the framework for identified recovery, reconstruction and development initiatives coming out of the Somali Joint Needs Assessment (JNA- the post-conflict needs assessment process for Somalia). The RDP is currently costed at USD 2.2 billion (under discussions).

The RDP comprises regional volumes for Somaliland (the Reconstruction and Development Framework), Puntland, and a synthesis volume which covers the needs of the entire country.
The regional volumes for Somaliland and Puntland have been endorsed by the relevant regional authorities as well as civil society in the concerned areas. The TFG has yet to give its final approval/endorsement for the RDP’s latest version.

Though a donor conference has yet to be scheduled, key institutions and organizations have aligned their strategic responses for Somalia to the Somali RDP. These include the Somaliland 5-Year Development Programme, the Puntland State of Somalia 5-Year Development Plan, the European Union/Norway Joint Strategy Paper for Somalia 2008-2013, the World Bank Interim Strategy Note and the UN Transition Plan for Somalia.

Given that the priorities for reconstruction are broadly and mutually accepted and recognized, and that international partners have begun the process of aligning their assistance to this framework, one could argue that RDP implementation has de facto begun.

Experience from such processes of post-conflict needs assessment and reconstruction programmes has shown that they are living and flexible frameworks which can and should be adapted to address a rapidly evolving situation. Hence it is critical that mechanisms be put in place to assure adequate and mutual implementation support and make the necessary adjustments as implementation unfolds.

During the JNA, the WB & UN supported consultancies to develop an implementation framework for RDP implementation. The framework included financing options and indicators and Monitoring and Aid Information System options . However, the framework has yet to be agreed within the international community and /or between the international community and Somali partners.

At the same time, a joint coordination framework called the Coordination and Monitoring Committee (and the subset Joint Planning Committee (JPC)) was set up to coordinate and strategically guide the JNA process and RDP implementation. This coordination framework, as well as the CISS Ex-Com (which only brings together the international partners on Somalia) has had limited functionality. The international community and Somali partners have still not finalized any agreements on how best to structure a framework for effective coordination of RDP implementation and monitoring.

It is therefore proposed to continue to support the international community’s efforts to find concrete mechanisms for effective RDP implementation through WB-UN-donor institutional technical support and resources which could later-on be embedded/attached to the mechanisms for RDP coordination and implementation, once agreed. Such a process needs to be carried out with the Somali Support Secretariat (SSS) which is tasked to support very closely related processes and UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) which is tasked to lead the international community’s support to building peace in Somalia.

The risks of not establishing a minimal capacity to continue this effort of institutionalizing mechanisms for RDP implementation are considerable. Experience from other countries has clearly shown that donor funded interventions, and key outputs and outcomes have been difficult to track. As a result there have been duplications of resources and programmes in some sectors and gaps in others; a tangle of figures and terms, a national government kept in the dark and no measurement of performance of actions . In some countries, once the PCNA team have gone, documents are shelved and a myriad of different and conflicting strategies are implemented; key institutional memory disappears; limited transfer of capacity to national counterparts is done which can, in some cases, leave national partners struggling with the transaction burden of dealing with an assortment of international institutions at a bilateral level without the tools to obtain a comprehensive overview.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

The RDP Coordination Advisor (RCA) will report to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the World Bank Country Director as co-chairs of the CISS ExCom. The RCA will work very closely with Somali authorities and other partners, in particular the TFG Ministries of Finance and Planning (to which s/he will provide technical support) and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; and parallel ministries in Puntland and Somaliland,. In addition, the RCA will regularly liaise with the UN SRSG for Somalia

The Coordinator will be embedded within the Somali Support Secretariat so as to maximize synergies and reduce the risk of overlap between the various actors involved in pushing forward the agenda of reconstruction in Somalia.

Duties and responsibilities will include:

* Coordinate consensus on the implementation, monitoring and review framework among governments, stakeholders and development partners and recommend best practice policies to support the framework;
* Provide technical advice to Somali partners on matters related to the RDP and its implementation;
* Finalize the draft RDP volumes to acceptable international standards;
* Provide support, feedback and updates to governments, donors, civil society and other stakeholders on RDP implementation and other related matters, as needed;
* Support the development of systems to track/monitor, evaluate and report on RDP implementation; Facilitate a process of defining the roles and responsibilities of the CISS technical sector committees, as well as sectoral coordination structures led by line Ministries in Somaliland and Puntland, in the context of the overall of RDP implementation structure and monitoring mechanisms;
* Provide guidance and advice on funding options required to support the implementation of RDP;
* Plan and organize various missions related to the RDP process;
* Ensure that the JNA/RDP website is up-to-date;
* Provide support and follow up for a donor conference on reconstruction and development for Somalia, if and when scheduled;
* Advise on and support prioritization and sustainability of RDP activities;
* Liaise with all stakeholders to ensure a consistent and complementary approach to the implementation of the RDP.
* Ensure adequate and timely reporting of RDP-related activities.
* Prepare regular work plans and progress reports to be reviewed by the CISS ExCom and Government partners.

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:

* Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
* Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
* Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
* Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning

* Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development
* Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on economic issues
* In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues

Development and Operational Effectiveness

* Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
* Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes
* Ability to work with minimal supervision
* Ability to lead formulation and evaluation of development programmes and projects
* Ability to apply economic theory to the specific country context, carry out high-quality economic research

Management and Leadership

* Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback
* Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation
* Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
* Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
* Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
* Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

* Advanced University degree in political science, sociology, law, international relations, public administration, or other relevant field.

Experience:

* 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs and/or development.
* Experience working within a Post-Conflict Needs Assessment process and/or post-conflict reconstruction framework a definite asset;
* Ability to work effectively in a multi-stakeholder environment and to help create value and build consensus;
* Demonstrated experience in coordination and in working with NGOs and donors;
* Excellent proven skills in analysis, problem solving, communication, negotiations, diplomacy and leadership;
* Familiarity with the WB and UN systems, tools and procedures
* Proven experience on preparation of written reports prepared in an accurate and concise manner, and public presentation skills;
* Computer literacy, including familiarity with spreadsheets, power point presentations and databases;
* Proven qualities of and experience in: team leadership and motivation, team building, office management, oral/written communication. Strong inter-personal skills and a demonstrated capacity to deal with colleagues and counterparts from different backgrounds, and proven ability to function in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnical environment.

Language requirements:

* Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

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