Portfolio Manager - Inclusive Governance / SG 16

Background

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD), UNDP Sri Lanka developed a Portfolio, prioritizing SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, to implement its Governance and Peacebuilding projects.

The SDG 16 Portfolio is dedicated to supporting Sri Lanka’s development trajectory by addressing governance challenges, enhancing inclusivity, strengthening institutions and promoting social cohesion. The Portfolio aims to enhance people-centered services, strengthen rule of law, enhance accountability, and strengthen Sri Lanka’s resilience to future challenges. The Portfolio focuses on building space, capacity, and trust including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, ensuring their participation in policymaking and decision-making processes to meet their needs.

The Portfolio intervenes across four interrelated pillars: Pillar 1 - Voice and Representation, Pillar 2 - Rights and Justice, Pillar 3 - Strong and Efficient Institutions, and Pillar 4 - Social Cohesion. Each pillar includes dedicated projects aimed at addressing specific governance challenges within its thematic area.

This includes ensuring that the portfolio is not solely project driven, but is able to engage with government, civil society, academia and other partners on the relevant issues and provide high quality advisory support and provide guidance on international standards. This requires dedicated capacities beyond the individual pillars for overall portfolio coordination/management as well as ensuring connectivity across the pillars as well as regular learning and reflection. 

In addition, focus on new emerging issues such as digital and investment in cross-cutting areas such as support for persons with disabilities, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, innovation, data and digitalization, and capacity development.

In this context the Portfolio Manager, manages overall implementation of work undertaken across the four pillars of the Portfolio. This includes managing timely implementation of projects, as per approved work plans, and management of financial and human resources across the Portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Portfolio Manager will work under the supervision of the Programme Analyst, Inclusive Governance Team.

Overall strategic direction and coordination of the portfolio, creating new opportunities in line with changing context.

Function / Expected Results:

Provide quality technical expertise and coordination

• Maintain close working relations with national and local partners as well as participation and ownership by national authorities and other partners, including civil society;
• Ensure technical coherence throughout the programme and its project components;
• Advance enablers such as digital and innovation.
• Provide coordination across pillars, connect the dots and ensure agility and information sharing across the portfolio
• Identify opportunities for international best practices 

Lead the overall management of the portfolio 

• Lead overall management of the portfolio, including managing programme staff, hiring, and overseeing external consultants, maintain working relations with key partners
• Lead the development of annual workplans and/or revise workplans and budgets according to the decisions of the SDG16 Portfolio Steering Committee
• Maintain oversight of expenditures and ensure both value for money and efficient delivery in line with established targets

Effective communication, monitoring and quality reporting

• Ensure periodic collection of case studies, human interest stories, new partnerships and best practices 
• Advance communications and visibility of results in close collaboration with the Communications Team. 
• Put in place an effective monitoring and evaluation system and ensure quality and timely reporting 
• Proposes strategic approaches and priorities for results-based implementation, including definition of baselines, performance indicators and monitoring and evaluation

Advocacy, Partnerships, Resource Mobilization 

• Strengthen resource mobilization strategies with donors, multi-lateral organizations, IFIs, government, the business sector, academia, CSOs and the media. 
• Actively engage in UN interagency coordination as well as in other fora with the aim to advance UNDP’s strategic agenda on Inclusive Governance. 
• Engages in policy dialogue and technical discussion with Government, donors, civil society, private sector and academia.
• Promote coordination and participation in joint activities with various stakeholders to work collaboratively in the area of political participation, governance and peace and security in the region such as: UN agencies, relevant government stakeholders, civil society, inter-governmental organizations and regional women's networks;
• Collaborate with UNDP teams across UNDP Sri Lanka, as well as other country offices

Facilitate knowledge building and management.

• Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Organize and deliver training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matter

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction and Strategy       

• System Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management           

• Partnership Management - Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Partnership Management      

• Emerging Partnerships - Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

 2030 Agenda:  People            

• Gender - Inclusive governance and women’s participation and representation

2030 Agenda: Peace 

• Governance - Inclusive Political Processes

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness        

• Innovation - Dynamic Portfolio Management

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent)  in Social Policy, Public Policy, Politics, Economics, Peace and conflict, International relations, Law, Management, Development Studies or a related area is required. OR 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in project management, design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation and leading development projects is required.
• Previous experience in effective project implementation / coordination would be an asset
• Substantial previous experience in working with government and/or civil society on strategic issues is an asset
• Experience working in the area of inclusive governance and peacebuilding is an advantage
• Experience working in the UN System or with other development partners is an asset

Required Languages

• Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil with excellent English communication skills is required. 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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