Project Resilience Specialist

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Governance for Resilient Development (Gov4Res) Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The theory of change for the project rests on the core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. This involves planning, financing, implementing and appraising development initiatives from a risk informed perspective, considering risks from climate change and disaster events, as well as gender and social inclusion needs. The Gov4Res Project three outcome areas to work with countries across the region to address these risks by development: 1) government planning and financing systems enable gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; 2) country oversight and accountability systems require gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; and 3) regional organisations, policies and practices are actively supporting gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development. UNDP is partnering with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO).

Under overall guidance of the Governance for Resilience (Gov4Res) Project Manager and the direct supervision of the Capacity Development Specialist based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Project Resilience Specialist will work in close coordination with the government of Tonga, with a focus on the Ministry of Climate Change (MEIDECC), and Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), to support and strengthen its financial management systems and capacity for greater efficiency and accountability. Additionally, the Specialist will provide effective support to management and implementation of the Gov4Res projects for a whole of government approach to resilience by integrating risks into planning, budgeting and decision-making processes and promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The position will report to the UNDP Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific Project Manager through the Capacity Development Specialist for the Project under the overall guidance of the Effective Governance Team Leader. They will work in collaboration with other members of the UNDP Pacific Office and key partners. 

Working under the overall supervision of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager and the direct supervision of the Capacity Development Specialists, the Project Resilience Specialist will be responsible for the following:

Provide strategic advice and lead Gov4Res initiatives and activities in Tonga

• Identify entry points for risk informing planning and budgeting, particularly partnering with ministries responsible for finance and planning. 
• Provide high-level technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions on risk informing development in relation to strategic planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, planning and budgeting, sub-national planning, public financial management and sectoral activities to support realization of risk informed development.
• Analyse and conduct research on Tonga climate and development financing and provide strategic guidance on the preparation of project annual work plan, annual report and other documents of the project.

Systems and Capacity Strengthening

• Analyse and monitor overall project financial situation in consultation with UNDP Gov4Res partners and deliver high level finance and administration support services in a professional and effective manner to both Implementing Partner (IP) and Responsible Party (RP)
• Identify and investigate operational and financial bottlenecks and develop strategies to address and mitigate such bottlenecks.
• Assist IP and RP in developing policies, procedures, standard operating procedures (SOP) for system strengthening within the project scope.
• Design and implement systems and capacity development plans including on-the-job training and training sessions on project and financial management for IP and RP stakeholders. 
• Facilitate knowledge management and sharing including a synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices from a project management and financial perspective.

Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) and Audit exercises

• Provide advice, guidance and support to IP and RP on HACT and Audit policies and procedures and act as HACT focal point.
• Provide technical and administrative support in the preparation and implementation of HACT Micro Assessment in line with the HACT policy and procedure and UNDP policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• In line with the HACT Assurance plan for IPs ensure IPs have internal controls in place for Spot checks and Audits 
• Participate in the review of assessments and assurance reports to identify areas for improvement related to the implementation of HACT framework and propose capacity development actions for IP and RP.
• Share HACT assessment reports with IP, RP and UNDP team, especially reports of assurance activities, to ensure adequate awareness and follow-up of identified issues.
• Contribute to assurance planning process and ensure implementation of the assurance activities in close coordination with relevant IP and/or RP and other key stakeholders.  

Quality Assurance in overall management of project funds at country level 

• Coordinate and act as focal point to improve overall operational efficiency of Gov4Res and ensure compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies of financial activities and financial reporting system. 
• Contribute to planning, monitoring, and reporting of project financial resources and assist IP & RP in providing solutions to issues related to finance, procurement, and other administrative activities.
• Track and monitor project expenditures against planned budgets to ensure conformity with a Letter of Agreement (LoA) and work plan and advise IP, RP and UNDP on the gaps between budgets and expenditures for taking actions. 
• Identify high risk areas requiring special attention and support from the Gov4Res team and devise plans to minimize or eliminate risks in completing project activities in close coordination with IP, RP and UNDP team. 
• Ensure the quality and financial compliances of documents of projects, agreements with donors, government and non-government counterparts, grants, and other important documents deemed necessary.
• Regularly report and provide updates on the financial status of the project and ensure a high level of quality, accuracy, and reliability of information and analysis. 
• Establish and maintain a strong relationship with government counterparts for the successful achievement of project outputs through ensuring risks for implementing partnership management are identified and mitigation measures put in place.
• As required, provide support and advice to the Gov4Res team more broadly.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Other related duties as required as well as close coordination with the UNDP Area Based Manager and Country Coordinator (Resident Coordinator’s Office) in Tonga, aligning programming with UN agencies implementation in Tonga.

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & 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
• Effective Decision Making. Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and Security     

• Finance | Audit (General). Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services. Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting. Ability to examine and verify accounts and records. Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny. Understands the law and best practice relating to antibribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies
• Finance | Financial reporting and analysis. Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including nonfinancial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance
• Finance | Financial risk management. Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management"

Policy and Programme (2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness)    

• Effectiveness. Capacities on aid transparency

External Relations and Advocacy     

• Partnership Management | Relationship Management. Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in management, social science, finance, economics, development, climate change or related field.
  Or 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of work experience in project implementation, coordination, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, communication and/or relationship management.
• Experience in collaborating with national and international technical experts and institutions. 
•  Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Working knowledge and experience of risk informed development and/or climate change and disaster risk.
• Experience in delivering training/ capacity/ institutional building support to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation. 
• Proven Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Experience in drafting reports. 

Required languages:

• Fluency of English (written and oral) is required
• Fluency in Tongan as national language is required. 
• Fluency in additional UN languages is an added advantage.
   

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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