Head of Partnerships and Chief Technical Advisor

Background

The EU-funded Public Finance Management (PFM) Pro PALOP-TL SAI programmes (2013-2017 and 2018-2022) successfully fostered and consolidated for the past 8 years innovative tools and a solid Community of Practices (CoP) of more than 20 core economic governance state institutions and a similar number of CSO platforms in the 6 PALOP-TL countries (Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé e Príncipe, and Timor-Leste) to promote transparent and efficient PFM, budget oversight and economic governance. These programmes brokered CoPs that used south-south/triangular cooperation and peer-to-peer association between similar country institutions that have spurred a degree of coordinated policymaking on PFM transparency and accountability matters unmatched in most countries in the region. They have increased the quality and efficiency of EU policy dialogue, notably in countries with Budget Support operations, by providing critical, timely insider information, networks, and connection to oversight institutions.

Nonetheless, despite the significant progress on economic governance in the PALOP-TL countries in the past decade due to Public Finance Management (PFM) national reforms that led to increased accountability by PFM state actors, there is a need to address structural governance shortcomings, notably on the topics of budget transparency, efficient oversight/audit and social monitoring and impact evaluation of public expenditures, especially in a global context of increased financial crises due to the long-term impact of the COVID19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

The 3^rd PFM Pro PALOP-TL SAI programme, the PALOP-TL Regional Economic Governance Programme – Boosting Public Finance Management Systems (PFMS) and Budget Oversight (Pro PALOP-TL – Phase III),aims to consolidate and scale up the gains and actions referred above to continue promoting transparent, accountable, gender responsive and open budgetary cycles, as well as to further strengthen parliament, the court of auditors, the executive institutions and citizens’ capacities to monitor how governments execute state budgets. From 2023 to 2026, the new programme will capitalize on the knowledge and policy space in PFM matters inherited from the 2 previous Pro PALOP-TL SAI programmes referred above to build skills, tools and capacities leading to meaningful and durable reforms in areas considered key for accelerating SDGs and Sustainable Economic Development in the PALOP-TL countries. Hence, the return of the investments made for the past 8 years in building PFM Human Resources skills, as well as in consolidating PFM systems, professional networks, and institutions, will now be allocated to promoting change and transformation in those areas, such as fiscal/tax transparency and domestic resource mobilisation, gender equal economies (equanomics), open and accountable PFMS, notably using digital technologies. It will endeavour to strengthen its existing partnerships and build closer and durable associations with European peer institutions. The programme also proposes to showcase successful tools and methods, such as the “Community of Practices”, the recent “Digital Budget Transparency Platform” and the “Gender-responsive Budgeting and oversight integrated model” in other countries where they can be replicated, notably those with particularly prominent EU Budget Support. The programme will promote alignment with the EU Global Gateway axes on green (accelerating green transition for biodiversity) and digital transitions through its crosscutting issues. 

In view of the already demonstrated added-value of a collaboration in the framework of the PALOP-TL region (six countries sharing the same language and governance systems) in the PFM sector, it is proposed to focus the intervention on five main domains:

1. Consolidating and strengthening PFMS and domestic resource mobilisation capacities by the Ministries
   of Finance and National Tax Revenue Authorities.
2. Improving external control and audit by Parliaments, Court of Auditors and external control
   watchdogs.
3. Enhancing budget and policy monitoring by Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and increasing
   citizens public participation.
4. Strengthening peer-to-peer international partnerships among national oversight institutions.
5. Enhancing Gender-responsive Budgeting (GRB) practices and gender mainstreaming.

This new programme will scale-up the already tested methodologies of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s predecessor programmes within the scope of a peer-to-peer network, which has already resulted in improved attitudes and competencies in a collaborative learning environment of the beneficiary institutions (such as the Ministries of Finance Parliaments, Courts of Auditors, as well as Civil Society Organisations). It will lead to i) deepening their capacities on PFM, ii) a more effective implementation of their different mandates, and iii) imparting interinstitutional and public trust notably in new areas such as climate-relevant budgeting and domestic resource mobilisation, thus influencing and widening the existing space for policy dialogue in the field of PFM; iv) deepening institutional capacities and strengthening impacts for and impact evaluation of gender equality; v) sustainable transformation of institutional cultures and legal frameworks. It will also further facilitate the development of mentoring relationships between countries’ institutions and a positive peer pressure that has already helped attain high-level results.

Furthermore, it will endeavour to strengthen and formalise its existing operational collaboration with other relevant actors and platforms operating in the fields of economic governance and PFM, such as those existing with the PALOP-TL countries, Brazil and Portugal (OISC | CPLP, AP | CPLP, SG-PLP); with Open Government Partnership (OGP); with International Budget Partnership (IBP); with INTOSAI (International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions) and AFROSAI-E; with the IMF, especially with its Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), that have already demonstrated great interest in the Action’s innovative methodology to promote gender equality through PFMS, and AFRITAC (IMF training facility). The Action will also build closer and durable associations with other institutions, notably with the EU oversight bodies (EU Court of Auditors, EU Parliament Committee on Budgetary Control, and the Committee on Budgets), that will contribute to ensure a closer collaboration and sustainable support to the PALOP-TL oversight institutions. 

Strengthening partnerships will also allow other non PALOP-TL countries to benefit from the tested methodologies and the Communities of Practice and the use of innovation and digitalisation, which are already taking place in the PALOP-TL countries to foster PFMS.

This new programme is aligned with Priority 2 “Governance, Peace and Security, and Culture” of the Sub-Saharan Regional Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-2027, and specifically refers to the Result 1.1 - “Continental and regional frameworks for democratic governance, the rule of law, human rights, accountability, and inclusive and equal societies are strengthened and implemented”. Moreover, it contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely the SDG16 (governance, including promoting accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels), the SDG 5 (gender equality), the SDG 10 (reduce inequality within and among countries) and the SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).

Given UNDP’s successful experience in implementing the Pro PALOP-TL SAI Programmes, as well as in providing institutional capacity development tools and processes, the EU has renewed its partnership with the Organisation and entrusted it with the direct management of the cycle. The Programme Management Unit shall continue to be based in Cabo Verde.

Position purpose

In order to ensure effective implementation of the programme, UNDP will recruit a Head of Partnerships and Chief Technical Advisor, based in Praia, Cabo Verde (with frequent travel to Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, São Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste). He/she is the Head of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI Management Unit and technically supervises all its staff and recruited consultants, and will be based in Praia, Cabo Verde, and devote 100% of his/her time to the programme.

As the head of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI Management Unit, he/she oversees strategically the programme’s interventions, and provides advice to UNDP Country Offices and EU Delegations with regards to all matters related to the implementation of the programme in all beneficiary countries (PALOP and Timor-Leste). He/she is also responsible for promoting the programme’s partnerships and the scale-up of its interventions to other contexts and countries. 

The Head of Partnerships and Chief Technical Advisor will advise and provide guidance for the PMU decision-making process, within the framework and constraints set out by the Steering and Country Coordination Committees. He/she will advise the Pro PALOP-TL SAI board and its beneficiaries on strategic issues, comparative analysis, international experience, and best practices on the 5 domains referred to above. He/she will provide technical guidance to facilitate the timely resourcing of activities that meet agreed priorities.

The Head of Partnerships and Chief Technical Advisor of the UNDP EU-funded Pro PALOP-TL SAI multi-country and south-south / triangular programme will report directly to the UNDP Resident Representative in Cabo Verde, liaising closely with the Deputy Resident Representatives of Programmes and Operations in all beneficiary countries.

The Head of Partnerships and Chief Technical Advisor will be responsible for guidance and decision-making processes in the implementation of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI programme in the six beneficiary countries, as well as ensuring that the programme produces the outputs and results specified in the programme document. The expected impact of this position will be measured through:

• Improved capacity of MoF in the PALOP-TL to publicize comprehensive budget information in a timely and simple manner, including on domestic resource mobilisation. 
• Improved capacity of SAI in the PALOP-TL to ensure external control and audit of public accounts,
• Improved capacity of parliaments and parliamentarians in the PALOP-TL to exert oversight over the executive in the use of public funds and in the implementation of the state budget (enacted budget).
• Improved capacity of CSO (including media) in the PALOP-TL to monitor the use of public funds and expenditure, as well as enhanced capacity of these actors to simplify budget information at the service of the wider public.
• Increased gender responsive budgeting capacities and gender equality policies in the PALOP-TL.
• Increased public awareness and information on budget transparency (including od DRM issues), accountability, external control, legislative oversight and social monitoring of public accounts and expenditure in the PALOP-TL.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leads in providing strategic advice and guidance to UNDP Country Offices in Cabo Verde and in the other PALOP-TL countries, but also to UNDP relevant HQ units, for designing, implementing, and overseeing partnership strategies in the field of Economic Governance and Public Finance Management aimed at building and sustaining strategic relationships with key stakeholders, mobilizing resources (particularly from the European Union), while ensuring alignment with the organization's mission, vision, and goals. 

• Fosters cooperation and coordination among PALOP-TL Ministries of Finance/Planning; Tax Authorities; Supreme Audit Institutions and other external control independent institutions; Parliaments, networks of parliamentarians and parliamentary staffers; civil society organizations (including media and academia) to reinforce the dialogue between the various stakeholders within the framework of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI.
• Fosters cooperation and coordination between the actors referred above and relevant regional, sub-regional, global and thematic platforms. 
• Coordinates technical and expert support to consolidate the Pro PALOP-TL programme as a Facility for South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SStC).
• Liaises and fosters strategic cooperation with other Development Partners to reinforce dialogue between the stakeholders on relevant matters related with the Pro PALOP-TL’s intervention logic.
• Provides strategic leadership and vision to develop and implement partnerships strategies in the field of PFM ensuring organizational alignment, innovation and thought leadership.
• Coordinates the Pro PALOP-TL’s stakeholders’ engagement and relationships’ management by building strategic alliances and fostering collaboration.
• Provides advice and guidance to senior management on resource mobilisation by developing and executing strategies to mobilize financial and in-kind resources to support organizational programmes and initiatives in the field of PFM.
• Provides advice and guidance to senior management on resource mobilisation through proposal development and negotiation in the field of PFM.

Leads in providing strategic advice and guidance to UNDP Country Office in Cabo Verde and in the other PALOP-TL countries, but also to UNDP relevant HQ units, on the Programme’s cross-cutting technical direction, coordination and management.

• Coordinates and liaises with UNDP DRR programme and operations, and heads of Governance and Economic portfolios in all beneficiary countries in strategic matters related to the implementation of Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s outputs, RRF and theory of change. 
• Provides strategic advice, guidance, and expert support to all beneficiary institutions on the design of multi-year AWPs, in line with UNDP’s RBB approach and the Pro PALOP-TL SAI contractual documentation.
• Provides policy guidance and coordinates all expertise provided by the programme for the implementation of the activities, for the delivery of trainings, high-level working groups, communities of practice, exchanges of experiences, high education programmes, innovation, and digitalization strategies.
• Ensures effective cooperation and coordination between all the components and stakeholders of the programme.
• Provides guidance and advice for the mobilization of additional funds and/or builds new partnerships with other relevant actors.
• Provides expert advice and technical insights in the formulation and/or implementation of UNDP’s Country Programmes and Strategic Plan (including the gender equality strategy), particularly as they relate to Economic Governance, External Control, Oversight and Monitoring of Public Finances systems.
• Provides technical and expert support to consolidate the Pro PALOP-TL SAI as a Facility for South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SStC).
• Provides guidance and advice for effective cooperation and coordination of all the different components of the programme.
• Analyses broader Economic Governance and external control of Public Finance Management issues and trends in all beneficiary countries and advise UNDP Country Offices and the partners accordingly.
• Provides guidance and advice on mainstreaming Pro PALOP-TL SAI’S crosscutting issues in the implementation of the AWPs at country level and the delivery of the CoPs, including the relevant SDG targets.

Leads the technical expertise, support, and direction for the diversified Pro PALOP-TL SAI programme's overall strategy, settings, resource mobilisation and outputs. 

• Consolidating and strengthening PFMS and domestic resource mobilisation capacities by the Ministries of Finance and National Tax Revenue Authorities.
• Improving external control and audit by Parliaments, Court of Auditors and external control
  watchdogs.
• Enhancing budget and policy monitoring by Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and increasing
  citizens public participation.
• Promoting peer-to-peer international partnerships among national PALOP-TL oversight institutions.
• Enhancing Gender-responsive Budgeting (GRB) practices and gender mainstreaming.
• Mainstreaming climate change and environment protection, gender and digital innovation in PFMS.

Provides technical leadership in the diverse Pro PALOP-TL SAI programme areas and manage certain elements of programme implementation.

• Supervision and coordination of the PMU staff and the organization/delivery of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI CoPs, Masters Programme, and other learning events in all the six beneficiary countries.
• Supervision of the experts and support personnel, as well as the oversight of results delivered, planning of the activities and monitoring of progress in all six beneficiary countries.
• Supervision of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s partnerships output, as well as the communications and visibility strategy. 
• Coordination and supervision the Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s steering committee and provides guidance to organize the national coordination committees in all beneficiary countries.
• Coordination of the alignment between the Pro PALOP-TL SAI ToC, RRF, Logical Framework, and the M&E plan.
• Provides guidance and advice, including to the coordination and supervision of recruited consultants and experts for budget transparency, domestic resource mobilization, gender responsive budgeting and oversight/control/monitoring of public expenditures allocated to promote gender equality, open data and public participation in PFMS for all beneficiary countries. 
• Provides guidance and advice on mainstreaming Pro PALOP-TL SAI’S crosscutting issues in the implementation of the AWPs at country level and the delivery of the CoPs, including the relevant SDG targets.
• Provides direction and guidance to the PMU and the Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s stakeholders on UNDP implementation modalities.
• Provides technical advice in the design and implementation of Pro PALOP-TL SAI activities.
• Ensures good coordination and collaboration with suppliers, senior beneficiaries, and other implementing partners.
• Provides guidance for the successful and effective design of the Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s annual work plans.
• Leads the PMU staff and other project-recruited consultants and coordinates the PMU work with UNDP programme and operations/finance staff and other relevant implementing partners in the beneficiary countries.
• Provides guidance and advice on the formulation of Pro PALOP-TL SAI’s progress and final narrative and financial reports, including monitoring and updating the risks and issues log according to the Steering Committee decisions.
• Provides guidance and advice for the implementation of the communications and visibility activities.
• Provides strategic and policy advice to the Steering Committee and National Coordination Committees on required follow up and/or corrective actions.
• Leads the conceptualization and production of specific documents, such as narrative/financial reports, handbooks, papers, briefs, newsletters, and other instruments for distribution of relevant information.
• Provides regular briefings and written reports to UNDP senior management, donors and other relevant stakeholders.

Leads in positioning the Pro- Palop -TL programme and delivers world renown expertise recognized by the peer community with potential to create global recognition of the organisation.

• Positions the Pro PALOP-TL programme at international as a good practice to foster PFMS and DRM.
• Coordinates and/or produces publications and courses (academic and professional practice) recognized by the peer community with potential to create global recognition of UNDP / Pro PALOP-TL programme and its stakeholders).
• Develop and broker PALOP-TL Communities of Practices in the field of PFMS and DRM that have global impact. 

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relative to the assigned thematic area(s) and UNDP.

• Provide substantive advice and technical support to the development and implementation of a capacity development/ learning plan on thematic area of the project for Country Office and participate in global/regional learning initiatives. Lead the process of knowledge capture of national and international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning. Produce materials with lessons learned and best practices and other knowledge-based tools.
• Keep abreast of the developments in the thematic area of the project and provide guidance on how to incorporate them into UNDP’s current and future programming in the relevant sector. Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to content development for knowledge products.
• Lead advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of development programmes in the sector.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of Pro PALOP-TL SAI programme staff and ICs.

Competencies

• Core Competencies: Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here  

Achieve Results: LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes. 

Act with Determination: LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion.

People Management 

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

• Cross Functional and  Technical Competencies:

Business Management - Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management - Results-Based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Business Development - Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnerships Management - Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.

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.

Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Digital - Co-creation:

• Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together. 
• Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity. 
• Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Economics and / or Public Administration 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 15 years (with master’s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in management of governance projects, including building/leading partnerships amongst project stakeholders; as well as providing institutional analysis and design, strategic management and coordination and monitoring and evaluation is required. 
• At least 10 years of experience in management of UNDP governance projects funded by the EU, including sound knowledge of EU-UNDP contractual issues, visibility, and communications is required. 
• At least 6 years of experience in public finance management, parliamentary strengthening, and civil participation, particularly in the PALOP countries and Timor-Leste is desired. 
• Professional expertise across the areas of project management (in particular, UNDP projects funded by the EU); democratic governance; external control, oversight and monitoring of PFMS in the PALOP and Timor-Leste is desired. 
• Demonstrated experience and strong understanding of governance processes, including gender equality, particularly in the PALOP countries and Timor-Leste is an asset. 
• Demonstrated experience with excellent analytical and donor reporting, particularly in the context of UNDP projects funded by the EU is desired. 
• Prior experience and good understanding of PALOP-TL countries’ political sphere is an asset. 
• Proven technical experience in grasping   methodological and operational dimensions and the ability to link corporate and country level issues, namely in context of partnership with the European Union and the implementation of UNDP projects is an asset. 

Experience:

• Fluency in English and Portuguese is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages desirable. 

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. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.