UNDP Chief Technical Advisor/Liberia Decentralization Support Programme Job Vacancy in Monrovia, Liberia

CHIEF
TECHNICAL ADVISOR/LIBERIA DECENTRALIZATION SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Location : Monrovia, LIBERIA

Application
Deadline : 10-Jan-14

Additional
Category: Management

Type of
Contract : FTA International

Post Level :
P-5

Languages
Required : English

Starting
Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to
start) 17-Feb-2014

Duration of
Initial Contract : Twelve (12) months

Background

Liberia is
experiencing growing political stability and macro-economic progress, but still
faces a steep climb up from the development setbacks created by almost
uninterrupted conflict during the period 1989-2003 and a highly centralized
system of governance which has hampered popular participation and local
development initiatives, especially in the provision of public goods and
services. The Government of Liberia (GOL) is committed to ensuring greater
participation of the Liberian people in their own developmental processes for
equitable distribution of the nation’s resources so as to promote shared governance
and strengthen local development. There is widespread consensus that
accelerating decentralization is central to consolidating peace and
reconciliation, promoting good governance and alleviating poverty in Liberia.

Accordingly,
in January 2012 the Government of Liberia launched the National Policy on
Decentralization and Local Governance aimed at systematically providing
guidance to the process of decentralizing power, authority, functions and
responsibilities from the central government to local governments. This
landmark policy demonstrates this administration’s commitment to take
government closer to the people through a decentralized, gender-sensitive,
participatory and accountable system of local governance. The policy provides
that administrative institutions in the counties be revised, restructured and
harmonized to implement a responsible and responsive system of local governance
and public administration, and to ensure accountable, efficient and transparent
management of local resources. Alongside the Policy is a Liberia
Decentralization Implementation Plan (LDIP) which provides further
prioritization for advancing decentralization.

In order to
implement the National Decentralization Policy, the Government has designed a
Liberia Decentralization Support Program (LDSP) for the period 2013 to 2017.
The LDSP, a successor program to the Liberia Decentralization and Local
Development (LDLD) program and the County Support Team (CST) Program was
approved in April 2013. It presents the strategy, results framework and
operational modalities for realizing decentralization of political,
administrative, and fiscal governance in Liberia. The program is fully aligned
with the Decentralization Policy and the Decentralization Plan (LDIP) and it is
one of the priority areas in the Agenda for Transformation, Pillar 4 on
Governance and Public Institutions.

To assist
the Government of Liberia in managing the process, UNDP is recruiting a Chief
Technical Adviser (CTA) on Decentralization Reform and Local Government Capacity
Development to be embedded within the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide
technical and advisory support in advancing the priorities outlined above and
overall guidance on the technical implementation and monitoring of the program.

Duties and
Responsibilities

Working
under the overall guidance of the Liberia Decentralization Program Board, and
the direct supervision of the UNDP Country Director and day to day
collaboration with of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Republic of Liberia;
the CTA will undertake the following primary tasks:

Providing advisory and technical support to
the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Governance Commission, in
strengthening the National Decentralization Secretariat (NDS), improving
current structures and setting up requisite systems, processes and
procedures as may be required;
Assisting the Decentralization Secretariat to
implement its work plan, including designing systems for monitoring and
evaluation as well as reporting;
Act as a ‘twin’ to the National Director and
support the mentoring and coaching of secretariat staff and other national
counterparts, including identifying needs, designing and rolling out
institutional development and training programs;
Developing, along with the National Program
Director of the Decentralization Program, strong partnerships with key
national actors at national and county levels, such as the Legislature,
civil society, local administrations, the Constitutional Review Committee
and the international community, in the area of decentralization reform;
Providing substantive input and coordination
support to the NDS, including reporting to the various established
structures, primarily, the Liberia Decentralization Program Board with
regard to the overall support to decentralization; and
Ensuring facilitation of knowledge building
and transfer, including exploring opportunities for information exchange
and knowledge networking, especially within the south-south context.

Specific
duties include:

Direct
Advisory and Technical Support to MIA and the NDS

Provide technical advice and support to MIA
and the Governance Commission in ensuring synergy with on-going reform
processes such as, peace building, reconciliation, constitutional review
and political transformation throughout the process;
Advice on the implementation of the strategy
for stakeholder awareness and participation in decentralization reforms;
Advice on the Formulation of a legal and
Regulatory Framework for decentralization; and
Provide technical guidance to national and
international technical staff working with MIA and GC in the
decentralization program, including international technical advisers and
national and international consultants. This will include consultations to
ensure technical staffs are addressing technical requirements for delivery
of decentralization outcomes.

Support to Coordination, Resource Mobilization and
forging of Strategic Partnerships

Provide technical advice to MIA in forging and
strengthening strategic partnerships and coordination with key national
stakeholders, such as the Legislature, Constitutional Review Commission,
Ministry of Finance, Civil Service Agency, Ministry of Gender, and
Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, including facilitating communication
and exchange of lessons learned and good practices on building and
sustaining such partnerships;
Provide technical support to MIA in resource
mobilization by developing strategies for resource mobilization and
partnerships; and
Support MIA partner coordination efforts,
including actively participating in inter-agency decentralization
coordination activities, and providing regular updates, reports and
feedback on the program.

Program
design, Implementation and Monitoring:

Provide technical services to the National
Program Director to ensure that the program’s activities are designed and
implemented according to best practices in the area of decentralization
reform and Local Government capacity development and are in line with the
Annual Work Plan;
In close liaison with NPD UNDP’s Team Leader,
Democratic Governance Pillar, support the National program director in
establishing systems for monitoring and evaluating the program’s delivery
of agreed results and regularly report to the Liberia Decentralization
Program Board;
Support the overall management of program;
including planning of activities, mobilization of inputs, and supervision
of project staff, consultants and sub-contractors;
Provide technical support to MIA and the
National Program Director in liaising with implementing partners,
implementation agencies, UNDP and beneficiaries, and ensuring coordination
between all key partners; and
Advice on management and monitoring of all
risks initially identified and submit new risks and risk mitigation plans
to the program board for consideration and revise the resource framework
based on emerging opportunities and challenges.

Build
Capacity and ensure Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Management:

Strengthening of capacity of the key entities
to lead and implement decentralization reforms;
Identify knowledge gaps among key target
groups and design measures to address such gaps;
Collate sources of information related to
policy driven issues, best practices and lessons learnt on
decentralization and local governance and share with program partners;
Actively support the sharing of program
results and products, lessons learned and good practices with other
projects, government agencies, donors, etc, and participate in UNDP global
knowledge networks and communities of practitioners on democratic
governance/constitution review; and
Assist in enhancing the capacity of
decentralization staff of MIA, GC and other national partners.

Decentralization
is central to the ongoing peace-building and reconciliation, governance reforms
and poverty reduction programmes of Liberia. This advisory and technical advice
has been requested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Governance Commission
and other national stakeholders and will be provided through the program in
line with international standards and best practices.

The key
deliverables include, i) Strong, effective and sustainable National
Decentralization Secretariat in place ii) Institutional coordination
arrangements designed, aligned and strengthened to facilitate integrated and
effective implementation of decentralization reforms across sectors; iii)
Systems in place for effectively planning, executing, monitoring and reporting
program activities that are fully aligned with the LDSP; and iv) technical
capacity of key staff of the MIA and GC strengthened to enable them to provide
the technical support needed for sustainable implementation of decentralization
reforms.

The above
are critical for ensuring improved service delivery and accountability of local
governments and will achieve the ultimate aim of the Agenda for Transformation
to deliver an improved system of governance that is more localized and
responsive to the needs and aspirations of all citizens. Any deviation from
this would impact negatively on the government’s decentralization efforts.

Competencies

Corporate
Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UN/UNDP’s mission,
vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race,
nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates commitment to Liberia’s Vision
2030 and Agenda for Transformation (AfT).

Functional
Competencies:

Knowledge and expertise in Decentralization,
Local Government capacity development, democratic governance, and rule of
law;
Demonstrated experience in providing technical
advice to policy makers; ability to work well with counterparts in
government, Parliament/Legislature, civil society, political parties, and
the donor community;
Excellent negotiation and representational
skills, at senior level (with international organizations and/or
diplomatic missions);
Strong communication and interpersonal skills,
ability to foster networks and partnerships, and good working knowledge of
information and computer technology;
Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated
ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a
responsible and mature manner;
Demonstrates strong intellectual and
operational capacity in providing and coordinating advisory services to
stakeholders;
Proven familiarity with gender analysis and
concepts.

Communications
and Networking:

Excellent oral and written communication
skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics
and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors, including detractors;
Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior
and high ranking members of national and international institutions,
government and non-government.

Required
Skills and Experience

Education:

A minimum of Masters degree in political
science, law, public administration, institutional/organisational
development or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years working experience in
the area of decentralization, democratic governance/rule of law.
Prior experience working in countries in
transition. Previous work experience in post-conflict contexts in Africa
is a requirement;
Excellent project management skills. Knowledge
of UNDP programming practices is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English;
A second UN language is an asset.

UNDP is
committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and
culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with
disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated
with the strictest confidence.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are required to click here to apply

Closing Date: Friday, 10 January 2014