Project Manager, Constitution-Making Support Project (DPF)

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN SOMALIA

JOB DESCRIPTION

I. Position Information

Job Code Title: Project Manager, Constitution-Making Support Project (DPF)
Position Number : 00059374
Department: Nairobi, Kenya (With Frequent travel to Somalia)
Reports to: Programme Manager - Governance
Reports: Deputy Country Director (Programme)
Position Status: Not Rotational

Current Grade: P5
Approved Grade:TA
Position Classified by:
Classification Approved by:

II. Organizational Context

Since 2004, UNDP in collaboration with a Consortium of international partners and the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) has provided technical support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia on the drafting of a Federal Constitution. The original projected timeframe in the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) of the Somali Republic, 2004, is to federate Somalia and for the Independent Federal Constitution Commission (IFCC) to produce a draft Constitution two and a half years from taking its oath of office and be adopted by a popular referendum during the final year of the five-year transitional period. The TFC also stipulates that a new Constitution be ratified and a new government established by August 20, 2011. Time, therefore, is critical for the project in order to provide sufficient support to enable transitional federal institutions (TFIs) to meet this critical milestone in the overall peace, state building and reconstruction process.

UNDP Somalia comprises three main clusters, namely, Rule of Law and Security (ROLS), Governance, and Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods (RSL). The Somalia Constitution-Making Support Project (SCMSP) falls under the Governance cluster, and focuses on democratic governance with an overall objective to ensure that a new constitution for Somalia is prepared in a participatory manner, and that its implementation lays a foundation for a legitimate Federal Somali State.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the UNDP Governance Programme, the Project Manager for SCMSP will be responsible for providing and coordinating policy advice, technical assistance and programme development support to the constitutional process and other areas relevant ensuring transitional tasks. The incumbent will lead the implementation under the guidance of the Governance Programme Manager, and will be supported by strategic advisors and staff to support a draft that is context appropriate, realistic and Somali owned.

The incumbent will also be accountable for the achievement of project outputs and will coordinate discussions with government, civil society, non-governmental organizations, donors and other partners to the constitutional process, and will work closely with all stakeholders to mobilize donor support for the project.

In 2010, the project was scaled up substantially and is expected to continue through 2011 into the post-adoption, initial implementation phase. The SCMSP supported IFCC to finalize a Consultation Draft Constitution and a Critical Issues Question Guide based on extensive capacity building. Civic education initiatives are underway and should continue to scale based on targeted consultative constitution-making process in which the public is informed and public views are heard and incorporated to the extent possible.

The Project Manager supervises and leads a team of staff, experts, international and national consultants. The project Manager ensures that all activities are implemented in close cooperation with other Management Support, Business Development staff, Programme,, Operations and other Teams. The Project Manager maintains a network with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, INGOs, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society.

III. Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of key functions:
- Ensuring strategic direction of project operations, day to day management and delivery of the Project’s components;
- Coordination of the Consortium of partners and strategic positioning of UNDP as a lead player in constitution building;
- Financial resources management;
- Human resources management; and
- Efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

1. Ensures the strategic direction of project operations focusing on achievement of the following results:

- Realization of project outputs through activities; provides direction and guidance to project teams and responsible parties; coordinates with UNPOS; coordinates Consortium Members and assures the overall direction and integrity of the project; identifies and obtains any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project.
- Project administration and liaison with any suppliers.
- Preparation of the project Annual Work Plan and all project reports and presents to the Programme Manager for review and decision-making.
- Programme operational coordination, ensuring that all partners collaborate and work well together, propose modifications of the plan to respond to changes in the Somali political and security situation, develop MOUs and contribute to tasks, roles and work plans. Provides leadership and cohesion to the field teams and ensure that the processes and systems developed to support the project are imparted to the key Somali stakeholders.
- Preparation of budgets and establishment of suitable monitoring mechanisms, collecting, maintaining and updating data relevant to the project, plan and coordinating the deployment of teams and other project activities. Undertakes regular monitoring and reporting on project progress and constraints; further monitors progress against the initial quality criteria and updates the plan as required; prepares and maintains monitoring spreadsheets of project activities.
- Management of a team of national and international consultants and subject matter experts.
- Monitoring and identification of project risks and update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risk Log. Keeps the Programme Manager and the Country Director abreast of emerging project issues and provides input to the Issues Log.

2. Ensures the overall coordination of the Consortium of partners and strategic positioning of UNDP as a lead player in constitution building focusing on the achievement of the following results:

- Guidance on options for the structure of the constitution-making process in response to changes on the ground, and facilitation of debate on these issues (e.g. how to bring into the process important interests such as the business community, elders and religious leaders).
- Development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national dialogue and civic education programme.
- Ensure the overall coordination of the Consortium of partners and position UNDP as a lead player and donor/resource focal point in constitution building
- Design, develop an action plan for ratification of the constitution and manage the programme to its completion
- In close coordination with other components of the Governance Programme, the design and develop a constitutional implementation programme, with focus on institutional development and capacity building.
- Contribute, in close collaboration and under the guidance of UNPOS and the UN Electoral Assistance Division, the design and development of an electoral support program
- Work closely with UNPOS and the donors to provide political facilitation as needed on key contentious issues (both of substance and of process). There will need to be ongoing political dialogue with the key players to ensure that the constitution-making process is successful, inclusive, participatory, and results in a realistic constitution (e.g. inclusion of women, need for consensus, encouraging key political players

3. Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management focusing on the achievement of the following results

- Accountable use of project funds.
- Oversight of financial management through Atlas, including purchase orders, requisitions and payments;
- provision of effective services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management;
- Oversight of all administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the projects.
- Ensures that programme resources are used in a balanced way that confirms the application of the Human Rights Based approach and contributes to peace building;
- Is responsible for budgets and ensuring strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations;

4. Ensures strategic human resources management focusing on achievement of the following results:

- Project compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies.
- Optimal staffing of the project.
- Efficient recruitment processes.
- Support to CTA with performance management systems

5. Ensures efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and representation focusing on achievement of the following results:

- Supports gathering of data/information for project monitoring and evaluation processes ensuring compliance with UNDP M&E requirements in reporting on programme results and progress towards outcomes.
- Assists in promoting dialogue and good practice among different stakeholders.
- Promote networking and knowledge sharing within UNDP and the UN System;

IV. Impact of Results

The above key results will contribute to the achievement of a context appropriate, realistic and Somali owned constitution as well as negotiated arrangements for the adoption of the draft constitution.

V. 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
- Contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development
- Builds knowledge in at least one practice areas, and shares
- Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on related issues
- In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues
- Substantive knowledge on of constitution making processes

Development and Operational Effectiveness

- Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
- Ability to negotiate with donors and internal units; ability to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats to fund-raising
- Demonstrated capacity and substantial experience in dealing with policy, legal, legislative and strategic issues related to constitution making processes
- Proven track record in project management of a similar size and of a similar nature, in a post conflict environment
- Ability to apply RM and partnerships building theory to the specific country context
- Demonstrated experience in managing development projects dealing with aid coordination, aid effectiveness, political process strengthening and broader development and conflict issues. Excellent drafting and presentation skills
- Ability to plan and organize work programme
- Ability to work with minimum supervision
- Strong IT skills
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
- Substantial previous experience in working with senior government officials, donor representatives and civil society on policy and strategic issues.
- Demonstrated strong management, coordination and facilitation skills.

VI. Recruitment Qualifications

Education: - An Advanced university degree in law, political science, or related social science fields

Experience:

- Minimum 10 years of work experience with UN/UNDP or international/multilateral organizations in programme / project formulation and management and policy advice in the areas of constitution or law-making, governance, conflict resolution and negotiation/ political negotiation/mediation;
- Senior and relevant experience in constitutional development, electoral processes;
- Senior and relevant experience in civic education would be an asset;
- Working experience in Somalia/Africa/Arab countries/conflict zones would be an asset.

Language Requirements:
- Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Applicants are required to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application.

UNDP will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.

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