Programme Analyst (Governance and Gender)

Background

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP Zambia is strategically repositioning its country programme implementation based on emerging opportunities and UNDP’s comparative advantages that maximizes partnerships, resource mobilization and impact in keeping with UNDP’s mandate as it embarks on the development of its next programme cycle to contribute to the UN support the Government of Zambia through the formulation of the first ever UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) as part of the UN Development System (UNDS) Reform and the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP).

As the recently elected New Dawn Government together with its Cooperating Partners including UNDP Zambia move into 2023, and advance further into the Decade of Action with only 7 years left to achieve the SDGs, the world and individual countries are still grappling with COVID-19 response and socio-economic recovery. In the context of this changing environment, it is more pressing that UNDP Zambia revisits its approach to programming and delivery to ensure constant relevance and effectiveness in supporting the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) to address key issues and most important priorities, while concurrently exploring innovative and creative ways to accelerate the achievement of the objectives set out in both Agenda 2030 and the upcoming 8 NDP using a strategic approach to planning resulting in an efficient and effective delivery of the Country Programme to promote sustainable human development.

Against this backdrop and building upon the lessons learnt over the past years, UNDP Zambia is strengthening its Governance and Gender Unit to rollout the vision of repositioning its CO programme to ensure that UNDP delivers on its mandate effectively in Zambia. The Governance and Gender Unit is one of three pillars of the Programme Unit along with the Inclusive and Sustainable Growth and the Environment and Energy Units. Each Unit is headed by a Programme Specialist, Head of Unit and supported by a Programme Analyst and a Programme Associate in addition to the dedicated personnel of projects under each pillar.

Position Purpose 

The Programme Analyst – Governance and Gender, reports to the Programme Specialist, Head of Unit- Governance and Gender and acts as the technical analyst on good governance and gender equality key issues to the Country Office. S/he supports the CO efforts to ensure the achievement of the country programme results and provision of thought leadership and contributes to strategic positioning on good governance, women and youth participation, human rights and rule of law, including digitalization (e-governance), accountability and transparency, decentralization and cross thematic considerations on SDG acceleration, women/youth economic empowerment, economic diversification, reduction of poverty and inequality.

S/he deputizes for the Programme Specialist, Head of Unit – Governance and Gender to help drive integration of work at all levels, from overall direction setting to ideas generation, design, implementation – and further on to reporting, partnerships and communication. In exercising these roles, s/he may be asked to supervise a diverse team with various profiles and manages the deployment of additional long and short-term expertise as required.

Success in achieving results in this portfolio is reliant on robust national and international partnerships. The Programme Analyst supports the Programme Specialist and CO efforts to mobilizing joint advocacy, expertise and resources across UNDP global and regional initiatives in these fields, engaging with global and regional networks, and connecting with cooperating partners, academia, NGOs and private sector in involving them to successfully implement UNDP programmes in these fields. S/he will analysis and development of advisory notes in her/his area of expertise in various form including UNDP support to UN coherence and stronger UN Development System (UNDS) in Zambia.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Contribute to the strategic positioning and development of the Governance and Gender Cluster, in areas including integrated planning for governance and gender at all levels of the society in particular rural and peri-urban areas, local development, support to urban areas, local governance, support to governance and digitalization efforts,  women/youth economic empowerment, as well as initiative to reduce inequalities and address poverty challenges and the development of multi-sectoral partnerships, for achieving the following results:-

• Conduct thorough analysis in the area of expertise of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of Common Country Analysis (CCA), UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Country Programme Document (CPD), project concept notes and proposals, Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and other documents;
• Ensure alignment and contribution to the CPD of newly designed and ongoing sustainable programmes and projects in collaboration with the main partners and other UN sister Agencies;
• Identify opportunities for new programme/project development including joint programming with UN agencies;
• Operationalization of UNSDCF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identification of possibilities for joint programming;
• Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies in the focus areas and their implementation;
• Identify, in close collaboration with national and international partners, strategic programme areas of cooperation;
• Design and formulate components of the cluster portfolio translating programme priorities into local interventions and ensuring coordination and networking with clients, stakeholders and programme partners;
• Collaborate with colleagues in Regional Hubs and platforms and HQ to apply in country programming new global and regional initiatives, policies and knowledge products that further the Cluster;

• Participates in the identification of possibilities for joint programming within the UN System;
• Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies in the focus areas and their implementation;
• Identify, in close collaboration with national and international partners, strategic programme areas of cooperation;
• Conduct literature reviews and provide summary briefs on key topics such as digitalization, gender equality, youth participation, local governance, decentralization to inform the design and programme priorities;
• Participate in technical meetings with cooperating partners, government and civil society.

2. Support the effective management and implementation oversight of Governance and Gender programmes and initiatives, focusing on quality control through the full programme cycle from design, to implementation, monitoring and reporting. This would include:

• Design and formulation of CO programme and portfolio projects within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions including the coordination of programme implementation with the implementing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;

• Support project cycle management including Initiation of a project, presentation of the Project-to-Project Appraisal Committee, entering project into Atlas, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. PA performs functions of Manager Level 1 in Quantum for Purchase Orders and Vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects.
• Financial and substantive progress and result monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of remedial solutions. Participation in and follow-up audit of NEX projects;
• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
• Design and formulation of UNDP Inclusive Growth & SDG acceleration programmes/projects within the areas of responsibility, translating UN/UNDP priorities and SDG analysis into local interventions;
• Coordination of programme development and implementation with the implementing partners and donor entities;
• Strategic and technical oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources as per commitments with key partners and in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Effective monitoring of results, capture and measuring the impact of poverty reduction/inclusive growth & SDG acceleration programmes, including facilitation of necessary evaluation. Results of monitoring and evaluation used to draw crucial lessons and constructive learning for timely readjustment of programme;
• Follow up on evaluation and audit recommendations. All exceptions reported in time;
• Organization of cost-recovery system, including Direct Project Costing (DPC), for the services provided by the CO to projects under the Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Cluster, and in close collaboration with Operations Manager;
• Aggregate reports prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of timely donor reports, public communication and advocacy materials as needed;
• Preparation of regular strategic and technical notes, briefings to the attention of the Senior Management;
• Support the Programme Specialist, Head of Unit – Inclusive and Sustainable Growth to provide guidance and continuous support, quality assurance, troubleshooting and supervision to the unit team.

3. Establish and maintain strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization under the leadership of the Programme Specialist, Head of Unit – Governance and Gender in cooperation with the Senior Management and UN Result Groups, to include:

• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
• Prepare substantive briefs, advocacy materials and technical reports as needed, to report on the areas of cooperation, and for identifying further opportunities for cost-sharing;
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
• Represent UNDP, when asked by supervisor and/or Senior Management, on the UN Joint Team Task Forces, and contribute to joint planning, programme and policy development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and advocacy activity including the support to the coordination of the Results Group of the UNSDCF, ensuring quality of activities throughout the programme’s life cycle;
• Identify and implement collaborative working arrangements in areas of coverage to facilitate Delivering as One with the other UN agencies.

4.) Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs into strategic documents.  This includes:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues;
• Monitor national, regional and global political and socio-economic issues, follows-up on trends and contributes to the office’s submissions on possible planning & policy recommendations related to technical assistance;
• Monitor political and electoral-related developments in the country; assess trends which might affect the political situation and the electoral processes;
• Draft analytical notes and background papers on significant governance and gender developments in Zambia related to UNDP technical assistance;
• Prepare briefing and advocacy material on human rights and access to justice, electoral support and political governance in Zambia and related issues.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: In absence of the Head of Unit, the Programme Analyst participates fully in the Country Office Management Team (COMT).  S/he also deputizes the Unit Head in supervising a diverse team with various profiles and manages the deployment of additional long and short-term expertise when required

Competencies

Core competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build and/or /maintain coalitions/partnership.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Functional/Technical competencies

Partnerships: Citizen participation/CSO engagement

• Ability to promote inclusive participation – People with disability, youth, women.
• Ability to foster Civil Society Engagement.
• Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs.

2030 Agenda: Peace: Local governance/decentralization

• Demonstrates understanding of local governance approaches and systems and Basic Service Delivery (including budgeting & financing.
• Area-based approaches to local governance.
• Public Administration and Local Governance.
• Knowledge of e-Government as an enabler.
• Youth leadership and Participation.
• Inclusive political participation.

2030 Agenda: Peace: Rule of Law, Human Rights

• Development of institutions in the justice sector.
• Human rights mainstreaming.
• Access to justice.
• Ability to programme on human rights issues related to stigma, discrimination.
• Gender and human rights concerns / inclusive and rights-based approach to basic services and livelihoods.

Business Management 

• Building Strategic Partnerships: Ability to 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.

Business Management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Core behavioral : Results Based Management 

• Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact.
• Consistently strive to meet or exceed excellence standards.
• Hold self and others accountable for results.
• Efficiently establish appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals.

Partnership management

Resource mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing policy support around good governance issues;
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in managing project teams and budgets of comparable complexity and scope;
• Hands-on experience in designing/formulating, planning, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments;
• Experience in providing policy and advisory support and demonstrated strategic and technical expertise in relevant areas such as strategic planning, sustainable development, local governance, support to governance and digitalization efforts, anticorruption, electoral programming, women/youth economic empowerment, as well as initiatives to reduce inequalities and address poverty challenges and the development of multi-sectoral partnerships or related field;
• Demonstrable experience in contributing to project/programme resource mobilization is an asset;
• Experience in managing (including financial management) governance and gender programmes/projects at the national or international level in areas such as decentralization, elections, good governance, accountability and transparency, e-governance/digitalization, women’s empowerment and gender equality, human rights and access to justice;
• Experience with UNDP and/or international organizations/UN agencies an asset;
• Hands-on experience in designing, planning, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language:

• Fluency in English with good verbal and writing skills is required.
• Knowledge of local languages is desirable but not mandatory.