Capacity Building Advisor

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Incumbent will lead institutional capacity building initiatives for SACEP under the project Component 3. S/he will seek to understand the needs and requirements, support the design of a capacity building plan, and lead the implementation of relevant activities, including managing a team.

Functional Responsibilities

The Capacity Building Advisor is expected to deliver the following activities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive long-term capacity building strategy for SACEP, identifying key areas for intervention and prioritizing initiatives based on SACEP’s needs.
• Develop a resource mobilization strategy, exploring innovative funding mechanisms and leveraging existing partnerships to identify and secure resources for capacity building initiatives, including potential funding sources, partnerships, and technical expertise.
• Establish a robust knowledge management system to facilitate knowledge sharing among SACEP staff and stakeholders, promoting the transfer of best practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Develop and disseminate knowledge products, such as reports, case studies, and training materials, to promote the project’s impact and contribute to the broader field of capacity building.
• Analyze existing assessment reports to identify capacity building needs and gaps; research and propose additional assessments to bridge the gaps.
• Liaise with high-level stakeholders of SACEP such as the World Bank and the seven Ministries of Environment from the SACEP member countries to understand strategic perspectives and capacity building directions; act as a bridge between SACEP stakeholders and SACEP by providing analysis and proposing approaches.
• Develop a work plan within the available budget and timeline in response to findings of needs assessment and address stakeholder concerns.
• Responsible for planning and timely delivery of all activities under the institutional capacity building initiative, including ensuring work-package plan is integrated with the overall project plan, interdependencies duly identified and planned for, and risks and issues are escalated and managed effectively.
• Explore and propose different human resource strategies to implement activities with a deep understanding of the long term expectation and strategy of key stakeholders.
• Identify capacity building expertise that are needed, and lead the team to deliver agreed activities.
• Ensure timely implementation of the work plan within quality expectations of the clients; strive to increase stakeholder satisfaction through effective communication, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Effective team management, including managing their performance through quarterly assessment to confirm the effectiveness of activities designed and the improvements of institutional systems and processes.
• Design key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor implementation, project impact, and its alignment with the stakeholder expectation.
• Take into consideration of project sustainability and UNOPS exiting strategy, propose initiatives for continued improvement and capacity building for SACEP.
• Promotion of Good Governance principles of accountability, transparency, participation, non-discrimination and efficiency including linking these with the implementation of the PLEASE project, adoption of local/regional policies and/or regulations.
• Facilitate the provision of a long term capacity building plan for SACEP including KPIs, provide analysis on resource requirement, and propose ways to meet such requirement through close stakeholder consultations.
• Gain understanding of the overall PLEASE project, the strategy of key stakeholders, and seek to provide solutions that create synergies and overarching support.
• Ensure SACEP’s capacity-strengthening strategies and approaches are evidence-based and aligned with global best practices and learning.
• Lead participatory capacity assessment processes with SACEP and PLEASE Project PIU.
• Co-create and manage detailed change action plans, alongside SACEP, to guide long-term capacity-strengthening activities.
• Coordinate with the project team, including technical, finance, and M&E colleagues, for integration of capacity-strengthening activity planning, implementation and reporting into project management processes.
• Coordinate, advise and manage technical experts (staff and consultants) who will provide capacity-strengthening support to SACEP in areas of institutional policies, project management, knowledge management, monitoring and reporting, and other priority areas.
• Contribute to the preparation of work plans, progress reports, activity reports and other communication materials that reflect results of capacity strengthening activities.
• Contribute to the project’s learning and adapting management approach, by leading analysis and learning around capacity strengthening activities.
• Represent the project’s progress, achievements and lessons learned to donors and other stakeholders through meetings, conferences, and presentations.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience OR;
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.

Experience

• 7 years of relevant progressive experience in the development sector involving project development and management, with focus on institutional capacity building, project planning, monitoring, reporting and coordination in either public or private sector organizations.
• Experience in conducting institutional governance and processes analysis, and building institutional capacity is required.
• Experience in team management is required.
• Proven experience of project implementation in close collaboration with government/intergovernmental authorities preferred.
• Previous work experience with the UNOPS or any of the United Nations agencies is preferred.
• Knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and regulations is an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28568