Multi-Level Governance Specialist, NPSA-10, DS – Kyiv

Background

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the country has experienced significant loss of life and unprecedented displacement within the country and towards neighboring countries. More than 14 million Ukrainians are estimated to need humanitarian assistance. Over 6.3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries and 3.7 million people are internally displaced.

From the onset of the war, the Government of Ukraine, at both central and oblast levels, has demonstrated effectiveness in crisis/emergency coordination and ensured decentralized presence of line ministries and key government institutions in the country to sustain key government functions and deliver services to the displaced population.

At the same time, Effective multi-level governance group of projects strengthens the capacity of Ukraine government authorities at all levels to provide necessary support to the Government to ensure sustainability, effectiveness and transparency in the continued crisis and emergency coordination, response planning between the central government, the oblasts/rayons and other stakeholders (international community, CSOs, private sector), as well as local recovery and strategic planning. Those projects also aim to coordinate efforts between various levels of government, including local and national authorities. It also encompasses planning and implementing recovery actions to effectively address the crisis and support affected communities.

In this context, UNDP is seeking a qualified professional with relevant experience and a proven track record for the position of a Multi-Level Governance Specialist, who will serve as a technical expert, engaging communities affected by conflict or disaster in the recovery process.

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

Effective delivery and stakeholders’ management for successful implementation and results

• Develops and implements strategies for effective coordination and collaboration between national, regional, and local authorities to enhance multi-level governance structures.
• Facilitates capacity-building activities for government institutions, local authorities, and civil society organizations to strengthen participatory governance, policy coherence, and institutional resilience.
• Support to the Government of Ukraine and subnational authorities in strengthening institutional capacity in developing and implementing regional recovery and development planning documents and policies.
• Guide the enhancement of the government’s strategic planning capacity at both national and subnational levels, ensuring alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering effective coordination of international technical assistance
• Leads stakeholder consultations related to the project, including engagements with local communities, municipal authorities, and national agencies to foster synergies and ensure alignment of governance efforts.
• Contributes to the development and monitoring of all implementation plans including the gender action plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and any environmental and social management plans, thereby ensuring effective monitoring of project performance, the preparation of high-quality and results-oriented progress reports including measures to address challenges and opportunities, and of annual project reports (PIRs), in line with the standard template and presents it to the project assurance team on a timely manner.

Providing top quality technical expertise and policy advice on the subject area

• Contributes to effective design and implementation of the thematic team’s work on multi-level governance.
• Conducts research and analysis on multi-level governance, policy implementation, and intergovernmental coordination to inform programme interventions, policies, and decision-making tools.
• Collaborates with the Government of Ukraine to identify joint technical assistance and training needs to fill gaps or implement innovations and consider where the Ukraine Project experiences and experts can contribute to global or regional training events.
• Ensures that governance-related policies, initiatives, and reforms consider gender-sensitive approaches and principles of inclusivity and sustainability.

Contributing to knowledge management and information sharing

• Participates in trainings and capacity-building events.
• Engages on Knowledge Management aspects, such as suggesting relevant topics for reports, contributing case studies, and promoting the projects’ outputs in Ukraine through seminars and outreach.
• Identifies best practices and lessons learnt from the project and from other initiatives that can be helpful to the project in achieving its goals and objectives.
• Leads in generating knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing and contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Conducts internal capacity-building training for project staff to facilitate appropriate management and timely delivery of project outputs including in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming.
• Effectively contributes to learning and knowledge sharing in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming.
• In the absence of the Project Manager leads the day-to-day project implementation and ensures achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan.

Contribute to partnership building

• Contribute to UNDP in partnership-building and resource mobilization initiatives.
• Design and supervise of outreach activities of the project including participating in relevant seminars, workshops, conferences.
• Ensure full coordination with other relevant projects and initiatives of UNDP Ukraine.
• Provide support for the completion of assessments required by UNDP, spot checks and audits.

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

Institutional Arrangement

Multi-Level Governance Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, in close cooperation with other project staff members and counterparts of the government institutions and other relevant actors.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:    LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:    LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:    LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:    LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:     LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:    LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Direction and 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 Direction and Strategy	Strategic Thinking	Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
Business Development	Knowledge Facilitation	Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
Business Management	Communication	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
Business Management	Project Management	Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness	Governance	Parliamentary development
Partnership management	Relationship Management	Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, International Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development Studies, Political or Social Sciences, or related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor`s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing technical advice, developing and managing/coordinating projects or programs, analyzing and formulating policies and/or drafting legal documents is required.

Required skills :

• Proficiency in use of office software packages (MS Word, Excel etc.)

Desired skills :

• Proven experience in the area of public administration reform and/or development planning.
• Proven experience of cooperation with governmental institutions at national and sub-national levels and International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
• Experience with UNDP project management procedures and experience with Quantum and UNDP project management tool.

Required Language(s) :

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Ukrainian is required for local personnel.

Professional Certificates: 

• Project management certification will be considered an advantage.

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.

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.

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