Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in West Africa with a total area of 10,679 sq. km. with a total population of 1,857,181 inhabitants (females constituted 50.8 percent and males’ 49.2 percent. The Country had series of exogenous shocks and a tumultuous political transition resulting in the fluctuation of the economy and GDP growth fell from 4.3 percent in 2015 to 2.2 percent in 2016 and in 2017 grown by 4.8 percent, following a better agricultural season and a strong rebound in tourism and trade. In 2019, the economy grew at a rate of 6.2 percent, a decline from 7.0 percent in 2018 mainly driven by tourism, rain-dependent agriculture, and remittances whilst vulnerable to external shocks. Overall, 48.6 percent of the population lives below the poverty line with a large difference between urban (31.6 percent) and rural areas (69.5 percent) – thus manifesting poverty as a rural phenomenon. The country was ranked 151 out of 198 countries in the 2016 Doing Business Index and ranked 155 out of 190 in the 2020 Ease of Doing Business Index (World Bank, 2020), National unemployment rate is at 29 percent and highest among the youth and stands at 41.5% in 2018 (GLFS, 2018). The Gambia government has been hard-pressed to maintain infrastructure and provide for basic social and protection services needs for youth development and job creation.
UNDP Country Programme, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2024-2028), and the UNDP global strategic plan, focuses on: (a) Green inclusive economic growth; (b) Responsive, accountable governance and peace building; and (c) Sustainable environment and climate resilience. UNDP will leverage its comparative advantage by addressing the root causes of vulnerability to accelerate growth, build resilience and promote good governance while complementing the efforts of the United Nations country team. Within the inclusive growth cluster, UNDP will address the poverty, inequality, and exclusion nexus, providing both upstream and downstream support and building on previous programme cycle achievements: evidence-based planning, livelihoods, and employment promotion; inclusive growth; and social protection.
Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the DRR Programme, the Programme Specialist (Poverty & Inclusive Growth) acts as a manager of and Advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of CO programme, in Poverty and Inclusive Growth. The main role is to manage the country programme in the area of Poverty and Inclusive Growth and achieving the SDGs including continued monitoring of implementation. The Programme Specialist leads the programme team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF and CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Position Purpose
The Programme Specialist advises senior management on macro-economic policies and trends and relevant linkages to UNDP programmes. The Programme Specialist provides analysis for formulation of strategies and briefings to senior management on economic policies. S/he works closely with government counterparts and other key stakeholders to identify alternative policy options and to enhance the policy impact of UNDP projects and programmes.
The Programme Specialist heads Poverty and Inclusive Growth team and works in close collaboration with the operations team in the CO, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and government officials, technical advisors, experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.
The Programme Specialist will coordinate in the analysis of political, social, and economic trends, and leads the formulation, management, and evaluation of programme/project activities within his/her portfolio and provides policy advisory services. The Programme Specialist is also responsible to ensure that overall monitoring and evaluations are designed and implemented to assess the Country Programme relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of results; monitoring and evaluation carried out in a credible and systematic manner; evaluation lessons and recommendations are used for programme design, contribute to implementation of UNSDCF and CPD priorities and results.
The work will, inter alia, involve support to project partners, financial management and administrative support. The job will require the ability to provide a comprehensive analysis of project risks and challenges and the capacity to propose solutions in this context.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
- Ensure the strategic direction of UNDP Programme in the area of Poverty and Inclusive Growth
- Design and implement programmes for Poverty and Inclusive Growth
- Management of the CO programme and supervision of the programme team
- Promote advocacy on Poverty and Inclusive growth
- Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization
- Advice and support to UNDP management on economic and development issues
- Advice to Government counterparts and other key stakeholders and facilitation of knowledge building on economic and development issues
- Provision of top-quality policy advice services to the Government and other key stakeholders and facilitation of knowledge building and management
1. As a member of the CO management team, ensure the strategic direction of UNDP programmes focusing on the achievement of the following:
- Conduct analysis and research of the political, social, economic, situation in the country and prepare substantive inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, CPD, portfolios, projects, and other documents. Promote thematic and sectoral synergies and coordination of programme activities and execution in Poverty and Inclusive Growth;
- Lead the Unit in programme formulation and networking to ensure a Poverty and Inclusive growth programme which is relevant and responsive to changes in the country context;
- Advise management on country Poverty and Inclusive Growth programme development and delivery, identify approaches and modalities to achieve development targets;
- Focus on programme results and impact, particularly in Poverty and Inclusive Growth and achievement of SDGs;
- CO business process mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results management, control of the workflows in the programme Unit;
- Provide regular guidance and oversight as per the UNDP and other UNDP-Partner’s project guidelines, liaise with national partners (main and sub-Implementing Partners) and Project Teams to facilitate enhanced project management;
- Identify potential synergies or gaps between Poverty and Inclusive Growth cluster and other thematic areas for a much more integrated approach to programming in the Country Office;
- Take Lead in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects under the Poverty and Inclusive Growth Unit;
- Support the development of proposals for national and/or sub-national/local projects on poverty, inclusive growth, social protection, employment, and livelihoods enhancement;
- Serve as Level 2 Manager and undertake CO financial management functions;
- Develop and review progress reports, mid-term and terminal project reviews, budgets, media items, etc.;
- Assist with the recruitment of national project teams, by developing/reviewing terms of references, participating in recruitment processes, etc.;
- Conduct targeted research and prepare stand-alone technical reports on relevant issues to be determined by supervisor, such as pooling information on regional, global, and national analyses of Poverty and Inclusive Growth finance flows.
2. Provide leadership to the Programme Team to identify, design and manage Poverty and Inclusive Growth Programmes and projects to achieve the following results:
- Conduct research and analysis of national development priorities to inform the design of programmes and projects for the Poverty and Inclusive Growth;
- Assist in identifying policy options, particularly from pro-poor perspectives on macroeconomic and development issues to governments and other development actors;
- Formulate programmes and projects that fully reflect a result-oriented approach and benchmarks to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation;
- Assist in training and capacity building support to UNDP staff and Government officials on programme implementation issues;
- Ensure the strategic direction of UNDP Poverty and Inclusive Growth Programme and alignment to overall portfolio and CPD objectives;
- Programme Specialist performs the function of Specialist Level 2 Manager in Quantum for Review of workplans, POs and Vouchers approval. Participates in recruitment processes for projects.
3. As member of the CO management team, provide support to UNDP Senior Management in promoting strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Development of strong partnerships with government institutions, donors, other UN Agencies, private sector, and civil society in the implementation of Poverty and Inclusive Growth projects;
- Advise on possible areas for UNDP support and/or adjustment of on-going programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities;
- Support overall resource mobilization of Management with a focus on the Country Programme and ensure that UNDP mobilizes the support needed for the Poverty and Inclusive Growth programmes;
- Explore opportunities for joint programming especially within the Poverty and Inclusive Growth portfolio and possible areas of cooperation;
- The implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve Programme outcomes;
- Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc;
- Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, 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 cost-sharing.
4. Facilitate policy dialogue and advocacy on Poverty and Inclusive Growth issues and socio-economic development to achieve the following results:
- Promote Poverty and Inclusive Growth policy advocacy and awareness campaigns on the SDGs to influence national policy formulation and priorities in favor of poverty and inclusive growth strategies;
- Assist in Poverty and Inclusive growth policy formulation and SDG- based planning and monitoring of progress towards attainment of the SDGs;
- Develop TORs and identify consultants for the preparation of NHDRs and SDGs reporting and other relevant studies;
- Public advocacy to promote UNDP’s mandate and mission and visibility;
- Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners.
5. Ensure effective management of the CO programme and supervision of Poverty and Inclusive Growth Programme team to achieve the following results:
- Programme Management: Manage UNDP’s commitments within the UNSDCF and CPD Result Matrix, ensure effective application of RBM tools;
- Monitor unit workplans, programme effectiveness and achievement of results, maintain regular contact with project and programme counterparts;
- Ensure effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
- Oversee the monitoring, evaluation and analysis of Poverty and Inclusive Growth programmes, and timely readjustments in portfolio when necessary;
- Provide strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Financial management: The Programme Specialist performs the functions of manager Level 2 rights in Quantum for development projects transactions approval;
- Ensure the integrity of financial systems, review budget requirements, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial systems, review budget requirements, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Ensure cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with the Operations Specialist.
6. Provide advice and support to UNDP management, programmes and projects on Socio-economic policies focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Compilation, analysis, and interpretation of economic and statistical data through research of the economic and development issues in the country and preparation of top-quality analysis and reports;
- Advise on possible areas for UNDP support and/or adjustment of on-going programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities;
- Provides advice and support as may be required by UNDP Management.
7. Provide advice and options to Government counterparts and other key stakeholders and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Facilitation of policy dialogue on economic issues with the Government, donors, civil society, private sector, contributions to development of policies as relevant;
- Provision of policy options, particularly from pro-poor perspectives, on macroeconomic and development issues to governments and other development actors;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice through identification of best practices and lessons learned;
- Providing top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management;
- Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
- Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Programme.
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
People Management Competencies
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross Functional & Technical Competencies
Inclusive Growth: Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
Inclusive Growth: Results-based Management
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Inclusive Growth: Effective Decision Making
- Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Inclusive Growth: Partnerships Management
- 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
2030 Agenda: Prosperity Inclusive Growth
- Poverty and Human Development
2030 Agenda: Prosperity Inclusive Growth
- Fiscal and SDG financing policy support in view of the socio-economic impact of COVID 19
2030 Agenda: Prosperity Inclusive Growth
- Addressing developmental impacts of COVID 19 and safeguarding progress towards the SDGs
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Economics, Poverty and Development Studies/Management or related disciplines. OR
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.
Experience:
- At least 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing relationships among international organization and national governments;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web- based management systems;
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in providing top quality policy advisory services at the national or international partners on macro-economic policies and trends, economic and development issues, on pro-poor and inclusive growth policy options;
- 5 years’ experience in providing technical service in the area of Poverty and Inclusive Growth and practical programme management experience in programme development, design, implementation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation;
- At least 5 years’ experience in leadership, management and/or supervision of a minimum of two (2) team members as well as evidence of decision making;
- At least 5 years demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships and/or mobilizing resources as well as facilitation of policy dialogue on economic issues with the Government, donors, civil society, private sector, contributions to development of policies as relevant;
- At least 5 years demonstrated experience in conducting targeted research and preparing analysis of national development priorities to inform the design of programmes and projects for the Poverty and Inclusive Growth.
Language Requirement
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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