Regional Programme Manager

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 3 (ReLOaD3) continues the EU-UNDP partnership and previously supported initiatives—ReLOaD 1 and 2—implemented from 2017 to 2024.

ReLOaD3 continues to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans (WB) by empowering civil society and youth to actively participate in decision-making and by stimulating an enabling legal and financial environment for civil society. The programme will be implemented in the following IPA beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Working across the WB region, ReLOaD3 will enhance the capacities of local governments and civil society organisations (CSOs) to engage in productive partnerships and contribute to improved service delivery and realisation of local priorities in line with local development strategies and needs.

Under the direct supervision of the Good Governance Sector Leader, the Regional Programme Manager will manage and ensure the successful implementation of the ReLOaD3 activities.

The ReLOaD3 budget is USD 13,39 million and its duration is 48 months (Feb 2025 – Jan 2029). The incumbent will be based in the UNDP BiH office in Sarajevo. 

For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to position on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For UNDP all references to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of the UN Resolution 1244/1999.

Duties and Responsibilities

 Overall management of the ReLOaD programme:

• Provides overall coordination and takes overall management responsibility and accountability for successful implementation of activities under the programme, in line with the project document and Annual Work Plans (AWPs);
• Effectively applies Result-based Management (RBM) tools, establishes management targets (the balances scorecard – BSC) and monitors achievement of results;
• Builds, motivates, and leads a high-performing team consisting of project personnel across the WB region, expert consultants, service providers, and conducts performance assessments of team members;
• Leads the preparation and implementation of regional activities, and organizes regional practice sharing and networking conferences with government authorities and other stakeholders;
• In coordination with UNDP Country Offices across the WB region, prepares annual activity and procurement work plans, as well as budgets based on expected year-end outputs, and ensures close monitoring of activities and delivery;
• Leads analytical reviews and systematically captures lessons learnt from the programme implementation, identifies follow-up actions and submits them for consideration to the Project Board;
• Reports to the Project Board to ensure the overall direction and integrity of the programme;
• Ensures close monitoring of activities in line with the programme monitoring plan, guiding the design and regular use of adequate monitoring tools and systems, enabling evidence-based tracking of progress, achievements, and results, against the programme logical framework indicators;
• Monitors and analyses progress, using applicable monitoring & evaluation and risk management tools in Online Management System (Quantum);
• Ensures regular communication and coordination with programme counterparts and beneficiaries, as well as develops and maintains effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insights;
• Presents the programme to all relevant stakeholders and acts as UNDP lead focal point for the programme;
• Secures proper and efficient use of programme budgets, as per the project document;
• Ensures full accountability, transparency, and the principle of competition in the allocation of resources, procurement of services, works and goods and selection of recipients;
• Manages financial allocations and approves expenditures according to the authority delegated and ensures timely payments following  UNDP rules and regulations;
• Complies with security and safety requirements and regulations and ensure the same are respected by all programme personnel;
• Participates in high-level consultations and working meetings with the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (EU DG NEAR) and government counterparts from the WB IPA beneficiaries.

Supervision and effective coordination of  Programme activities implementation:

• Coordinates execution of planned activities or tasks of the ReLOaD teams in the WB region;
• Coordinates ReLOaD activities to deliver intended outputs and achieve the desirable impact of the programme by applying programming tools and policies in line with the UN Results-Based Management Approach;
• Provides guidance to programme partners and ReLOaD teams across the WB  in promotion and visibility activities respecting UNDP and donor requirements;
• Leads the identification of relevant in-country stakeholders and convenes regular meetings of the management bodies and other key consultations;
• Contributes to the identification and documentation of partnership opportunities with various stakeholders during the implementation of the programme activities;
• Liaises with the local governments, relevant ministries, CSOs, and other relevant institutions to collect, analyze and disseminate information relevant to the ReLOaD programme;
• Identifies the risks on time, and suggests corrective measures;
• Provides direction and guidance to the consultants engaged and responsible parties where applicable;
• Provides guidance and technical advice to programme teams and counterparts;
• Supervises the Regional team members based in CO BiH;
• Coordinates ReLOaD3 teams placed in other COs across the Western Balkans;
• Provides inputs about the staff performance reviews following UNDP rules, regulations and procedures ensuring full understanding of all aspects of the project;
• Oversees the work of external consultants, and contracted companies;
• Maintains regular coordination, shares information, and fosters excellent relationships with the project donors;
• Participates in joint coordination meetings of the GG sector.

Provision of top-quality policy advice services to governments:

• Provides conceptual guidance and technical advice to government and other counterparts, with a focus on sustainable solutions, including citizen engagement, empowerment of women and youth, promotion of tolerance and reconciliation;
• Identifies sources of information related to policy-driven issues, identifies, and synthesises best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the relevant area of responsibility;
• Provides advice and coordinates UNDP strategic analytical reviews and studies in the field of local governance; community engagement, citizen participation, youth engagement, women empowerment, etc.;
• Coordinates efforts geared towards providing technical assistance, training, or advice to relevant government entities in the analysis of their performance, planning, developing strategic priorities in the field of local democracy, civil society, youth engagement, women empowerment, etc.;
• Establishes connections of exchange and learning with local development networks across the region and resource persons;
• Ensures all programme products and heritage are duly stored and made available to the broader programme.

Develop strategic Partnerships and provide advocacy:

• Encourages active participation of stakeholders in programme implementation and promotes national ownership;
• Develop partnerships with UN Agencies, government institutions, civil society, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, international financing organizations, and the private sector in the assigned area of responsibility based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Supports synergies with other relevant interventions implemented by UNDP and other organisations in BIH and the WB region;
• Provides inputs in the identification of linkages between the projects and other relevant UNDP and non-UNDP implemented interventions, in the country, or beyond, maximizing the efficient and effective use of resources;
• Participates in UNDP programme-level committees and working groups, national and international forums, making substantive contributions as appropriate.

Mainstreaming gender equality and ensuring knowledge management:

• Ensures gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout relevant activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analysed in detail;
• Ensures gender equality is mainstreamed throughout the team, consultants and staff management activities;
• Ensures knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in programme knowledge management activities and products;
• Supervises dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective implementation and facilitates knowledge building;
• Contributes to the relevant knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Social Sciences or related field is required OR;
• Bachelor’s degree in the areas stated above, in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years (with master’s degree) or seven years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in the areas of civil society, local governance in BiH and development of civil society.

Required Skills: 

• Experience in direct programme/project management;
• Thorough understanding of the overall political, administrative and institutional set-up of local governments in BiH.;
• Familiarity with key public documents, strategies and trends related to the capacity development of CSOs in BiH;
• Experience in grant management;
• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks in a highly organized manner with strong analytical and research skills;
• Experience in sharing of knowledge and good practices;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Ability to identify discrimination, address it, and maintain an enabling working environment based on fairness, respect and freedom from any forms of harassment and abuse;
• Understand the language associated with gender, equity inclusion, and diversity;
• Ability to strategically and effectively communicate results from gender lens.

Desired Skills:

• Previous experience in partnering and interaction with governmental institutions at state/entity/local levels, as well as with CSOs;
• In-depth knowledge and experience in implementation, coordination and policy advice relevant to gender mainstreaming in public sector institutions;
• Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations;
• Experience in designing and implementation of CSO grant schemes;
• Experience in Gender mainstreaming in project.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and in any of the following languages Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS) are required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/24006