Programme Specialist, VAS, Regional Office East and Southern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya-VACANCY

• Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
• Country: Kenya
• City: Nairobi, Kenya
• Office: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi
• Grade: P-3
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Closing date: Sunday, 26 November 2017

Education & Work Experience: I-Master's Level Degree - 5 year(s) experience
P3
Vacancy Type
FTA International
Posting Type
External
Bureau: United Nations Volunteers
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension
Background The UNV Regional Offices (RO) provide oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in their respective geographical assignments and are mainly accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. Furthermore, the Regional Offices represent, and strategically position, UNV and bring UNV's services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector. The Regional Offices also lead in scoping and delivering UNV's advisory service offer on volunteer infrastructure.
Reporting to the Manager, Regional Office, and with the technical guidance and supervision of the Chief, Volunteer Advisory Services Section (VASS), the Programme Specialist, Volunteer Advisory Services contributes to UNV's efforts for the key positioning of volunteerism by supporting the Manager, Regional Office and Regional Portfolio Managers and Specialists in scoping and conducting negotiations with counterparts on project setup and integration of UNV's services into partner agencies' projects. The main focus of intervention is to institutionalize and embed volunteer schemes, policy, and regulation with national and inter-continental counterparts, including national and local governments as well as regional bodies and commissions. Resource mobilization and attaining cost-sharing agreements plays an important function in the post. In close coordination with the Chief, VASS, she/he provides technical inputs for the design of Volunteer Infrastructure services at the regional level based on research and assessment of partners' needs.
Duties and Responsibilities Volunteer advisory services and programmes

• Provide substantive technical orientation on volunteerism and its integration into UN and other counterpart programming opportunities in the region through evidence based information using adequate and innovative data collection solutions;
• Under the guidance of the Chief, VASS, analyze accurate, reliable and coherent input, both qualitative and quantitative, to assess programme results, improve programme quality, support decision making processes and promote volunteerism with UN Agencies, inter-governmental bodies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), donors and national counterparts;
• Support the Manager, Regional Office's efforts to scope possible advisory engagements with regional and national clients and articulate strategic and thoroughly documented proposals in close coordination with the Volunteer Advisory Services Section in headquarters;
• Liaise and engage with the Field Units in the regional portfolio for technical advisory support and for identification of opportunities for volunteer infrastructure services. Review and adjust service offer as per partners' feedback and requirements at the country level.

Programme coordination and monitoring

• Interact closely with headquarters organizational units to ensure quality, timely and coordinated service offer for volunteerism engagement;
• Monitor the emerging, existing, and evolving socio-economic and political context in the region and identify and deploy additional technical experts, as required, to enable adequate and focused response for UNV's support;
• Contribute to strengthening credibility with partners on UNV's added value and expertise in promoting volunteerism as a solution to advance the SDGs.

Advocacy and partnerships building

• Actively promote and advocate for UNV's contributions to development showcasing volunteer infrastructure services and their contribution to effective programme implementation and SDG implementation;
• Support the development of sustainable partnerships at the regional level with UN agencies, government entities, regional organizations, private sector, foundations, civil society, volunteer involving organizations and donors to increase the mobilization of UN Volunteers and financial resources, and the integration of volunteerism into development planning;
• Review and pursue resource mobilization opportunities, including cost sharing agreements with governments, to support volunteer infrastructure;
• Participate in fora and special events drafting technical presentations and consolidating feedback from different communities of interest.

Knowledge management and dissemination

• Identify and document key lessons derived from evidence monitoring on volunteerism for wider dissemination and utilization in advance partnerships and capacity investments. Select inputs for shaping policies, tools and mechanisms for improved performance;
• Contribute to UNV's research and knowledge assets related to volunteerism to provide credibility and legitimacy in UNV's convening role among volunteer involving organizations;
• Participate in and contribute to regional communities of practice and other knowledge management mechanisms to actively promote exchange of experiences and good practices on volunteerism.

Competencies
Functional Competencies: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 20130 and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Development Planning and Monitoring

• Ability to develop business and planning processes at the national and local level and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Resource Mobilization

• Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources

Partnerships

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

Data management

• Ability to develop and execute architectures, policies, practices and procedures in order to manage the information lifecycle needs of UNV

Relationship Management

• Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, Inter-Agency Coordination and forge productive working relationships

Knowledge Management

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

Core Competencies: Innovation

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

• Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Required Skills and Experience Education:

• Master's degree or equivalent in social sciences, planning and programme development, or a related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience in data analysis, programme management and implementation in the field of international development.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English;
• Knowledge of another official UN language will be an asset.

Other:

• Good understanding of and commitment to volunteerism and volunteer action and familiarity with civil society organizations at both international and national levels.

Languages - Essential: English
Languages - Desirable: