Website UNDP
Programming Quality and Results-Based Management Analyst
Job Identification: 15271
Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal
Apply Before: 01/04/2024, 10:44 AM
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: NOB
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Practice Area: Effectiveness
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Required Languages: Fluency in (written and spoken) of English and Nepali is required
Desired Languages: Knowledge of other local languages is an added advantage
Mobility required/no mobility: no mobility required
Job Description
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.
Under its new Country Programme (2023-2027), UNDP’s work in Nepal focuses on developing the capacity of government agencies (federal, provincial, and municipal level), civil society and community groups to jointly pursue development activities to foster sustainable and inclusive economic transformation, enhance people’s participation and inclusion in governance in the context of federalism, and protect and promote biodiversity with nature based solutions, energy transitions, environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change and natural hazards. During the past programme cycle, Nepal has undergone profound changes on account not only of the transition from a unitary to federal systems but also of the Covid Pandemic, which has impacted lives, livelihoods, health systems, and has at times slowed down or reversed hard gained development progress. At the same time, the overall trend of Nepal’s GNI has been one of growth, with graduation from LDC status planned for 2026.
Against this backdrop, the new Country Programme 2023-2027 is a strategic opportunity for UNDP Nepal to be accountable and to strategically reposition its contributions in support of the Sustainable Development Goals – with a focus on integrated solutions- and expand its collaboration with national and international development partners including the UN system. Delivering UNDP’s country programme, in line with the signature solutions and enablers identified in UNDP’s global Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the Agenda 2030 will involve and require significant investment in analytical capacities, in possessing quality data and adhering to the highest programming quality standards, in an increasingly competitive development financing environment.
In this context, under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and day to day direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Programming Quality and Results-Based Management Analyst, will (1) ensure the overall coherence between United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Guidance. (UNSCDF), Country Programme Document (CPD) Results and Resources matrix and the portfolio/ project results matrices (including establishing baselines, verifying assumptions and risks and monitoring and reporting on targets and indicators) (2) the effective implementation of UNDP quality standards for programming throughout the project and programme cycles; (3) act as Country Office focal point for results reporting and adaptive programme/project risk management; (4) provide knowledge management services on project/programme quality standards, risk management and results management and 5) Collaborate and coordinate with the respective teams to ensure data and information are available and coherent in line with UN/DP policies related to Gender and Social inclusion. Contribute to the implementation of the Country Office Gender Equality and Social Inclusion strategy. S/he will constantly explore ways and contribute to capture gender results that are aggregated and transformational, especially capturing policy impacts- in women’s agency, and in behaviours of men and women. In this reflection, it should also ensure renewed focus across the three enablers of gender equality: digitalization, innovation, and finance- to ensure alignment with the corporate Gender Equality Strategy.
The Programming Quality and Results-Based Management Analyst will contribute primarily to the work of i) the Partnership and Results Team, and ii) the Programme Management Team, with support to the work of the Strategic Engagement team particularly at programme/project design stage. S/he will share in the management, leadership and outcomes of the country office.
S/he models the commitment to creative collaboration and team accountability in the service of Nepal’s challenges. S/he promotes a client-oriented approach while performing her/his functions.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure the overall coherence between UNSCDF, CPD Results and Resources matrix and the portfolio/ project results matrices:
- Act as main focal point for CO engagement on UNSDCF results and risk management components, including planning, monitoring and reporting functions. In support of senior management, coordinate within the CO to ensure UNDP provides quality and timely inputs to these UNSDCF processes.
- Provide advisory support within the CO and play a quality assurance role to ensure that the CPD and project/portfolio level results and resources matrices are strongly aligned with UNSDCF results and theory of change.
- Ensure UNDP data, information and results are captured in UN Info and other corporate systems.
- Performs a quality assurance role for regular project quality assessments during project implementation, in support of the Deputy Resident Representative.
- Advise senior management and support implementation of any required adjustments to internal CO tools and procedures related to programming quality standards and adaptive risk management.
Support the effective implementation of UNDP quality standards for programming throughout the project and programme cycles:
At programme level:
- Contributes to CPD design, data collection, monitoring and reviews, with a focus on theory of change, definition of results, risk management, and monitoring and evaluation arrangements, in line with UNDP corporate standards;
- Participates in reviews of current UNDP interventions and in the design of new interventions, with a view to ensure alignment with the strategic directions and results outlined in the CPD;
- Provides support for UNDP’s effective participation in UNSDCF-related planning and reporting processes, in close collaboration with the Coordination and Partnerships Specialist;
- Act as focal point for CO monitoring and reporting on corporate key performance indicators and on the Country Office Business Plan (programming aspects).
- Act as focal point for monitoring of key performance indicators set for field offices.
At project level:
- Acts as a resource person within the office on quality standards for programming;
- Provide inputs into project design and perform a quality assurance role for all project documents, initiation plans, engagement facilities and other programming instruments, with particular – but not exclusive – attention to risk management (including social and environmental risks), theory of change, and results framework;
Act as Country Office focal point for results reporting and adaptive programme/project risk management:
- Facilitates and monitors the timeliness and quality of updates of programme and project results and risks in corporate platforms (i.e. Quantum), in cooperation with the Programme Management Team and Strategic Engagement Team. Ensures any emerging issues and risks are escalated for senior management attention as required.
- Acts as one of the focal points for the initial compilation and drafting of the Results-Oriented Annual Reporting exercise, under the guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative, and in collaboration with the focal point for partnerships and coordination.
- Supports other corporate and development partner reporting, as required, through compilation and analysis of relevant information and data.
- Advise senior management and the Programme Management Team, as required, on any adaptive actions required based on analysis of programme/project results and risks reporting, and evaluations.
Provide knowledge management services on programme/project quality standards, risk management and results management:
- Actively participates in UNDP’s communities of practice relates to programming quality standards, risk management and results management. Shares UNDP Nepal experience and ensures s/he is full up-to-date on latest corporate standards and best practices;
- Leads in needs assessment, design and delivery for UNDP Nepal learning initiatives related to programming quality standards, risk management, evaluations and results management. Provides mentoring support to CO colleagues on these issues as required;
- Acts as focal point for the coordination and implementation of evaluation policies within the CO (evaluation manager role), including planning, preparation and management of decentralized evaluations in line with corporate standards, provision of guidance to concerned staff, and quality assurance. Contribute to Country Programme and portfolio evaluations/reviews adhering to the corporate standards.
- Reviews lessons learned and recommendations emerging from monitoring and evaluation activities, and ensure they are fed into programme/ project design, work plans and substantive revisions.
- Contributes to the identification of best practices and lessons learnt and cooperates with concerned programme and communications colleagues to document and share these learnings with relevant audiences.
Contribute to the implementation of the Country Office Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI_) strategy:
- Ensures that GESI is well captured and mainstreamed at programme and project level, as part of her/his quality assurance role and in close coordination with the GESI Analyst.
- Works closely with the GESI focal team, GESI Analyst and Partnerships and Coordination Specialist to ensure quality planning and reporting on GESI related results.
- Promotes work life balance, gender equality and respect for diversity.
- Ensures prevention of sexual harassment and abuse of authority and any form of discrimination in the workplace.
- Be part of the GESI focal team that contributes to the implementation of the recommendations of the Gender Equality Seal appraisal mission.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Management – Result-based Management
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
Business Management – Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
- Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
Business Management – Working with evidence and data
- Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
Business Direction & 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 & Strategy – Monitoring
- Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.
Business Direction & Strategy – Evaluation
- Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks.
- Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness – Effectiveness
- Project Quality Assurance
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, economics, business administration, public administration or a related area is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in result-based management for a development organization
- Robust knowledge of Results Based Management, and proven experience in working with results frameworks, theory of change, risk management and indicator frameworks monitoring and reporting is an asset,
- Experience of providing advisory support to the senior management on quality assurance on programmatic and project level
- Strong experience on the development of partner reports
- Experience in coordination and implementation of evaluation policies
- Has experience of monitoring and evaluating that the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion is incorporated and mainstreamed in the programme and project at all levels.
- Demonstrated experience of understanding of Nepal’s political and socio-economic context, development priorities, and planning frameworks is desired.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desired.
- High level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel and work under challenging circumstances.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in (written and spoken) of English and Nepali is required.
- Knowledge of other local languages is an added advantage.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
NOTE: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest Performance Evaluations (if applicable).
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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