Operations Specialist (Special Multi-Partner Delivery and Regional Stabilization Facilities)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the global development network of the United Nations, connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, supporting countries to reach their own development objectives and internationally agreed development goals, building and sharing solutions in the areas of Sustainable Development, Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding and Climate and Disaster Resilience. UNDP supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they help shape global sustainable development for the next decade. UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) is its largest regional bureau, covering 46 countries, ranging from high middle-income economies to least developed countries, as well as countries in crisis and post-crisis situations. UNDP works with its national counterparts in the Africa region to help them implement national development priorities and achieve their national development goals. Its work is guided by global and regional development and normative frameworks to which countries in Africa are signatories, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

The Lake Chad Basin (LCB) and Liptako-Gourma (LG) regions are facing a multidimensional crisis exacerbated by the rise of extremist activities, political instability, violence, and internal displacement. In response, UNDP has established the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Facility and Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) in both regions to foster trust between communities and government authorities, leading to opportunities to lay the foundation for long-term peacebuilding, recovery, and development. The RSF initiatives have helped achieve speedy, large-scale interventions aiming at addressing security, essential social services, and livelihoods challenges.

In the LCB region, significant progress has been made in addressing the multidimensional crises, including the fight against Boko Haram factions. However, the security situation remains volatile, leaving 2.8 million internally displaced persons and 257,100 refugees in the region as of March 2024. The structural causes of the crises, such as the weak presence of local authorities, communal tensions, and longstanding marginalization, remain. These factors have led to a trust deficit between states and communities. Notably, climate change impacts are a major risk multiplier in a region marked by fragility. The complex challenges that the LCB region faces call for time-bound, localized, and integrated civilian interventions. Active from September 2019 to August 2024, the Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) has focused on building trust between communities and legitimate authorities and laying the foundations for recovery, peacebuilding, and development in the LCB region. 

Significant achievements include the return of over 435,000 formerly displaced populations since 2020, accounting for around 20 percent of all internally displaced person (IDP) returnees in the LCB, in addition to approximately 670,000 resettled IDPs in RSF locations. Furthermore, 86 percent of surveyed individuals in programme areas reported feeling safe and secure in 2023, a notable increase from only 50 percent in 2020. Neighboring non-stabilized sites are seeing increased violence, which is adding pressure in stabilized communities, as people are returning and moving there. 

Due to continued crisis and conflict — and to not forego gains already made — an extension of the RSF in LCB is proposed for the period of September 2024 to August 2028. The extended phase of the current RSF will focus on strengthening and increasing stabilization support, with a particular emphasis on government ownership for sustained impact. Stabilization has proven to be a highly relevant model in the LCB context, offering a unique value addition that complements regional, national, and local initiatives. The proposed RSF programme (2024-2028) builds on RSF’s initial successes, lessons learned and evaluative evidence, including that acquired through third-party monitoring. 

The LG region is witnessing a significant shift in political, security and humanitarian context as well as an evolving geopolitical landscape. Unconstitutional changes of government in the three LG countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger) have resulted in political tensions, undermining democratic order and governance. Political uncertainty remains, with military rule extended until 2029 in Burkina Faso, presidential elections postponed in Mali and no clear pathway towards a transition plan in Niger. The security situation remains volatile, with incidents perpetrated by violent extremist and terrorist groups increasing. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis shows no sign of abating, with more than 2.8 million people forcibly displaced and in need of urgent assistance, including over 2 million in Burkina Faso. 

The ongoing Liptako-Gourma Stabilisation Facility (LGSF) in the LG region has been investing in infrastructures for basic social services, livelihoods, community security and social cohesion, which remain the foundations for returning populations and conflict-affected communities to rebuild their lives. The programme has benefited more than 300,000 people directly and indirectly since its launch in 2021. In 2023, over 90,000 internally displaced people have returned to target sites, thanks to better security, improved access to essential social services, and enhanced livelihood opportunities. 

Urgent efforts are required to mobilise resources while ensuring timely and quality implementation of the ongoing programme by December 2024. The way LGSF is handled in this transition period will influence UNDP’s ability to stay and deliver in support of vulnerable communities, even in politically constrained contexts.

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Hub Manager in Dakar, and direct supervision of the Head of the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Facility   and RSF, the Operations Specialist is responsible for managing and assuring the effective and integrated delivery of agreed business services in the areas of General Operations, Finance and Human Resources and for the COs under the Regional Hub portfolio. The Operations Specialist will advise/collaborate/support procurement teams at the Country offices level on procurement matters related to the regional project implementation. The Operations Specialist will also be accountable for the quality and timeliness of the team’s advisory and support services rendered to COs in accordance with UNDP regulations and rules and pursuant to the applicable corporate performance standards.

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 to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Contribute to the strategic direction of the Operations of the Special Multi-Partner Delivery and Regional Stabilization Facilities, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure full compliance of operations with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and Internal Control Framework (ICF). 
• Act as the liaison with selected Country Offices for planning the operational activities in support of the programme portfolio, with focus on key processes to accelerate delivery. 
• Coordinate the effective design and management of a focused, coherent, cost-effective, and high-impact portfolio of operations services; create an effective platform of coordinated delivery.
• Support COs’ senior management in selected COs in identifying and overseeing risks to ensure dynamic and effective risk management in the CO and to make more risk-informed and timely decisions. Monitor and analyze the operating environment; undertake risk analysis related to operations for discussion with the DRR, as appropriate; and make timely readjustment of operations services, considering advice on legal considerations. 
• Advise senior management on innovative approaches and modalities to achieve development targets including country-level integrated support platforms, business process re-engineering, etc. 
• Define priorities in coordination with senior management to develop procurement plans, identifying opportunities for regional/subregional market research, with an aim to generate economies of scales.
• Ensure systematic adherence to UNDP policies, procedures, and corporate guidance on enterprise risk management in the CO and at the project level. Participate in the appraisal of projects to provide operational input that includes formulating risk management plans and anticipating cost of risks during the project design phase. 

Manages and oversees effective, risk-informed, and accurate Financial Resources Management, strategic and efficient Human Resources, Procurement, Logistical and General Administration Management, focusing on achievement of the following results:    

Financial Management

• Coordinate the proper planning of the Regional Facility financial resources, tracking and recording of expenditures in compliance with IPSAS, and audit of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Oversee the financial support, with emphasis in proper planning for the annual programme delivery target.
• Prepare the finance workplan of the unit, consolidating the individual country offices demands and priorities, defining the KPIs to monitor quality service provision.
• Oversee the effectiveness of internal controls and guide offices on exception management in direct consultation with the bureau and OFRM, including activities for the continuous scanning, analysis, monitoring and assessment of fraud risks and the implementation of measures to detect, prevent and mitigate such risks. 
• Ensure all financial transactions are identified, recorded, and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.

Human Resources Management

• Ensure that HR activities are in compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies.
• Advise on optimal staffing of the Facility and the country windows.
• Coordinate the HR provision of services in consultation with the Regional HR Business Partner and the Global Shared Service Unit (GSSU). 

Procurement, Logistical and General Administration Services

• Contribute to the consolidation of the sub-regional procurement plan and related strategies in support of programme delivery targets.
• Support COs on the full compliance of procurement and administrative activities with UN/UNDP regulations, rules, policies, and strategies.
• Advise on the best source strategies to achieve effective results, including economies of scale, considering accelerated delivery measures.
• Ensure proper management of project assets, facilities, logistical services, and administrative services, including full compliance with IPSAS during purchasing, utilization, and disposal of the regional project assets. 
• In general, develop strategies, long term agreements and innovative mechanisms to identify deficiencies, meet and foresee COs needs/demands based on a continued analysis of country and region-wide aggregate results and evolving priorities with client-orientation.

Contributes to the partnership building on operational issues with focus on achieving the following results: 

• Participate in relevant management policies discussions, organizational change management initiatives including interaction with CO’s, Regional Teams, HQ units and other Bureaux. (based on delegation of authority)
• Build positive relationships with CO’s and other teams, including Agencies, donors, and government officials to tap into innovative approaches and best practices.

Facilitate knowledge sharing:

• Contribute to organizational performance delivery in the Region with focus on more effective knowledge management and learning, as well as the effective use of enabling technologies for innovation and learning in operations management related issues.
• Promote the active use of tools and systems to improve organizational performance, by disseminating and encouraging capacity building and knowledge sharing.
• Organize trainings for the operations/projects staff on all operational areas.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• Supervision and performance management of Finance Specialist, HR Specialist and Administrative & Operation Associate and secondary supervision of Procurement services.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact. 

Think Innovatively

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility 

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 

Act with Determination                

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Business Direction & 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 Management: Partnerships Management         

• 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. 

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 Management: Portfolio Management 

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. 
• Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management. 

Finance : Accounting (General)  

• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. 

HR - People strategy and planning: Business Partnering 

• Strategic thinking and development of long-term plans for the organization’s human resources needs while analyzing the current environment and developing strategies to achieve long-term objectives. 

Procurement: Procurement management            

• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’ s degree or equivalent)) in International Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Policy, Economics, or a related area is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

 Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience and results in the development sector in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting is required. 
• At least 1 year of management level responsibilities of similar size and complexity, experience in crisis setting is required. 
• Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is desirable. 
• Demonstrated experience in the areas of Operations including Finance, HR, Procurement, General Admin is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UNDP programme and project management policies and procedures is desirable.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, as well as experience in handling web-based management systems and Oracle Cloud, is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.