CTA/Project Manager

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2009 established the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in September 2011. The UNSMIL has since commenced its support to the country's new transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts. These range from assisting the Libyan authorities restore public security and the rule of law, promote inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, help the Libyans embark on the drafting of a new constitution and lay the foundation for elections. Specifically, the resolution encourages Libyans to implement plans “to ensure a consultative, inclusive political process with a view to agreement on the constitution and the holding of free and fair elections”.

In February 2012, the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) was put in place and a joint UN electoral team has supported the HNEC since, in particular for the organization of the elections of the General National Congress which took place on 7 July 2012 and were widely praised as credible. The team also supported the February 2014 Constitutional Drafting Assembly elections and the June 2014 House of Representatives elections. Under Libyan leadership, UNSMIL and UNDP are jointly supporting the electoral process based on their comparative expertise to ensure uniform decision-making and effective planning. The Promoting Elections for the People of Libya (PEPOL) has been designed to provide a comprehensive range of electoral support through the integrated UN Electoral Support Team.

While most Libyans express disappointment with the outcomes of previous elections, they still have a general sense of confidence in the HNEC. With the support of UN electoral team, and having carried out three electoral processes, HNEC has acquired considerable knowledge and skills in electoral management. Despite these achievements, HNEC has not yet fully established itself as an independent and professional body capable of planning and managing inclusive and credible elections; like other institutions in the country, the HNEC is also in a transitional phase. In its request for electoral assistance to the United Nations, the commission emphasized the building of institutional capacity as a key objective in addition to requiring direct support for the upcoming electoral events. The international community also continues to support HNEC and sees it as an essential institution to the consolidation of democracy in the country.

It is against this background that UNDP seeks a Chief Technical Advisor/Project Manager to serve as the primary deputy to the UNSMIL Chief Electoral Advisor and the project manager of the recently formulated UNDP electoral assistance project (PEPOL). The incumbent reports both to the UNDP Resident Representative and the Chief Electoral Advisor of UNSMIL.

Provides Electoral Support and Strategic Input within the integrated UN setting

• Provide technical advice to the Libyan authorities and electoral stakeholders on relevant electoral issues as they pertain to the planning and implementation of upcoming electoral events including voter registration, out-of-country voting, etc.;
• Facilitate discussions on the above-mentioned issues, organize information sessions, discussion workshops and seminars for election stakeholders; prepare non-papers, discussion papers, background notes, etc.
• As part of the UN integrated electoral assistance, support the UN efforts with the planning and the implementation of the complementary electoral activities under UNDP responsibility throughout the different phases of the electoral cycle;
• Provide electoral advisory support to UNDP staff; as well as guidance and day to day management to UNSMIL advisors in charge of supporting the national EMB in the areas as defined by the integrated organigram;
• Support the coordination of the international community’s efforts on electoral assistance to Libya;
• Ensure in all circumstances that the Project does not compromise the credibility of the UN System, the country’s interests and partners implicated in the process; Liaise and foster strategic cooperation with other partners to reinforce the dialogue between the stakeholders of the process.

Overall supervision of programme management, including donor coordination and resource mobilization

• Ensure the professional, effective and efficient day-to-day management and implementation of the PEPOL project, including all aspects of its planning, co-ordination, consultations, deliverables, results, monitoring, reporting, and accountability for all resources, personnel and finances;
• Supervise project personnel and relevant UNSMIL technical advisers as per the agreed organigram of the integrated electoral support team;
• Host regular project board, technical and and/or evaluation meetings, and ensure timely and effective follow-up to decisions.
• Accountable for proper application of UNDP rules and regulations in the management of the project resources;
• Support donor coordination and resource mobilization for the electoral process;
• Communicate and coordinate the project’s work with the other projects and programs within UNDP, UNSMIL and other UN actors providing electoral support
• Facilitate information sharing and coordination on electoral support with development partners, national and international stakeholders and other electoral assistance providers;
• Coordinate all his/her work with the GPECS Arab States Advisor.

Reporting:

• Ensure through supervision of the submission of project reporting, including periodic narrative and financial reports on the progress of the project to the Project Board members;
• When delegated by the Chief Electoral Adviser/Director, prepare regular and ad-hoc reports to Ensure open and timely accountability for results through the production and submission of accurate high quality quarterly and annual progress reports;
• Report every four months to the Project Board on conducted activities, and propose annual workplan;
• Conduct monthly meetings with Technical Committee for planning and implementing purposes

Ensures Institutional Capacity Building to ensure effectiveness and sustainability of electoral assistance

• Foster the creation of a strong, professional and independent HNEC and enhance the independence and credibility of the commission.
• Ensure technical assistance is focused on building a sustainable institutional capacity to organize democratic elections that are genuine and periodic; and have the full confidence of electoral stakeholders.
• Ensure the implementation of project activities that promote the development of HNEC capacity to plan, organize and conduct elections and manage different Electoral Cycles in a professional, independent and sustainable manner over time.
• Ensure project interventions are planned in such a way as to make systemic rather than individual improvements to the staff and institutional capacities of HNEC.
• Promote and build on the knowledge and capacity that is already present in the HNEC; making more effective use of locally available resources; and introducing new knowledge in a way that is sustainable.
• Promote capacity building through a focus on the commissions polices and laws as well as enhancing the ability of civil society, political parties and all eligible voters, including the traditionally marginalized, to fulfil their role and participate in elections.
• Prepare and monitoring capacity building and training plans that promote national ownership and sustainability.

Ensures Knowledge management to build the capacity required by:

• Promote cross-unit teamwork and skills development for the team members through coaching and mentoring;
• Capture and disseminate lessons learned and best practices to contribute to learning on policy development elsewhere;
• Participate in international knowledge networks and other fora to draw on best practice and lessons learned in other similar contexts to apply to Libya;
• Coordinate project strategies and activities with other UNDP projects to ensure the effective implementation of the Country Programme Document

Innovation -Ability to make new and useful ideas work:

 Exercises stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / programme / division

Leadership-Ability to persuade others to follow:

Ensures teams are resourced for success and empowered to deliver

People Management- Ability to improve performance and satisfaction:

Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity

Communication- Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform:

 Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen

Delivery-Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement:

 Accepts accountability for the outcomes of programme delivery and facilitates improvement and innovation in the delivery of products and services

Partnerships-Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships:

 Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Project Management- Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals:

 Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Capacity Development- Ability to support partner countries' capacity to manage ODA resources effectively and harmonise with national policy and financing frameworks:

Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management-Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge: Integrate & Empower:

 Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in international relations, political science, law, anthropology, community development, or any other related field.

Experience:

• 10 years of relevant work experience in programme/project formulation, of which at least 7 include implementation and policy advice in the areas of electoral assistance and governance.
• Significant experience in senior-level programme management and coordination amongst national and international partners in sensitive political environments.
• Prior work experience advising an election commission on electoral policy, planning and implementation issues.
• Political analysis skills and reporting is an asset;
• Previous working experience for UN or the UNDP is an asset.
• Work experience in similar post-conflict environment is highly desirable.