The Governance for Inclusive Development Programme (GIDP) is a joint programme of the government of Lao PDR, UNDP and UNCDF and supported by development partners. The GIDP has been formulated under the framework of the National Governance and Public Administration Reform Programme (NGPAR) of the Government of Lao PDR and built on the established partnerships through two programmes within the government’s NGPAR - Strengthening Capacity and Service Delivery of Local Administration (GPAR SCSD 2012-December 2016) and the National GPAR Programme Support Programme (GPAR NGPS 2012- June 2016).

The GIDP, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) of Lao PDR and with formal cross-sector cooperation and implementation by Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and provincial and district administrations. This programme is responsive to the growing emphasis on the need for multi-sector planning and the use of data/information to inform the content, nature and scope of district plans.  It seeks to promote wider governance improvements, strengthen public administration’s ability to achieve better service delivery and increase citizens’ systematic engagement, especially at the local levels where basic services are coordinated, planned, financed and reported. GIDP has a particular focus on inclusion of less-advantaged people and groups. GIDP also enhances partnerships at the national level through the Governance Sector Working Group (GSWG), to promote multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on good governance and gender policies. The three GIDP components are interrelated and designed to create a virtuous loop that promotes good governance and accountability as well as sub-national and national partnerships and policy dialogue.

The position will function in support of the Director General of Planning and Cooperation Department, Ministry of Home Affairs (serving as Programme Manager) and overall guidance of Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Lao PDR and Head of Governance Unit, as direct supervisor. This position is responsible for all work programmes of all outcomes of this project. These includes but are not limited to: technical project activities with focus on monitoring, evaluation and reporting including annual reports of both GIDP and GSWG; annual workplans and budget; integration with all outcomes; guiding activities in provinces; coordination with other related project; day-to-day project management; following up with monitoring results and findings related to the outputs and outcomes of the project.

The key results of this post will have impact on:

1. Achieving the anticipated results of the GPAR GIDP Programme.
2. Strengthening national and local planning, institutional and staff capacity and processes on Inclusive local service delivery and development; accountability framework and citizens' engagement and Partnerships & policy dialogue.
3. Creating partnerships and coordination within UN agencies and government counterparts in the specific project thematic area.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Chief Technical Specialist with Respect to Specific Programme and Project Support areas:

1. Strategic and technical support in delivering programme outputs and achieve outcomes: 

a) Inclusive local service delivery and development

• Oversee the overall direction of Output 1 implementation and coordination across the GID programme as a whole. Working closely with the UNCDF International Technical Specialist and Programme Manager on strategic application of local finance programmes and fiscal decentralisation within the framework of advancing good governance, responsive multi-sector work plans and budgeting and better local services delivery systems.
• Provide technical inputs regarding methodologies and practices that will support the development of community based and socially inclusive approaches to service delivery.

b) Accountability framework and citizens' engagement

• Support the design and introduction of an accountability framework to capture and use citizens’ feedback on the provision of basic services and consolidate citizens’ voice in local decision-making structures where service provision is discussed and managed.
• Provide technical inputs regarding design and application of a system to regularly assess the institutional performance of district and promoting a general shift to greater accountability to citizens and administrative transparency.

c) Partnerships & policy dialogue

• Support the establishment of partnerships for development effectiveness.
• Support the Governance Sector Working Group and NGPAR Programme Secretariat in the development and implementation of governance reforms and initiatives in support of the programme purpose and outputs.
• Oversee support to the Governance Sector Working Group partnership, as well as Provincial partnerships for better service delivery of basic services to citizens.
• Support capacity building, policy research and analysis related to the programme and, with assistance from short-term technical consultants (where required)
• Provide broad policy and technical inputs at both the central and local levels, liaison with Development Partners and support to MoHA, as necessary.

2. Assist the Executive of the NGPAR Programme Board and Programme Manager including substantive and administrative matters

• Provide technical inputs and advice in areas of reform activity where capacity gaps otherwise exist in the programme team;
• Support the government in the development and maintenance of programme annual and quarterly workplans, budgeting, resource allocation, workload management, and performance assessment;
• Provide technical inputs and support the government in the development of policy papers and technical-legal documents as required;
• Support and be involved in the organization and facilitation of programme meetings, workshops etc;
• Assist the government in designing systems for expanding experiences, lessons learned and addressing policy issues throughout the Government system;
• Provide other such advice and support as may be required by the Government and UNDP Lao PDR as is to be expected in a dynamic process of governance reform.
• Support regular ongoing communication with the National Programme Manager and Programme Board Executive, in order to provide technical inputs regarding the activity of programme staff, and on-going involvement in donor relations;
• Support the government and UNDP in the functions of donor coordination and the mobilization of additional donor funding to the Governance sector.

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Urban Governance, Planning, and Development

Knowledge of Urban Governance, Planning, and Development and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Local Governance

Knowledge of local governance systems and institutions, decentralizations policies and laws, basic service delivery and recovery planning and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Inclusive Political Processes Knowledge of inclusive political processes standards and principles and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Civic Engagement

Knowledge of frameworks and dialogue processes for effective and transparent engagement of civil society, women’s and youth groups, indigenous peoples and other excluded groups in national development and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Effective Development Cooperation

Knowledge of development cooperation which can then be carried forward into inclusive, country-led mechanisms for development cooperation at national and regional levels

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Collaboration and Partnership

Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support. Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of UNDP

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Functional

Results-based Management

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

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Strategic Planning

Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Budget Management

Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Complex Adaptive Systems

Knowledge of complex adaptive systems and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Communication

Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Partnerships

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

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Stakeholders Management

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and balance often contradictory expectations, building and maintaining relationships

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

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

Education:

• Minimum of Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Public Management, Decentralization, Organizational development, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of solid relevant experience in governance and public administration, reform and change management, both regionally and internationally;
• Substantive experience in policy development, workshop facilitation, training workshop design and secretariat functions;
• Substantive experience in implementing large scale capacity development interventions, including small grants programmes;
• Solid experience in programme management, monitoring and evaluation including beneficiary driven evaluations and process facilitation; and
• Familiarity and experience with the Lao program or similar programs in the region and internationally are an asset

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning