Head of Field-Office

Details

Mission and objectives

Who we are (Mission) UNDP has been working in South Sudan for over 30 years. With the formation of the independent Republic of South Sudan in July 2011, UNDP established a Country Office and has staff working all over the country to help build government institutions. UNDP has maintained its presence in South Sudan despite significant challenges in the operating environment by adopting a flexible approach to its work with the Government of South Sudan. Since the conclusion of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in August 2015, UNDP aims to work in partnership with the Transitional Government of National Unity, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral aid agencies, bilateral donors, academia, media and the private sector. The overarching aim of UNDP is to support the progress towards peace and reconciliation, early recovery and governance, and towards the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). What we do UNDP’s goal is to help creating more resilient communities and reinvigorated local economies; strengthening peace and governance; and empowering women and girls. UNDP South Sudan aims to do this by supporting the Government to manage public finances in an environment of respect for the rule of law, with an accountable government to deliver inclusive economic growth.

Context

Although UNDP is active in all States and Administrative Areas in South Sudan, there is now need to strengthen UNDP’s field presence. UNDP management has made a decision to step up its field presence, as the largest development partner, to support the Government’s policy shift from humanitarian ubiquity to expanding sustainable development activities across South Sudan. In addition to call for a stronger UNDP presence, the Government counterparts have requested UNDP to provide technical advisory support to the states and coordination of the implementation of the R-NDS at state level.  Against this backdrop, UNDP Management has agreed an incremental approach to strengthening UNDP field presence and work towards establishing fully fledged field offices.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Resident Representative (RR), or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Head of Field Office will:  Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative (RR) anddirect supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative-Programmes, the Head of Field Office sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees all Field Office (FO) activities in Wau, Western Barh-el Ghazal.  The Head of Field-Office has formal delegated authority from the RR (in writing) to represent the UNDP country programme at the local level and perform management functions.  The Head of Field Office leads and supervises the FO staff and project staff working in the geographic area of responsibility of the FO, ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination.  The Head of FO ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations in conformity with the UNDP Internal Control Framework and good management practice.  The Head of FO advises the country office senior management on FO programme, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges in managing the Field Office.  The incumbent will work closely with internal and external counterparts, including Government, national institutions, civil society, private sector etc., to successfully deliver UNDP programme at the local level. Summary of Key Functions: 1. Ensures strategic programme planning, coordination and implementation in the geographic area of responsibility of the Field Office, focusing on achievement of the following results:  Analyzes the socio-economic and political situation and trends in the area and identifies opportunities and entry points for UNDP.  Provides guidance and manages the overall FO programme development and implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring.  Ensures overall efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and consistency with UNSDCF/ CPD priorities.  Ensures identification and promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities  Identifies and develops new programme and project opportunities.  Supports capacity building of national counterparts.  Oversees project implementation through close monitoring of results. Ensures effective application of RBM tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks.  Coordinates and follows through on decentralized local evaluations.  Ensures full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations.  Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning. 2. Responsible for effective Office management focusing on achievement of the following results:  Ensures smooth running of the Field Office, builds an effective FO team, promotes teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results.  Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Field Office by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. Continually find ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations of the Field Office.  Mitigates possible risks and impacts associated with the Field Office operations (e.g., logistical, security etc.) by proactively designing reduction measures in collaboration with the Security Specialist.  Builds capacity of the office staff by identifying capacity needs and establishing training/learning programmes. 3. Responsible for Representation and Coordination in the area focusing on achievement of the following results:  Represents UNDP with UNCT and development partners at the local level.  Provides strong coordination support to UN Agencies, national authorities, and other organizations through the establishment of a wider consultation process.  Ensures proper coordination and inputs to Interagency initiatives.  Maintains collaboration and coordination with the other Heads of Field Offices to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices. 4. Promotes communication flow in the office focusing on achievement of the following results:  Maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and Government agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart.  Ensures internal communication and coordination at FO level and effective and proactive communication between relevant CO units (both programme and operations units) and the FO. Monitors the perception of UNDP at the local level and suggest media activities that position UNDP more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development. Enhances local visibility for UNDP in development effectiveness  Ensures that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with Communication Office in the country office. 5. Fosters partnership building and donor liaison focusing on achievement of the following results:  Contributes to the development of the CO Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy.  Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the FO level through innovative approaches to partnership development.  Encourages ways of increasing Field-Office funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:  Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);  Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;  Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.  Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;  Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;  Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.