Regional Coordinator PPRD NORTH WEST

Job Description – The United Nations Development Program
Agency : UNDP
Title :
Regional Coordinator PPRD NORTH WEST – BAMENDA
Job ID : 31367
Practice Area – Job Family : Management – ECONOMICS, POLITICAL OR SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Vacancy End Date : (Midnight New York, USA) : 09/07/2020
Duty Station : Bamenda, Cameroon
Education & Work Experience : I-Master’s Level Degree – 10 year(s) experience
Languages Required: Desired: English French
Grade : SB5
Vacancy Type : Service Contract (SC)
Posting Type : External
Bureau : Africa
Contract Duration : ONE YEAR
Background
Cameroon is a lower-middle income country situated in Central Africa, with a population of approximately 26.3 million people. The country is host to many different cultures, ethnicities and languages. The political and social development is rising concerns. Facing three major crises, one in the Far North, the CAR refugee crisis in the east and most recently in the anglophone Southwest and Northwest regions, stability in Cameroon is seriously challenged. This has been exuberated by the protracted instability in neighboring countries, such as crises in Central African Republic and Nigeria. According to Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2018, Cameroon hosts 91,000 Nigerian refugees and 236,000 IDPs and 59,000 returnees in the Far North region mainly due to the crisis.

The crisis in the Southwest and Northwest regions started in 2016 with barristers and teachers strike claiming common law system implementation and improvement of work conditions. From these social claims, the context shifted to political rights claims witch revamps previous and consistent claims of territorial autonomy and separation. The humanitarian situation in the two regions keeps worsening with more than 550 000 IDP to date and increasing number of causalities on the military side, non-state actors and civilian end as well. Many schools have been burnt[1] down leading schools in most of the regions to close and the whole education system has collapsed. Along the crisis, violence has seriously increased with the kidnapping of civilians, destruction of public infrastructures, attacks against security forces and exactions against civilians. Massive human rights violations and violations of IHL have been recorded and population is living under permanent threat from non-state actors and Cameroonian security forces. The crisis that affected the North West and South West regions has damaged public infrastructures, broken social cohesion and slowed down economic development.

With the aim to resolve the crisis, the President of the Republic called for a Major National Dialogue, that brought together more than 600 participants from all 10 regions of the country. Third quarter of participants to the Dialogue came from the NWSW regions. The Head of State instructed the Prime Minister, Head of the Government to preside over the Major National Dialogue. Among other recommendations, the Major National Dialogue recommended the reconstruction of North-West and South-West regions.

The Government of Cameroon and UNDP collaborated to the formulation of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD) of the North-West and South-West regions. The PPRD is a component of the National Development Plan 2020-2030 (post DSCE), aiming at reducing the effects of the socio-political and security crisis for the affected communities in the NW/SW regions. The PPRD feeds into the government efforts to resolve the current crisis. This initiative is complementary to other key reforms such as the establishment of a Special Status for the NW/SW regions.

Confronted with complex development challenges, the Government intends to emphasize on governance, economic recovery and crisis prevention in order to consolidate the peace process. Through the PPRD, the government aims at reinforcing the resilience and development of the populations in the affected regions of North West and South West. The Government envisages to restore social cohesion, provide livelihood opportunities and increase access to basic services for communities in the NW/SW regions. Finally, through the PPRD, the Government ambitions to bring about short and medium terms transformational changes. The United Nations Development Programme is the implementing partner and fund manager of the PPRD.

In order to manage the PPRD, UNDP Cameroon is looking for Two (02) individuals to act as Regional Coordinator in the SW and in the NW regions. The Regional Coordinator’s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document for each region, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct authority of the UNDP Resident Representative, the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the PPRD Project Manager (PPRDPM) and in close collaboration with Assistant Resident Representative (Governance and crisis Prevention), the Regional coordinator will run the day-to-day activities of each region. The regional coordinator is responsible of the activity’s implementation in the field.

The Regional Coordinator is responsible for the management, planning, implementation of the PPRD in the region under the supervision of the DRR and the PPRDPM:
Manage the direct implementation by planning of different steps of the implementation process, take timely decisions and actions to ensure results are achieved, while ensuring coherence between various programmatic components;
Draft baselines whenever possible, to allow for proper oversight and monitoring of regional results and programme impact;
Prepare and ensure the secretariat of the regional meetings of the Programme (Regional committees, clusters,), in support of the National Coordination, and make the necessary follow-up of the implementation of all the decisions taken;
Draft the regional work plans, activities, budgets, operational plans, tools and methodologies to ensure efficient project implementation;
Draft the progress reports and presentations and ensures quality financial and narrative reporting to concerned partners in line with pre-determined deadlines;
Provide programmatic and technical advice to the PPRDPM on the approach, based on identified needs. The Regional Coordinator will ensure that needs of different specific target groups, including women and youth as well as people with disabilities groups are taken into account;
Ensure linkages and integration of various pillars under the Programme whenever possible;
Ensures timely and adequate reporting against plans, including timely and articulate progress reports;
Identifies risks and challenges to the program and provides advice to the DRR and the PPRDPM on mitigation strategies;
Ensures appropriate levels of visibility and public awareness on results and ongoing activities;
Ensures that appropriate environmental and safety standards as well as due diligence are applied to the relevant activities in the program;

Building strategic partnerships
Maintain dialogue with regional partners and stakeholders to advocate, promote and advance organizational issues, priorities, interests and competencies for a successful Programme delivery.
Coordinate and collaborate with regional clients, partners and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.
build effective partnerships with regional UN Agencies, NGO’s, Associations, Traditional and religious leaders, communities;
Identify new regional partnership in collaboration with the PPRDPM.
Overall Project management :
As PPRDRC, she/he will be responsible for the regional implementation of the programme activities.
Supervise and lead the regional programme unit team;
Manage the regional operations of the Programme namely: a) financial management of the Program by ensuring the integrity of the financial systems, the review of budgetary requirements in accordance with the rules and procedures of UNDP; b) human resources management: performance of team staff in order to promote better performance;
Enable regional partners to be more effective through working in collaboration with other humanitarian and development actors in accordance with the principle of partnership. The regional Coordinator (i) provides accountable leadership, facilitating all regional activities and maintaining a strategic vision; (ii) ensures regional coordination regarding the areas covered; (iii) is responsible for Drafting the regional action plan and monitoring of the implementation with the priorities outlined in the Programme document.
Liaise with the regional Follow-up Committee of the National Coordination to assure the overall direction of the activities at the regional level;
Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the activities at the regional level;
Engage with relevant regional counterparts to assess the situation of women affected by violent conflict, and especially sexual violence, and support the building of regional and local capacities for addressing the impact of conflict on women and youth;
Assist in building a regional network of partners and stakeholders to strengthen the incorporation of a conflict and peacebuilding-sensitive lens across all development programs and support the implementation conflict assessments in conjunction with other key regional actors (Regional Government representatives, UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, traditional authorities, etc.);
Liaise with any regional suppliers and regional implementing partners.

M&E, Reporting and Communication:
Develop a draft of M&E regional online information system for measuring projects’ impact, and report on the progress;
Report on a regular basis on progress vis-à-vis a clear outline of regional duties and expected results on regular basis as well as work plans to relevant regional staff;
Preparation of various communication initiatives, including a monthly progress report, input to UNDP County Office newsletter and input to the UNDP cooperate website.

Building knowledge and capacity
Actively support knowledge building, sharing and applying in the programme.
Competencies
Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Scales up innovation for greater impact;
Expands understanding of the subject by clients an inspires action
Facilitates learning by failure and measured risk taking through pilots
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Excellent analytical and organizational skills required;
Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities, report on work progress and delivery outputs in a punctual manner;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Sets clear performance goals and standards; executes responsibilities accordingly.
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Identifies and nurtures collaborations between diverse professions
Creates environment of excellence, collaboration and engagement
Takes appropriate and timely people management decisions
Resolves complex conflicts, makes difficult people management choices
Takes an active interest in coaching others
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Effectively represents division /team / program / project in formal settings
Communicates new ideas and approaches for the division / team / program / project in a convincing manner
Articulates a compelling summary of UNDP’s value added in dynamic operating contexts / partnership dialogues
Combines the capacity to identify opportunities, establish frameworks for interaction and maintain and grow relationships
Delivery
Ability to get things done
Creates new and better services
Creates an environment that fosters excitement for work
Uses substantive mastery to model excellence and motivate performance
Role models sound judgement and solution-orientation in delivering results in complex conditions
Responds to demands and pressure with a command of situational leadership and judgement
Technical/Functional
Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline.
Applies knowledge to support the unit/branch’s objectives and to further the mandate of the UNDP
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally
Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current program guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments
Results-based Management
Effectively managing core and non-core resources to achieve organizational results.
Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach
Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it
Partnership Management
Ability to engage with partners and forge productive working relationships
Demonstrates excellent inter-personal skills;
Possesses the ability to motivate staff and mobilize colleagues and partners in the best interest of achieving results.
Representation and advocacy
Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues)
Advocates for the inclusion of UNDP’s focus areas in the public policy agenda
Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues
Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives
Leverages UNDP’s multidisciplinary expertise to influence the shape of policies and programs
Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, factbased approaches/solutions
Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives
Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling disagreements with UNDP’s policy agenda in order to promote and position UNDP in complex environments
Stress Management
Maintaining a professional profile while under stress
Able to work under pressure and coordinate multiple activities and processes simultaneously;
Maintains a respectful and responsible work style;
Manages emotions.
Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Management and Leadership
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
At least a Master degree preferably in Economics, Political or social Sciences, International relations, Development, Project Management, or other related areas or professional experience equivalent to the required level.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in institutional capacity building, early recovery, crisis prevention, peacebuilding and economic regeneration.
• Knowledge of 3*6 Methodology;
• Experience in project management preferably with UNDP
Work experience in crisis, post-conflict and/or humanitarian setting is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and working knowledge of French are required
Use of local languages in the regions (pidgin; etc…) is desirable.

Other requirements:

• Significant and proven skills in results-based management with preference for experience with UNDP programming
• Solid expertise in liaising with local and senior administration and regional counterparts;
• Sound skills and demonstrated experience in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder processes and negotiation;
• Sound analytical skills;
• Proven experience in training, networking and coordination skills;
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with internal and external parties in a multi-cultural environment;
• In-depth knowledge of human development situation in the SW/NW Regions and recent history/events/…
• Sound time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks;
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
Ability to use computers and office software packages and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm?cur_rgn_id_c=RAF