Programme Advisor Economist Capacity Development

Burundi is actually at a crucial moment characterized by significant events: adoption of the “Burundi 2025” vision by the government, production of the second MDG progress report, and completion of the Poverty Reduction strategy first generation “Cadre Stratégique de croissance et de Lutte contre la pauvreté” CSLP I evaluation process. In addition to that, the participative and inclusive CSLP II development process is ongoing with the CSLP II being the important medium term planning tool that expresses the will of the Burundian people in their Vision “Burundi 2025”, through various operational sector programmes and Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF). Burundi is also at a crossroad, at the end of the crisis that strongly damaged the productive fabric. In comparison to 1992, all socioeconomic indicators have collapsed, the population’s living conditions have significantly deteriorated and a significant drop in the GDP/capita has been observed. The population’s impoverishment remains an enormous challenge for the country. However, the new institutions implemented following the 2010 electoral process have committed to developing a leadership of change with the intention of boosting economic recovery. The targeted growth rate must be at double digits by 2012, based on the essential lessons of the recent MDG progress reports and CSLP II evaluation. Specific context The principal challenges identified in these reports focus on capacity development for national economic management including strategic planning and management, leading institutional reforms that are compliant with the national Vision “Burundi 2025”. It is necessary to ensure consistency between the Strategic Planning- Programming-Budgeting-Monitoring chain, to provide for proper monitoring and coordination of government activity with regard to economic and social development, and to master the parameters of aid effectiveness and its efficiency. It is also necessary to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of public administration, both at central, decentralized and local levels, in order to provide quality service to citizens, and to formulate and ensure monitoring and implementation of public policies aimed at stimulating growth. The Second Vice-Presidency is the primary responsible for meeting these challenges. However it also facing internal challenges such as the junior status of its team of advisers and executives in term of experience in economics development, the weakness of coordination mechanisms pertaining to the activities of the twelve ministries under its supervision, the lack of governmental communication effectiveness and last but not least the ageing of working tools that require modernization. In this context the Second Vice-President has required the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in hiring the service of a senior international expert to provide sound advices and capacity development services in planning, management, coordination, monitoring & evaluation of social and economic development policies, reforms and strategies. The selected expert will advise the Vice-President and the Executive staff of the Vice-Presidency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Country Director and the direct supervision of the UNDP Senior Economist, the Programme Advisor (Economist Capacity Development) will be based at the Vice-Presidency Office and will be responsible for advising the second Vice President and provide strategic guidance in social and economic policies, reforms, strategies and programs, and technical assistance to the staff of the second Vice Presidency to achieve the following results: Provide high level policy and technical advises to the second Vice president in the area of social and economic development focusing on achieving the following results: Provide high-level policy advices and technical assistance to the Second Vice-President, his staff, main ministries' staff and partners in facilitation of the development of national policies and strategies in the social and economic sectors, and to support the implementation of on-going social and economic reforms and capacity development services. Provide high-level policy advices on programs and processes that facilitate dialogue between the Government, social and economic partners and other stakeholders in institutional reforms. Promote a strong national ownership of the reform process and reform targets. Advise the second Vice president and key ministers on the process of capacity development for achieving the national Vision “Burundi 2025” results; the MDG and PRSP results. Advise the second Vice-Presidency in providing strong leadership and monitoring of the national planning and coordination process, both at the central (policies), sector(PRSP II) and local levels; Conduct social and economic studies and analyses and make insightful proposals to the Second Vice-President to initiating and conducting the appropriate institutional social and economic reforms with respect to implementation; Provide advice and contribute to leading a team of national experts in charge of ensuring the coherence of the planning-programming-budgeting-monitoring tools; Conduct economic analyses and provide support/advice in public financial management, accounting, audit, negotiating contracts, particularly with regard to systems and procedures, development of frameworks for results and performance evaluation mechanisms, etc.; Impact on gender equality by collaborating with gender ministry and stakeholders, provide and coordinate substantive technical inputs to national policies and strategies on gender mainstreaming capacity development Support and create a capacity development process national ownership focusing on achieving the following results: Provide high level advice and guidance to the second vice president, his staff and key ministers on the best way to engage the national managers in a result based system and adopt the capacity development process as the best way to achieve national development goals and results; Support the process of formulating a national policy on capacity development for the medium and long term and capacity development programmes in strategic sectors and areas toward the MDG achievement and PRSP II results achievement; Provide coaching and mentoring capacity development services to the second Vice presidency staff and high governmental staff in key ministries and institutions ; Promotion of national ownership and the development of national capacities; fostering of policies and partnerships for enhanced programmatic results and recommended strategic options in addressing capacity requirements and challenges Strategic partnership aid coordination and resource mobilization focusing on achieving the following results: Provide high level advice to the second Vice president and the inter ministerial committee for aid coordination (CNCA) and its permanent secretary (SP/CNCA) and support development and monitoring of the aid coordination mechanism; Liaise with strategic partners and advise the second Vice president and key ministers on the best way to coordinate resource mobilization process; Support an aid effectiveness capacity analysis and formulation, implementation and monitoring of capacity development program; Support effective and timely resource mobilization process according to national and international negotiation agenda for the Burundi Consultative Group in close collaboration with the key partners i.e. WB, IMF,EU, bilateral, UNDP. Knowledge building within the second Vice presidency, key ministries and national stakeholders, focusing on achieving the following results: Develop effective partnerships and knowledge-building of national counterparts in the areas of economic and social reforms, national capacity development, mobilizing resources, coordinating aid and debt management Provide technical support to research activities, and participation in such activities as required. Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice through identified best practices and lessons learned in the areas of social and economic reforms and capacity development and application of that are relevant to Burundi, the East African Community and Great Lakes Region. Contribute to knowledge management for the Second Vice-Presidency in the areas of social and economic reforms and capacity development The key results have an impact on the overall country prosperity in addressing main social and economic challenges in achieving national development results and especially through the UNDP interventions relating to capacity development of national institutions in charge of strategic planning, programming and aid coordination. In particular, the key results have an impact on: i) strengthening institutional and programming framework to manage and lead institutional reforms in the economic and social areas; ii) strengthening national capacity for formulation , monitoring and evaluation of reform and national development policies, iii) strengthening capacity for national, sector and local planning and budgeting processes, iv) coordination the implementation, monitoring and evaluation programming activities, v) strengthening strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and aid effectiveness

Competencies

ETHICS AND VALUES Reliably delivers on promises and honors commitments, holding himself/herself accountable for actions taken Takes the initiative to report on any deviations from established norms/practices Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status Recognizes ethical dilemmas and/or conflicts of interest and seeks advice or support to resolve them Strives to build and support a diverse team and takes full advantage of the perspectives brought by people regardless of gender, culture or religion Identifies conflicts of interest between stakeholder groups and works to keep UN/UNDP from inappropriate involvement in such situations DEVELOPING AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE/COACHING AND MENTORING Integrates himself/herself into the work unit, taking responsibility for own contribution to achieving team results Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action Helps peers to identify their unique strengths and weaknesses, training and development needs COMMUNICATING INFORMATION AND IDEAS Facilitates open exchange of information and ideas encouraging team members to share their views, thoughts and feelings Uses tact and sensitivity when delivering sensitive information or resolving delicate issues BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Building strategic alliances Identifies and prioritizes opportunities and obstacles in the political scene (government, civil society, parliamentarians, pressure groups) to advance UNDP’s agenda Identifies common interests and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UNDP’s agenda into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations Leverages the resources of governments and other development partners ADVOCACY/ADVANCING A POLICY-ORIENTED AGENDA influencing the public policy agenda 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 programmes Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, fact based 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 CLIENT ORIENTATION Meeting long-term client needs Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESULTS-BASED MANAGEMENT Development and application of organizational standards Ensures compliance with the organizational standards for audit, monitoring and evaluation and results-based management and promotes and monitors their application Promotes a culture of accountability in the organization Develops, disseminates and promotes the use of sound methodologies and tools to assist organizational units in carrying out results-based monitoring and evaluation Analyses audit, evaluation and policy application review results, extracts key elements and prepares proposals to address areas of weakness in the organization’s performance

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Master’s degree in Economics, Development or any other relevant area. PhD is considered an asset. Expérience: A minimum of 10 years of experience with progressive responsibility in programs managing and implementing in the areas of economic planning and management and public finance preferably in a post-conflict setting. Substantive expertise and experience in strategic planning and development as well as sound knowledge of UNDP capacity development methodology are mandatory Familiarity with social and economic reform issues in sub-Saharan Africa/Great Lakes region a strong advantage. Experience in providing management advisory services in a multi-cultural environment. Experience in development partnership and raising funds; Proven knowledge on issues relating to debt management; Experience in designing, managing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development projects. Knowledge and familiarity with the multi donor’s environment e.g. IMF, WB, EU, ADB, UN systems, etc. and their respective mandates will be an advantage. Excellent writing, facilitation and presentation skills. Experience in the use of computers is required. Languages: fluency in French and good command of English

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Programme Advisor Economist Capacity Development