UNDP Specialist (Donor Relations and Monitoring)

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Team Leader, Partnerships & Management Support Unit (PMSU), the Donor Relations & Monitoring Specialist supports the management and supports the overall effort to build partnerships and mobilize an appropriate and sustainable funding base for the UNDP Ethiopia Country Office.  The Donor Relations & Monitoring Specialist supports the development of the country office partnerships and resource mobilization strategy, tools and procedures and coordinates their implementation, systematically collects and analyses donor intelligence, supports strengthening of UNDP’s position within the UN Country Team and within the Delivering as One (DaO) approach. The Specialist develops and maintains strategic partnerships with government, traditional and emerging donors, private sector and CSO. Donor Relations & Monitoring Specialist ensures that the effectiveness of UNDP programme in Ethiopia is enhanced through the implementation of monitoring systems, policies and strategies across programmes and projects; management of risk through designing and implementing risk management mechanism, and quality assurance of project management processes. The Donor Relations & Monitoring Specialist may supervise and lead staff, experts, international and national consultants. The Analysts activities are implemented in close cooperation with other Partnerships & Management Support Unit (PMSU) staff, programme, operations and other teams. The Donor Relations & Monitoring Specialist maintains a network with colleagues from UNDP, HQs (especially the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy/BERA), UN Agencies, IFIs, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

Formulates and implements CO strategies related to donor relations, resource mobilization and partnerships building, focusing on achievement of the following results: External and internal analysis for assessing CO opportunities for resource mobilization. Scanning of the opportunities in the country based on partner-specific intelligence and the competitive landscape; identification where the CO competency strengths overlap with partner/client needs Analysis of key development and sectoral policies currently being discussed and implemented in the country and key donors willing to support policies Development of a detailed Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) CO Strategy with planning tools to implement the strategy such as donor specific action plans, donor intelligence data base, etc. Identification of new partnership opportunities including triangular partnerships, south-south cooperation, etc. Assessment of the level of CO engagement with each donor: type and level of contact and particular areas of interest; development of strategy to position the CO to become a priority partner for the donor. Identification of emerging sources of funding; assessment of their current usage and potential for the future. Development and implementation of a donor intelligence strategy (partners, needs and priorities, perception of UNDP by its current and potential future partners, and projection of UNDP’ added value and potential role). Development and regular updating of specific donor fund-raising strategies and approaches  Development and conduct of a Competitive Landscape Analysis of partners, their priorities and characterization of their relationships/partnerships. Development of a Client Relationship Management mechanism to support country office promotion of a partnership culture in the office at all levels. Negotiation of mutually beneficial agreements, compliance with partner requirements, including donor-reporting requirements. Review and clear donor reports ensuring highest quality standards, results orientation, compliance with corporate and donor policies and timely submission through monitoring or report due dates Build CO capacity on results-based reporting Support programme teams in the formulation of funding proposals and letters to donors Support the organization of donor meetings and field visits Prepare briefs on donor assistance for CO, RBA and HQs upon request Ensures the implementation of monitoring systems, policies, strategies, and tools focusing on achievement of the following results: Revise implementation/RBM/reporting guidelines, monitoring and evaluation procedures etc; Works closely with the Team Leader, PMSU, on office level M&E functions and identify project/programme risk areas and advise management on corrective/mitigating actions; Supports the design and implementation of CPD/UNDAP AP M&E framework and facilitates monitoring and evaluation; Revise and re-engineer RBM/M&E related business processes Based on the M&E Framework/Plan, Monitor UNDP programme to ensure: programmes are on track to achieve programme strategic objectives per the Country Programme Document/UNDAF; contributing to overall goal of the Country Programme; is coherent and the different portfolios are integrated and are contributing to overall objective; Coordinates CPD/UNDSAF reviews. Contributes to the Common Country Assessment, UNDAF and other UN programming exercises. Manage Evaluation Resources Center (ERC) and follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations, ensuring the optimal use of evaluations by providing guidance in the preparation of timely management responses to all mandatory evaluations; Organize and conduct results-oriented monitoring and evaluation trainings in the Country Office and for Implementing Partners Supports CO AWP planning processes and ensures that workplans are in line with corporate standards, policies and templates Guide the documentation processes for the best practices and lessons learnt based on programme approaches pertinent to the implementation of development interventions; Provide inputs to the technical progress reports and Annual Progress Report; Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing on monitoring and evaluation; Provides inputs and quality control on RBM for programmes under formulation Assists in tracking delivery of development results with emphasis on RBM in ATLAS. Undertake any other relevant activities as required as directed to the PMSU team leader.  Strongly positions UNDP in the UN Country Team focusing on achievement of the following results: Identification of opportunities for UNDP in its relationship with other UN Agencies Ensuring close linkage and integration of the CO RM strategy with the broader One UN context and Delivering as One Resource Mobilization Strategy Implementation of CO strategy for partnering with UN Agencies around UNDAF Action Plan, Joint Flagship Programmes and other joint programming for implementation of UN Reform. Facilitates knowledge building and knowledge sharing as required by the organization, focusing on the following results: Identification and formulation of lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader CO knowledge management efforts. Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Organization and conduct of trainings on RM and partnerships building in the Country Office. Identification, documentation and sharing of new partnership strategies, models and approaches.

Competencies

Core Competencies: Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents Building support and political acumen Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation Building and promoting effective teams Core Competencies: Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents Building support and political acumen Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation Building and promoting effective teams Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication Creating an emotionally intelligent organization Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member. Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking Functional Competencies:        Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda Creates effective advocacy strategies Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses Results-Based Programme Development and Management Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals Participates in the formulation of project proposals Building Strategic Partnerships  Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings Innovation and Marketing New Approaches Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor Resource Mobilization Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach Identifies and compiles lessons learned Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level  Client Orientation Anticipates client needs Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective Solicits feedback on service provision and quality Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication Creating an emotionally intelligent organization Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member. Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Required Skills and Experience

Education:     Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, Communications or related field. Experience:     A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level. Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis. Some experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and advanced programmes for data analysis. Experience in donor liaison and communication. Language Requirements:     Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.

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