JOB: UNDP Risk Programme Officer Vanuatu

Job Code Title:                           National Programme Officer

Pre-classified Grade:                  ICS 9 (NOB)

Supervisor:                               Project Coordinator - Pacific Risk Resilience Program,

                                                   UNDP Pacific Centre, Suva, Fiji

UNDP Pacific Centre (PC) and a selected International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) will be implementing a Regional Programme on reducing risk and building resilience in the Pacific (the ‘Pacific Risk Reduction Programme’) funded by AusAid.  The new programme aims to develop cooperative, constructive engagement and partnerships between Pacific Island communities and their local level government to strengthen resilience to natural disasters and climate change related risk. The programme will be implemented in 4 target countries – Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The new program will run initially for a period of four years, 2012 – 2015.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Coordinator - Pacific Risk Resilience Program (P4) based in UNDP Suva, Fiji the Programme Officer directly supports the effective implementation and management of the Pacific Risk Reduction Programme for Vanuatu.

The Programme Officer will work in close collaboration with the UN Joint Presence in Vanuatu, UNDP Sub-Office in Solomon Islands, UNDP Fiji Multi Country Office (MCO), UNDP Tonga, the Crisis Prevention and Recovery (CPR) Unit of UNDP PC and AusAid Office based in Vanuatu, Government officials, the INGO country representative (successful INGO yet to be selected), civil society and other donor partners to promote mainstreaming of disaster risk management.

Summary of Key Functions:

1.     Programme Management at the country level

2.     Policy and programme services

3.     Monitoring and evaluation, including financial resource management

4.     Knowledge management and partnerships

1.      Programme management at the country level:

q  Responsible for national level programme oversight, quality assurance and reporting to project coordinator in Suva

q  Liaises closely with the INGO country manager on all programme issues

q  Acts as secretariat to the country level national steering committee

q  Is part of the sub-national appraisal committee for the approval of small grants

q  Coordinate the country specific capacity assessment to identify critical institutional barriers and capacity gaps at respective national and subnational level to disaster risk reduction programme

q  Coordinate the rapid assessment and provide support to the developing a work plan to addresses the gaps and barriers identified in the capacity assessment

q  Liaison with UNDP PC and AusAid (Suva) on the implementation of the DRM program assessing the progress and constrains to implementation and providing policy advice to Program Manager.

q  Assisting UNDP PC to develop baselines for monitoring and reviewing of programme

2.      Programme support:

q  Responsible for advocacy at the national level for mainstreaming DRR

q  Ensures all programme activities are integrated into government structures

q  Identifies national capacity gaps, supports institutional strengthening

q  Support to capacity development of government and CSOs counterparts for effective DRR mainstreaming and community resilient efforts

q  Identify existing and potential sources of capacity development required by each level of government

q  Provide support to the design and implementation of capacity building activity to meet the gap within the scope and life of the programme

3.      Monitoring and evaluation including financial resource management:

q  Implements the monitoring and evaluation framework

q  Responsible for compilation and review of quarterly and annual progress reports, mid-term reviews and ensuring timely donor reporting

q  Responsible for the overall financial resource management for the programme

q  Liaison between project implementing partners and UNDP PC in facilitating the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and reports, programme award revisions and programme status (operational and financial closure of a project);

4.      Knowledge management and partnerships;

q  Ensures lessons are captured and approaches are shared with project coordinator in Suva

q  Facilitates institutional partnerships at national level which are required to achieve an integrated DRR programme

q  Supports coordination efforts across government

q  Explore and coordinate opportunities for inter-stakeholder cooperation with Government

q  Identify and coordinate opportunity for harmonization of approaches and optimal use of resources

q  Indentify potential opportunity for boarder advocacy effort with government for effective DRR mainstreaming including identify and support DRR champions within government, lobbying for changes to legislation and procedures that act as barriers to DRR

q  Coordinate and facilitate the establishment of local forums for consultation between community, government and local NGOs

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise

q  Understands aspects of disaster risk management as well as the fundamental concepts

q  Keeps abreast of new developments in area of disaster risk management and seeks to develop him/herself professionally

Building Strategic partnership

q  Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments

q  Willingness and demonstrated commitment to forge effective & strategic partnership with complementary entities

q  Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved

     Knowledge Management and Learning

q  Shares knowledge and experience

q  Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Core Competencies:

q  Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 

q  Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment

q  Self-development, initiative-taking

q  Acting as a team player and facilitating team work

q  Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively

q  Creating synergies through self-control

q  Managing conflict

q  Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.

q  Informed and transparent decision making

Education:

Master’s Degree in Geography, Environment, Political Sciences, Disaster Management, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in disaster risk management, working knowledge of country’s governance structures, DRM and CCA policies and institutional arrangements, and government priority afforded DRM, knowledge and understanding of socio - economics, political and demographic situation of the country. At least 2 years’ experience of advocacy, over 3 years in facilitating training/workshops. Experience in developing and strengthening partnerships within the Government and NGO community will be an added advantage and hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and programmes. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems. 

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and national language