The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. Headquartered in New York City, UNDP advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It provides expert advice, training, and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries.

About Job

The project will showcase a consultative and inclusive model involving national and county governments, civil society, communities, development partners and other stakeholders to collaboratively shape peace, human security and sustainable development initiatives that subsequently address the structural causes of conflicts in the target counties. The focus will be on inclusive governance, strengthening social accountability mechanisms at the local level, building trust between communities and security forces actors through Civil- Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and the implementation of micro ‘peace dividends’ livelihood projects. Further, the project will enhance collaboration, coordination and inclusivity amongst actors implementing projects under the larger North and Northeastern Development Initiative. Improved coordination of these initiatives will contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) Kenya 2022 – 2026 and strengthen avenues for meaningful participation of the communities in their planning and implementation to enhance Northeast Kenya’s development, prosperity, and long-term stability. The project is set to be catalytic, piloting a transformative model for community engagement and participation in human security and development initiatives and processes, thereby enhancing their effectiveness and sustainability. If this model is proven successful through this project, it can be scaled up through the interventions and investments of development partners deployed in borderland areas of Kenya

Duties and Responsibilities

Coordinate effective project planning and implementation at the county level:

• Develop project planning process and ensure the work plan and a fully costed budget are prepared based on sound capacity assessments and in accordance with UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines;
• Coordinate / manage the day-to-day activities of the county level activities and the overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring in order to optimize the use of resources and to ensure the successful achievement of project objectives and results specified in project document. Provide subject matter technical advice and support and ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget and specified constraints, and to high-quality standards;
• Facilitate establishment of interactive and inclusive platforms for project implementation and collaborate with other programme units and project teams to ensure integration of critical development issues in the project activities and expected project outputs;
• Ensure implementation activities are in alignment with UNDP policy and programme management procedures, as well as Peacebuilding Fund Guidelines, and all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows;
• Ensure operational management of county level inetrventions including through timely procurement of goods, services and/or infrastructure (as relevant), effective management of human, technical and financial resources, etc.

Establish partnerships and open channels of communication.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support key objectives and ensure inclusive implementation and participation of key stakeholders at the county;
• Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify stakeholder needs and how best to leverage their participation and/or strengthen their engagement. Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies;
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP, the project and the partners;
•  Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Support the monitoring and reporting on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:

• In collaboration with the Knowledge Management and Communications Officer, review the results framework and update the indicators, baselines, and targets at the county level. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting;
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets in accordance with the established quality criteria and UNDP as well as PBF rules, regulations, and standards. Identify, analyze, and take adequate measures to manage emerging issues, problems, and risks. Conduct field visits in collaboration with the project team, to project location sites;
• Liaise with the Finance team to ensure administrative requirements, budgets and use of financial resources are managed and  executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and PBF rules and regulations;
• Prepare corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and PBF requirements;
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

In collaboration with the Knowledge Management and Communications Officer, facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy at the county level:

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia;
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners;
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;
• Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

• The County Project Officer works under the general supervision of Project Manager and collaborates closely with the Knowledge Management and Communications Officer.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Technical and Cross-functional Competencies:

• Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management:

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
• Knowledge and experience in relevant thematic area;
• Good networking abilities and partnership development.

Languages:

• Fluency in the UN language of the duty station is require;
• Fluency in the national language of the duty station is required.

Professional Certificates:

• Professional certification in project management or relevant area is an advantage.