Job Identification : 14119

Locations : Niamey, Niger

Posting Date : 10/11/2023, 06:44 PM

Apply Before : 10/18/2023, 03:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NOC

Vacancy Type : Fixed Term

Practice Area : Management

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Africa

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree – 5 year(s) experience

Required Languages : French

Vacancy Timeline

1 Week

Mobility required/no mobility

no mobility required

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

To ensure proper resources and results management and greater accountability, the UNDP Country Office in Niger intends to strengthen, develop, and reinforce its oversight capacity and is recruiting, for a 12-month renewable period a Management& Oversight Specialist. The specialist will work under the overall responsibility and direct supervision of the Resident Representative.

The Management & Oversight Specialist acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of CO programme and operations, regarding oversight, quality assurance, risk assurance, monitoring and evaluation, in according with UNDP rules and regulations.

Position Purpose

The Management and Oversight Specialist is also responsible for the oversight of program resource management. He/She leads and guides the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) and M&E Teams and fosters collaboration within the team and with other UN Agencies consistent with rules and a client-oriented approach. The incumbent will work closely with programme, projects, operations, and resources mobilization staff, UNDP HQ staff, bilateral donors, and staff in other UN agencies on issues related to financial programme resource management.

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Prepare and coordinate audit activities
•  Strengthen Transparency and accountability
•  Lead and provide effective risk and performance assessment
•  Provide enhanced systems and analytic tools on monitoring and evaluation
•  Facilitate knowledge building and sharing

1-Prepare and Coordinate audit-related activities, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

•  Prepare the CO Non-Governmental Organization /National Implementation (NGO/NIM) audit plans. Coordinate the entire audit exercise with the Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI), including the participation in the selection process of external auditors for the audits of NIM and Directly Implemented Project (DIM) projects
•  Act as the focal point and facilitator during the internal or external audit exercises conducted by OAI (internal audit) or by the Board of Auditors (BoA) (external audit)
•  Act as the focal point for the DIM audits. This includes preparing in consultation with OAI the Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the DIM projects.
•  Ensure continuous update of the status of implementation of the audit recommendations, contained in the Comprehensive Audit and Recommendation Database System (CARDS), in liaison with OAI and the Regional Audit Center for Ouest Africa
•  Develop action plans for addressing weaknesses identified in projects implementation control systems and those identified in audit reports.
•  Develop a follow up system which provides reasonable assurance that all audit recommendations, and the outcomes of performance and management review recommendations are complied with.

2-Strengthen transparency and accountability, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

•  Contribute to the achievement of project objectives and outcomes by carrying out regular oversight review of projects, assess reliability and integrity of information provided in project reports, and the completeness of supporting documents.
•  Assess the effective and efficient use of project resources as per the agreed annual workplan.
•  Ensure proper implementation of internal control systems and in the maintenance of compliance standards
•  Advise UNDP management, project staff and implementing agencies regarding control systems, assess their effectiveness and general operational compliance with UNDP Rules and Regulations, Policies and Procedures
•  Assess work processes and office structure to ensure that tasks are carried out with maximum integrity.
•  Review performance/progress of implementing UNDP supported projects (NIM/ DIM) by determining their conformity with UNDP Financial rules and regulations, and the requirement of the Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP).
•  Strengthen transparency and accountability in project implementation, programme management and carry out performance reviews to ensure targets are met; and make appropriate recommendations for improvement.
•  Review the CO risk logs and ensure that risks are adequately assessed and escalated if need be. S/He should ensure that adequate processes are in place to mitigate those risks.
•  Focal point for Harmonized Approach on Cash Transfer (HACT).

3- Lead and provide effective risk and performance assessment, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

•  In consultation with the management team, provides assessment of risk areas and work with project staff to minimize risk exposure levels.
•  Alert the CO management about any suspected misconduct in projects or CO.
•  Participate in indicator and target setting to establish reliable performance assessment criteria
•  Consults with clients on a regular basis to improve performance
•  Support the refinement and development of performance assessment tools to enhance the performance assessment process.

4-Provide enhanced systems and analytic tools of Monitoring and Evaluation, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

•  Ensures effective management of the monitoring and evaluation process with the aim of measuring the impact of the CO programme.
•  Establish a quality and accountable reporting system.
•  Ensure the implementation of evaluation policies and strategies, coordinate implementation of the evaluation plan, regular updates of the Evaluation Resource Centre.
•  Support the utilization of evaluation findings and recommendations in improving programme quality.
•  Review and quality assurance of development Projects’ work plans and budgets
•  Ensure Programme Board and Outcome Boards are in place to provide oversight over the course of implementing the Country Programme Document
•  Identify capacity gaps among the Implementing Partners and Project Staff and conduct trainings as part of the capacity development.

5-Facilitate knowledge building and sharing

•  Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within the Country Office
•  Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan
•  Performs other assignments or tasks as determined by the Resident Representative.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will supervise 6 prsons, members of the Compliance & Oversight Unit

Competencies

Core :

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Management

Portfolio Managemen

•  Ability to select, prioritise and control the organi]ation’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

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 Management

Risk Management

•  Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

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.

Finance

Audit risk management

•  Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

Effectiveness

•  RBM standards and practices for program.
•  Performance and data analysis and sharing lessons Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis

Finance

Audit (General)

•  Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services.
•  Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting.
•  Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.
•  Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny.
•  Understands the law and best practice relating to anti-bribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Development studies, Finances, Economics, or related field. 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 5 years professional experience (with masters degree) and 7 years (with Bachelors degree) in one or more of the following areas: programme resource management, project management, financial management and audit management within the private sector or International NGOs, preferably the last three years with UNDP or one of its UN sister agencies.
•  Work experience with an ERP system is an asset.
•  Prior experience and knowledge of UNDP’s Internal Control Framework (or similar financial management and control frameworks) required.
•  Demonstrated experience and excellent knowledge of programme and project management, analysis and resource management is highly desirable.
•  Demonstrated experience and excellent knowledge of issues pertaining to multi-donors funding, related reporting systems is an asset
•  Prior experience and excellent knowledge of computer standard applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) is an asset.
•  Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is highly desirable.
•  Fluency in French is required.
•  Knowledge of a local language is required

Knowledge of English is an asset

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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