Planning and Capacity Development Associate

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.

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.

The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the British Embassy Kathmandu (BEK) are developing the Local Infrastructure Support Programme (LISP) and sector Framework to help Nepal to improve the Local Governments’ capacity for delivery of local infrastructure services accountably, inclusively, effectively, and sustainably as demanded by citizens. The LISP will be a BEK flagship programme, which will be delivered in three phases: (a) a small design, learning and preparatory pilot phase until July 2023, (b) up to £100m first phase of implementation starting in Nepal financial year 22/23 but with preparatory work starting in 2022, and (c) Up to £50 million second phase of implementation after performance review in 2024/25.

With funding support from the BEK, the design learning pilot phase (LISP Pilot) will be implemented by United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in selected 15 local governments (4 Municipalities and 11 Rural Municipalities) in Karnali Province. The pilot aims to gain evidence and experience on the effective, successful, and replicable operational modalities concerning green recovery job creation and climate-resilient local infrastructure development for scaling-up through the full-fledged LISP. WFP is the lead agency for the LISP Pilot and is responsible for implementation/delivery of incentive/co-financing of the Pilot, and UNDP as support agency is responsible for planning and capacity development related aspects of the Pilot. The Karnali LISP Pilot aims to pilot approaches to support inclusive planning and delivery of local infrastructure and green recovery job creation and to test incentive mechanisms/co-financing together with the selected LGs for better performance, capacity building of local governments and the use of government monitoring and financing instruments

A Technical Assistance (TA)/capacity and system support team will be set-up by WFP and UNDP jointly to each Local Government (LG) selected for the pilot. The TA team in the selected LG comprised of two staff; Planning and Capacity Development Associate and Program Assistant (Sub-Engineer) to be based in the selected LGs. The team will provide technical support, advice, and hands-on support to the LGs in the key focus areas of the Pilot. The TA team with backstopping support technical team based in Surkhet and will provide support to the respective LGs as per Pilot’s TA strategy and plan. in this context, UNDP is planning to recruit 15 Planning and Capacity development Associate for the Karnali Pilot. The incumbent will work closely with the Program Assistant assigned by WFP as one LISP Pilot TA team in the LG.

The incumbent will report to the Project Manager of LISP Pilot and work closely with the Planning and Capacity Development Specialist. The incumbent will be based in the assigned local government office and will:

• Support the assigned LG in planning and programming, prioritization, implementation, and management of local infrastructure
• Facilitate in capacity gap assessment, need identification and implementation of capacity development activities of LG in delivering local infrastructure development including incentive mechanism and financing modalities
• Provide support in supervision, monitoring, learning and coordination
• Support to conduct planning meeting and consultations to ensure participation of women, poor, persons with disabilities, excluded and other marginalized communities in  planning, prioritization, and implementation of local infrastructure

The Key Responsibilities of the assignment are:

Support the assigned LG in planning and programming, prioritization, implementation, and management of local infrastructure:

• Review existing planning process and instruments of local infrastructure development and provide support for the improvement and revision for informed decision making
• Provide support in developing necessary tools and guidelines, strategies, plans, manuals, standards on planning and prioritization in the selection of green, labor-intensive local infrastructure with high possibility of local employment generation
• Provide support in implementation and management of local infrastructure by ensuring transparency and accountability based on the best practices of relevant programs
• Provide hands-on support in annual planning and budget preparation process of local government focusing on local infrastructure development

Facilitate in capacity gap assessment, need identification and implementation of capacity development activities of LG in delivering local infrastructure development including incentive mechanism and financing modalities:

• Review the status of LISA and other capacity assessment exercise and support LGs in updating capacity assessment as necessary
• Support local government in identification and implementation of capacity development activities in coordination with Provincial Center for Good Governance (PCGG) and other relevant entities covering the entire process of management including planning, prioritization, feasibility studies, detail project designing, procurement of goods and services, financial management, monitoring etc.
• Provide support in maintaining record system, data management, communication including website management
• Closely work with the sub-engineer assigned by WFP in identification and piloting of incentive mechanism and suitable financing modalities

Provide support in supervision, monitoring, learning and coordination:

• Support in implementing existing monitoring tools or updating them prioritizing the sustainability of the local infrastructure
• Provide hands-on support in supervision and quality control, documentation, data management
• Provide support for better coordination with relevant stakeholders including Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme (PLGSP)/ Provincial Center for Good Governance (PCGG) to implement capacity development activities, through organizing meetings, workshops, and interactions
• Support the learnings and knowledge management and through preparation of documents, reports etc.

Support to conduct planning meeting and consultations to ensure participation of women, poor, persons with disabilities, excluded and other marginalized communities in planning, prioritization, and implementation of local infrastructure:

• Support to update the planning process and tools to ensure the participation of women, poor, persons with disabilities and excluded communities in selection and implementation and management of local infrastructure development
• Provide support for the participation of women, poor, persons with disabilities, excluded and marginalized communities in needs identification and planning process
• Ensure the selection of local infrastructure projects prioritized and identified by the women, poor, persons with disabilities and excluded communities
• Ensure that women and excluded are included in the whole project management process including implementation, procurement, monitoring, operation, and maintenance

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross Functional competencies:

Business direction and strategy:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objections, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions

Business development:

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business management:

• Results-based management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results

Administration & Operations:

• Assets management: Design policy & procedure (POPP) for PP&E; support offices to manage assets globally; prepares financial statement notes on PP&E; audit focal point on PP&E; maintains Asset Management Module in ATLAS, Asset Dashboard, Develops supporting tools for assets certification and further enhancements for AM module; Designs and runs training programs, seminars and training to Country Offices and HQ units on assets management and assets recording; Run bi- annual PP&E certification exercise and review certification letters of 160+ Country Offices& HQ units and issue clearance; run monthly AP-AM interface; performs AP-AM- GL reconciliation; analytical review of AM reports and asset information to ensure completeness and accuracy of asset information

  Communications:

• Web and social media analytics: Ability to analyze and interpret data and statistics to measure web and social media performance

• High School or bachelor’s degree in planning, economics, Rural Development, project management, development studies, or another relevant subject

• Six years of experience with High School or Three years of experience with bachelor’s degree in planning, monitoring, and capacity development area
• Good knowledge and understanding about the role of local government on local infrastructure development
• Good understanding of local government planning process
• Knowledge on capacity assessment and development concept including LISA introduced by MOFAGA
• Ability to work with a team of multidisciplinary professionals
• Knowledge and experience working with local government is an advantage
• Prior experience of working with UN will be an asset
• Prior working experience in Karnali region

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written Nepali and English is essential

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.

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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.

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