Background
The UNDP Bhutan Country Programme Document (CPD 2024โ2028) aims to support the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) in achieving its ambitious development goals outlined in the 13th Five-Year Plan. The CPD seeks to addressing systemic and structural challenges of Bhutan in key areas such as economic reform, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, technology and digitalization, and food systems strengthening. The CPD โ a living document โ will support Bhutan to address the challenge at the same time position Bhutan to materialize its dividends and opportunities โ with a future facing and global orientation. UNDP together with its capacity and expertise shared across the global hubs and networks will support the country by advancing innovation, instituting financing solutions and delivering strategic and policy advisories.ย
In this context, the Programme Associate will support the Strategic Planning and Partnership Specialist in ensuring effective and efficient programme planning and oversight.
The Programme Associate will support effective results-based management (RBM), monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and overall quality assurance of CPD and its projects.ย
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, the Programme Associate will directly report to the ย Strategic Planning and Partnership Specialist. He/she will provide substantive technical expertise on evidence-based planning, monitoring, and evaluation, knowledge management and communication of results, as well as programme quality assurance, oversight and overall compliance with UNDP corporate programme management policy and procedures. S/He will support integrated monitoring and evaluation standards through exchanges of experience and good practices within Country Office teams including other Programme Associates, implementing partners and other UN agencies.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
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Support Results-Based Management (RBM) including programming planning, quality assurance, and reporting:
Support the Strategic Planning and Partnership Specialist on country officeโs results-based strategic and programmatic planning, quality assurance and reporting. Support application of UNDP program/project quality assurance along with the whole program/project management cycle;ย Support data analysis to assess programme results, improve programme quality and inform future decision-making processes. Support developing and implementing COโs programme/project quality assurance and oversight process, and corporate compliance including close monitoring of quality assurance dashboards. Support results-oriented knowledge management, sharing and reporting, including overall support in year-end Results-Oriented Annual Reporting (ROAR), including gathering and collating inputs from projects/programs.ยSupport RBM team in enhancing Country Officeโs high-quality programmatic Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Oversight:
Support formulation and implementation of M&E plan on annual and programme cycle basis.ย Support formulation and implementation of tools and system for monitoring and evaluation of UNDP projects and programme following UNDPโs quality assurance standards. ย Support programme teams in developing and implementing of M&E plans for all projects/programmes as part of the COโs overall M&E strategy and plan. Support the setup and implementation of results measurement frameworks including designing indicators, baselines, milestones and targets of projects and programmes/Country Programme Document.ย Support the Strategic Planning and Partnership Specialist in the establishment and strengthening of the M&E practices in the CO, including support to review capacities, skills, structures and workflows to resource the M&E function Support programme team in data collection strategies and ensuring the right balance of qualitative and quantitative evidence; Develop country office evaluation plan and support Programme/Project teams in baseline data collection, survey and assessment and evaluation Support project quality standards in the country and support CO in their incorporation into the program and project management cycle;ย Support, as needed, collecting and interpreting existing data to guide the adjustment of programmes and operational approaches when/if a country context changes;ย Develop reporting plan and support the production of donor reports and quality assure all reports prepared for final clearance and onward transmission to donors. Ensure monitoring of all corporate dashboard and KPIs, and update management for any risk โ including timely update of all dashboards together with programme team.ย Support developing project appraisal committee for the country office and ensure that every project concept and proposal are reviewed by the office for quality assurance and country-office wide input. Provide input to the project proposals/concept.ยAdvancing knowledge management, innovation and communication for results:ย
Facilitate processes for joint learning towards enhancing programme quality. ย Support the identification and documentation of key lessons derived from evidence monitoring, on what works, what does not work, and feedback on the necessary adjustments. Support the documentation and facilitation of disseminating best practices, innovations and other knowledge management mechanisms to actively promote exchange of experiences and good practices. Support the communications and identification of results and impact stories to strengthen the COsโ communication and advocacy efforts.Provide financial analysis for strategic finance management and internal control:
Conduct financial analysis of projects and programme Support conduct of financial forecasts and projections Provide data-driven decision support on programme, finance and operation Monitor and alert the management about any issues related to budgetary control.ยSupport ERP management:
Support project set up and closing in the new ERP system (oracle fusion) Support project managers in updating project results and review of risk in the ย ERP system Provide quantum troubleshooting support to project managers Support review and update of pipeline management systems in UnityThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
Competencies
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 improvementsย 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 flexibleย 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 discriminationCross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management
effectively, Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making 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. Risk Management: Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Digitalย
Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making. Data collection: Being skilled in Data Sorting, DataCleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data). Data governance: Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologiesRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Secondary education is required. OR A bachelorโs degree in social science, Data Management, ICT, Business & Public Administration or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.Experience:
Minimum 6 years (with Secondary education) and 3 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation. Experience in research and data analysis is desired. Demonstrated experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (word, spreadsheet, web-based management system, etc.) is desired. Working experience with UN/UNDP would be an asset.ย Experience in programme monitoring and evaluation is an asset. Experience in conducting financial analysis of projects and programme is desired.Required Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in national language (Dzongkha) is requiredย
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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