Background
The EU has committed financing for Technical Assistance to build the capacities of a Regional Development Agency, newly set up by the Crimean Council of Ministers. This Agency is a crucial institution to ensure the coordination of all development actions in the peninsula, to establish and maintain strong partnerships with Crimea’s various development actors at republican, district and municipality levels, and to be capable of successfully promoting the region to foreign investors.
The overall objective of the RDA project is “to build the capacities of a Regional Development Agency, endorsed by Crimean development actors, able to effectively coordinate and contribute to the sustainable regional development of the peninsula”. Its specific objectives are:
(1) To build the Agency's governing, human and operational capacities in order to ensure its viability and sustainability after project end
(2) To establish the Agency's coordinating role and mechanism for regional development, enabling it to interact effectively with other institutions at republican and local levels
The key partners of the project will be: the Chairman of ARC Council of Ministers, the Deputy Chairman of the ARC Council of Ministers responsible for economic development, and the Speaker of the Crimean Parliament.
The direct target group will comprise: the Director and staff of the RDA, the Agency’s Governing Board. Other target groups will include: the Council of Ministers (12 ministers), the Crimean Parliament (heads of 8 parliamentary commissions), 11 heads of city councils and 14 heads of district administrations, no less than 6 Associations of community organisations, no less than 10 business promotion centers and/or business associations.
The key results of the project are expected to be:
* a clear concept of effective and viable Regional Development Agency endorsed by relevant republican and district authorities;
* RDA management, specialists and staff trained and coached to fulfill their functions effectively (no less than 8 staff, including Director);
* RDA operational and administrative processes and procedures, and partnership mechanisms, in place and used by relevant parties – 1 Operational Manual produced and used
* from first year of its operations, commitment made by republican partners to finance the operational costs of the Agency
* from second year of its operations, Agency in a position to attract a variety of budget, donors’ funds and clients’ fees to the implementation of strategically planned development projects
* regional development strategic planning function (currently fulfilled by the Crimean Ministry of Economy) delegated to the RDA
* Agency is seen as a key coordinator of regional sustainable development in Crimea
* successfully tested model recommended as a best practice mechanism for other regions of Ukraine, in the context of a redefined and EU aligned regional development policy
* visibility of both the European Union and the UNDP throughout project’s implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Project Team Leader (TL), the DTL is responsible for the overall coordination of the technical assistance experts’ inputs within and across the RDA’s Units. The DTL leads the formulation, management and evaluation of project activities. The DTL works in close cooperation with the Agency’s Director and is able to provide to the person occupying this function relevant policy, methodological and operational advice as required.
The DTL works in close collaboration with the operations team of the project, project staff, UNDP CO staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring the successful project implementation.
Detailed Key Functions:
Project Management
* Planning of expert’s work and activities (preparation of Annual working Plans and budgets in line with RDA’s Project Document, preparation of experts’ 6 monthly operational plans);
* Coordination of experts’ inputs;
* Ensure the overall quality, consistency and timely delivery of RDA specialists’ outputs, in line with their operational plans, in coordination with relevant Government counterparts;
* Facilitation of knowledge building;
* Coordination of project implementation with the executing agencies. In particular, ensures overall close working cooperation between RDA and Project Partners at republican, districts and village levels, clearly promoting RDA’s objectives, concept and methodology;
* Reporting on the outputs, outcomes and impacts of the project in accordance with RDA’s Project Document. Preparing donor’s report;
* Cooperate with the RDA project Administrative/Finance staff in overall project implementation, preparation of reports and in assuring proper operational, financial and administrative management in the project, as well as adherence to UNDP rules and procedures;
* Ensure the political neutrality and effective team work of all project staff;
* Provide regular verbal or/and written reports to the TL on progress achieved, project implementation deviations, key constraints and their solutions, etc.;
* Act as an Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Project Team Leader.
Creation of a strategic partnership
* Development of effective partnerships with Ukrainian governmental institutions at national and republican/local levels, the donorscommunity in Crimea, private sector and civil society.
Provision of quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management:
* Identification of sources of information related to regional development issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to project’s goals;
* Researching and disseminating regional development approaches successfully implemented in other regions of Ukraine and abroad;
* Support to the development of policies and/or strategies that will address Crimea’s regional development issues;
* Providing training/coaching on specific themes, as required, including: regional development, strategic planning, FDI promotion, etc.;
* Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Performance of other duties as assigned by the Project Team Leader
The DTL will support the TL in providing evidence to senior decision makers at national and republican level of the effectiveness of the RDA concept and its impact on the coordination of the regional development of the region.
Expected outcomes and results, measurable outputs of the work assignment:
The key results that the post holder is expected to achieve are:
* an endorsement of the RDA role and functions by key senior decision makers in Crimea;
* a project office set up and operating within one month of project launch;
* timely mobilization of project’s experts;
* successful development of the RDA governing, managerial, operational and expert capacities to fulfill its targets (as identified in the Project Document);
* successful development of a dynamic and sustainable partnership between the RDA and all development actors at republic and local levels;
* systematization of the experience acquired and lessons learnt (through the drafting of relevant manuals and guidelines).
Competencies
* In-depth knowledge and experience of regional development work;
* Experience in developing capacities of regional development institutions (e.g. RDAs, Local Development Groups, others);
* Experience in working with and advising (regional) Governments;
* Ability to advocate and provide policy and strategic advice in the sphere of regional development;
* Concrete expertise in strategic planning for regional development and FDI promotion;
* Capacity to motivate people and to build relationships with partners, Governments and other stakeholders;
* Excellent interpersonal, management and leadership skills;
* Sound analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills;
* Ability to work under pressure, with strong delivery orientation;
* Excellent writing, presentation and communication skills;
* Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural team;
* Affinity with United Nations mandate and principles.
Required Skills and Experience
* Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field;
* At least 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in project management;
* Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
* Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian languages.
This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.
All interested candidates should complete the UN PERSONAL HISTORY FORM* (P-11) and attach it to the on-line application on http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=17891 (instead of CV).
Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued. Two letters of recommendation will be requested from short-listed candidates.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 06/08/2010
UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy. We regret that we will not be able to acknowledge all unsolicited general applications for employment.
Personal History Form can be downloaded from http://www.un.kiev.ua/bc/jobs/
Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
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. |
