Background:
The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) in Somalia is a joint programme of ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, UN-HABITAT and UNICEF. JPLG that commenced in 2008 for an initial phase of 5 years is now in its second phase (2013-2017). JPLG works with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the Governments of Puntland and Somaliland, local governments, communities and non-state actors.. The JPLG overall objective is; “Local governance contributes to peace and equitable priority service delivery in selected locations’.
The Joint Programme has two specific objectives which are:
- Communities have equitable access to basic services through local government;
- Local governments are accountable and transparent.
The Programme is aligned to the Somali Compact, and the ongoing PFM reforms in Somalia led by the specific governments with support from the World Bank and other development partners. The UN JPLG is also in line with the UNCDF Corporate Strategy and the Business Plan of the Local Development Finance Practice for 2014-2017.
The overall programmatic scope of JPLG II remains largely unchanged, but places greater emphasis on promoting legislative reforms, institutionalizing innovations introduced during Phase I, expanding to more districts, especially in the Federal Government of Somalia region (South Central Somalia), and strengthening the management of the Programme. As before, JPLG II makes concerted efforts to address human rights, gender and women in local government, and good governance principles of transparency, accountability and civic participation.
The United Nations Joint Programme for Local Governance and Service Delivery (JPLG) for Somalia established a Local Development Fund (LDF) to provide a discretionary capital grant to districts to respond to their public services delivery tasks. The LDF is linked with the performance assessment of districts which is measured by indicators for Minimum Conditions (MCs) and Performance Measures (PMs). The LDF is perceived as a key mechanism to enhance sustainable and responsive social service delivery in Somalia, and provides a space for capacity building, piloting of systems and procedures, comprehensive planning at local level and accountability measures; ultimately leading towards a formalized fiscal decentralization system in Somalia for enhanced service delivery. As part of enhancing sustainable service delivery and participatory development, UNCDF has been supporting implementation of LDF in Somaliland and Puntland since 2011, and expanding to the areas under FGS
In this context and to respond to its increased role in supporting the fiscal decentralization process, local revenue mobilization initiative and the related subnational level PFM reforms, UNCDF/JPLG seeks to strengthen its field presence in Mogadishu and hire a Local Government Finance Specialist. The incumbent will work under supervision and guidance of UNCDF- CTA and in collaboration with the UNCDF Project Specialist and other JPLG partner agencies.
Description of Responsibilities :
Summary of Key Functions:
- Implementation of operational and financial management strategies and procedures;
- Effective fiscal policy design and implementation;
- Effective set-up and management of the Local Development Fund;
- Review and analysis of programme and project related documents and reports, maintain a reference system for these documents, and follow up on future programmes and actions;
- Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.
Effective implementation of operational and financial management strategies and procedures focusing on the achievement of the following:
- Set up a system for proper control of the supporting documents for the Districts Projects payments and other Direct Payments of UNCDF field Office and payments;
- Ensure the maintenance of UNCDF Field Office expenditures control system to ensure that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed;
- Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
Effective fiscal policy design and implementation focusing on the achievement of the following:
- In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, other government agencies and UN partners, provide support to the fiscal decentralization process;
- Communicate regularly to relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the LDF Fund developments in the local government financing systems, and financial reporting;
- In collaboration with other JPLG staff, manage the delivery of inputs and outputs in line with the project’s approved work plan.
Effective set-up and management of the Local Development Fund focusing on the achievement of the following:
- Undertake field visit to project sites when required to provide briefing and to resolve any financial, personnel or administrative issues;
- Support the management & administrative training for the staff at Ministry of Interior, Finance, and the districts as required;
- Manage the Flow of partner documents in terms of all finance and administrative elements for all relevant reporting;
- track all financial disbursements and banking issues of the projects;
- Preparation of the cost estimates, payment processing in line with UNCDF Financial standards and Procedures.
Effective review and analysis of programme and project related documents and reports, maintenance of a reference system for these documents, and follow up on future programmes and actions focusing on achievement of the following:
- Maintain a database of project activities and various reports relevant for review and analysis of project work and interventions;
- Provide inputs and records to enable preparations of correspondences on financial, personnel and administrative matters;
- Coordinate with the Senior Program Assistant on matters of Finance and administrative project files and records in Mogadishu (until a program assistant is appointed);
Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the CO, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Organization of training for the operations/ projects staff on Local Governance Finance;
- Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Local Government Finance;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Impact of Results
The post has an impact on the implementation of the Local Development Fund, on local revenue mobilization and public financial management reforms in Somalia. Consequently the post has an impact on the ongoing process of rolling out fiscal decentralization for sustainable administration, financing and delivery of services and local development activities.
Competencies :
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNCDF;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge management and Learning:
- Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and UNCDF and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
- In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
- Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP and UNCDF.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
- Builds strong relationships with clients (primarily Government), focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Ability to manage complex problems proactively and effectively, including responses to field based emergencies;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
- IT competencies in Word, Excel, Power Point and internet.
Management and Leadership:
- Demonstrates strong analytical and management skills;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
- Qualifications :
- Education:
- Advanced (Master’s) degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Business Administration, or related discipline;
- A first University degree in relevant field with 5 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 3 years (if holding advance university degree) or 5 years relevant experience (if holding a first level university degree) work experience in the area of finance, administration and project/operations management in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting;
- Experience with local governance and/or public financial management is desirable;
- Understanding of the current economic, social and political dynamics of Somalia is desirable;
- Experience in usage of ATLAS is desirable;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Language:
- Strong written and spoken English skills;
- Knowledge of Somali language is a requirement.
Terms of Service
This is a non-staff contract under the Service Contract modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under a Service Contract serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application by visiting: http://jobs.undp.org/ or
