UNDP Vacancy Announcement for Provincial Technical Associate

Job Identification: 18994
Locations: Nepal
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: NPSA-7
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Education & Work Experience: Bachelor’s Degree – 4 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 7 year(s) experience
Required Languages: English and Nepali
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

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.

UNDP has been present in Nepal since 1963, working towards greater development impact in the most remote, poor, and vulnerable areas. Reduction of vulnerability to disaster and climate risks is one of the core programmatic approaches in promoting sustainable and resilient development. Over the years, UNDP has established itself as the Government of Nepal’s key partner on disaster risk management, in the areas of policy and institutional capacity enhancement as well as community-level risk reduction. Include relevant background information and objectives of the unit/project.

On disaster risk management, UNDP implemented the Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Region of Nepal (SUPER) programme. It is working to strengthen the institutional and legislative aspects of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in Nepal, by building the capacities of Ministry of Home Affairs, other ministries, and local governments. It also establishes strategic linkages between DRM and development sectors. The programme’s intervention in the area of DRM, building code, risk sensitive land use plan (RSLUP), safer construction practices, climate risk management, community-based disaster risk management, earthquake preparedness, and emergency preparedness and response aims to strengthen the overall system of disaster risk management in Nepal.

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has prioritized its support to the newly formed Local and Provincial Governments of Nepal to build their capacities for disaster risk reduction and emergency response to urban and earthquake risks. ECHO has identified the need for improved coordination among state and non-state stakeholders, humanitarian actors including humanitarian cluster leads and co-leads and private sectors critically important for enhancing municipal and provincial preparedness for urban and earthquake risks. Under HIP 2024 ECHO has agreed to fund Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Region of Nepal (SUPER) II project for implementation by UNDP led consortium (other consortium partners are UNICEF, UN Women and Handicap International. The project will be implemented in 3 provinces of the Western Nepal i.e. Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim encompassing the core urban areas of Nepalgunj (Banke), Dhangadi (Kailali), and Birendranagar (Surkhet) urban municipalities. The project aims to institutionalize operational urban and earthquake preparedness and response in targeted provinces and municipalities and link it with federal mechanism. With inclusion at the heart of the action, addressing specific needs of vulnerable groups especially women, children and persons with disabilities, it also intends to upscale interventions in project area and beyond.

The project interventions, focuses on i) Institutionalization of Government-led operational system for urban and earthquake preparedness at provincial and local level for effective response ii) Strengthening coordination and information management at provincial and municipal levels, aligned with national framework, for disaster risk governance; iii) Enhanced policy engagement for scalability of disaster preparedness and response mechanism at federal, provincial, and local levels.

Project implementation envisions strong engagement with multiple stakeholders at provincial and local government levels such as the community, private sector, international institutions, UN agencies, non-government organizations, experts, policy makers, and humanitarian cluster leads and co-leads. The project will be implemented in 3 municipalities and 3 provinces under a consortium led by UNDP through a dedicated project team based in Kathmandu, led by the National Project Coordinator, under whom the project field teams, located in 3 provinces and 3 municipalities, will operate. The Provincial Coordinator (PC) will coordinate the implementation of project activities in the province and municipalities and the Technical Associate will support the project PC in coordination activities as well as in providing technical inputs in the development of DRRM plans/guidelines and support the development of technical sessions in workshops/simulations. S/he will work in close coordination with the PC under the overall supervision of the National Project Coordinator.

The individual will work under the overall supervision of the National Project Coordinator. The Technical Associate will report directly to the Provincial Coordinator and be responsible for supporting implementation of the project in respective provinces. The Technical Associate will work with the entire provincial team and assist the Provincial Coordinator in coordinating with the disaster risk reduction stakeholders of provinces and municipalities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Support Provincial coordinator for effective management of project for timely delivery of quality outputs:

• Support the provincial coordinator in planning, implementation, management, and coordination of the project at provincial/ municipal level.
• Carry out field supervision and monitoring to support quality delivery of outputs and activities.
• Support in planning and day-to-day management of the project, including coordination with the local partners, based on project work plan.
• Prepare project work plan, implementation plan with schedule of activities and ensure timely delivery as per plan.
• Support to synchronize project’s field level activities under different components of the project with the actions of different actors working on urban and earthquake risk management issues.
• Document learning and disseminate information to wider DRR community at provincial/ municipal levels.

Provide technical support to the project team to achieve project outputs:

• Support to organize training, meetings/ discussion at provinces and municipalities to support.
• implementation of DRR related activities including preparation of plans, standards, and guidelines.
• Provide technical and facilitation support, where necessary to Technical Working Groups while preparing DRRM plans.
• Ensure quality and consistency of various guidelines, frameworks and key documents produced.
• Provide technical support to Provincial and Municipal Disaster Management Committee led updating of Emergency Preparedness and Response plans, Disaster management plans, Business Continuity Plans at the provincial and municipal levels.
• Support the usage of EOCs and its institutionalization and linkage and communication among EOCs at municipalities, districts, sectoral, and provinces.
• Support the provinces and municipalities in information management and system strengthening ensuring linkage with federal system developed by NDRRMA.
• Facilitate urban and issue-based simulation exercises to test the coordination, and agility of the response system.
• Support the creation of mechanism for resource sharing to conduct training of CERT volunteer with municipalities.
• Support to strengthen provincial cluster(sector) mechanism for increased ownership by sectoral ministries, the cluster leads, and its linkage at the federal level.
• Support to create mechanism for the Inter-Provincial resource-sharing to facilitate preparedness and response.
• Facilitate advocacy for allocating resources by provincial and local governments for risk reduction and disaster preparedness to ensure sustainability of approach supported by the project and formulate necessary policies by provincial government to enhance preparedness for effective response.
• Provide support for strengthening disaster preparedness and response through policy and budgetary interventions by engaging parliamentarians.
• Provide inputs to demonstrate mechanisms for linkage between metropolitan/sub-metropolitan city and urban and rural municipalities for coordinated preparedness and response and create a platform for knowledge sharing.

Support the Monitoring, Preparation of reports and documents, Communication/ Knowledge Management and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI):

• Contribute to timely preparation and quality control of technical and progress reports, briefs, and other required documents.
• Support in ensuring project data/information are maintained in line with project M&E framework in a disaggregated fashion.
• Support in ensuring that project approaches, monitoring system and reporting mainstreams the aspects of gender and social inclusion with adequate GESI sensitive data collection and tailored support.
• Support for documentation of project results and achievements and their dissemination in coordination with provincial coordinator.
• Work closely with information and database officer and Communication officer to collect and comply, reports, data, news, events, human stories, challenges, and lessons learnt to publish in periodic reports.
• Support in integration of GESI aspects in all stages of the project in coordination with GESI Focal Person of UNDP/SUPER project.
• Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
• Collaborate with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach.

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

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 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 & Technical competencies

Business direction and 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.
• Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations.

Business development

• • Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
  • Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

• Project Management : Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• 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

2030 Agenda: People

• Gender: Gender Mainstreaming

2030 Agenda: Peace

Governance: Inclusion and Participation

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

• Completion of Secondary education is required.
• A university degree (bachelor) in Engineering, Disaster Management, Planning, and any other related social science fields will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in Disaster preparedness or response activities.
• Experience of supporting the local or provincial governments in disaster preparedness initiatives such as development of DRRM plans, conduction of simulation exercises, development of cluster specific plans, etc.
• Experience of preparing policy briefs, plans, and project update reports; reviewing preparedness and response documents.
• Demonstrated technical experience in safer construction and disaster risk management/preparedness.
• Experience in field supervision and monitoring along with preparing project work plan and implementation plan.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
• Demonstrated social experience in coordinating with different stakeholders and facilitating discussions.
• Female candidates and candidates from marginalized group will have a distinct advantage.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Nepali is required

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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Apply Before: 07/04/2024, 09:44 AM

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