Background

Based on UNDP’s new Country Program Document (CPD 2020-2025) and guidance received from the Ministry of Finance, UNDP has embarked on providing targeted and direct interventions in the three regions of Amhara, Oromia and Somali, selected on the basis of socio-economic profiles, size and geographical diversity, levels of vulnerability, among other considerations. The selected regions also present complex humanitarian, development and peacebuilding needs as well as urgent institutional capacity gaps requiring a comprehensive UNDP portfolio wide approach at regional level and further targeting of pilot areas within the Regions for an area-based programming approach that will maximize impact and sustainability. UNDP’s engagement at regional level further aims to strengthen the capacities of regional state governments to plan and deliver quality services in a transparent and accountable manner. UNDP’s support is crucial in the implementation of the National Development Plans and in advancing Ethiopia’s efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.

The purpose of UNDP’s overall engagement in the regions is therefore, to enhance collaboration and partnership with Regional Governments to contribute to the structural changes required to ensure that social services, livelihoods, jobs, and the rule of law & democratic governance practices are sustained in a more accountable, inclusive and responsive way without leaving anyone behind. UNDP is committed to providing direct support to the Somali region with the purpose of enhancing the region’s capacity to plan, implement, and monitor development programmes towards achieving SDGs. The support areas will encompass a broad spectrum of development interventions including governance capacity building, access to justice and rule of law, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, jobs creation and livelihood improvements, resilience building and women empowerment.

The Initiative will focus on: (i) enhancing the governance capacity including promoting justice, rule of law & human rights, peace and security, improving public service delivery, and strengthening local revenue generation capacity; (ii) enhancing the capacity of regional bureaus on gender mainstreaming and accountability, (iii) promoting the livelihood of people affected by drought targeting women and youth as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs), (iv) strengthening capacities of regional institutions around climate change mitigation and adaptation and resilience building; and  (v) provide support to regional institutions to formulate a Multi-Year Resilience Building Strategy. In the medium to long-term (2-3 years), support will be targeted towards promoting social cohesion and peacebuilding and other livelihood improvement initiatives through diversified income generating activities and by promoting environmental sustainability, thus bringing the Region to a developmental trajectory. Given the resource limitations especially in the immediate term, the initiative is limited in scope, focusing mainly on building the capacity of regional institutions/sector bureaus, and targeting the most vulnerable segments of the population such as women, older persons, people with disabilities, youth, and internally displaced people.

The Regional Programme Coordinator will be based in the Somali Regional State Bureau of Finance. He/she will report to the Team Leader for CRES and will have a matrix management relationship with the Portfolio Management Specialist who is in charge of the  UNDP’s regional engagement programmes. On the one hand, he/she will be accountable to Somali Regional State Head of Bureau of Finance Director of External Resources Mobilization Directorate.

Duties and Responsibilities

In order to boost the technical capacity of the Bureau of Finance to Cordinate the implementation of the Regional Programme, UNDP is looking for succesful applicant having qualified credentials to carry out the following duties and responsibilities to discharge the following responsibilities.

Programme management

• Work closely with the Focal Point in the Somali Regional State Bureau of Finance to coordinate the attainment of the regional programme ouptputs as per the Annual Work Plan by assuming overall responsibility for the management and coordination of programme activities.
• Support the Bureau of  Finance and the Senior Resilience Advisor in coordinating the formulation of Multi-Year Resilience Strategy and Investment Plan for Somali Region, including the conduct of Rapid Resilience Needs and Capacity Assessment (RNCA); Formulation of Resilience Strategy; and preparation of a 5-year Resilience Investment Plan (2023-2028).
• Coordintae the preparation and submission of quality and timely substantive report and  financial reports
• Participate in the preparation of periodic reports as required by major stakeholders and the country office on a regular and demand-driven base
• Ensure that the implementation of the programme activities are carried out in the most effective and expeditious manner as per the signed workplan.

Programme Coordination

• Provide cross-functional coordination support to Climate Resilient and Environmental Sustainability (CRES), Inclusive Economic Transformation (IET) and Democratic Governance and Peace Building Teams to effectively plan, implement, monitor, and report interventions in the AWP under their respective portfolios.
• Foster, establish and maintain links with other related national and international projects and collaborative actors in Somali region.
• Liaise and coordinate with UN agencies NGOs and other agencies involved in support of the regional government.
• Facilitate the coordination of and participate in regional inter agency missions working groups and information gathering and dissemination mechanisms
• Develop and maintain contacts with key players in the region with the view to ensuring that UN programs and initiatives in the region available resources and help sustain longer term efforts

Operations and finance management

• Prepare action plans, analyze strategic and efficient utilization of resources/budget, as well as work plans in consultation with the appropriate partners
• Supervise the provision of support services to the programme namely finance and administration, logistics, etc
• Ensure that UNDP rules and procedures are dully applied in all areas of programme interventions
• Endure that the necessary administrative and logistical support services are provided on a timely basis