Wednesday, September 11, 2013

UNDP Jobs Kenya. Trade Economist

Senior Trade Economist
Location : Mogadishu, SOMALIA
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-5
Languages Required: English
Starting Date: (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)    30-Sep-2013
Duration of Initial Contract: one year
Application Deadline :    21-sep-13
Background
2012 brought significant political change to Somalia. The end of the transition was successfully completed with the adoption of a provisional constitution, the selection of a more streamlined new federal parliament, the election of a new Speaker of Parliament and President, the appointment of a new Prime Minister and a leaner 10-member cabinet, which includes two women ministers. The new authorities are widely seen as genuinely committed to helping Somalia emerge from two decades of strife and the international community has pledged its support to help make this a reality.
After 20 years as a failed state, Somalia is now confronted with the critical tasks of nation- and state-building. UNDP Somalia is currently RBAS’ fourth largest Country Office in terms of delivery with significant potential for even more rapid growth. The immediate challenges are to align programme and operational capacities with the Government of Somalia’s priorities and particularly the President’s Six Pillar Policy. The overall objective of UNDP in Somalia will be to build the capacity of the State to manage and account for its resources in order to set the foundation for pro-poor policies, inclusive growth and to establish an environment conducive for the rule of law and security for all. The three strategic focus areas for UNDP in Somalia will include: (1) Governance and Rule of Law; (2) Poverty Reduction and Environment Protection; and (3) Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Given the expected increase in the programme, UNDP Somalia will need to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of UNDP’s programme portfolio in Somalia.
Given the exceptional complexity, breadth, reach and volume of the UNDP programme and Operations in Somalia and in order to ensure UNDP’s credibility and leadership role in the UNCT, UNDP needs to ensure that it has the right profile of international and national staff.
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Country Director – Programme (DCD/P) and the direct supervision of the Programme Manager for the Poverty Reduction and Environment Protection Programme (PREP), the Senior Trade Economist works closely with government counterparts in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry (FMTI) and equivalent sub-national government entities to design, implement and assess strategies for regional trade integration, trade facilitation and trade capacity building.
The Senior Trade Economist works within the framework of UNDP’s trade and human development policies and maintains regular liaison with other trade specialists working in the ‘inclusive globalization’ cluster of Bureau for Development Policy, the ‘trade and human development’ team in the UNDP Geneva liaison office, and the ‘early recovery’ team in the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR).
The Senior Trade Economist works closely with the UNDP Somalia capacity building team, the FGS’s recently established capacity building unit, the ‘trade and human development’ team in the UNDP Geneva liaison office and the FMTI and sub-national government entities. The Senior Trade Economist maintains a network with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, IFIs, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
Government Capacity Building;
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF);
Policy Coherence;
Advise to Senior Management and PREP;
Resource Mobilization.
Provide advice to Government Counterparts and facilitate Government Capacity Building:
Undertake a thorough technical assessment of government and non-governmental trade policy institutions in Somalia and coordinate the design and implementation of an agreed strategy for technical capacity building through formal training, technical exchanges and other methods;
In cooperation with the UNDP Somalia capacity building team and the FGS’s recently established capacity building unit, undertake an assessment of key technical skills requirements in the FMTI and equivalent sub-national entities
Identify and agree on a training programme to address urgent skills needs and knowledge gaps;
Assess appropriate training and capacity building approaches including but not limited to formal training, technical exchanges / twinning arrangements, mentoring schemes, secondments, continuous professional development programmes, etc;
Identify third party trainers and sources of funds as appropriate;
Provide direct training and / or support for the implementation of third party training programmes as appropriate.
 Provide advice on Policy Coherence, through existing inter-governmental and donor coordination arrangements, including EIF institutions once established:
Lead efforts by UNDP and partner agencies to assist the Federal Government of Somalia (FSG) to access and successfully implement ‘Aid for Trade’ through the ‘Enhanced Integrated Framework’ and other sources of multi-lateral and bi-lateral trade development assistance;
Assist the FMTI and sub-national counterparts in their donor coordination efforts and promote efforts for trade policy coherence through close liaison with resident and non-resident UN agencies including UNCTAD, ITC, WTO, the World Bank, IFIs (particularly the African Development Bank), and trade related bi-lateral donor programmes;
Maintain close liaison with EIF partner agencies / counterparts at country and HQ levels including IMF, ITC UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNOPS, World Bank and WTO;
Provide advice to FMTI and equivalent sub-national government entities in relation to donor coordination efforts.
 Provide advice to UNDP Senior Management and PREP:
Advise UNDP senior management on key trends and issues in trade and related aspects of economic development at the national and global levels, their implications for UNDP strategy and contribute to discussions on UNDP strategy in Somalia;
Respond to ad hoc senior management requests for advice and policy briefings;
Contribute to the preparation of official UNDP reports and technical publications as requested;
Play a leading role in the PREP programme team, including the conceptualization of new programme activities, programme planning and oversight. Participate fully in PREP team schedule, including regular team meetings, retreats etc.;
Contribute to the broader work of the PREP, providing technical support to programme;
and project managers on trade related aspects of private sector development, local economic development and environmental protection;
Provide technical expertise to PREP project managers on trade related aspects of private sector development, local economic development and environmental protection;
Provide mentoring and direction to national staff assigned to work on trade and related projects;
Ensure that trade project information is maintained in the PREP programme database;
Assume OiC functions on behalf of the PREP programme manager when necessary;
Building of strategic partnerships and implementation of resource mobilization strategy
Participate in UNDP / PREP resource mobilization efforts in relation to trade and related projects not included in the framework of EIF / ‘Aid for Trade’Maintain close liaison with UNDP donors and assist in the mobilization of resources for trade and related areas of the PREP;
Identify and develop strategic partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, and civil society based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
Lead the research and analysis of information on donors, and the preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation. Produce  periodic updates and briefs on country development situation to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ.Undertake of selected studies/research on emerging development concerns that feed into government/development partners processes.
Impact of Results
Through expediting the entry of Somalia into regional and global trade arrangements, and strengthening trade capacity, the post is expected to contribute directly to the achievement of economic commitments contained in the FGS 6-pillar strategy and the New Deal. It will directly impact on economic restructuring and growth, employment and poverty reduction, whilst contributing significantly to building fiscal depth and reducing volatility to external shocks (i.e. building resilience).
Competencies
Functional Competencies:  
Building Strategic Partnerships
Building strategic alliances identifies and prioritizes opportunities and obstacles in the political scene (government, civil society, parliamentarians, pressure groups) to advance UNDP’s agenda Identifies common interests and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners:
Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UNDP’s agenda into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests;
Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations;
Leverages the resources of governments and other development partners.
 Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda
 Influencing the public policy agenda:
Advocates for the inclusion of UNDP’s focus areas in the public policy agenda;
Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
Leverages UNDP’s multidisciplinary expertise to influence the shape of policies and programmes;
Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, fact based approaches/solutions
Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives;
Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling disagreements with UNDP’s policy agenda in order to promote and position UNDP in complex environments.
Client Orientation
Meeting long-term client needs:
Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services;
Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes
Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations.
 Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise
 Conceptual innovation:
Conducts programme assessments to improve development of models and methodologies;
Designs policy models to support comprehensive interventions linking UNDP’s policy objectives to programme delivery and capacity development objectives;
Ensures that the design of policies are appropriate to regional and country social and development context;
Demonstrates the ability to engage development partners at all levels in conceptual and methodological innovation that is pertinent to the global, national and local context.
Adaptation and Application of Knowledge/Innovations in Different Contexts
Collaborates with regional, national and local partners to create and apply knowledge and concepts that will help partners achieve UNDP’s development objectives within the country and regional context;
Focuses on tasks/activities which have a strategic impact on programme and capacity development activities
Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for UNDP’s strategic initiatives;
Provides evidence-based guidance to policy that woke.
Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP’s Capacity to Advocate
Formulating strategy for creating the corporate image:
Formulates strategy for the implementation of promotional activities and materials;
Develops strategies for improved and expanded coverage in the mass media and;
Designs and initiates assessments of activities to improve impact and effectiveness;
Developed relationships and contacts with professional networks and high profile advocates.
Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
Influencing global and national initiatives:
Advocates for the inclusion of development and concerns in the public policy agenda;
Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
Advocates for increased priority given to human development issues internationally and in national planning frameworks;
Advocates for increased resources at international and national level;
Develop strategies to counter challenges to UNDP’s principles and goals.
 Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Participating in the development of policies and innovative approaches and promoting their application throughout the organization:
Actively seeks and promotes innovative methodologies and leads the development of supporting policies/tools to encourage learning and knowledge sharing;
Develops and/or participates in the development of policies and new approaches and participates in training of staff in their application throughout the organization;
Promotes UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization.
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
 Expert knowledge of own discipline:
Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
Applies knowledge to support the unit/branch’s objectives and to further the mandate of the organization(s);
For managers: applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments.
 Core Competencies
Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking;
Excellent communication, organization, and facilitative skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced University degree in Trade Economics or a related discipline;
Post-graduate research specialization in trade in post-crisis / transition countries is an asset.
Experience:
A minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience in applied trade economics gained through work in a government, consultancy or international development agency context;
Excellent working knowledge of current international trade frameworks, trade institutions and policies, preferably with respect to East Africa / Somalia;
First-hand experience of EIF and Aid for Trade procedures and policies;
Demonstrable experience working at senior government level in an advisory and / or mentoring capacity;
Experience working in and on crisis and post conflict countries is an advantage.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in written and spoken English;
Proficiency in another UN language an asset.
To Apply: Click here
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.

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