National Coordinator, Inclusive Governance at United Nations Development Programme -Rwanda: Deadline: 30-10-2020

I.              Position Information

Job Code Title:                           National Coordinator, Inclusive Governance   

Pre-classified Grade:                  SB4/5

Supervisor:                                 Head of Unit, Transformational Governance Unit

Duty Station:                               Kigali- Rwanda

II.  Organizational Context

Globally, UNDP supports governments to protect, respect, and fulfil human rights and to improve legal and policy environments to protect the vulnerable and leave no one behind. UNDP’s work on inclusive governance contributes to achieving SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 10 (reducing inequalities), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions).

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. In Rwanda, the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) has been ascribed the responsibility to ensure that public and private institutions, civil society, and faith-based organizations contribute to the attainment of national commitments as enshrined in the National constitution, international/regional instruments as well as national policies and programs. To guarantee that gender equality and women’s empowerment principles are mainstreamed in policies and programs of different sectors and at different levels, GMO, through its Five-year Strategic plan (2017–2022) aspires to build accountability systems and mechanisms for the sustainability and acceleration of gender equality. Currently, GMO with support from UNDP has started to engage the private sector to establish gender accountability systems through the five-year (FY 2018/19 – 2022/23) project- “Promoting gender accountability in the private sector in Rwanda” which uses the Gender Equality Seal (GES) certification approach. The GES approach is currently being piloted in selected private sector companies and public institutions that work closely with the private sector. The project supports and guides the private sector’s delivery and compliance to gender equality principles and commitments by establishing standards that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. In addition, the project provides participating companies and public institutions working closely with the private sector with the necessary tools and guidance to promote a more equitable work environment that maximizes the capacities and benefits of all employees and that enhances their service delivery and productivity.

As part of the Leave no-one behind the principle of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, UNDP Rwanda increased its support to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) and promote their rights. Based on extensive consultations with Government and civil society, UNDP Rwanda initiated partnerships with a range of ministries, institutions, and development partners to implement a variety of activities at the policy and grassroots levels. Some of these activities focus on building capacities of Civil Society Organisations working on directly empowering PWDs, while others aim at ensuring inclusive access to services including justice, information and finance, and an enabling environment through up-to-date policy and legal frameworks. Some of the activities substantially contribute to data generation and studies for evidence-based decision making. UNDP also supports national and local level advocacy and awareness-raising activities to address stigma and discrimination.

The important partnerships established around the empowerment of persons with disabilities were further formalized through a newly established framework: a multi-partner disability platform. The platform brings together various public and private sector institutions, UN agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations to create synergies around efforts to transform the lives of persons with disabilities in order to avoid scattered interventions and to pool resources when possible. The platform is also functioning as a high-level advocacy forum, where heads of institutions actively prioritize lending their voice to messaging related to disability inclusion. At the technical level, technical counterparts find each other in working spaces to brainstorm challenges and priorities and co-create solutions, resulting in an inclusive workplan of activities of the multi-partner platform.

With this background, UNDP Rwanda has developed a portfolio on inclusive governance focusing on gender and disability inclusion which crucial for the realization of the agenda 2030. Therefore, UNDP Rwanda would like to recruit a national coordinator of the the inclusive governance portfolio. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Transformational Governance Unit, the coordinator is responsible for the management and coordination of the two project frameworks mentioned above and the provision of technical assistance to the Country Office in mainstreaming further disability and gender equality across the Country programme Document. More specifically, the coordinator will closely follow up on the project “Promoting gender accountability in the private sector in Rwanda”, which uses the Gender Equality Seal (GES) certification approach to promote gender accountability, as well as the Disability Platform which seeks to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Rwanda. The coordinator will analyze trends related to inclusive governance, will lead the formulation, management, and evaluation of programme activities, and will provide technical advisory services to the country office and the state and non-state stakeholders.

 III.           Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of Key Functions:

1.    Provide advisory services in the area of inclusive governance

2.    Ensure effective planning, implementation, reporting, and evaluation of the projects on inclusive governance

3.    Contribute to resource mobilization and partnership for the CO inclusive governance projects and initiatives

4.    Promote collaboration among project stakeholders;

1.    Provide advisory services in the area of inclusive governance

• Identify key priorities in the area of inclusive governance and devise strategies for evidence-based and inclusive policy contributions;
• Analyze strategically inclusive governance processes in Rwanda to propose policy and programme strategies;
•  Create knowledge products in the area of practice;
•  Design, facilitate and contribute to policy dialogue with the Government, Development partners, CSOs, the media for inclusive and active policy engagement;
• Conduct analysis of policies used by various countries and organizations to identify good practices and added value for consideration by UNDP and partners.

2.    Ensure effective planning, implementation, reporting, and evaluation of the projects on inclusive governance

•  Provide oversight to the development of annual and quarterly work plans and budgets for the gender accountability and disability Inclusion projects and coordinate and monitor the implementation of project activities;
• Provide technical support to and technically oversee the implementation of project activities;
• Initiate innovative approaches for effective project implementation;
•  Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the projects including the development of M&E frameworks and reporting templates;
•  Develop terms of references and concept notes for different assignments in the project documents;
•  Ensure that quarterly project financial and progress reports are timely prepared and submitted to UNDP on a quarterly basis;
• Supervise contractors especially technical assistants to ensure quality and timely delivery of contracted services;
•  Provide inputs to advocacy, knowledge building, and communication efforts.
•  Prepare project briefs and talking points on inclusive governance

3.    Contribute to resource mobilization and partnership for the CO inclusive governance projects and initiatives

•  Elaborate on the projects funding and technical needs;
•  Conduct partnership mapping and effective partnership building
• Propose tools for partnerships and resource mobilization
• Support in developing resource mobilization strategies;

Develop proposals for resource mobilization in the area of inclusive governance.

4.    Promote collaboration and partnership among project stakeholders

•   Identify strategic partners and stakeholders and facilitate collaboration and partnership
•  Serve as a focal point between UNDP and projects partners;
•  Identify synergies between the activities of project stakeholders and ensure collaboration.
•  Serve as a focal point for inclusive governance within the UNDP, Government, CSO, and private sector partners
• Document UNDP interventions, results, and lessons learnt to inform planning, policy and making
•  Strengthen and sustain collaboration and partnership including facilitating exchange, develop partnership framework, and monitor their implementation.

 IV.          Impact of Results

The expected result is effective coordination and implementation of the activities related to inclusive governance, more specifically the gender Accountability and the disability inclusion projects. The impact from this result is increased gender responsiveness in the private sector and public institutions and strengthened inclusion of persons with disabilities in policymaking and development processes. The coordinator will also ensure a strong partnership and resource mobilization for the inclusive governance portfolio.

V.           Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Corporate Competencies:

•   Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
•  Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
•    Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
•   Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

 Planning and Organizing: Identifies priority interventions and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in the project.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost, and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

 Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

 Management and Leadership: Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback; Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills; Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors; Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure; Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

 VI.          VI. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Social sciences, International Development, Governance, Gender studies, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Political science, Law or related field;
• Specialized professional training in project management is an asset.

Experience:

•  At least 5 years of experience in development projects implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting, and capacity building of partners.
•  A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in inclusive governance and development;\
•   Proven experience working in areas of social justice, inclusive governance, human rights, gender equality, or related field;
•  Evidence/proof of past experience in executing similar assignments within a multi stakeholder’s framework;
• Sound knowledge on national, regional, and global human rights and non-discrimination frameworks;
•  Proven competencies in research and facilitation skills, as well as ability to multi-task, deliver on time, and work with limited supervision;

Language Requirements:

Proven excellent communication and writing skills in English and Kinyarwanda. Knowledge of French is an added advantage;

VII.         Signatures- Job Description Certification

Head of hiring unit

Name: Nadine U. Rugwe            Signature                                         Date:

Deputy Resident Representative

Name: Varsha R. Palepu           Signature                                        Date