Operating on the principles of joint programming the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund will aim to provide flexible, coordinated and predictable funding of approximately 50 million USD to support the achievement of increased national resilience to shocks – aligning to nationally owned and determined priorities. By improving coordination among all stakeholders, the Fund can also provide a forum for policy dialogue, and programmatic coordination and harmonization as well as building up a body of evidence for improved joint targeting and programme design;

Under the guidance and supervision of the Resilience Advisor, the Programme Specialist will be responsible for managing and monitoring the portfolio of grants under ZRBF, providing technical support and guidance, in particular in relation to livelihoods and markets.

• Manage and oversee all operational processes related to the grants life-cycle, including budget revisions and disbursements in collaboration with Finance colleagues;
• Undertake the overall coordination off and lead the day to day communication with grant recipients under ZRBF;
• Monitor and assess progress towards overall results based on results framework and monitoring schedules, in close coordination with the ZRBF M&E specialist;
• Undertake monitoring missions and summarize key findings and recommendations;
• Review narrative and financial reports and liaise with ZRBF finance specialist before final approval for grants and subsequent disbursements;
• In close coordination with the Finance Specialist perform basic review of Financial reporting to secure consistency between financial spending and project implementation;
• Assist in preparing quarterly and annual programme progress reports for submission to the Steering Committee;
• Support the Head of ZRBF Management Unit in Generating donor reports in adherence with contractual obligations;

Provide technical support and guidance to ZRBF grantees

• Provide tailored technical support throughout the programme life-cycle, including direct support on markets and livelihoods strategies as well as natural resource management and alternative energy approaches;
• Prepare monthly Programme implementation plans together with field teams;
• Review progress reports and provide feedback to grantees as needed to ensure results-based reports and analysis and capturing of data;
• Engage directly with grant recipients to gather information about the achievements and impact of the grant, knowledge products, media, and others and ensure communications accurately reflect grant programmes;
• In close coordination with MAMID and the ZRBF Capacity Building Specialist provide technical support to the production of capacity development tools, including training materials and packages, programme guidance notes and other related support, specifically as it relates to monitoring and reporting for grants;
• Strengthen the capacity of ZRBF partners in developing market linkages
• Conduct analysis of the on-going value chains supported under ZRBF and promote linkages which connect rural producers to markets and financial services;

Promote utilization of evidence between ZRBF components

• Ensure feedback of evidence from ZRBF projects to other components of ZRBF;
• Support the selection and monitoring of low level indicators for activation of risk financing mechanism;
• Ensure on-the-ground experience is fed back into policy review processes
• Facilitate access to beneficiary communities by colleagues working on the analytical components under ZRBF;

Support knowledge sharing and guidance to ZRBF grantees and partners

• Contribute to tracking and synthesizing, on an ongoing basis, of developments, tools, emerging or good practices in the field of Resilience in Zimbabwe;
• Identify challenges and lessons learned across the grants, and support the ZRBF Capacity building Specialist and MAMID to contribute to a process of institutional learning through documenting lessons learned and contribution to modification of strategies and programmes;
• Support, organize and participate in knowledge sharing and capacity development events for grantees;
• Support the collaboration and coordination with other UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations working on Resilience in Zimbabwe;
• Ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Lead the documentation of programme success stories and other learning experiences at National level for possible visibility;
• Perform any other duty as assigned by the Head of ZRBF Management Unit;

Integrity:

• Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNDP in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;

Professionalism:

• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work;

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: 

• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity;

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values:

• Demonstrate and promote ethics and integrity by creating organizational precedents;

Work in teams:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Communication and Information Sharing;
• Create and promote an environment for open and effective communication;

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: 

• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Share knowledge across the organization and build a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;

• Master’s Degree + 7 years of relevant experience or Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in geography, agriculture, natural resource management or other related field + 12 years of relevant experience;

Experience:

• At least 7 (Masters Degree) or 12 (Bachelor’s Degree) years proven expertise and proficiency with project and portfolio management;
• Proven experience with integrated skills development;
• Proven experience with Community Based planning;
• Experience working in rural areas and in collaboration with local communities and government officials in Zimbabwe;
• Livelihoods and Markets experience in protracted crisis situation from Southern and/or Eastern Africa ;
• Experience with implementation of alternative energy solutions in rural settings in Zimbabwe;
• Experience with UN coordination mechanisms such as UNDAF and humanitarian coordination an advantage;
• Experience in managing and coordination with national counterparts, partners or donors;
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and motivational skills and sensitivity to the local environment as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages;
• Ability and willingness to travel within and outside Zimbabwe;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and at least one national language of the duty station.

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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