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.

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of the EU-UNDP partnership and previously supported initiative – ReLOaD1 implemented in the four-year period 2017 - 2020.

ReLOaD2 continues to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans by empowering civil society and youth to actively take part in decision making and by stimulating an enabling legal and financial environment for civil society. The programme will be implemented in the following IPA beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. 

Working across the Western Balkans (WB) region, ReLOaD2 will enhance capacities of local governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage in productive partnerships and contribute to improved service delivery and realization of local priorities in line with local development strategies and needs.

ReLOaD2 in BiH works with 13 partner local governments (Bihać, Centar Sarajevo, Gacko, Goražde, Gradiška, Istočno Sarajevo, Grad Mostar, Novo Sarajevo, Prijedor, Prozor Rama, Rudo, Ugljevik and Vitez) focusing on institutionalization of interaction between local governments and CSOs. It incites partner local governments to use public funding for CSOs in a transparent and development-oriented manner, recognizing local needs and embracing a project-based approach. Also, the Project promotes youth engagement and supports implementation of youth initiatives towards improvement of their economic perspectives in partner localities.

The total budget of the ReLOaD2 is EUR 12.63 million (USD 14,78 million), while the component for BiH totals EUR 3.69 million (USD 4.31million). The Project duration is 48 months (2021 – 2024). 

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager the incumbent will contribute to successful implementation of the ReLOaD2 activities in the field, working with local governments (LGs) and Civil society organizations (CSOs).

The Field Monitoring Associate will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the CSO project awarded under the ReLOaD2 project grant scheme in line with approved project proposals and ensure that CSO fulfil required procedures and properly implement contractual obligations. The incumbent will be office-based with travel within Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures results-based and financial monitoring of CSOs projects in partner LGs:
• Assists the Grant Officer in designing and implementing the grant scheme in partners LGs;
• Provides constant on-the -job coaching for LG representatives;
• Conducts the programmatic and financial monitoring of CSO projects implementation in close collaboration with LG representatives;
• Prepares necessary documents to be signed between the UNDP and CSOs (Letters to CSOs, Law Value Grant Agreements for CSOs);
• Holds implementation meetings with awarded CSOs and provides coaching and support to CSOs during the project’s implementation;
• Organizes and conducts regular monitoring field visits (monthly/weekly/daily) to awarded CSOs according to the project’s implementation dynamics;
• Supports the Project Manager and Grant Officer in ensuring the funds are used efficiently, correctly, and by the principles of sound financial management, including the principles of transparency and gender sensitivity;
• Prepares reports on CSO project implementation and achievement of expected results and recommend corrective actions if/when necessary;
  In cooperation with the Grants Officer organize public calls for CSOs in partner LGs - promote transparent usage of criteria and selection process, organize and participate in different events (public hearing, open calls, mentoring events for CSOs during the public call, PCM trainings);
• In cooperation with the Grants Officer organizes coaching events for evaluation commission members and prepares all necessary documents and reports related to evaluation;
• Assist and participate in the evaluations of project applications based on the ReLOaD2 public calls;
• Monitors the quality of inputs provided by CSOs;
• Prepares  reports related to the CSO activities  implemented in selected LGs related to CSO activities upon request of the Grant Officer;
• Ensures compatibility of all the CSO visibility products with the project's visibility guidelines;
• Archives all relevant documents related to work with CSOs (project documents, monitoring reports and any other reports).
• Support the management of day-to-day activities about cooperation with partner local governments and youth:
• Supports  partner LGs to understand the Project’s objectives and effectively participate in the overall project implementation;
• Participates in planning and organization of workshops and trainings for LG representatives;
• Organizes field and monitoring visits, workshops, and other logistics arrangements;
• Frequently travels to partner LGs for monitoring meetings, events, focus group meetings and project related activities/trainings and ensure effective working relations with partner LG throughout the project roll-out;
• Assists Youth Officer in coordinating and supporting field activities in partner LGs, as well as in following up on implementation of youth projects;
• Provides assistance to the Project team members if and when necessary and assist the project staff in identifying and coordinating activities in the field.
• Assists the Project Manager and Grant Officer in the process of conducting external evaluations.

Facilitation and support to knowledge sharing:

• Promotes and facilitates inter-municipal cooperation through the exchange of information, good practices, peer-to-peer learning, and joint capacity-building events among partner local governments;
• Collects and distributes information among partners  about learning opportunities, conferences, etc.;
• Facilitates and stimulates interaction and synergies between the project and other stakeholders working in the field of local development (donors, international organizations).

Gender mainstreaming within the Bosnia and Herzegovina project component:

• Supports the Project Manager, Project Officers, and CSOs in mainstreaming gender equality in the project implementation;
• Ensures gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the projects’ activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses, and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
• Ensures that all the data, when collecting and compiling inputs relating to programme are gender disaggregated;
• Ensure knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in project knowledge products.
• 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

Monitoring

Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

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.

Results-based Management
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

CSO engagement 
Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs.

Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s  objectives ,based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities;
• linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Public relations

Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organization, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public

Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:

• Secondary education is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, economics, law, social sciences or related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience is required at the national or international level.

Required Skills:

• Previous experience in provision of technical assistance and training to public institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina countries in development management, is required;
• Experience and proficiency in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word and MS Excel spreadsheet) is required;
• Experience in sharing of knowledge and good practices;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Ability to identify discrimination, address it, and maintain an enabling working environment based on fairness, respect and freedom from any forms of harassment and abuse;
• Understand the language associated with gender, equity inclusion, and diversity.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in the field of monitoring and project management (PCM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an asset;
• Knowledge of the EU (European Union) guidelines and procedures and PCM Techniques is an asset;
• Previous experience in capacity development of civil society organizations and successful cooperation with local governments representatives;
• Previous experience  in monitoring of project of civil society organizations;
• Previous experience on-job coaching with local government representatives;
• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks in organized manner.

Languages:

• Fluency in English in BiH (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian) is required.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for monitoring CSO projects in local communities across BiH, with aim to detect challenges and propose tailor made approach ensuring successful CSOs project implementation. She/he will strengthen the capacities and skills of CSO to implement their projects in line with ReLOaD2 project requirements, with focus on transparent financial and operational management. The Feld Monitoring Associate will also provide on-the-job monitoring training for LG representatives. 

Disclaimer
 
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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