UNDP is seeking a Consultant

Consultant – support to Border Management for Stability and Human Security project in the Sahel

Location : Dakar, SENEGAL

Application Deadline : 02-Aug-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Time left : 4d 14h 45m

Additional Category : Management

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English   French

Starting Date : 08-Aug-2016

(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

Duration of Initial Contract : Three months

Expected Duration of Assignment : Six months

Background

The management of borderlands in the Sahel region is one of the complex problem the countries of this region are facing in terms of human security. The difficulty for States to control their borders leads or at least contributes to the development of illegal and illicit activities. The national and collective resilience of Sahel countries continues to be undermined by intersecting crises of terrorism, trafficking, and irregular migration, all of which have highlighted the imperative of improving border management in the region.

The growth of illicit trafficking in recent years, and the increased activities of violent transnational extremist Islamist groups, such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Boko Haram in the Sahel/Saharan border areas, poses a serious threat to the stability and development of the region as well as to international peace and security. While national and international security concerns dominate current discourse in regard to border management in the Sahel, however, the nature and vulnerability of border communities in the region must be understood if underlying causes are to be addressed and resilience at all levels improved. The fragility of border communities in the Sahel is such that further deterioration in the security situation or external shocks will continue to have profound and unpredictable effects across the region until resilience is built and sustainable.

Border communities in the Sahel continue to lurch from crisis to crisis, challenged by ongoing conflicts, terrorism, and organized crime, by population displacement and irregular migration, by lack of Government services and inadequate presence of the State.  Many borderlands in  the Sahel region are effectively beyond Government control and require military intervention before development processes can be re-started; others require immediate support to reinforce human security and provide basic public services if the continued adherence to State authority of local communities is to be maintained.

Although improving border management in the Sahel is understood as a vital and urgent

priority, the challenges involved in meeting it are daunting. Borders in the Sahel were mostly defined in the colonial era, and imposed upon local populations; remoteness of locations, limited State presence and capacities, and the ethnic homogeneity of cross-border communities has led to ‘porous’ borders that are difficult to control by traditional means.

Border regions in the Sahel have long been associated with a lack of the rule of law. The state formation and consolidation process in this region, the long history of totalitarian rule and the exclusion and marginalization of minority groups, has often created a vacuum where the state has used strong arm tactics to pacify local communities with mixed results. In many ways, effects of the Arab spring and from civil strife in Libya are only recent manifestations of this problem. While ethnic homogeneity allows communities to engage across borders, State capacities to manage the process are notably weak: border infrastructure is poor or non-existent; basic equipment for transport, communications, and security control is missing, or cannot be maintained; law enforcement personnel are badly paid and inadequately trained.

Traditional approaches to border security are unlikely to be effective in any case, however. A new border management paradigm is required, to support Governments of the Sahel to move toward a better and more sustainable balance between open but secure borders by preventing security threats while facilitating vital cross border trade and maintaining traditional routines and patterns of human mobility.

To support implementation of this project, UNDP is recruiting an International Consultant as part of the broader Sahel project’s team. The consultant will work in close collaboration with Sahel Project Manager. The consultant will directly report to the RSC Platform Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the direct supervision of the Dakar Platform Coordinator and the technical guidance of the Regional Cluster Director for Governance and Peacebuilding in Africa, the Consultant is responsible for the following expected results:

Strategic and Technical guidance

– Provide strategic support in the implementation of project activities at country and regional levels;

– Provide advice and technical support on project implementation and delivery.

– Set up implementation mechanisms/frameworks for timely and quality delivery on activities and achievement of results.

– Develop project AWP, budget and reporting formats

Support to Country Offices

– a clear implementation plan of the AWP

– Advise the Country Offices on the application of the rules and regulations for the implementation of the project.

– Provide direction and guidance to CO project focal points and responsible parties.

– Monitor the timely response of the Country Offices involved in project implementation and follow up when delays are detected.

– Actively support knowledge building, sharing and applying in the project.

Monitoring and Reporting

– Set up a monitoring mechanism for project activity and financial implementation

– Set up a reporting mechanism at CO office and regional levels on project implementation progress along with a consolidated format as an integrated narrative on project activities and financial report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

– Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.

– Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures.

– Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools is a must.

– Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

– Good knowledge of the Sahel and conflict regions, including political, economic and social dimensions, and their relation to the main engines of instability and conflict.

– Sound knowledge and exposure to a wide range of post-conflict, peacebuilding, good governance, human rights, recovery, resilience and development-related issues.

– Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.

– Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

– Ability to advocate and provide timely policy advice.

– Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

– Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results-Based Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting.

good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to small arms conventions, recovery and development issues, peace and security and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.

– Ability to establish and maintain contacts with senior-level officials of the host government required. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential part of the job. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, for effective advocacy and influence on policy makers.

– Ability to analyze is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents.

– Solid knowledge and experience in programme management and financial resources management.

Leadership and Self-Management

– Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style.

– Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

– Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications.

– Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.

– Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multi-cultural team in difficult circumstances.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

– A Master degree in political or social sciences, international studies, management and development related field.

Experience

– A least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in programmes/projects management, in crisis prevention, recovery, livelihood and local socioeconomic development, peace building support and other related areas at the programmatic and operational levels in a multicultural environment at national or regional level.

– Ability to use computers and office software packages and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language requirements

– Fluency French and knowledge of English is required for this position;

– Arabic is an asset.

Criteria

– Master degree in political or social sciences, international studies, management and development related field.  (15 points)

– A least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in programmes/projects management, in crisis prevention, recovery, livelihood and local socioeconomic development, peace building support and other related areas at the programmatic and operational levels in a multicultural environment at national or regional level. (30 points)

– Good knowledge of the Sahel and conflict regions, including political, economic and social dimensions, and their relation to the main engines of instability and conflict (20 points)

– Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to small arms conventions, recovery and development issues, peace and security and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. (20 points)

Langues

– Fluency French and knowledge of English is required for this position. Arabic is an asset. (15 )oints)

Votre CV doit être posté sur le site UNDP jobs et votre note conceptuelle accompagnée de votre offre financière composée des honoraires, billets d’avions et des frais éligibles à l’adresse: rcd.soummission@undp.org.

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.

If you are experiencing difficulties with online job applications, please contact jobs.help@undp.org.

Apply here: https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=67633