Chief Technical Specialist

The Government of Timor-Leste identified rural development as an area requiring significant attention. In support of this aim, UNDP’s efforts towards poverty reduction concentrate on the creation of sustainable livelihoods and increased employment opportunities and incomes in targeted rural areas. This is taking place through capacity development of government, communities and other partners and reflects the recognised importance of initiatives at both the macro- and micro-levels. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been accepted worldwide as an important engine of economic growth and promoting inclusive growth. Improvement of business opportunities through strengthening MSMEs could serve as a catalyst for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To accelerate the achievement of the MDGs, the Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP are collaborating to explore innovative ways to mobilize the private sector to contribute proactively to development. This will be done by setting up social businesses and through partnership agreements, providing them with much needed business development services. Financed by the Korea-UNDP MDG Trust Fund, the Government of Timor Leste and UNDP Timor-Leste officially launched a new project entitled “Mobilize Social Business to Accelerate Achievement of Timor-Leste MDGs”, in April 2012. The overall objective of this 3-year project is to promote social businesses that will contribute to private sector development as well as attainment of MDGs. As a result of this project, social businesses are expected to contribute to the reduction of poverty in rural areas of the country and generate rural employment opportunities and income. In order to achieve this objective, the project will focus on four key outputs: (1) Enabling environment for Social Business development in Timor-Leste; (2) A Social Business Fund is established for financing to viable Social Business; (3) Improved capacity of service providers to provide accessible needs-based technical support to Social Businesses; and (4) Improved coordination and networking of investors, service providers, regulatory bodies and Social Businesses. To meet these outputs, UNDP Timor-Leste seeks to recruit a Chief Technical Advisor to be responsible for the overall implementation of the project, which would also involve policy advice as well as responsibilities for programme management, coordination with national and international partners and supervision of international and national personnel. The CTA will also assist in organizing regular Project Steering Committee meetings during which key issues and priorities for the project will be discussed. S/he is also responsible for ensuring regular donor reporting and briefings. This position is category as Development Project Fund (DPF)

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Project Steering Committee and UNDP, the CTA will be responsible for the following key functions: Project management; Policy advice and capacity building; Knowledge management. Effective project management Day-to-day operational project management towards delivery of results including work planning, resource allocation and input mobilisation, technical, administrative and financial supervision, monitoring and reporting on implementation and results; Strategic inputs into project activities such as the Social Business Fund, training (curricula, courses, schedules), study tours, conferences and workshops; Managing partnership agreements and contracts from procurement to performance and results monitoring ; Ensure improved coordination and networking of investors, service providers, regulatory bodies and Social Businesses; Supervision, coordination and evaluation of the work of advisors where applicable and all Project administrative support staff; Reporting to Project Steering Committee which is co-chaired by UNDP and Minister of Economy and Development, assuming Secretariat role to the PSC and preparing technical and financial reports on progress and achievement of results; and Brief interested donors or foreign missions on the activities of the Project. Policy advice and capacity building Strategic inputs into the design of the Social Business Fund and stakeholder consultations; Provision of advise and supports through technical assistance to the national counterparts, as required; Provision of other advice as needed to UNDP concerning the evolution and role of the relevant National Directorates, Commercial Banks and other National Institutions; Participate and actively contribute to all private sector/social business coordination forum; Provide and coordinate substantive inputs to the preparation of financial institutions’ and UNDP policy notes, statements for important events; Active knowledge management focusing on achievement of the following results: responsibility for selecting and bringing lessons learnt to help achieve the outputs of the Programme and facilitating the use of global knowledge networks in the field; Sharing of Programme results including through reviewing Programme publications, and by taking responsibility for knowledge networking with national agencies and UNDP’s global community; Representation of the Project before UNDP and the national authorities particularly the Ministry of Economy and Development, relevant Directorates and Commercial Banks; Assistance in promoting dialogue and good practices on social businesses among different stakeholders in the private sector and with interfacing sectors; and Serve as an advocate for UN core values and UNDP’s policies on rural economic development in the dialogue with the financial/private sector institutions and facilitate the practical implementation of this dialogue through the Programme interventions Impact of Results: The key results have an impact on poverty reduction in rural Timor-Leste and progress towards achievement of the 2015 MDG targets in Timor-Leste in the following areas: Effective Project management services; Policy advice and capacity building; and Active knowledge management.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; Displays strong cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; Treats all people fairly without favoritism. Functional Competencies: Technical and substantive capacity: Specialist knowledge in the area of rural economic development and business development (including sustainable financing mechanisms), preferably in a post-conflict setting; Knowledge of institutional capacity development; Promotes knowledge management and best practices inside and outside UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example; In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues. Management and Leadership: Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting; Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills; Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Masters Degree in Financial Management, or any other related field. Experience: Minimum of 7 years of extensive working experience in the area of Rural Economic Development/Private Sector Development and/or Social Business/Cooperative Development with good knowledge of financing of small businesses and cooperatives; Experience in project management of related projects; Experience in capacity building of national institutions (government, private, civil society) in developing countries; Experience with UNDP or other international/bilateral development organization supported projects; and Experience in post-conflict countries, and specifically Timor-Leste will be an asset. Language Requirements: Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English; An oral and written skill in Portuguese and/or Tetum is an asset.

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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.

Chief Technical Specialist