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Policy Advisor - Local Economic Development

An experienced development professional is required to serve as a Policy Advisor on Local Economic Development (LED) in the Ministry of Local Government (MLG). The LED Policy Advisor will be engaged under the Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction Component of the 2010-2014 Government of Botswana United Nations Programme Operational Plan (GoB-UN POP), hereafter “the Project”. The Project, implemented under the National Execution modality, has three focus areas, one of which is LED.

An experienced development professional is required to serve as a Policy Advisor on Local Economic Development (LED) in the Ministry of Local Government (MLG). The LED Policy Advisor will be engaged under the Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction Component of the 2010-2014 Government of Botswana United Nations Programme Operational Plan (GoB-UN POP), hereafter “the Project”. The Project, implemented under the National Execution modality, has three focus areas, one of which is LED. LED is a government initiative through which the Ministry of Local Government will use to support districts and communities to leverage local resources - natural capital, accumulated capital, knowledge and skills, creativity, enterprise, and institutions - to accelerate the pace of economic development, create jobs and reduce poverty. The specific contributions the GoB-UN POP will make in this outcome area are capacity building in respect of policy and strategy frameworks for sustainable LED, development of district data capabilities, and strengthening implementation capacity.

In 2003, the Government of Botswana adopted the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (NSPR). The key focus of the NSPR was to, among other things: a) create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods; b) strengthen the organizational and delivery capacities of poor people and; c) enhance people’s access to social investments. The MLG, through the Department of Local Government Development Planning (DLGDP), identified LED as a key strategy initiative for its contribution to the NSPR objectives.

The development of a LED Policy and Strategy Framework and the requisite institutional capacity are key MLG priorities under National Development Plan 10. Through LED, MLG will support local authorities to develop and nurture effective partnerships between stakeholders in the local economy – local authorities, field offices of government departments, private firms, civil society organisations and the community – and mobilise external support to create better conditions for investment, economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction.

MLG views LED as a key pillar of the national effort to enhance the competitiveness of local economies, foster inclusive and sustainable market development and economic growth, create jobs, and eradicate poverty. In this regard, LED is expected to feature prominently in the National Strategy for Poverty Eradication.

Duties and Responsibilities

Management:

The LED Policy Advisor shall, in an advisory capacity, be a key member of the management of the Department of Local Government Development Planning, with specific responsibility for Local Economic Development. In this capacity, he/she shall:

  • Assume oversight and accountability roles in the achievement of the key deliverables of the Local Economic Development component of the Government of Botswana and the United Nations Programme Operational Plan (GoB/UN POP) for 2010-2014. To this end, the Policy Advisor shall, on behalf of MLG, and working in partnership with relevant MLG personnel, ensure that all approved work plan outputs are produced on time;
  • Oversee all consultancy work commissioned through the LED component of the GoB/UN POP and ensure that contracts are completed on time and within budget and that outputs produced are of the desired quality;
  • Support the preparation of technical briefs on Local Economic Development, including brief summaries of consultancy reports, for the senior management of MLG and other government structures, including Cabinet and relevant committees of parliament.

Policy and Programme Advisory Services:

Working under the auspices of the DLGDP, the LED Policy Advisor’s shall provide advisory services on LED to the MLG, districts and other government institutions. More specifically, the LED Policy Advisor shall:

  • Provide technical leadership and direction to the development of the National LED Policy and its Implementation Action Plan to guide districts, government departments and other stakeholders in LED. This shall include:

- Reviewing the regulatory and institutional framework for development management in Botswana and outlining the key policy and institutional imperatives for the successful pursuit of Local Economic Development;
- Preparing quality specifications for any outsourced work and facilitating relevant internally supported LED processes
- Developing an inclusive LED policy development road map, incorporating such assessments as may be needed to ensure the development of a LED policy;
- Managing the LED policy development process, and ensuring the delivery of a LED policy grounded in the structural, institutional and regulatory realities of Botswana. It is critical that the LED policy be adequately synergised with other policy and strategy initiatives.

  • Support district LED planning and implementation processes, including assessments and the development of district LED strategies;
  • Support the effective integration of LED into the national effort against poverty and other development processes, especially district and sector plans.

Coordination:

The LED Policy Advisor shall serve as the key technical link between MLG and other government departments, in particular, the Poverty Eradication Unit in the Office of the President. To this end, he/she shall:

  • Support/facilitate inter departmental and broader stakeholder coordination of local economy initiatives to ensure that stakeholders play their roles in LED processes effectively and synergistically. This shall include inclusive reviews and harmonisation of policies, strategies and programmes as appropriate;
  • Support the development of the institutional infrastructure to manage and coordinate LED at both the national and district levels. This shall entail identifying and participating in relevant coordinating structures and making arrangements, formal and informal, to ensure effective coordination between inter departmental coordination of LED related work;
  • Develop, in collaboration with District Economic Development Committees (DEDCs), an adequate system for monitoring and evaluating Local Economic Development. This will entail:

- Developing an adequate indicator framework for development management at the district level and, based thereon, developing a good LED monitoring and evaluation framework
- Strengthening district data capabilities to meet the data and information requirements for planning, monitoring, implementing and evaluating LED
- Monitoring the implementation of LED

  • Coordinate with the UNDP Country Office to ensure that LED support through the GoB/UN POP is adequately integrated into the work of MLG and that the management of UNDP is fully informed about project related achievements, challenges and issues.

Capacity Development:

The LED Policy Advisor shall, in consultation with the Permanent Secretary and the Director of the DLGDP, develop and implement a capacity development plan to support the implementation of LED. The key outcomes of the plan shall be;

  • Enhanced capacity within the MLG to support LED policy, strategy and programme processes, including technical backstopping services for districts and communities. To this end, the LED Policy Advisor shall, in consultation with the Director of the DLGDP, Identify, train and mentor individuals within DLGDP and relevant government departments, including districts, and organise or recommend appropriate training for such individuals to create a core of well trained LED practitioners;
  • An adequate institutional framework (structures) for the implementation of LED in place;
  • Robust systems and processes in place to facilitate the effective implementation of LED. These shall include a monitoring, evaluation, and reporting system;
  • Districts and other key stakeholders familiar with and able to use basic LED tools and methods;
  • LED partnerships built with leading governments and regions/cities to facilitate peer learning and an effective knowledge management system on LED in place.

Advocacy: The LED Policy Advisor shall facilitate quality LED policy and programme advocacy. To this end, he/she shall:

  • Support the development and implementation of a LED Communication Strategy for the Ministry of Local Government;
  • Ensure the development, publication and dissemination of flagship advocacy products, including annual poverty monitoring reports, policy briefs and communication materials;
  • Facilitate national dialogue on LED.

Reporting:

The LED Poverty Policy advisor shall account for his work at two levels as follows:

  • In operational terms, the LED Policy Advisor will be a core member of the MLG LED team. In this capacity, he/she shall act as the Chief Technical Advisor to the MLG on LED. In discharging these duties, he/she shall report to the Permanent Secretary and the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative;
  • On matters of performance, the LED Policy Advisor shall, as a UNDP contract holder, report to the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) and the Permanent Secretary (PS), in the Ministry of Local Government. In this regard, he shall, be based on the programme annual work plan and discussions with the Director of the DLGDP, prepare his/her draft annual Results and Competency Assessment (RCA) for discussion and finalisation with the DRR and the Permanent Secretary at the beginning of the year/contract.
  • The LED Policy Advisor shall prepare and present quarterly and annual progress reports for review by both the DRR and the PS. The LED Policy Advisor shall also make presentations to programme coordinating structures and relevant government structures as appropriate.

Key Deliverables:

The LED Policy Advisor is expected to provide a range of continuous services on which he/she will be assessed. However, the following results shall be especially critical:

  • Inception Report, six weeks into the assignment, outlining the LED Policy Advisor’s preliminary observations and recommendations for immediate action;
  • A National LED Policy and Implementation Plan that: Provides the basis for the implementation of LED by all stakeholders; Integrates LED into development processes, especially the national effort against poverty and planning processes at the district, sector and national levels; Is harmonised with other policies and programmes and adequately addresses the policy imperatives of LED; Mobilises districts and communities to assume more responsibility for their own development;
  • Strong institutional capacity to manage the implementation of LED, with particular emphasis on: Enhanced technical capacity to support LED within DLGDP and the districts; A solid LED Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting system; A critical mass of highly proficient LED practitioners at the DLGDP and the Districts; Solid District data capabilities to meet the planning and accountability requirements of LED; A strong advocacy and communication strategy on LED.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

  • Creates effective advocacy strategies;
  • Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Building Strategic Partnerships

  • Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
  • Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
  • Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.


Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

  • Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
  • Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
  • Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
  • Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

  • Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
  • Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

  • Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
  • Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

  • Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
  • Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Core Competencies:

  • Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
  • Building support and political acumen;
  • Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
  • Building and promoting effective teams;
  • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
  • Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
  • Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • At least a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Economics, Urban and Regional Planning, Local Economic Development, Policy Analysis, and Private Sector Development). Additional specialised training on LED and a relevant PhD will be distinct advantages.

Experience:

  • Traceable experience with Local Economic Development and a generally sound theoretical and empirical understanding of development;
  • A minimum of eight (8) years of post qualification work experience on LED, with emphasis on policy, strategy and programme design and implementation. International experience as well as experience with a government agency, an international development organisation or a reputable non-governmental organisation would be a distinct advantage;
  • Strong leadership qualities, and strong supervisory and managerial capabilities at a level comparable to the one at which the officer will operate. The position requires an individual with good interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure and to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • Strong analytical and data handling capabilities. The ideal candidate will be comfortable with the use of standard statistical packages such as STATA and SPSS;
  • Excellent communication skills with ability to express ideas clearly, logically and effectively, in both oral and written English;
  • Strong communications and interpersonal skills;
  • Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook) and web-based applications.

Language Requirements:

  • Proficiency in the English language, spoken and written.

Qualified women, qualified people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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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.