NATIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER - NPPP IV

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National Programme Manager - NPPP IV - (open to Nepalese nationals only) - NEX Project, Kathmandu (possibility of field visits within Nepal)
Closing date: Monday, 6 October 2014 
NATIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER - NPPP IV - (OPEN TO NEPALESE NNATIONALS ONLY) - NEX PROJECT
Location : Kathmandu (Possibility of field visits within Nepal), NEPAL
Application Deadline : 06-Oct-14
Additional Category
Democratic Governance
Type of Contract : Other
Post Level : Other
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
01-Dec-2014
Duration of Initial Contract : One year
Expected Duration of Assignment : Upto end of project, depending upon performance
Background
UNDP Nepal is working with government agencies, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations, to implement a Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection System in Nepal' Programme (the ROLHR ). The ROLHR programme aims to ensure that women and vulnerable groups are able to benefit from a protective legal framework and many recent improvements in the field of administration of justice. The ROLHR will do so through a 'three pronged' approach. First, it will develop the capacity of vulnerable groups to access rule of law institutions and assert and enjoy their rights and entitlements. Second, it will support rule of law institutions to be more responsive to increased demands for justice service delivery, including in a changed context. Third, it will support the civil society as well as human rights actors, institutions, and media to work together to ensure accountability for justice service delivery.
To strengthen the administration of justice, the ROLHR will support the development of a justice sector reform process, through which rule of law institutions will define their own priorities and identify measures to effectively address them. The Programme will support justice sector institutions to conduct pilots to identify 'what is needed' and 'what works', and then to institutionalize successful pilot initiatives throughout Nepal, including through the development of research, planning, monitoring and evaluation capacities.
To strengthen access to justice, the ROLHR will also support: the revision of laws and development of human resource capacities needed to implement penal legislation, anti-gender based violence, caste based discrimination, and corruption legislation; an 'affirmative action' law degree scholarship and internship scheme through which vulnerable groups currently not well represented in the legal profession can obtain a law degree and practical work experience; and the development of a relevant, accessible and integrated socio-legal aid scheme, which will provide support to enable vulnerable groups to assert and enjoy their rights in civil and criminal cases, including poverty-reducing entitlements such as inheritance, pensions, education allowances, health and legal services.
The programme will also support to strengthen the human rights system working in the area of transitional justice and capacity building part of the national institutions for example, National Women's Commission, and the National Dalit Commission.
The justice sector reform process will be implemented through the Justice Sector Coordination Committee network, to support policy dialogue, strategic planning, research, monitoring and evaluation, and pilot activities to improve the administration of justice across the sector. It is intended that this component will result in the development of a national strategy for justice sector reform in Nepal, supported by a multi-donor funding mechanism. The programme will support the Ministry of Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJCAPA) to lead reform of Nepal's legal aid landscape, towards the establishment of an integrated system which coordinates and regulates relevant, accessible socio-legal aid service provision throughout Nepal. The ROLHR Programme will support the MoLJCAPA to lead revision of legislation not aligned with the constitution and international human rights instruments to which the Government of Nepal is a State Party. The Programme will also support the development of the human resource capacities needed to implement those laws.
As mentioned above, the three different components will be managed by the project management unit in a very coordinated and collaborated manner. The management unit will be supported technically by the Chief Technical Advisor.
Under the guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the ROLHR programme, the incumbent provides effective and efficient management of the project through range of actions contributing to the designing, planning, management and monitoring of the programme activities. The Project Manager applies and promotes and principles of result based management (RBM), client-oriented and human rights based approach. The incumbent will report to the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nepal who is also the Executive of the Project Executive Board (PEB) and is responsible and accountable to the PEB.
The National Project Manager is expected to work in close coordination collaboration with the programme, operations, communications and other project teams in the country office for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resoling complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is also expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.
Objectives
The Project Manager shall provide the overall coordination of the project activities and ensure effective achievement of its goals and objectives. In particular, the Project Manager:
  • Runs the project with a high budget and complex technical dimensions on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Project Board (PB) within the framework laid down by the PB; Ensures that the project produces the results specified in the project document; Contributes into achievement of expected outcomes to the best possible standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost;
  • Leads and manages diverse project team with variety of national and international experts and administrative personnel; works in close cooperation with the Chief Technical Advisor and other national and international consultant(s) providing strategic advice to the NPM on project implementation;
  • Ensures efficient coordination and cooperation with various stakeholders, including Supreme Court of Nepal, Ministry of Law and Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs, National Human Rights Commission) and UNDP, other national and international stakeholders and respective development projects;
  • Performs other duties as related to effective and efficient management of the project.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of National Project Director (NPD), Executive of the Project Board and technical guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor, the National Project Manager (NPM) will:
  • Assume overall management and administration including budgeting and planning in accordance with the ROLHR programme document;
  • Prepare and update project annual/quarterly work plans in consultation with implementing partners (Supreme Court of Nepal, Ministry of Law and Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs, National Human Rights Commission) and UNDP;
  • Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of project outputs and products leading to the achievement of expected results;
  • Be responsible for the implementation of the project work plan according to indicators for achieving planned results, as well as for the overall management of the project in accordance with prevailing rules, regulations and procedures for NIM project;
  • Initiate and administer project inputs under the responsibility of the implementing partner;
  • Coordinate and liaise with UNDP and relevant stakeholders (Government, justice sector institutions, HR organizations, CSOs and donors) with respect to the implementation of the project activities;
  • Liaise with the national counterparts, Development Partners (DPs) and UNDP office to ensure that programme results are achieved and project resources are managed efficiently and effectively;
  • Manage project life cycle in accordance with the principles of Results based Management (RBM) and Human Rights based Approach (HRBA);
Assume direct responsibility for managing the programme budget on behalf of the project executive board ensuring that:
  • Programme funds are made available when needed and disbursed properly;
  • Accounting records and supporting documents are kept;
  • Required financial reports are prepared and submitted to UNDP;
  • Financial operation of the project are transparent;
  • Periodic financial audit take place;
  • Financial procedures and regulations applied for NIM programme;
  • Fcilitate the annual audit exercises and prepare audit action plan for timely implementation of audit recommendations.
  • In consultation with the programme components (component coordinators), National Project Director and Chief Technical Advisor, prepare and consolidate the overall budget, monitor expenditures in accordance with UNDP financial rules and cost-recovery policies and implement adequate internal control;
  • Prepare quarterly, annual progress reports (financial and technical) as scheduled, and organize PEB meeting;
  • Oversee all the recruitment and procurement of the project as per approved Human resource and Procurement plans.
  • Supervise the subcontractors to ensure the delivery of quality work;
  • Ensure the creation of a knowledge management system including collection of lessons learned and best practices;
  • Ensure that all activities carried out under the project are compliant with international human rights standards, are human rights friendly, on-discriminatory and promote social inclusion and gender equality;
  • Ensure high quality information and visibility of the project activities to the mass media and stakeholders;
  • Ensure that all staff of the project and project partners are trained on basic human rights principles and HRBA;
  • Perform any other duties concerned directly with the implementation of the project as required by the management.
Key Results: The key results have a direct impact on the overall successful achievement of the UNDAF outcome 4 and 8.1. By 2017; justice sectors institutions are better able to strengthen the coordination among them, maintain rule of law, and enhance the equal access to justice of women and vulnerable groups and protection and promotion of human rights.
Competencies
Professionalism
  • Comprehensive knowledge of project management, planning and monitoring, and exposure to a wide range of human rights and humanitarian issues; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity;
  • Knowledge to analyse and articulate the human rights and humanitarian dimension of complex issues;
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems;
  • Display cultural, gender, religion, race, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Commitment to Continuous Learning
  • Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.
Communications
  • Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to convey the message to counterpart at all level;
  • Excellent advocacy skills;
  • Good analytical and counselling skills.
Planning & Organizing
  • Ability to plan the work, meet tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
  • Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor work of others, ability to make timely decisions;
  • Ability to work under extreme pressure; very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to human rights and humanitarian affairs.
Technology Awareness
  • Fully proficient in the use of computer and relevant software applications such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Vision, Email and Internet, etc.
Teamwork
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a large organisation comprised of multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment.
  • Good interpersonal skills with experience of networking with partners at all level and knowledge of technology and use of computer applications;
  • Ability to coach, mentor, motivate and develop staff and encourage good performance.
Technical Competency:
  • Proven ability to conceptualise, develop, plan and manage human rights interventions as well as transfer knowledge and skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • At least Master's degree or equivalent in Law or related field;
  • Additional training and certification in project management would be an advantage.
Experience:
  • At least 10 years of relevant experience at the national or international organization in designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating of development Programmes;
  • General understanding of the rule of law, access to justice and legal aid context and challenges in Nepal; Thorough understanding of the project goals and objectives;
  • Demonstrated/proven/excellent management skills;
  • Proven ability to draft, edit and produce written proposals and results-focused reports in English
  • Good understanding of national and international human rights mechanisms.
Language:
  • Fluency in oral and written English is essential.
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.
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