Programme Associate on Public Policy

Within inclusive governance, UNDP will promote check and balance system, working with all three branches of power, executive, legislative and judiciary. In the area of public administration reform UNDP will advocate for equitable access to quality public services through further public administration reform, including strengthening Government capacities to formulate evidence-based strategies and road maps toward effective public administration. Special attention will be given to enhancing the national corruption prevention system. A functional review of public administration bodies and re-engineering of business processes will be promoted.            

By upscaling work on e-governance and supporting implementation of the relevant Master Plan, UNDP will focus on developing a unified national mechanism for open data, and on enhancing voice/participation of civil society in public decision-making.   

UNDP, through policy advice and technical support, will further enhance access to quality public services through expanded introduction of ICT and technical assistance to administrative reform. This will entail cooperation in regulatory reform for reduction of the administrative burden in public service delivery, as well as piloting and scaling up of delivery mechanisms for enhanced quality and scope of services. 

Through policy advice and advocacy, UNDP contributed to spearheading open data. Enhancing the planning and monitoring of national development, as well as strengthening data accessibility and analysis. In this regard, UNDP will provide support through building national capacities and promoting a shift to a more supportive and learning-based approach to performance management and evidence-based decision-making.

UNDP’s role in advocacy and awareness raising among civil servants, along with public administration, strategic understanding and visioning, provides tremendous windows of opportunity for further engagement with the Government.

UNDP will engage with its expertise in regulatory impact analysis and anti-corruption, streamlining of the regulatory framework, creating an incentivized and motivated civil service, and other areas.

Prioritizing the prevention of corruption and the UN Convention Against Corruption, to which Uzbekistan is a State Party, will be utilized by UNDP as an advocacy tool. UNDP will provide effective assistance through review and crafting of mechanisms for prevention of corruption, including for sectors vulnerable to corruption such as health and education. UNDP remains the only donor allowed by Government to work on governance in Uzbekistan. Thus, UNDP can leverage the donor coordination role for concerted efforts on public administration reform. 

To further promote protection of rights and access to justice, UNDP will render policy advisory/technical support to implement obligations under international Conventions and UN treaty bodies. This will be done through support to development of policies, institutional and procedural mechanisms to strengthen judicial independence; enhancing court administration; and increasing public trust in courts.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/Head of the Good Governance Unit, the Programme Associate provides support to advisory services in the CO Programme Unit in the area of public policy, supports the design, planning and management of the country programme by managing data and facilitating programme implementation. The Programme Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. 

The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO and UNDP HQs staff for resolving complex programme-related issues and information.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions,  teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. 

Summary of Key Functions:

• Administration and implementation of programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures in the area of public policy, public administration reform
• Support to management of the CO programme
• Administrative support to the Programme Unit  
• Support in creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy   
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1. Ensures administration and implementation of programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Providing information and data for preparation of CCA, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF,) Country Programme Document (CPD), effective application of RBM tools and implementation of GGC projects’ annual targets. Establishment of the mechanisms to track use of RBM tools and maintenance of RBM database.
• Presentation of information/ reports for identification of areas for support and interventions.
• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies, preparation of reports. 

2. Provides effective support to management of the CO programme focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for formulation of country programme, preparation of project documents’ drafts, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements.
• Initiation of a project, entering project into Atlas, preparation of required budget revisions.
• Serves as focal point for the projects dealing with public administration, decentralization regulatory reform and rule of law in terms of providing advisory services and monitoring the project activities.  
• Provision of guidance to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources.
• Follow up on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports.
• Analysis of the situation in programme, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions.
• Preparation and conduct of audit of NIM projects, implementation of audit recommendations.

3. Provides administrative support to the Programme Unit focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of NIM projects Financial Reports.
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas.
• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. 

4. Provides support in creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy   focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Analysis of information on donors, preparation of donor’s profile and database, and establishment of contacts with donor counterparts.
• Track and report on mobilized resources.

5. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Organization of training for the operations/ projects staff on programme.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in programme.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The key results have an impact on the overall CO efficiency in programme and success in the implementation of programme strategies.  Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP's position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates the decision-making of the management.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
 

• 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 and Technical competencies:

• Business Direction & Strategy-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.
• Business Development  Knowledge Generation  
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for conte or responsive to a stated need.
• Business Development- Integration within the UN          
  • Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Business Management-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.
• 2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness-Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement      
  • Crisis risks and early warning.
• Partnership management-Strategic engagement             
  • Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
• 2030 Agenda: People-Gender    
  • UNDP's Gender Equality Seal Initiative