Pakistan Evidence and Learning Platform (PELP) Manager – P5

Background

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is establishing the Pakistan Evidence Learning Platform (PELP) as part of the UK DFID supported Multi Year Humanitarian Programme (MYHP).  The PELP will contribute to reduced impact from humanitarian disasters through effective knowledge management, transfer and innovation with involvement and eventual leadership from national partners. The PELP will including the following elements:

•  A knowledge hub providing a repository of humanitarian sector practices
• Learning solutions, transferring knowledge to PELP stakeholders
• An innovation grant mechanism to promote good practices
• Third party monitoring and impact evaluation
• The PELP will initially be linked to the UN Resident Coordinator Office, and gradually be transferred to a national entity ensuring sustainability in the longer term.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent is responsible for the following responsibilities and functions:

1. Develops and provides effective management of the PELP Office by:

• Overseeing the Office’s administration and operations, including relations with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO); staffing, including staff recruitment, work planning and performance appraisal; procurement, including the selection of contractors in accordance with applicable UN/UNITAR rules and procedures;
• Overseeing the Office’s results-based budgeting, work planning and performance reporting exercises;
• Overseeing the monitoring of the PELP project results framework, annual work plan and risk management plan; 
• Ensuring the PELP project financial and narrative progress reports are submitted to the donor in accordance with the schedule set out in the Memorandum of Understanding;
• Acting as principal focal point for the project in Pakistan including with respect to the humanitarian system and with DFID, providing regular briefings to key stakeholders as necessary and ensuring visibility and clear communications.
  
   

2.  Contributes to the strengthening of national and subnational capacities to document and disseminate good practices by:

• Designing and implementing a knowledge management strategy to enhance the capacities of partners to generate and disseminate learning from humanitarian action, and to regularly assess/review the strategy’s performance against broader PELP objectives;
• Identifying critical knowledge generation and sharing channels and stakeholders, prioritizing action based on knowledge management principles and strategic considerations, gathering stakeholder’s consensus on PELP’s directions;
• Designing simple and effective processes to document and disseminate solid humanitarian practices, to be integrated in existing organizational dynamics of key stakeholders;
• Establishment of a sustainable knowledge hub and database and hand over strategy to a suitable national institution.

3.  Contributes to the strengthening of national and subnational capacities and skills for effective humanitarian engagement by:

• Designing a learning strategy to prioritize technical partners and target learners, and to assess/review the value added of PELP’s engagements in learning;
• Partnering with academic and training institutions to implement and monitor the PELP learning strategy;
• Advise on design and support implementation of the Innovation Grants Mechanism by: identifying PELP gap areas that can benefit from innovation; providing a Secretariat function for the Grant Management mechanism, constantly feeding information to the Innovation Grant management to identify scalable innovative solutions to support knowledge management for humanitarian action and Third Party Monitoring;
• Defining a hand over strategy to a suitable national institution.

4. Contributes to strengthened accountability and lesson learning from MYHP programming:

• Finalizing third party monitoring (TPM) strategy and methodology based on a review of international best practice, existing TPM reports of MYHP projects and the status of the delivery/implementation of MYHP projects;
• Overseeing the collection and analysis of high quality, disaggregated data (gender and other vulnerable groups) on MYHP supported projects;
• Reviewing and finalizing periodic TPM reports on MYHP supported projects and ensuring that reports contain evidence that is disaggregated by gender and other vulnerable groups, where relevant/possible;
• Reviewing and finalizing periodic synthesis reports of narrative progress reports/self-evaluations submitted by MYPH consortium lead agencies; and
• Ensuring that TPM outputs are independent and impartial and meet quality standards; are based on process, outcome and, where feasible, impact monitoring exercises; and include recommendations and lessons learned for improving programme performance, organizational learning and quality improvement in humanitarian programming.

Perform other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following/supervision:

Within the Institute, frequent coordination with the management of the Green Development and Climate Change Programme, the UNITAR Operational Satellite Applications Programme, and the Planning, Performance and Results Section under the Office of the Executive Director. Outside the Institute, exchanges with partner agencies supported by the DFID MYHP; UNRCO in Pakistan; Members of the PELP Steering Group; UN OCHA, relevant government authorities of Pakistan (national, provincial and local); international organizations, international and national NGOs and academic institutions. 

Results Expected

Delivery of high-quality outputs and effective management of the PELP Office in accordance with applicable United Nations/UNITAR policies, rules and procedures; effective coordination and liaison with the RCO and broader humanitarian community of actors in Pakistan.

Competencies

Professionalism – In-depth knowledge of and experience in project management related to humanitarian programming and knowledge management, including knowledge of and experience with stakeholder analysis, needs assessments, designing learning solutions, third party monitoring; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; has broad understanding of Institute’s programming and knowledge of the United Nations context and topics, including the role of the United Nations and the relationship of the Institute in the broader United Nations system of organizations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Professional/Technical skills – Strong knowledge management skills, including data/information management; ability to analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources; proven ability to facilitate collaborative project design and implementation, involving a variety of stakeholders from the national and sub-national levels

Communication – High ability and demonstrates excellent communication skills, including presenting results in a clear and user friendly way; highly effective in engaging and communicating with senior management and stakeholders; is excellent in asking probing questions and engaging in active listening; ability to supervisor and mentor others.

Teamwork – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal effectively with multiple constituencies; ability to work on cross-functional consultative teams in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision.

Planning & coordination – Excellent ability to coordinate and supervise complex projects, establish and manage steering groups and demonstrates an ability to establishes and assess risk and build and apply contingency plans where relevant. Ability to deliver quality work, prioritizing needs and working under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines. Extensive track-record in designing and overseeing complex monitoring and evaluation initiatives.

Managerial Competencies

Leadership – Ability to lead effectively and take initiative, empowering others to commit in meeting the office’s objectives by conveying enthusiasm, encouraging excellence through modeling high standards of performance and cultivating team-building, where the work of others plays an important role in achieving the section’s objective and consequently the organization’s strategic goals; consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude, demonstrate openness and ability to change; demonstrates mentoring and coaching capacity.

Strategic vision – Clearly defines the objectives of the section in alignment with the overall strategy of the organization, communicating effectively these objectives and building a sense of commitment to the achievement of these objectives.

Results-orientation – Produces high quality work, demonstrating capacity to propose and find solutions in adverse situations such as limited available resources.

Performance Management – Advocates a results-oriented culture, monitors progress against milestones, empowers others to commit to results production; and builds an environment of confidence and trust on individual performance management.

Qualifications

Education:       Advanced university degree in development, humanitarian or knowledge management studies or other field related, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Experience:      A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in project management in development and/or humanitarian settings, including work planning, monitoring and reporting, and assessing risks; office administration, contracts and procurement. Extensive experience in knowledge management in the development or humanitarian sector, including the development of knowledge management strategies and systems. Effective team management, communication, coordination and supervision. Excellent communicator (written and oral).

Languages:     Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Mastering of Urdu is a strong asset.

UNITAR shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8).  

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.  Priority will be given to the applicants from the under-represented regions at UNITAR. There will be a probation period of 3 months.