LEAD Project Officer - Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia

LEAD PROJECT OFFICER (NATIONAL) (RE-ADVERTISED) - TERNATE, NORTH MALUKU
Location :	Ternate, North Maluku, INDONESIA
Application Deadline :	25-Feb-09
Type of Contract :	Service Contract
Languages Required :	English
Duration of Initial Contract :	12 months with possibility for extension
UNDP Indonesia's mission is to be an agent for change in the human and social development of Indonesia. We aim to be a bridge between Indonesia and all donors as well as a trusted partner to all stakeholders. We work in four key areas of development: Governance Reforms, Pro-Poor Policy Reforms, Conflict Prevention and Recovery, and Environment Management, with the overarching aim of reducing poverty in Indonesia. Besides the four priority areas, UNDP Indonesia is also engaged in a variety of crosscutting initiatives focused on HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and information and technology for development. 1. BACKGROUND The goals of the Legal Empowerment and Assistance for the Disadvantaged Project (LEAD) are to increase access to justice and thereby contribute to alleviating poverty and improving governance. The strategy is to achieve the goals by supporting legal services, legal capacity development and related development activities for the poor and other disadvantaged groups. LEAD comprises four components: The strengthening sectoral legal services component will focus on supporting and strengthening legal empowerment services that address specific sectors and issues, such as gender, land and natural resources. It accordingly will fund efforts to aid the disadvantaged confronted by specific sectoral problems and to build their law-oriented capacities. This component will comprise two thematic sectors: Justice and Gender and Justice and Natural Resources. The strengthening the legal services/citizen assistance communities component will support the strengthening of the legal services community in ways that transcend sectoral foci. Where legal services organizations are absent, it will help establish them or otherwise build ways for citizens to channel their grievances to appropriate forums. Support will also be provided to monitoring and oversight mechanisms of justice and citizen assistance systems. This component will also comprise two thematic sectors: Justice and Legal Services, and Justice and Local Governance. The strengthening justice sector reform efforts component will provide support to ongoing reform efforts geared towards improving access to justice. This could include assessing the progress of the implementation of the reform agenda, supporting coordination mechanisms of reform efforts, supporting the development of access to justice oriented policies, as well as enhancing cooperation between civil society and government. The research and policy development (including Monitoring and Evaluation) component will assess LEAD?s impact, as well as those of its grants and initiatives. It will employ mechanisms to collect, monitor and analyze information on LEAD-supported activities so as to contribute to policy advocacy and law reform. As such, the component includes monitoring and evaluation, but also will employ its research to contribute to broader objectives. LEAD is being implemented initially in Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Maluku and at national level. The LEAD project strategy emphasizes the following: A grant-making facility Legal empowerment A human rights-based approach to development Civil society support and capacity development Constructive interaction with government Cooperation with other funding agencies A five-tiered approach: On the most basic level, the project will seek to raise the legal awareness, power and assistance available at the grassroots village or community level. It also will see to build up paralegal capacities for specific villages or NGO members who will develop greater levels of legal knowledge and skills. It will support legal services provided by lawyers and related services by NGOs and other professionals. It will also support national and sub-national justice sector reform efforts, particularly those seeking to improve access to justice. Analyses of the problems and progress LEAD and its partners make will contribute to policy and legal reform advocacy. 2. ROLE Under the guidance of the LEAD Project Manager and designated Sector Coordinator, the primary responsibility of the Project Officer is to support LEAD project operations in North Maluku, and to supervise day-to-day activities of the Grants Associate.
II. Functions / Key Results Expected Summary of key functions: Under supervision of the LEAD Project Manager, and designated Sector Coordinator in the LEAD Project Management Unit (PMU), the Project Officer will provide support for the following key functions: Overall management of project resources at provincial level and responsibility for the delivery and reporting of outputs as agreed with the PMU. Lead on the socialization of the LEAD project to beneficiaries and stakeholders, and develop calls for proposals with clear objectives, targets and budgeting. Provide technical assistance on CSO grantees? project implementation, and support the monitoring and evaluation by the PMU of grantees? projects against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets. Provide information and support to CSO grantees with regard to reporting and compliance with UNDP standard operating procedures. Conduct CSO capacity assessments and support delivery of a program of capacity development in collaboration with the Grants Associate and the PMU. Act as a liaison between UNDP, provincial/local government and CSO grantees, establishing networking activities and facilitating monthly meetings as required. Actively engage UNDP Offices and representations at the provincial level in order to encourage synergies coordinate activities. Establish a Provincial Review Group consisting of committed representatives from the GoI, civil society, and other key stakeholders (all at provincial level), as well as UNDP. Maintain regular communication with CSOs to coordinate and troubleshoot as to programmatic and operational issues. Conduct regular monitoring of CSO project activities, including through field visits, to assess overall project implementation with respect to project objectives, outputs and indicators, and suggest corrective measures where necessary. Provide regular reports to the PMU on field monitoring visits that incorporate operational and programmatic concerns and remedial actions. Project Officer functions in detail: 1. Support project implementation: a) Activities applicable to all grants Undertake outreach to CSOs, local governments and citizens on LEAD and its Grant-Making Facility. Advise applicants on grant proposal preparation and the criteria to be met. Proposals should include, among other things, grantee?s work plan and how its activities will contribute to LEAD components, grantee?s capacity and the need for technical assistance/capacity development, budget/cost appraisal, a monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan, and a sustainability plan. In consultation with the LEAD PMU, support the development of: (i) grantees? quarterly work plans; and (ii) criteria for proposals involving both grants (above $25,000) and sub-grants (below $25,000). Solicit and receive proposals pertaining to the different components of LEAD, and forward on in an expeditious manner to the LEAD PMU. Report regularly to the LEAD PMU on field monitoring visits that incorporate operational and programmatic concerns and remedial actions. b) Activities involving grants between $1,000 and $24,999 (where applicable) Make high-level contacts with a view to the formation of a Provincial Review Group (that will review grant applications under $25,000), consisting of committed representatives from the GoI, civil society, and other key stakeholders (all at provincial level), as well as UNDP. 2. Act as a liaison between UNDP, national/local government and CSO grantees in North Maluku: Under the guidance of the LEAD Project Manager and Sector Coordinators, facilitate monthly cooperation meetings between local government (Bappeda) and CSO grantees. Facilitate field visits by the PMU staff, donors, auditors, evaluators and other UNDP personnel. 3. Facilitate capacity building of CSO grantees in North Maluku: Undertake capacity assessments of grantees to determine capacity development needs in order for them to be able to implement grants / sub-grants effectively. Support Sector Coordinators or contracted trainers to arrange and facilitate capacity development workshops for grantees / sub-grantees. 4. Support implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CSO grantees? project activities in North Maluku: Provide information and support to CSO grantees with regard to reporting, UNDP standard operating procedures and queries relating to project implementation. Support Sector Coordinators in the monitoring and evaluation of grantees? projects against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets. III. Impact of Results Project implementation in line with the objectives of the project and UNDP rules, regulations and procedures is critical to ensure achievement of UNDP Country Programme outcomes. A client-oriented and efficient approach has impact on the image of the UNDP CO.
IV. Competencies Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates commitment to UNDP?s mission, vision and values. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. Functional Competencies: Project Management Demonstrates understanding of results based management and a results oriented approach to project implementation. Communications and Networking Has excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors. Has excellent written communication skills, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports. Has demonstrated knowledge and experience in working on improving access to justice at community level. Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national and international institutions, both government and non-government Knowledge Management and Learning Shares knowledge and experience Leadership and Self-Management Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
V. Recruitment Qualifications Education: Bachelor?s degree, preferably in law or social sciences. Master?s degree in development or social sciences is desirable. Experience: Essential 6 years of relevant experience working on social development and/or justice-related projects, including project development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation Good understanding of project cycle management Grant making to civil society organisations Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working on improving access to justice Strong experience in the usage of computers and office software packages Desirable: Familiarity with UNDP systems, rules and procedures Experience working with local and national government in Indonesia Experience of working in a cross-cutting project support role Language Requirements: Strong written and spoken English and Bahasa Indonesia Female candidates are encouraged to apply UNDP Indonesia reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP Indonesia at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and education requirements.

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