Project Specialist, FFIS – UNDP Iraq

Background

Currently, one of the highest priorities for UNDP Iraq is to support the newly liberated areas which were freed from ISIL. At the request of the Government of Iraq and the DSRSG, UNDP has been given the programmatic lead to support these areas. In this context, a Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization has been set up (FFIS) and local needs assessments have been conducted in the newly liberated areas, with costing of immediate and medium term needs. There is strong donor support for this FFIS and contributions and pledges exceed 50M USD which requires UNDP to deliver in a timely fashion. Around 15 partners have contributed to FFIS.

For the implementation of FFIS, a project team with stabilization advisors and project implementation staff  has been set up as well as an Operations Service Centre headed by a senior operations manager and an external monitoring company under recruitment. Iraq currently has around 3.2M IDPs.

The objective of Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization FFIS is to quickly implement activities to stabilize newly liberated areas of Iraq as identified by the project steering committee co-chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office and the DSRSG/RC. The stabilization activities will allow for IDPs to return to their areas of origin.

The funding facility will support four sets of activities, each with a dedicated window. All activities will be decided in agreement with the local authorities (Governor’s office and mayors), based on priorities identified at the local level through consultations. Given the sensitive nature of stabilization and the fragile conditions prevailing in many newly liberated areas, concerns relating to human rights, protection, gender and inclusion will be taken into account during the prioritization and sequencing of activities.

Window One: Public Works and Light Infrastructure Rehabilitation. This window will be used to finance light repairs of key public infrastructure including clinics, police stations, water facilities, power grids, government buildings and access roads. It will also be used to finance rubble removal and waste collection.

Window Two: Livelihoods. This window will be used to finance activities aimed at jump-starting the local economy and generating income for local households, particularly families returning to their homes. The Cash for Work activities, as mentioned above, are part of this cash injection into the local economy. In addition, it intends to provide micro-credit grants to small businesses with high community impact including bakeries, electrical shops, agriculture, food kiosks and micro-stores. Where possible, support will also be given to women and vulnerable households.

Window Three: Capacity Support. This window will be used to finance technical support for local governments, boosting their immediate response capacity to cope with the challenges arising during stabilization.

Window Four: Community Reconciliation. This window will be used to finance programmes that help local leaders and community groups promote social cohesion and dialogue.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Specialist will provide support to the FFIS project and will work under the direct supervision of the FFIS Program Manager. This entails ensuring proper and timely reporting to donors, maintaining excellent donor relations and preparation of substantive proposals for funding, ensure proper application of RBM tools and support to the planning and implementation of the project. The Project specialist will deputize the Program manager.

Reporting and communications:

• Draft regular progress and final reports based on inputs provided by project staff;
• Prepare other donor and communications briefings;
• Ensure that reports are provided to donors according to UNDP’s contractual obligations;
• Develop stories that highlight UNDP’s impact and results, which can be posted on the website and other communication tools for social media, in coordination with the strategic communications specialist.

Donor Relations:

• Prepare donor proposals for FFIS in line with needs and overall FFIS strategy and donor requirements;
• Maintain regular contact with donors and ensuring timely reporting and compliance with donor agreements;
• Ensure that relevant information for FFIS is shared with the donor community, including preparation of minutes of the steering committee meeting and its distribution to partners;
• Reach out to new donors and support the preparation of visits of senior level officials to donor capitals;
• Prepare documentation for the FFIS Steering Committee.

Planning:

• Assist Project manager in developing detailed implementation strategy based on the project documents including preparation of project strategy and planning documents;
• Support to overall coordination of FFIS activities;
• Carry out detailed operational needs assessment for each activity as per implementation strategy;
• Prepare operational plans detailing recruitment, procurement and disbursement processes and schedules for both projects in close coordination with CO Admin/Finance/HR Departments;
• Advise project manager on operational feasibility of project requirements and impact of UNDP standard operating procedures on planning and delivery timelines;
• Disseminate work plans to project staff and ensure their full comprehension;
• Prepare / review TORs for staff and consultants and follow up recruitment process with CO.;
• If applicable, organize preparation and implementation of events (training, seminars etc);
• Organize briefing on operational matters for incoming staff and consultants;
• Carry out, if requested by the project manager, regular updates of the work plans.

Results Based Management:

• Ensure proper application of RBM tools;
• Oversee and consolidate monitoring carried out by the engineers or area coordinators and ensure that proper reporting is provided to the UNDP CO on indicators of the Strategic Plans and ROAR;
• Compile regular lessons learnt and disseminate among staff to improve delivery of operational support;
• Ensure that complete, accurate and timely archiving (hardcopy and electronic) of all documents and files relating to operational matters is performed by all concerned staff.

Other tasks:

• Deputize the Program Manager;
• Provide support to staff capacity building as requested;
• Participate in Task Forces and other ad-hoc internal working groups on cross-cutting themes as requested;
• Perform any other tasks as required by project manager.

Location: Baghdad, Iraq

Application deadline: 13 February 2016

Read more and apply here.