Background :

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP, including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) 2020–2024 aims at supporting the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in all its forms and to reduce inequalities and the vulnerability of the population. To this end, an integrated approach to three main priorities has been adopted: (1) promotion of governance: which aims to improve the legal and institutional environment necessary to strengthen the inclusion of target populations in decision-making and promote their well-being; (2) economic transformation: which aims to support the achievement of a structural transformation towards a sustainable and inclusive green economy using a human development approach; and (3) stabilization and resilience: which targets support to fragile and conflict-affected regions through a comprehensive and integrated package of support.

The Greater Kasai region, located in the center of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is administratively structured into five provinces: area of 325,044 km2 (14% of the national territory), 13.8 million inhabitants (16.2% of the population). The DRC has the largest number of food insecure people in the world and the second-largest number of internally displaced people (5.2 million), of whom 1.4 million are from Greater Kasai. Estimates indicate that 1 million children in the DRC suffer from severe acute malnutrition, 26% of whom live in the Kasai region. Large geographical areas of the region are isolated due to the lack of road links with the main economic centers of the DRC (Kinshasa and Lubumbashi) and with neighboring Angola, making development very difficult and costly. Women continue to face discrimination in all parts of the region, mainly because of customary law and power structures. The region's poverty incidence is 77%, the highest in the country with an average Human Development Index of 0.392 (DRC 0.464).

The establishment of UNDP's local presence in Greater Kasai is part of the logic of improving efficiency in the implementation of its country program. In doing so, the Country Office opted for decentralization in its program portfolio management, with a strengthening of its presence in some provinces.

The realization of this vision through a strategic positioning, notably conditioned among other things by the withdrawal of MONUSCO from Greater Kasai, was done according to a gradual approach that began in 2018 and led to the effective establishment during the second half of 2020 of a presence in Kananga (epicenter of the Kasai region). To date, they sub-office projects are active in the provinces of Kasai (Tshikapa) and Sankuru (Lodja). Operational coordination within the local presence is strengthened by two types of meetings.

• Promoting governance for development.
• Support for stabilization and strengthening community resilience;
• And the fight against poverty and inequalities for which UNDP supports the Government of the DRC in the implementation of the Local Development Program of the 145 Territories (PDL-145T) which is fully in line with the LCPI (Accelerated Presidential Program for the Fight against Poverty and Inequality) and is aligned with the PNSD, UNSDCF 2020-2024 and contributes directly to nine SDGs.

In this view, UNDP is recruiting an experienced head of sub-office, who will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative-Programme (DRR/P), with matrixed reporting to the Deputy Resident Representative in Charge of Operations (DRR/O).

Position purpose :

• Office management
• Representation and Coordination
• Program Development Strategic Analysis, Planning and Advice
• Program Oversight, Quality Control and Assurance
• Security and Common services.

Duties and responsibilities :

Office management :

• Ensures the smooth running of Office including good management and supervision of staff, finance and administrative matters in accordance with relevant UNDP rules and procedures
• Is accountable for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Office and to the portfolio of the geographic area
• Promotes team work, collaboration and synergies within his office among the project teams in his/her area of supervision and the program units at the Country Office level
• Ensures timely and regular reporting.

Representation and Coordination :

• Under guidance of the DRR/P, represents UNDP in the region of Great Kasaï and provides the orientation of the UNDP at local level and supervises all activities of the office
• Provides strong coordination support to UN Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and national authorities through the establishment of a wider consultation process and appropriate fora to enhance coordination between humanitarian and transition-to-development partners, thus strengthening the links between relief, early recovery and development activities
• Ensures proper support, coordination and inputs to the implementation of the PDL and of the strengthening of the governorate and the ministry of planning;
• Responsible for the coordination and of programs and projects
• Provides support to overall resource mobilization efforts of the Country office in close coordination with the Program Units at the CO level.

Program Development Strategic Analysis, Planning and Advice:

• Is responsible, in close collaboration with the relevant Program units at the Country Office level, for the implementation of the CO strategic direction and oversight and quality control of program
• Advises the Country Office, national counterparts and other aid partners on policies and strategies to adequately respond to transitional recovery and development challenges and needs
• Ensures identification and promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities
• Coordinates with MONUSCO residual team, UN-organizations and other interventions at local level
• Based on monitoring and evaluation of the recovery and development situation, provides programmatic responses to the deficits in these area
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

Program Oversight, Quality Control and Assurance:

• Ensures proper implementation of programs based on continuous monitoring and analysis of (a) the most critical recovery and development needs, response capacities, access situation, operational environment and applicable security issues and (b) implementation progress of the programs in his/her geographic area
• Leads the UNDP program and facilitates attainment of expected results in his/her geographic area in close collaboration with the Country Office
• Ensures effective application of RBM tools, monitors field office and project unit work plans, program effectiveness and achievement of results
• Ensures the integrity of financial systems, review of budget requirements and the consistent application of rules and regulations
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice
• Performs any other related task assigned by the supervisor.

Security and Common services :

• Ensures security of project staff and premises at Kananga and at any others project sub presences in the region
• Supports the implementation of UNDP MOSS compliance at Kananga and at any others project sub presences in the region
• Ensures the implementation of security measures agreed in the SMT and for compliance with security policy in Kananga
• Ensures UNDP support to and coordination of common services
• Provides policy support, guidance and advocacy on the development, establishment and management of common services arrangements at Kananga
• Oversees the effective provision of services including financial, human resources, procurement and logistics
• Maintains a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequately plans for disasters and recoveries.

Required skills and experience :

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in political or social science, international studies, public administration, economics, or other related fields, OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience :

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in recovery and development affairs, crisis response and prevention, recovery and development, or other related area is required
• At least 3 to 5 years of senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexities is required
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP is required.

Knowledge and skills :

• Demonstrated experience, knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, human rights and development-related issues is desirable
• Prior experience in analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate recovery and development dimensions and related issues that require a coordinated UN response, is desirable
• Demonstrate experience in identifying issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems required
• Prior experience and good knowledge of the country and region of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions, is desirable
• Prior experience and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to recovery and development issues and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system is desirable
• Experience in international organization and familiarity with UNDP management system is highly desirable.

Language requirement :

• Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills in French, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style, is required
• Good knowledge of English (spoken and written) is desirable