Overview
The Programme Management Specialist will support programme implementation in Kiribati, focusing on strengthening risk and compliance management, enhancing oversight of the country portfolio, and promoting integrated approaches such as Risk-Informed Development and Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure close monitoring and timely delivery of and reporting on agreed results.
- Provide support in risk assessments, risk analysis for decision making, design and implementation of risk mitigation actions, risk escalation and other tasks in line with Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and ensure proper partner risk management.
- Ensure effective follow-up to the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) and Country Office micro assessments and audits, analyze findings and support preparation of the improvement plans.
- Support the implementation and integration of Risk-Informed Development (RID) and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) approaches across UNDP projects and Implementing Partners (IPs).
- Instigate and strengthen cross programme/projects coordination and collaboration within UNDP programme/projects and with partners.
- Identify entry points on RID integration with UNDP programme/projects and Implementation Partners.
- Provides support in strategic planning and oversight of the portfolio of programmes and projects in Kiribati to ensures their compliance with programme and operations policies and procedures (POPP) and quality assurance standards.
- Identifies strategic opportunities and leads engagement on potential joint programming with other UN Agencies and entities.
- Prepares data analysis and reports, with recommendations on control issues requiring CO management’s actions and interventions.
- Maintain regular communication on relevant issues with the local and international counterparties, consultants, and experts and ensure quality and timely delivery of all agreed outputs.
- Support and contribute substantively to preparation of the programme and briefing notes for the field missions by the MCO senior management, global/regional programme advisors, donors as appropriate.
- Provide logistical and other support for multi country office (MCO) donor visits in the geographic area of responsibility.
- Identify and support synergies with UNDP projects and programmes on related activities where possible.
- Strive to engage groups and communities in project activities that affect them through participatory processes.
- Contribute to the UNDP Annual Programme Reviews, whole-of-office corporate annual planning, and the end-of-year reporting with the data and key results achieved in the area.
- Provide training and capacity building that will facilitate better alignment of the government systems, assurance frameworks such as HACT, and the UNDP POPP in line with the identified needs on the ground.
- Promote effective knowledge management practices across the office, counterparts, and projects through provision of resources, tools, and stock taking of lessons learned.
- Facilitate and support capacity development initiatives on RID and GEDSI, including training, learning exchanges, and practical application to strengthen institutional capabilities for resilience development and good governance.
Required Experience
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in portfolio, programme, or project management, with demonstrated experience in programme finance, operations, and risk management considered an added advantage.
- Strong knowledge of UNDP Enterprise Risk Management policy, Accountability Framework, programme and project management policies and procedures, and ERP platforms (Oracle Cloud, etc.) is highly desirable.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Business administration, project management, international development, public administration, or a related field is required or bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the above-mentioned fields with additional 2 years relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.
- Certification in programme/project management (e.g., PRINCE, MSP, PMP, etc.) and/or accounting/audit areas will be a distinct advantage.
