Governance Adviser at Department for International Development (DFID)

Department for international Development (DFID) Nigeria is responsible for managing the British Government's contribution to development in Nigeria, with the objective of supporting government and development partners at federal and state levels to reduce poverty to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

DFID Nigeria is recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Governance Adviser

Job ID: #824831
Location: Abuja
DFID Grade: A2 or A2L (depending on candidates' experience)

Summary
DFID Nigeria is recruiting Governance Advisers to strengthen its governance advisory capacity. This post requires individuals with competencies and a strong track record and evidence of delivery in political and institutional analysis.

The candidate will also need to demonstrate an ability to apply governance skills and competencies in at least one sector i.e. service delivery, wealth creation and private sector development or climate change. Further, the candidate will also need experience in at least two of the following areas: security, justice, rule of law and human rights; anti-corruption, public financial management, public service reform, and accountable government.

DFID's programme in Nigeria
DFID, the Department for International Development, leads the British government’s fight against world poverty. Since its creation, DFID has helped more than 250 million people lift themselves from poverty and helped 40 million more children to go to primary school. But there is still much to do. 1.4 billion people still live on less than $1.25 a day. In Nigeria, DFID's objective is to support government and development partners at federal and state levels to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

If the MDGs are not met in Nigeria they will not be met in Africa. 102 million of Nigeria's 158 million people live on less than $1.25 a day and some states in northern Nigeria have among the worst maternal mortality and girls' primary school enrolment in the world. In eight Northern states 80% of women cannot read. Yet Nigeria has the potential to be an engine of economic growth and development across the continent. That's why Nigeria matters and is a key priority for DFID. Overall, through its Operational Plan, DFID spends around £275 million/year in Nigeria.

Supporting Nigeria to improve governance is a key part of DFID's efforts to reduce poverty. Whether or not we succeed will depend to a large extent on whether the public resources are managed well and spent on areas that improve the lives of the poor. DFID Nigeria is looking for a dynamic, energetic and skilful Governance Adviser to play a major role in ensuring the success of our programmes in Nigeria.

The Governance Adviser will help oversee major Public Sector Reform programmes in Nigeria. The post holder will also provide technical analysis and advice across DFID's major growth, governance and human development portfolio. She/he will work to ensure DFID Nigeria strategies, policies and programmes are informed by a robust analysis of political and governance issues.

As part of the DFID Nigeria Governance and Social development team the Governance Adviser will have a major role working to influence DFID stakeholders across a broad range of policy and programme issues through building strong relationships with key actors in Nigeria.

We are looking for a strong candidate to be based in Abuja but able to travel frequently including across DFID's focal states in the North.

Job Description and Duties & How DFID Governance Advisers work

• Advisers are expected to not only advise others but to directly use their excellent technical, analytical, communication and strategic/political skills to scope, design and manage programmes, draft advice and briefings for UK Ministers and senior officials and to present analysis clearly and succinctly to external/ internal audiences.

You will be required to demonstrate knowledge and experience of the following technical competencies:

• Governance, Political and Institutional Analysis: A thorough practical and theoretical understanding of governance evidence, policy and practice in a range of settings. Ability to apply political and institutional analysis and use this to influence strategic planning and programming decisions.
• Support to Service Delivery, Wealth Creation and Private Sector Development, Climate Change: Understanding of the underlying institutional and political dimensions of service delivery, wealth creation/private sector development and climate change. Ability to provide effective cross-cutting advice to strategies and programmes in these areas.

Demonstrate good knowledge and results in two of the following:

• Security, Justice, Rule of law and Human rights: Understand and experience of how security, justice, rule of law and human rights contribute to development, and their impact on different groups, particularly women. Knowledge of different legal systems, including informal justice systems, in a range of contexts, including fragile states.
• Public Sector Governance and Institutional Reform: Knowledge of public sector governance and organisational and institutional change processes. Ability to provide analytical, advisory and programme support to public sector reform processes in a range of different political contexts that contribute to the sustainable improvement of public service delivery and an enabling environment for growth
• Public Financial Management and Taxation: Knowledge and experience of the role of public financial management and taxation systems and their importance in development and state-building processes. Ability to provide advice to DFID on fiduciary risk, develop PFM and revenue programmes, and engage with government partners and other donors in policy dialogue around these issues
• Corruption: Understanding of the causes and effects of corruption and the implications for DFID policy and practice. Ability to provide strategic advice, work with others in HMG and internationally, and deliver programmes and strategies on corruption.
• Political Systems and Accountable Governance: Knowledge of political systems and of political settlements in different settings; the relevance of transparency, empowerment and accountability for development; and of the promotion and realisation of human rights and of political inclusion. Ability to provide advice, policy direction and programme leadership across these areas, working with HMG, country and international partners.
• The precise division of labour within the governance team will depend on your background and experience in relation to other Governance Advisers and office priorities at the time you take up the post.

The Governance Adviser's Key Responsibilities will include:

• Support the implementation and monitoring of key programmes in Public Sector Reform, working closely with other lead advisers.
• Play an active and effective role in relation to Governance Team portfolio development, strategic planning and financial and corporate management and responsibilities - e.g. play a central role in designing, appraising and implementing new DFID Nigeria governance programmes in line with Office priorities/plans.
• Contribute effectively to policy dialogue with the Federal and State Governments and civil society on governance issues.
• Provide timely and high-quality governance advice to project planning across the office and provide cross-cutting governance input to Human Development and Economic Growth teams more broadly.
• Provide advice and political analysis and reporting, engaging closely with other parts of the British Government in Nigeria particularly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
• Contribute to strengthening DFID's governance related delivery and results in research, policy, knowledge networks, and programmes.
• Work collaboratively to help the wider DFID Nigeria team to achieve its objectives including providing cover and support to other team members where the need arises.
• Cross-cutting advice to programme teams in DFID Nigeria: Depending on your skills you will be responsible for providing cross cutting political advice to programmes across the office - this will include advice on, human rights, social structures and accountability processes through inputs to the design and delivery of those programmes. This will include interventions in health, education, water and sanitation, economic growth and governance sectors. There are also opportunities for leading DFID's thinking and strategy in a range of other areas.

Attributes
Leading programmes will require the following attributes:

• Work closely with Programme Officers to ensure effective financial management of these programmes (including forecasting and wider corporate compliance around implementation).
• Ensure that these programmes are concluded effectively and/or that any follow-on support is designed and planned appropriately.

Skills/Technical Competencies
Relevant job specific skills and technical competencies required:

• You will be required to meet the minimum standard of accreditation to DFID's professional groupings (known as professional "cadres"), as well as the generic core competencies.
• You should meet at least 'A2L' standard against the Governance competencies. The minimum standards for these professional groups are attached. DFID will welcome candidates who exceed the "A2L" requirements, including those meeting "A2" requirements.
• We are looking for someone with excellent political awareness and judgment on sensitive governance matters and with very strong communication (written and verbal) and influencing and negotiating skills.
• You will need to be comfortable working on governance issues with the Nigerian Federal and State governments and international development agencies.

Requirement
In particular, the following skills and experience will be required:

• Masters' Degree or equivalent level of academic and professional experience in Political science, International Relations, Public Administration, Management, Accounting or Finance, Law or Development Studies.

Evidence of:

• Expertise in political analysis;
• An ability to explain complex political issues in simple English to a range of audiences;
• Experience in influencing policies at senior levels;
• Experience of working with and influencing other bilateral and multilateral donors.

Key Core Competencies for this Vacancy

• As well as technical skills and behaviours all DFID staff need to demonstrate core or generic competences. Full information on DFID's 10 core competencies framework is available on the recruitment page of our website. For this vacancy candidates will be assessed against 6 of these key core competencies as follows:

1. Delivering Value for Money - Understand impacts of financial position in own area and that of the organisation and use insight to curtail or support business and investment activities;
2. Seeing the big picture - Anticipate economic, social, political, environmental and technological developments to keep activity relevant and targeted;
3. Making effective decisions - Push decision making to the right level within their teams, not allow unnecessary bureaucracy and structure to suppress innovation and delivery;
4. Collaborating and partnering - Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests;
5. Leading and communicating - Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in area of work, and;
6. Delivering at Pace - Get the best out of people by giving enthusiastic and encouraging messages about priorities, objectives and expectations.

Working Pattern:

• This post is full time, permanent, and not suitable for part time or job share applicants
• Employment Terms: Permanent post, 35 hours per week

Remuneration
DFID offers a competitive salary and benefit package. The current starting salary for this position (graded A2L or A2) per annum is N9, 479,244 or N14, 218,742 respectively, inclusive of local taxes. The successful candidates will be offered either grade depending on their experience, qualifications and performance at the interviews.

Application Closing Date
12 noon, Friday 13th February, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications to: [email protected]

Note: All enquiries should also be routed through the same email address. Interviews will be scheduled to take place within 3 weeks of the closing date. The successful candidate will be expected to take up post as early as April 2015. Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will be invited to join the next stage of the assessment process.