Civil Society Expert on Anti-Corruption at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Civil Society Expert on Anti-Corruption

Location : Abuja
Type of Contract: Service Contract
Post Level: SB-5
Languages Required: English
Duration of Initial Contract: Initial duration of one year

Background
The "Support to Anti-Corruption in Nigeria" project has been formulated in collaboration with national stakeholders and is funded by the European Union (EU). The EU and the Government of Nigeria have entrusted the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with the implementation of the project, which will support the Nigerian Government by contributing to Nigeria's efforts in enhancing transparency, accountability and combating corruption.

The objectives of the project are:

• To provide effective support to anti-corruption coordination, policy formulation and legislation;
• To strengthen institutional and operational capacity in the main anti-corruption agencies, with an emphasis on cooperation; and
• To enhance accountability, transparency and public engagement.

Underlying the aforementioned objectives is the realization that, with coordination and support, a vibrant civil society in Nigeria can play a crucial role and is an invaluable asset in the fight against corruption through its networks and access to the community at large. Therefore this project aims to strengthen the participation of civil society organizations, by inter alia enhancing public participation through awareness raising activities and by implementing a grant scheme to strengthen the capacity and expertise of civil society to fight corruption and increase public accountability in Nigeria.

While UNODC will work with national stakeholders towards achieving the first two objectives, the third objective which seeks to achieve the stated outcome: “civil society organizations empowered to increase the provision of services and their participation in anti-corruption activities enhanced” will be implemented by UNDP.

Thus, under the strategic direction of the UNDP Team Leader for Governance and Peace Building and working in close collaboration with the Programme Analyst, Anti-Corruption and Public Procurement and the UNODC Anti-Corruption Project Team, particularly the Programme Officer on Coordination and Partnerships, the Civil Society Expert will support and provide expert services in the implementation of Outcome 3 of the project towards empowering Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to increase the provision of public services, combat corruption, increase public accountability and improve the capacities of the civil society organizations to engage in critical issues as regards the anti-corruption agenda in Nigeria.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Civil Society Anti-Corruption Expert will be required to work fulltime on the Support to Anti-Corruption in Nigeria project. The following is a summary of the key functions and the expected results.

Summary of Key Functions

• Manage the civil society component of the EU-funded UNODC implemented anti-corruption project based on the developed and approved annual work plan;
• Maintain partnerships with civil society particularly the umbrella organizations and also through a civil society advisory group on anti-corruption that will be established in the course of implementing the project;
• Substantively manage the directions and mechanisms of the project’s civil society grant scheme;
• Prepare the narrative progress reports and contribute to the preparation of financial reports for the CSO component of the project;
• Consult regularly with UNODC Project Team on the implementation of the civil society component of the project.

Function / Expected Results:

• Manage the civil society component of the anti-corruption project focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Ensure effective management of the civil society component of the anti-corruption project while establishing and maintaining an alignment and relationship between the CSO component and the other two components of the project being implemented directly by UNODC;
• Co-ordination of all activities relating to the CSO component of the project;
• Preparation of work-plans, timelines and budget for CSO activities for endorsement and approval by UNDP and UNODC;
• Draft terms of reference calling for proposals from CSOs for specified activities, including following up on the selection process;
• Craft and manage agreements with CSOs for specified services and objectives.
• Advise on the civil society component of the project and its strategic planning and direction.
• Identify global best practices and lessons learnt which are directly linked to the project’s objectives under the CSO component.

Function / Expected Results:

• Maintain partnerships with civil society, ACAs, particularly the umbrella organizations and also through a civil society advisory group on anti-corruption that will be established in the course of implementing the project towards achieving the following results:
• Build synergy among civil society organizations working in the area of anti-corruption;
• Nurture broader partnerships in the areas of anti-corruption including with other relevant non state actors such as professional bodies, business associations and private sector organisations;
• Offer professional guidance to CSOs on development strategies and capacity building;
• Identify and disseminate relevant and appropriate sources of information related to civil society and anti-corruption issues.

Function / Expected Results:

• Substantively manage the directions and mechanisms of the project’s civil society grant scheme focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Ensure that the civil society grant scheme is well designed to meet the project needs;
• Effective and efficient utilization of the grant scheme to produce desired results.
• Substantively certify project activities implemented by CSOs;
• Ensure that CSO grants are awarded in strict compliance with UNDP procedures;
• Manage the CSO grants scheme in a manner that ensures that contractual obligations are met including making sure that reporting timelines are strictly complied with; and
• Monitoring and evaluating the performance of the CSO grants.

Function / Expected Results:

• Prepare the narrative progress reports and contribute to the financial reports of the CSO component of the project towards achieving the following results:
• Preparation of annual and semi-annual project progress reports on the implementation of Outcome 3 of the Project, as per the UNODC format;
• Preparation of specific narrative reports on the implementation of Outcome 3 of the Project following the European Union’s format;
• Contribute to the preparation of certified financial reports to be produced once 70% of the contribution has been spent;
• Contribute to the preparation of other certified financial reports as may be needed in the course of project implementation.
• Contribute to project internal and external monitoring, evaluation and audit missions.

Required Skills and Experience

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in planning and implementing CSO activities in relation to anti-corruption and public accountability.
• Progressive work experience in anti-corruption and public accountability, including issues dealing with: (a) policy dialogue and advisory work; (b) leadership and management of research and analysis; (c) design and execution of capacity development programmes and grant schemes; (d) project management, preferably funded by development partners (UN or other); and (e) promotion of stakeholder/community awareness of and participation in the fight against corruption and the promotion of public accountability.
• A good understanding of the social, economic, political and historical trends of anti-corruption and public accountability in Nigeria.
• Skills in training, process facilitation, strategic planning, and partnership-building.
• Ability to prepare high quality policy briefs, analytical reports, and technical research reflecting global good practice in democratic governance.
• Excellent PC user skills: word processing, spreadsheets, databases and web-based research.
• Ability to travel within Nigeria and beyond as required.
• Proven track record of advising, organizing and supervising public awareness activities partnering with CSOs, including that of CSOs capacity-building projects.
• Excellent knowledge of the anti-corruption agenda and familiarity with the civil society landscape in Nigeria.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and proven ability to work in a collegial and supportive manner, including lead and work in multi-disciplinary teams and multi-cultural environment.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in both spoken and written English is required particularly in making public presentations, facilitating trainings and preparing issue-based papers or reports.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the shared vision, mission and strategic goals of the partners supporting the initiative;
• Displays strong cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Proven competence in the field of anti-corruption and well-informed on public accountability and citizens engagement issues. S/he should have a strong grasp of the strategic issues involved in the fight against corruption in Nigeria and the role that CSOs, ACAs, and ordinary citizens play in promoting transparency and public accountability in Nigeria;
• Ability to appreciate and respond productively to the challenges faced in leading a high-risk initiative in a politically challenging environment. Ability to maintain calm and poise under pressure and in provocative situations as well as apply skills in mediation and consensus-building;
• Solid academic background and demonstrated abilities in analysis of complex political situations and providing strategic advice, while maintaining personal detachment;
• Solid knowledge and experience of project management and proven experience in working with civil society organizations;
• Strong inter-personal communications and diplomatic skills, with an ability to listen, understand and respond effectively to different and divergent points of view expressed by a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to build strong relationships with clients, focus on impact and result for the client and respond positively to feedback;
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor work plans. Proven ability to work under pressure and produce accurate, timely and high quality outputs;
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities;
• Ability to understand and apply tools such as the logical framework, results-based approaches like UNDP’s Results Based Management (RBM) and PRINCE2. Ability to support and provide oversight to strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Resourcefulness, good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; and
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with and between different levels and types of project personnel and counterparts.

Application Closing Date
27th July, 2015

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online