The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Governance for Resilience (Gov4Res) Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The projects theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. This is consistent with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which calls for the ‘mainstreaming’ of climate and disaster risk treating risk management as fundamental to all development decisions.

The Gov4Res Project three outcome areas to work with countries across the region to address these risks by development: 1) government planning and financing systems enable gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; 2) country oversight and accountability systems require gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; and 3) regional organisations, policies and practices are actively supporting gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development. UNDP is partnering with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO).

Under overall guidance and direct supervision of the Governance for Resilience (Gov4Res) Project Manager based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Resilience Specialist will work in close coordination with the government of Kiribati, with a focus on the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED), to support and strengthen its financial management systems and capacity for greater efficiency and accountability. Additionally, the Specialist will provide effective support to management and implementation of the Gov4Res projects for a whole of government approach to resilience by integrating risks into planning, budgeting and decision-making processes and promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

Provide strategic advice and lead UNDP initiatives and activities in the North Pacific

• Identify entry points for risk informing planning and budgeting, particularly partnering with ministries responsible for finance and planning.
• Provide high-level technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions on risk informing development in relation to strategic planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, planning and budgeting, sub-national planning, public financial management and sectoral activities to support realization of risk informed development.
• Analyse and conduct research on North Pacific climate and development financing and provide strategic guidance on the preparation of project annual work plan, annual report and other documents of the project.

Systems and Capacity Strengthening

• Analyse and monitor overall project financial situation in consultation with UNDP partners and deliver high level finance and administration support services in a professional and effective manner to both Implementing Partner (IP) and Responsible Party (RP)
• Identify and investigate operational and financial bottlenecks and develop strategies to address and mitigate such bottlenecks.
• Assist IP and RP in developing policies, procedures, standard operating procedures (SOP) for system strengthening within the project scope.
• Design and implement systems and capacity development plans including on-the-job training and training sessions on project and financial management for IP and RP stakeholders.
• Facilitate knowledge management and sharing including a synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices from a project management and financial perspective.

Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) and Audit exercises

• Provide advise, guidance and support to IP and RP on HACT and Audit policies and procedures and act as HACT focal point.
• Provide technical and administrative support in the preparation and implementation of HACT Micro Assessment in line with the HACT policy and procedure and UNDP policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Participate in the review of assessments and assurance reports to identify areas for improvement related to the implementation of HACT framework and propose capacity development actions for IP and RP.
• Share HACT assessment reports with IP, RP and UNDP team, especially reports of assurance activities, to ensure adequate awareness and follow-up of identified issues.
• Contribute to assurance planning process and ensure implementation of the assurance activities in close coordination with relevant IP and/or RP and other key stakeholders.
• Regularly monitor and update implementation progress of the assurance activities and assist with the maintenance of HACT related documentation.

Quality Assurance in overall management of project funds at country level

• Coordinate and act as focal point to improve overall operational efficiency of UNDP projects in the North Pacific and ensure compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies of financial activities and financial reporting system.
• Contribute to planning, monitoring, and reporting of project financial resources and assist IP & RP in providing solutions to issues related to finance, procurement, and other administrative activities.
• Track and monitor project expenditures against planned budgets to ensure conformity with a Letter of Agreement (LoA) and work plan and advise IP, RP and UNDP on the gaps between budgets and expenditures for taking actions.
• Identify high risk areas requiring special attention and support from the UNDP team and devise plans to minimize or eliminate risks in completing project activities in close coordination with IP, RP and UNDP team.
• Ensure the quality and financial compliances of documents of projects, agreements with donors, government and non-government counterparts, grants, and other important documents deemed necessary.
• Regularly report and provide updates on the financial status of the project and ensure a high level of quality, accuracy, and reliability of information and analysis.
• Establish and maintain a strong relationship with government counterparts for the successful achievement of project outputs through ensuring risks for implementing partnership management are identified and mitigation measures put in place.
• As required, provide support and advice to the Gov4Res team more broadly.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and Security (Finance)

• Audit: Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services; Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting. Ability to examine and verify accounts and records; Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny; Understands the law and best practice relating to antibribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies
• Financial reporting and analysis: Understands changes in regulatory, legal, and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings, and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring; Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social, and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance.
• Financial risk management: Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects; Ensures a culture of positive risk management; Ability to manage organization’s assets such as equity, bonds, cash, etc. according to the investment guidelines.

Programme and Policy (2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness)

• Effectiveness: Capacities to enhance aid transparency; Project Quality Assurance

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Partnership management

• Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, and/or leading and managing projects.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in using web-based management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Experience working within multilateral agencies, UN agencies or international banks.
• At least three years of demonstrated work experience in the Pacific region
• Experience at the national or international level in working with government on institutional strengthening.

Required Languages:

• Fluency of English language is required, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island languages and culture would be an asset.