The islands of Bougainville are an integral yet autonomous region of Papua New Guinea (PNG).  In 2001, the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) was signed between the national Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) and leaders representing the people of Bougainville. The BPA marked the end of a decade-long civil conflict in which up to 20,000 men and women died and many more were left without family, access to basic services and infrastructure, and left a highly traumatized society.

Following the establishment of the UN Political Office in Bougainville (UNPOB) in 1998, and the subsequent Observer Mission for Bougainville (UNOMB) facilitated and monitored the three key tenets of the BPA: a referendum on the independence of Bougainville, weapons disposal and the establishment of good governance, and the transfer of powers and functions (generally referred to as the ‘draw down’ of powers). Autonomy arrangements came into force in 2001 and the first Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) was established in 2005. Following this, the non-binding Bougainville Referendum was held in 2019, in which 97.7% of the population of the region voted for independence. Subsequent agreements and documents, including the 2021 Sharp Agreement and Wabag Road Map have since taken steps to outlines the process of the transfer of functions and powers to Bougainville ahead of the 2025-2027 timeline for Independence. At the same time, there has yet to be agreement on the tabling and acceptance of Bougainville’s referendum results by the National Parliament of PNG.

Two decades on from the cessation of hostilities, the progress of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) towards political, economic, and social normality is still slow. The combination of persisting trauma and societal fragmentation, continued prevalence of small arms, excessive consumption of alcohol and other substances by some, high rates of unemployment and violence against women, a ‘lost’ generation without education, and a still young and inexperienced autonomous administration are among the complex challenges facing the Region. In 2024, indications of the potential re-opening of the Panguna Mine has stoked debate in Bougainville on its past and future, and local-level conflict has re-emerged in areas such as Konnou in southern Bougainville. Further, in May 2024, meetings of the Joint technical Team and Joint Supervisory Body of the Bougainville Peace Agreement took place, and subsequent resolutions now lay the foundation for moderated talks on a number of outstanding issues ahead of potential ratification of the results of the 2019 Referendum. A draft Constitution for Bougainville was also circulated. As such, the pace of resolution of post referendum ratification matters has quickened and long-awaited decisions on Bougainville’s future appear imminent.

In this context, ongoing UNDP and joint UN programming seek to meetBougainville aspirations of peacebuilding and reconciliation, ensuring peace dividends and longer-term socio-economic recovery. A dynamic range of UNDP projects include recently launched flagship Innovation Hubs to pave the way for Bougainville women, youth and innovators to create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities by providing improved access to business development skills and services; support to gender transformative peacebuilding through joint programming on Women, Peace and Security; parliamentary strengthening support to the Bougainville House of Representatives, including dedicated support to the joint parliamentary Women’s Caucus of PNG; transparency and accountability support to civil society organisations;  and rollout of renewable solar system for communities to build the resilience of Bougainville through expansion of renewable energy access. UNDP has continued to support critical meetings to progress the political dialogue between the national Government of PNG and the ABG and remains a convenor of UN peacebuilding support in Bougainville. This area-based and multi-sectoral approach to development reflects the need for holistic and well-integrated programming to maximize development opportunities in Bougainville.

It is in this context that UNDP now wishes to enhance its programming support at a critical juncture in Bougainville’s peace and development journey.  Recent evaluations of the Sustaining Peace in Bougainville Project (2018-2022) and the Post-Referendum Support Project (2019-2022) strongly recommended that to provide effective support to ARoB, UNDP and UN agencies should ensure a higher level of staff capacity to implement future peacebuilding and development projects in Bougainville. Recommendations call for a consistent and more experienced senior Project Manager to manage complex local relationships, effectively coordinate UNDP and UN-system programming in a difficult operational environment and seize upon strategic opportunities for responsive and innovative support to ABG.

The Programme Coordinator will work to establish effective implementation of Bougainville-based activities to ensure technical coherence and greater impact. The position will support the translation of strategic and programmatic decisions (e.g. by Project Steering Committees) to the planning of activities while also advising development partners and other actors on potential implications of those decisions practically and strategically.

The position will be based at the UN’s Joint Field Office in Buka (Bougainville) with some time in Port Moresby as needed. The Programme Coordinator will manage and/or provide day-to-day oversight of the UNDP’s Bougainville-based team members and support non-Bougainville based projects with activities operating in the region. The Programme Coordinator will report directly to UNDP’s DRR (or his/her designate). The Programme Coordinator supervises relevant project staff working in Bougainville, ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. Programme Coordinator advises the country office senior management on programme, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges facing the Buka Office.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across

interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions,

teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Empower Her” PNG Peace Initiative (UN Joint Programme) and Enhancing Green Transformation in the Pacific

For each of these projects, the Programme Coordinator will:

• Oversee the timely implementation of the project’s Bougainville work plan, procurement plans, financial management and reporting, including ultimate responsibility on the management of consultants, technical expertise, project personnel, and goods and services.
• Be responsible for the continuous monitoring of financial resources and accounting to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Organize Project Steering Committee meetings and provide secretarial support on behalf of UNDP and/or UN agencies and facilitate the decision making of the steering committee, including providing programmatic information and background.
• Oversee the compilation of annual work plans and narrative reports, and contribute to UN Cooperation Framework joint annual work plans and reporting,
• Lead monitoring and reporting in accordance with the programme results framework, UNDP Country Programme Document and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
• Ensure and facilitate planned audits, spot-checks, monitoring visits, reviews and evaluations of the programme.
• For joint programming, lead interagency coordination on cross-cutting programmatic issues to ensure that they are adequately addressed.
• Coordinate and lead on resource mobilization efforts and strategic partnerships with potential new donors, leading to long-term financial sustainability of the project; and
• Oversee communications efforts including development of a range of core supporting material – reports, communications, briefings, case studies and presentations.

In addition, for the Transparency and Accountability in PNG project, the Bougainville Programme Coordinator will:

• Collaborate closely with the project Chief Technical Adviser (based in Port Moresby) to develop work plans for all Bougainville-based activities.
• Facilitate implementation of all Bougainville-based activities, including coordination of meetings and events, partner relationship management,
• Lead partner coordination for all Bougainville-based activities.
• Identify strategic entry points and/or new partnerships for the rollout an implementation of the project.
• Support monitoring and reporting on Bougainville-based activities.

Ensure effective field coordination for UNDP Programming in Bougainville:

• Manage key stakeholders’ coordination with development, humanitarian and private sector actors operating in Bougainville relevant to UNDP existing or planned programming;
• Establish, maintain and/or strengthen UNDP linkages with Autonomous Bougainville Government project stakeholders and represent UNDP when needed vis-a-vis government counterparts.
• Share regular Bougainville programmatic and political updates with UNDP senior management as necessary.
• Maintain situational awareness (and reporting when requested) of evolving operational environment including through establishing and maintain an informal information network to facilitate information sharing.
• Oversee development of key Bougainville information management products, such as contact lists.

Ensure Area Security Coordinator functions, with the achievement of the following results:

• Oversee coordination of the Bougainville Security Risk Management plan in accordance with stipulated role of Area Security Coordinator with support of deployed UNDSS local security advisor.
• Oversight business continuity planning for the Buka Field Office.

• Provide timely and effective critical analysis of political, social, economic and environmental matters that they impact the operations of the Buka Field Office and/or the UN’s capacity to deliver in the operating context.
• Deliver strategic recommendations on programme direction and possible areas for future assistance, including identification and promotion of joint area-based programming opportunities.
• Prepare written and/or oral reports to senior UN officials, and from time to time, senior Provincial and national government officials as directed by UNDP’s Resident Representative.
• Support the development of policy options and project designs for UN agencies and for UNDP’s broader governance and resilience efforts in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Foster partnership building, resource mobilization and donor liaison, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Prepare regular progress reports on implementation of different aspects of the Bougainville Programme, as required by donors or UNDP CPD or UNSDCF reporting.
• Contribute to ongoing resource mobilization for peace building, humanitarian, development and resilience efforts, by maintaining close liaison with the development partners, civil society and the private sector.
• Perform other work-related tasks to support reporting and resource mobilization for UNDP

Lead coordination and knowledge management:

• Liaise and share information regularly with key stakeholders and partners on programme activities.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning, including regional advisers, UNDP Communities of Practice and Global Policy Network to share best practice from Bougainville.
• Production of key knowledge products on peace building and development programming and fragile contexts while working closely with UNDP and UN communications teams to support the visibility of the Programme through mainstream and social media.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise and manager performances of Project Manager, Sustaining Peace in Bougainville; Project Manager, Pacific green Transformation; Driver – Bougainville.

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

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Business Management-Results-based Management:  Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Management-Partnerships Management:  Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Partnership management-Resource Mobilization:  Ability to identify funding sources, match funding
needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
Business Management- Client Management:  Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
Business Management-Portfolio Management:  Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
Business Direction and Strategy-Systems 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
Finance-Financial planning and budgeting:  Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting