Since 2009, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with its national partners, has developed the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) for Viet Nam. The PAPI initiative was piloted in three provinces in 2009 and then expanded for larger pilot in 30 selected provinces in 2010. With the success of the pilots, PAPI has been conducted on an annual basis since 2011 in Viet Nam in all 63 provinces, with up to 20,000 citizens from different demographic and professional backgrounds interviewed individually. PAPI has been one of Viet Nam’s largest, annual, citizen-centric, nationwide policy monitoring tool.

With the PAPI survey at its core, UNDP Viet Nam’s local governance portfolio aims to gauge the perception and experiences of citizens regarding local governance and public administration performance at the provincial level. In so doing, it aims to capture and bring to the center of policy-making, implementation and monitoring  the voices of citizens from different demographic backgrounds. It aims to do so at all government levels. UNDP’s local governance portfolio also aims to increase institutional accountability and responsiveness by engaging citizens in overseeing the performance of the state apparatus and public administration system at the provincial level.

Ultimately, through evidence generation, participatory data, and inclusive dialogue, UNDP’s local governance portfolio seeks to advance citizen participation, to enhance local governance and to support national efforts in keeping the public administration system and local governments responsive and accountable to citizens and the society at large. UNDP pursues a citizen-centric approach, in which citizens are at the heart of Viet Nam’s development. As ‘end users’ of public administration and public services they are fully capable of assessing the performance of the State and local authorities, and in supporting the State in establishing a State that is “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

The portfolio has three, main pillars: participatory data generation, research and analysis on priority governance themes, with the PAPI index at its heart; the facilitation of multi-level participatory dialogues to bring the voice of citizens into policy-making and planning processes; and finally, the testing and launching of innovative service delivery measures that help address key inclusion challenges in the local governance. The Citizen-Powered Innovation Initiatives (CPII) promote initiatives from local governments and communities in response to citizens’ expectations and needs identified through research and analysis. The initiative aims (i) to identify, promote and help accelerate initiatives for better governance proposed by local governments and communities; (ii) to foster cooperation between local governments and communities in innovative design, implementation and monitoring of public services; and (iii) to promote digital transformation in the public sector for the benefits of citizens.

To advance its local governance portfolio across its three pillars, UNDP Viet Nam and its Governance and Participation Team (GPT) are looking for a Governance and Participation Analyst (GPA). The GPA reports to the Governance and Particiation Policy Analyst in charge of the local governance portfolio. The GPA is responsible for contributing to:

• Effective programme/project implementation of the local governance portfolio activities, including participatory research and analysis, policy dialogue and CPII initiatives
• Awareness raising, partnership-building and policy advocacy for citizen-centric innovation for better governance and public administration

The position is located in UNDP Viet Nam’s Governance and Participation Team. The Governance and Participation Analyst reports to the Governance and Participation Policy Analyst in charge of GPT’s local governance portfolio. Under the supervision of the Policy and Programme Analyst/ Project Manager, the Governance and Participation Analyst will provide advisory and technical support to the Assistant Resident Representative for Governance and Participation, UNDP Senior Management, and other GPT members on inclusiveness and innovation in local governance. S/he will work closely across GPT portfolios to ensure an integrated approach to advancing more inclusive, accountable and responsive governance at the subnational and local level.

Ensure effective project implementation, including:

• Develop and/or refine annual work plans and implementation for the project;
• Establish a system for project planning, implementation and monitoring (by gathering and compiling all information necessary for monitoring and reporting on activities from the planning to the evaluation stages);
• Coordinate the development and preparation of financial resources including annual workplan budgeting and budget revisions, and expenditure tracking and revisions;
• Implement project activities and deliver expected outputs as per the project document;
• Coordinate project partners for effective project implementation;
• Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds;
• Monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to partners as per UNDP’s corporate guidance; and conduct regular monitoring visits when required;
• Draft and provide inputs to annual and quarterly reports;
• Coordinate and/or take part in coordination of audits of the project;
• Participate in programme/project designing and fund-raising with the Governance and Participation Team

Implement project activities aimed at quality capacity building and substantive research and policy advocacy for citizen-centric innovation for better governance and public administration:

• Support for and/or coordinate the design and implementation of research and advocacy efforts within the project to promote citizen-centric, rights-based innovation for better goverance;
• Draft reports and/or conduct quality control over reports that require qualitative/quantitative data inputs, highlighting key issues, trends, emerging opportunities, risks, potential project partners, and entry-points for the project;
• Conduct consultations with multistakeholders, including NGOs, government agencies, think-tanks, communities and academia for substantive inputs for the project and GPT’s related programmes and projects;
• Facilitate UNDP’s partnership with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, and civil society organizations in the specific thematic areas based on the strategic goals and priorities of UNDP Viet Nam, Viet Nam’s Government and development partners;
• Draft speeches and presentations and deliver advocacy presentations when required;

Provide technical support, expert advice, and policy recommendation to promote citizen-centric, right-based innovation for better governance and public administration:

• Organize and/or participate in convention of substantive evidence-based policy advocacy events to promote citizen-centric, rights-based innovation for better governance;
• Facilitate thematic discussions on citizen-centric digital transformation and e-governance with stakeholders in Viet Nam;
• Co-create or co-design innovation initiatives with local government agencies for effective development of the initiatives;
• Conduct and/or support research to showcase best practices in the area of citizen-centric innovation for better governance and public administration to share with partners;
• Engage with and provide guidance to partners and stakeholders on how to implement effectively an innovation inititiative;
• Collaborate with innovation hubs within and outside UNDP to see additional technical advice and know-hows to share with Vietnamese partners and stakeholders;
• Participate and facilitation of South-South Cooperation and international exchanges in the area of citizen-centric innovation for better governance and public administration.

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

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Governance: Area-based approach to local governance; E-Governance; Inclusion and participation

General (across the functions)

• Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.

Digital & Innovation

• E-governance: Knowledge of how it works, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

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

Business Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Partnership Management

• Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding