UNDP in The Gambia 2024-2028 Country Programme Document (CPD)- focuses on democratic governance, equitable access to public service, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability. The CPD is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF/CF) for 2024-2028 which in turn draws from The Gambia’s Recovery Focused National Development Plan for the period 2023-2027. The Poverty & Inclusive Growth (IG) cluster is one of the three clusters in the UNDP Country Office and is charged with advancing 4 of the 9 UNDP CPD priorities by addressing key macroeconomic challenges, such as volatility, insufficient growth, and low investment. The Programme Analyst Poverty and Inclusive Growth will support the Country Office in the implementation of related programmes.

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.

Key duties and accountabilities

1. Support implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social, and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, CPD, and other documents;
• Identification of source of information related to poverty and inclusive growth, keeping abreast with policy changes regarding poverty, employment and inclusive growth and informing senior management; 
• Support and facilitate greater access and improvement of poverty reduction, employment generation and livelihood creation service delivery, especially for women, children and persons living with disability;
• Support programmes under the poverty and inclusive cluster and ensure it is well coordinated and enhanced;
• Participate in poverty, economic diversification and inclusive growth-related activities; participate in all regular meetings of the international and donor community on economic management issues;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the poverty and inclusive growth cluster, as well as opportunities for synergies with other interconnected thematic areas (including governance, environment, climate, etc.);
• Support capacity building of institutions responsible for poverty reduction and employment including the private sector; 
• Support all programme implementation functions, including budget and finance management, work planning, procurement, recruitment, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting functions;
• Work to ensure adequate visibility and awareness in relation to programme implementation and conduct and support resource mobilization efforts for the programme;
• Support close coordination of programme activities with the stakeholders – both national and international;
• Follow up and coordinate, together with national partners, donors and development partners, the conduct of regular Programme Board meetings and follow up on the decisions and recommendations made;
• Ensure implementation of relevant programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the effectiveness CO business processes.

• Maintain integrity of financial and administrative procedures as well as a consistent application of procedures, rules, and regulations regarding programme implementation and operations;
• Supervise requisitions, purchase orders and payment requests in Quantum, and provide monthly delivery updates on financial performance;
• Contribute to design and formulation of CO programme, translate UNDP priorities into local interventions, and oversee programme implementation with the implementing partners within the assigned programme areas. Ensure that design and formulation of programme considers societal digital technology risks and opportunities and other future signals;
• Support planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the assigned programme areas; and track use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Ensure digital technology solutions in programme implementation are managed towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards;
• Ensure the effective use of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle; and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on programme impact;
• Works to ensure that qualitative services are provided to national partners including fair and transparent procurement process and efficient operational support;
• Support management of the CO programme within the Poverty and Inclusive Growth programme focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results;
• Effective application of RBM tools, preparation of workplans, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
• Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions;
• Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies;
• Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets, and milestones;
• Assist with the initiation of projects, presentation the projects to LPAC, entering project into Quantum, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review;
• Programme Analyst will perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Quantum for POs and vouchers approval and participate in recruitment processes for projects;
• Undertake financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of NEX projects;
• Follow up on audit recommendations and ensure the implementation of management responses;
• Prepare donor reports and ensure aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs, and outcomes;
• Contribute to robust gender analysis and mainstreaming of gender, social and environmental standards and human rights-based approach within the programme and policy advisory function;
• Support trends analysis for future informed and anticipatory programming.

3. Creates and maintains strategic partnerships, and supports implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Management Support and Business Development Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Support proper information-sharing, coordination, and cooperation with other development actors, including the UNCT, Development Partners Group and the programme’s donors/development partners;
• Work to ensure effective partnership with key government and national counterparts to ensure goal-oriented programming and timely and smooth programme implementation;
• Support the establishment of stronger working relations between economic management, employment & livelihood; planning and statistical/data management institutions to ensure greater coordination and cooperation;
• Carry out analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
• Support development of portfolios and Country office pipeline including through the design of Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals, and cross-sectoral coordination in assigned areas to bring resources for projects.

4. Perform programme monitoring and evaluation functions: 

• Contribute to the formulation of M&E strategy and its implementation for tracking programme results;
• Contribute to advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management;
• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Contribute to the preparation of M&E reports, risk plans etc for the use of various stakeholders.

5. Ensures Knowledge Management and Policy Development:

• Identify sources of information related to policy-driven issues, identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the programme;
• Contribute to high-quality policy advice to the ministries of finance, economic affairs, planning and employment, trade, industry and youth empowerment, and other institutional partners as required, as it relates to developing polices programmes and strategies, and issues of institutional development, accountability, and oversight to promote accelerate economic growth, employment, and livelihood generation and broad -base development;
• Support Poverty and inclusive growth sector personnel and their training in organizational development methods and tools;
• Support the development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms;
• Organize trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & 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.

Inclusive Growth:

• Results-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Effective Decision Making
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• 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.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: 

• Inclusive Growth
  • Poverty and Human Development;
  • Fiscal and SDG financing policy support in view of the socio-economic impact of COVID 19;
  • Addressing developmental impacts of COVID 19 and safeguarding progress towards the SDGs.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements