UNDP Federal Governance Specialist || Apply Now |

The Federal Governance Specialist will work under the overall guidance of National Programme Director of Provincial , under the direct supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative. The Specialist will also coordinate closely with the designated Portfolio Manager and on policy matters with the Governance Advisor of UNDP Nepal.

Duties and Responsibilities of Federal Governance

Provide strategic analysis, guidance, and expertise (including comparative experience) to portfolio stakeholders on strengthening federalism in Nepal (direct contribution) and lead the overall process of preparing Capacity Development Strategy and Plan for PLGs development:

• Review and analyze on regular basis the overall progress, issues, and challenges on implementation of federalism in Nepal and provide updates to PLGSP stakeholders.
• Produce policy briefs on identified issues, as an input into policy discussions and learning events;
• Liaise with other programme/projects contributing to overall federalism and governance issues implemented by Government (MoFAGA), different Development Partners, UN agencies including UNDP projects, I/NGOs and promote coordination and cross learnings;
• Develop an overall capacity development strategy and plan, in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Guide in designing an implementation plan for capacity development.
• Take lead in inspiring a collaborative and systems approach to (institutional) capacity development (CD).
• Develop profiles and briefing notes of the programme and key programme initiatives on governance and capacity development of the PLGs and update them periodically.
• Lead development of a CD Strategy and provision of agreed CD actions for PRTA for adaptive Governance of federalization process and basic service delivery.

Contribute actively and directly to achieving of PLGSP Outputs related to IGR and ensure that Institutions have the necessary legal frameworks, capacity and performance accountability for good governance, civic engagement, and basic service delivery systems to achieve development results for the benefit of people, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized:

• Provide strategic guidance to strengthen IGR at all three tiers of the government.
• Bring in international expertise to the Programme in the areas of inter-governmental relations in federal Nepal taking reference to the international policies and practices and provide technical support to help establish new mechanisms or strengthen existing mechanism of inter-governmental relations.
• Ensure that relevant line ministries and statutory commissions are engaged as required in their respective areas of expertise (e.g. fiscal aspects, inclusion etc.);
• Ensure that the TA staff working in the Provincial Programme Implementation Support Units (PPISU) and Provincial Research and Training Academy (PRTA) are properly oriented on the relevant laws, policies, plans, tools, systems, and guidelines issued by the federal government.
• Contribute to the drafting of periodic spotlight reports on key programmatic areas that DPs or MoFAGA identify as requiring further discussion, attention, and reflection.
• Provide advice to the Federal Programme Coordination Analyst on the development of the interface between the Government and the DPs to coordinate and liaise between them, and to update the DPs regularly about the progress and issues related to programme implementation.

Lead the Transformational TA team and ensure effective coordination with the Implementation Support TA, and stakeholders at all three levels of Government and lead the development and implementation of change management process:

• Lead effective and efficient coordination within the transformational TA team, and between the ISTA and  transformational TA teams, with Development Partners (DPs) and between DPs, MoFAGA, OPMCM and PLGs on issues related to technical assistance, policy advise and capacity.
• Organize the provision of technical support to NPD, NPM and PLGSP TA staff, in the development and implementation of Annual Strategic Implementation Plan and Budget (ASIP).
• Ensures the transformational TA team provides effective technical support to PCU in preparations for FCC, NSC, and Technical Assistance Committee (TAC) meetings.
• Provide strategic guidance to the TA team at provincial level to prepare TA Plan and on the provincial coordination committees.
• Guide NPD/NPM in identifying areas where PLGSP requires external national and international TA. This includes drafting or editing Terms of References, providing support during implementation, and assisting in translating TA recommendations into action.
• Manage the Transformational TA team as well as the support staff and lead Transformational TA for achieving their assigned result areas. Ensure coherence that results assignment activities are aligned to the broader project work plan and capacity strengthening process of PLGs

Advise and support effective and efficient coordination among Development Partners (DP) and between DPs and MoFAGA including Knowledge management and Resource Mobilization:

• Guide the implementation of PLGSP TA monitoring and knowledge management plan development, including regular technical coordination meetings among implementing partners, and support to TAC meetings.
• Provide guidance to the MEL Analyst to devise effective strategies and tools to monitor output and outcome level changes, trends, and learning, and formulate recommendations to adjust PLGSP approaches as needed.
• Ensure progress monitoring and reporting and adaptation of approaches and assignment work plans based on learning and reprioritization.
• Coordination with other Provinces on good practice, learning and scaling opportunities and provide guidance on documentations.
• Extract learning and policy lessons from the PLGSP and support the PLGSP management, as requested, in channelling them as inputs into policy discussions with federal, provincial, and local governments and administration in Nepal.
• In close collaboration with Federal Programme Coordination Analyst, who has primary responsibility for coordination:
• Contribute to regular coordination between GoN and DPs to ensure timely implementation of the programme.
• Develop options to resolve programmatic issues by discussing possible solutions with MoFAGA, Joint Financing Agreement (JFA) partners, UNDP and other UN agencies, and DPs working on sub-national governance, promoting effective dialogue between all concerned stakeholders.

Advise and contribute to the mainstreaming of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) throughout program interventions:

• Drive the overall GESI agenda of the program, with support form the GESI Analyst and relevant team members and consultants/partners;
• Ensure that GESI is mainstreamed in all result areas of the project, based on solid analysis of inequality in power relations and their impact on federalism. Ensure targeted interventions are planned and implemented to promote inclusive governance and federalism, taking into account international best practices;
• Provide strategic guidance to team members to establish a system for collecting gender and social inclusion related disaggregated data, impact stories and results that benefit males, females, persons with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, other marginalized, vulnerable groups.
• Advise in identifying the risks and challenges associated for their meaningful participation in the federalism process, particularly in service delivery.
• Ensure GESI is adequately captured in project progress reports, baseline survey and final project evaluation.
• Provide guidance to GESI Analysts to integrate transformative GESI approaches in the TA strategies that could be replicated in the governance system and process.
• Advise in creating a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.

Check : Microsoft Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Research Internship 2025 (Paid)

Required Skills 

Education:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Policy, Public Administration/ Sector Management, Public Finance, International Development Law, Federalism and local governance, Rural Development, Capacity Development and Change, International Relations, Political Science, a relevant Social Science is required, OR
• First level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, with an additional two years qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressive experience in local governance, federalism, capacity development, public policy, and programme management is required.
• Experience in complex, Government-led programmes in developing countries is required.
• Knowledge and experience in policy advocacy with national and international stakeholders to promote inclusive federalism and/or local governance is required;
• Demonstrated capacity to advise on change management processes in the context of governance programmes is desired.
• Experience in conducting research and development of policy papers in governance is required.
• Strong networking, coordination and communication skills and experience with Development Partners (DPs), Government, authorities at different levels and others are required.
• Proven track record of producing high quality reports and other materials is desired.
• Excellent knowledge of computers including MS Office (Word, Excel, mail, and Power Point) is required.
• Practical knowledge and experience in promoting GESI for evidence-based policy formulation, formulation, advocacy is desired.
• Experience in facilitating coordination and dialogue among different stakeholders such as citizens, elected representatives, CSOs, ministries etc. is desired as well as proven capacity to develop and manage partnerships across diverse partners is desired.
• Proven knowledge and familiarity with UNDP/Development sector policies and procedures and operating knowledge of Quantum/or similar platforms would be desirable.
• Experience of working in Nepal or South Asia in policy advisory positions will be desirable.
• Experience in the challenges that arise from varying social and cultural perceptions and the sensitivity to diverse opinions is desired.

Languages: 

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

Join us on  Telegram for more opportunities !