BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Under the overall leadership of the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia (DSRSG/RC/HC), the Integrated Office (IO) works to enhance quality control, promote transparency, and ensure value for money by providing expert advice, risk management, oversight, and enhanced coordination of UN operations in Somalia. The IO hosts the Pooled Fund Secretariat (Enablers III) which provides support to the Somalia Joint Fund and the wider international community including on:

• The implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the National Development Plan (NDP-9) and Agenda 2030 commitments
• Coordinating work on the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus and cross-cutting issues that assist those most in need: durable solutions for displacement affected populations, environment and climate, youth, gender, and resilience.
• Providing efficient and proven solutions through system-wide services such as risk management; accountability to affected populations; regional coordination offices; and tailored thematic and policy advice to UN agencies and Government.
• Improving coherence, coordination and complementarity of UN programming, good offices, and advocacy in line with Agenda 2030 and the UN Somalia Cooperation Framework.

The UN Somalia Risk Management Unit (RMU), part of the Enablers III pooled fund project within the IO, is agile, flexible, and responsive to the evolving needs of its diverse clients including UN system organizations, donor partners, government, and NGOs.  The RMU has an adaptive management and risk mitigation approach. It continuously assesses and manages risks involved in the implementation of programmes through coordinating forums, offering expertise and advice, and managing tools that contribute to evidence-based decision making. The RMU aims to enable robust risk management systems, enhance accountability, strengthen the use of country systems and support localization of aid delivery in coordination with development and humanitarian stakeholders.

Under the overall supervision of the DSRSG/RC/HC, reporting to the Head of the IO on a day-to-day basis, the Chief of the RMU will support risk informed decision making. The incumbent will supervise international and national professional personnel focusing on different aspects, as outlined above and in the functions stipulated in the following parts of these terms of reference.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILTIES

RMU’s overall objective is “Humanitarian, development and peacebuilding interventions in Somalia that are strengthened by risk informed decision making”. Chief of RMU will perform the following functions:

• Risk analysis and management support
• Enhanced risk management capacity of aid stakeholders
• Risk informed delivery of funds through country systems
• Enhanced information sharing between aid stakeholders
• Enhanced collaborative risk management across aid stakeholders
• Leverage synergies of best practices on risk management across UN RMUs
• Provision of advisory services that contribute to integrated efforts to address anti-corruption
• Supervise and manage RMU personnel.

Key duties and accountabilities include:

Programme interventions are strengthened by risk informed decision making:

• Contributes to decision-making, management, and implementation of programmes funded by UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes (AFPs).

Risk analysis and management support: 

• Undertakes strategic, programmatic, project and partner risk assessments and analysis, including due diligence on behalf of the UN AFPs.
• Provides risk management advice and related technical assistance as required.
• Provides advice on risk related matters including recommended treatment measures.
• Coordinates the development of adaptive risk management strategies, in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Supports and monitors the implementation of adaptive risk management strategies, including through the risk management dashboard, including regular review of risks (nature, likelihood, impact on fund). Drives the implementation and maintenance of RMU-managed analytical systems and prepares timely, accurate and audience-specific reports to the UNCT and other partners.
•  Promotes the application of advanced risk analytics to measure and monitor risk exposures and programme requirements.
•  Develops, implements, and maintains policies and guidelines to identify, monitor, mitigate, and report risk related to use of UN managed funds.
• Ensures the development of protocols, procedures, and techniques on information and system protection.
• Develops lessons learned and best practice knowledge products, based on the implementation of the risk management strategy.
• Remains up to date with new and innovative developments in risk management.

Enhance risk management capacity of UN system and local partners with robust risk management approaches and skills: 

• Leads team in organizing and conducting risk capacity building to promote a risk culture across the organization.
• Coordinates the development and enhancement of class-based and online risk management course in the context of Managing Project Risk and other technical assistance to support capacity building.
• Advises and provides hands on capacity building of national and state government officials and civil society on matters related to risk management.

Enhance information sharing and collaboration

• Promote information sharing across peacebuilding, development and humanitarian (nexus) stakeholders through existing systems and collaborative forums.
• Identifies and engages relevant stakeholders to facilitate targeted deep dives, bespoke reviews, and any additional directives from senior leadership.
• Establishes and strengthens partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders including UN, donors, government, and civil society.
• Promotes risk management discussions across Somalia-led aid architecture groups.

Risk informed delivery of funds through country systems

• Coordinates and monitors the UN efforts to disburse funds through the Somalia country systems at the federal and member states level.
• Advises and coordinates assurance activities and assessments to be undertaken by the UN of the financial management systems and recommends actions to be put in place in accordance with the risk profile.

Anti- Corruption and Fraud:

• Contributes to UN work on anti-corruption and public financial management, public service management and domestic revenue generation, including through IFIs.

Leverage best risk management practice across UN RMUs:

• Represents the UN in country-level and global Risk Management policy discussions and promotes the replication of the risk management practices and tools in other UN operations.

Supervise and manage the RMU personnel and consultants:

• Provides leadership and support to staff in the RMU.
• Supervises the performance of reporting personnel, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensures the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff and supports career development of the RMU personnel.

Perform other duties as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Risk Management, Counter Fraud / Corruption, Investigation, Security, Finance, Accounting, , or related field is required. Or
• A Bachelor’s degree in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of 10 years (with Master’s) or 12 years (with Bachelors degree) of operational risk analysis and management experience within programmes / projects of which a minimum of three years is international experience is required.
• Knowledge of international standards on risk management (ISO31000, The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Enterprise Risk Management) is required.
• Proven experience and qualification in the design, implementation and evaluation of capacity building programmes and initiatives is required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with proven ability in communicating with senior managers is required.
• Proven experience in establishing and maintaining partnership across aid stakeholders is required.
• Ability to assess and challenge findings is required.
• Possess a proven track record in developing risk management framework and coordinating risk measurement models is required.
• Practitioner level experience in developing risk framework and undertaking risk assessments is required.
• Experience in financial and fiduciary risk management, anti-money laundering or similar areas is desirable.
• Experience with the United Nations or other international organizations in crisis settings is desirable.
• Result-oriented, attention to detail, and work on own initiative with high-quality output is required.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in oral and written English.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion

People Management Competencies: 

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies: 

Finance: Anti-fraud and anti-bribery and corruption

• Understand the policy and best practice relating to anti-bribery and corruption controls and ensures these are implemented and widely understood within the organization.
• Understand the fraud risks faced by public bodies and can effectively analyze data to support fraud identification and fraud risk management.
• Understand the fraud risks faced by public and non-governmental institutions and can conduct fraud risk assessments and response plans.

Business Management: Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize actions around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Partnership Management: Emerging Partnerships

• Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

Finance: Due Diligence Management

• Ability to conduct a comprehensive appraisal of an organization or opportunity to be undertaken, especially to establish its capacity and evaluate the potential opportunity and its related risks, knowledge of respective methodology and tools.

Finance: Financial Risk Management

• Ensure financial resilience through proactive risk assessment, controls implementation, and mitigating action.
• Understand risk and reward about collaborative and commercial projects.
• Provide a culture of positive risk management.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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