Specialist in Territorial Governance Regional Coordinator Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMGUNDP/1206/2025807

Specialist in Territorial Governance Regional Coordinator Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMGUNDP/1206/2025807

Ambovombe (Madagascar)

Job Description

OFFICE/UNIT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION

After nearly 30 years of commitment to this path, decentralization in Madagascar is slow to become effective in practice. Although the current legislative framework very clearly defines the powers, roles, and structures of the decentralized authorities (1,695 municipalities, 24 regions, and 6 provinces), analyses tend to point to the ineffectiveness of the texts, the lack of horizontal coordination at the national level, and a weak transfer of resources to address development challenges in the territories.

On the one hand, the weakness of decentralized structures weighs heavily on the provision of basic social services to populations and accentuates the imbalance in the development of the different territories. On the other hand, the excessive concentration of powers and resources in the capital also leads de facto to a tension in political issues at the level of control by the central government. This situation fuels social tensions and latent regional divisions that weaken social cohesion at the national level.

UNDP is a key partner of Madagascar in supporting the decentralization process, both through strategic support and capacity building initiatives for territorial stakeholders. Recent developments in the country include the adoption in 2023 of the National Plan for Emerging Decentralization (PNDE) as the new strategic framework, the adoption of the new General State Policy (PGE), and the ministerial reorganization of January 2024, which establishes a new Ministry of Decentralization and Territorial Planning, separate from the Ministry of the Interior. These institutional developments represent real opportunities to relaunch and advance the implementation of decentralization in the country, which UNDP is committed to supporting.

In accordance with the guidelines defined in the Country Programme Document (CPD 2024-2028), the UNDP approach within the framework of the new programming cycle consists of deploying offers of support for the implementation of the reform on the decentralization and territorialization of public policy at both central and decentralized levels. In this context, the UNDP will also be called upon to play a central role in coordinating the Nexus HDP approach at the level of the intervention regions.

The Territorial Governance Specialist (and regional coordinator) will be part of the implementation team for the project to support the Decentralization and Territorialization of Public Policies, the responsibilities and modalities of which are developed in this term of reference.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Territorial Governance Specialist (and Regional Coordinator) must have a sense of leadership to oversee the effective implementation of the lines of activity of each component of the project. He ensures the overall and daily management of the project interventions in the region under his responsibility following the procedures and quality standards required for the expected results.

As such, he is primarily responsible for operational planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and the sustainability of project achievements at the regional level. The Territorial Governance Specialist is also the coordinator of all UNDP interventions in the region. He also supports the Region in coordinating all activities carried out by stakeholders in a territorial development approach; including the aspect related to the Nexus HDP. He participates in resource mobilization. He works in close collaboration with the project team at the central level, the interregional support and coordination team, the UNDP Operations team and the entities involved in the project at the regional level.

Ensure and coordinate technical management:

Assume operational management of the project in accordance with the project document, UNDP policies, project implementation procedures, and the various recommendations of evaluations and the project committee;
Manage and coordinate the execution of the project in accordance with the objectives, work plan and planned budget, to ensure that activities in each product are implemented in a timely, efficient and effective manner in accordance with the project document and work plan;

Support the region and all stakeholders in implementing a territorial approach in accordance with the guidelines defined in the PNDE; including the aspect linked to the Nexus HDP;
Support for the establishment of a steering and monitoring-evaluation system for the implementation of the PNDE at the regional level in conjunction with the national mechanism;
Prepare the project work plan addressing regional issues and revise if necessary;

Prepare reports on the progress of the work plan at the regional level and submit them for consolidation at the level of the National Project Coordinator;
Ensure that the various documents (multi-year, annual, quarterly, operational work plans, logs, reports) necessary for the proper functioning of the project in the region are prepared on time according to the required quality standards and updated;

Support the finalization of the ToRs on specific activities to be deployed in the region;
Coordinate project activities with relevant activities and initiatives of the region and local partners;
Ensure the management of knowledge and skills relating to the implementation of the project in the region under his responsibility;
Maintain close relationships with all relevant stakeholders and partners to ensure adequate information flow and cooperation between participating institutions of the project;
Ensure the updating of project monitoring tools relating to risks and problems at the regional level;
Liaise and coordinate meetings and discussions between the various agencies and implementing partners involved in the project at the regional level;

Support efforts aimed at developing partnerships likely to facilitate the achievements planned in the project description;
Supervise and/or monitor service providers (firms, consultants, trainers, etc.) recruited to provide occasional support for the implementation of activities in the region (preparation of TDRs, participation in the choice of providers, monitoring of services, etc.);
Ensure the facilitation of exchanges and the circulation of information (preparation of meeting minutes, visit or mission reports) between all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the project;
Ensure the coordination of all UNDP interventions in the region under his responsibility (joint planning, consistency of the implementation process, etc.)
Support the communications manager in communications activities to ensure the visibility of actions and the credibility of UNDP;

Contribute to strategic planning for which its expertise is required to better integrate the challenges;
Contribute to the identification and development of new projects;
Undertake other tasks required by the project.

Ensure and coordinate administrative and financial management:

Manage the day-to-day operations of the budget relating to the implementation of the project in the region under his/her responsibility, including the management of financial and other records to facilitate project audits; which includes monitoring financial resources and accounting to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
Manage financial resources relating to the implementation of the project in the region under his responsibility based on the value of resources and profitability principles;
Ensure compliance with administrative and financial procedures in the implementation of the project;
Oversee the management of project materials in the region under his responsibility, updating the asset inventory, registration service and communication systems;

Ensure timely submission of the annual inventory of durable equipment and other financial and administrative reports;
Supervise and evaluate administrative staff and consultants assigned to the project;
Support resource mobilization efforts to enable their increase when additional results or outputs are needed;
Certify the commitment of credits for the implementation of project activities in the region under its responsibility;
Monitor financial results and certify financial reports, before signature by the National Project Coordinator;
Identify potential operational and financial issues;
Facilitate Project Audits;
Participate in the preparation and organization of project evaluations;
Follow up on Audit/Evaluation recommendations and ensure proper implementation;
Participate in project closeout activities which include final financial and technical reports, and submission of required documents.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

For the Androy region, the Territorial Governance Specialist (and regional coordinator) will be under the general authority of the Grand Sud Interregional Coordinator, and under the direct supervision of the National Coordinator of the project to Support the Decentralization and Territorialization of Public Policies.

The Territorial Governance Specialist (and regional coordinator) will work in close collaboration with the team of the relevant Region, regional technical departments and services, local authorities and stakeholders, implementing partners, local communities, etc. He or she will interact with the regional team of other UNDP projects, the interregional team and the central team as well as other stakeholders in the area.

SKILLS

Core
Achieving results:

LEVEL 3: Define, for oneself and for others, resources and plans to achieve objectives.
Think innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Identify trends and seek clarity outside established frameworks and categories while questioning certainties and resisting simplistic binary choices
Continuous learning:

LEVEL 3: Actively seek opportunities to learn and develop, both professionally and personally. Keep abreast of new developments in your professional field.

Adapt with agility:

LEVEL 3: Accept ambiguity and effectively manage multiple demands.
Act with determination:

LEVEL 3: Demonstrate courage, motivation and initiative to seize opportunities that arise on one’s own initiative
Get involved and partner:

LEVEL 3: Establish and develop networks that enable fruitful collaborations
Promoting diversity and inclusion:
LEVEL 3: Understand that inclusion has multiple facets (ethnicity, gender, age, disability, culture, etc.).
Cross-functional and technical skills

Thematic area
Name
Definition
Organizational direction and strategy
Strategic thinking
Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans aligned with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on a systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and risks. Match the overall vision with the reality on the ground to define tangible and targeted solutions; draw lessons from various sources to anticipate and address current and future trends; demonstrate foresight

Agenda 2030: Peace
Conflict prevention,

peacebuilding and

responsive institutions

Peace and security for young people
Organizational management
Results-based management
Ability to manage programs and projects with a focus on performance improvement and demonstrable results

Organizational management
Results-based management
Be able to manage the implementation of strategies, programs and projects with a focus on improving performance and achieving demonstrable results. Know and understand relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments and tools

Organizational management
Partnership Management
Build and maintain partnerships with broad networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others, in line with strategy and policies

from UNDP.

Organizational management
Risk management
Identify and organize activities around the reduction, mitigation and proactive management of risks

Agenda 2030: Peace
Governance
Governance and territorial development (2243 RSC 2015)
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SELECTED NPSA

Min. Academic Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in the field of social sciences, management, economics, rural development or other related fields is required, OR
A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields with 2 years of additional experience will be duly considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant Work experience
Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressive and consistent professional experience in the management of development projects is required.

Required skills and competencies
Proven experience in technical and financial management, monitoring and evaluation of territorial development programs and projects;
Proven mastery of the strategic framework on Decentralization and development issues in Madagascar;
Proven experience in supporting multi-stakeholder dynamics at the territorial level;
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, internet, etc.).

Desired additional skills and competencies
Proven good report writing skills;
Proven excellent communication, organizational and facilitation skills;
Proven ability to work and manage teams in a multicultural and multidisciplinary context;
Proven ability to travel frequently and work in rural areas;
Proven good knowledge of the Nexus “Humanitarian, Development, Peace” approach;
Experience in UNDP project development and implementation would be an asset;
Experience in other international development projects would be an added advantage.

Required Language(s) (at working level)
Fluency in French is required
A good knowledge of English is considered an asset
TRAVEL

Ability to travel frequently in the bush within the region of assignment and in Madagascar.

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