Gaunpalika Planning & Governance Advisor

Job Profile – Gaunpalika  Planning & Governance Advisor

Mott MacDonald is an employee-owned management, development and engineering consultancy serving the public and private sector around the world, with more than 16,000 staff worldwide.

Our International Development Services Unit, IDS, operates portfolios within the international development sectors of Environment, Climate, Water, Roads, Rural & Urban Development, Education, Health, Social and Economic Development in over 40 countries. Together we implement and manage projects in developing countries and emerging economies around the world, supporting national governments and municipalities in policy, planning, project design and delivery. We are committed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to provide our expertise to improve the lives of people in need.

Job Description

We are seeking Planning & Governance Advisors for longterm roles on a complex DFID-funded post-earthquake reconstruction programme in four Districts (Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa). The programme aim is long-term positive change in the lives of people in earthquake-affected regions of Nepal.
The implementation phase of the programme is due to commence in May 2018 for a 4.5 year duration and will work in 42 rural and urban municipalities worst affected by the earthquake. It comprises five Output Areas:

1. Support and provide capacity building to Government at central, district and local level in reconstruction planning.
2. Direct physical reconstruction, including water supply, foot trails, bridges, schools, public buildings, and potentially other areas.
3. Analysis of, and interventions to address, constraints to the private sector, including supply of labour, materials and transport in the construction sector.
4. Managing a Challenge Fund to leave no-one behind in the reconstruction effort and promote transformational change for women and girls.
5. An evaluation and learning component.

The state restructuring has provided wide powers to the local governments to enable smooth service delivery at the grass root level. To deal effectively with the rapid and complex changes affecting local governments, the Gaupalikas need to cope with ever increasing public demands. The planning and governance adviser will support Gaupalika’s institutional development. It will require a politically sensitive approach with a strong focus on social inclusion as well as sound technical skills. The responsibilities will include support for gaunpalikas in planning and management of infrastructure and related development activities, as well as selection and implementation of project activities. The advisors will be based in the gaunpalika and will travel to other rural municipalities throughout the project area to ensuring effective knowledge sharing.

Job description

Reporting to the Senior Governance Advisor, the Planning & Governance Advisors will:

1. Support the municipality in planning, budgeting and social mapping, related to reconstruction and infrastructure.
2. Will be responsible to support bottom up planning, assist the Gaupalika to design and formulate budgetary systems.
3. Build capacity of municipality elected officials and staff in the areas of procurement planning, preparation of tender documents, evaluation and monitoring of construction works.
4. Lead communication and stakeholder engagement activities with local government,civil society and private sector.
5. Participate infield activities for selection, quality assurance, monitoring of activitiesin all Output Area across themunicipality.
6. Collaborate with other municipality-level advisors, and ensure effective knowledge-sharing and lesson-learning
7. Ensure the timely submission of financial and operational reports
8. Participate in program review meetings;
9. Support the program activities by rapport building with community and local stakeholders to conduct meetings and create environment for meaningful participation and to develop trust, tolerance and co-operation among community members.
10. Mediate between varying interests at local and district levels to ensure that proper decision making and implementation of reconstruction activities
11. Perform other duties as required by the programme

Candidate Specification

• At least 5 years’ experience in rural development in Nepal, including capacity building, and institutional strengthening and delivery
• At least three years’ experience in bottom up planning and governance support at a local level, preferably on a donor-funded projects (DFID experience an advantage)
• Good experience working with minority or disadvantaged groups in the Hills, and a strong sensitivity to the challenges of social inclusion
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery
• Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, but also a team player with the willingness to learn and support the learning of others
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with local Government
• Ability to work effectively in remote areas, and willing to travel extensively throughout the project area, including on foot as well as by jeep and motorbike
• Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is essential, and fluencyin relevant local languages spoken in the project area would be a strong asset.

Please apply at the following link by 31-May-2018

https://xjobs.brassring.com/1033/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?partnerid=25141&siteid=5169&areq=34087BR&codes=JobsNepal