Planning & Governance Advisors

Job Profile – Gaunpalika Planning & Governance Advisors

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

1. We are seeking Planning & Governance Advisors for long term 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.
2. 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:
3. Support and provide capacity building to Government at central, district and local level in reconstruction planning.
4. Direct physical reconstruction, including water supply, foot trails, bridges, schools, public buildings, and potentially other areas.
5. Analysis of, and interventions to address, constraints to the private sector, including supply of labour, materials and transport in the construction sector.
6. Managing a Challenge Fund to leave no-one behind in the reconstruction effort and promote transformational change for women and girls.
7. 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 Gaupalikas 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 includesupport for gaunpalikas in planning and management of infrastructureand related development activities, as well as selection and implementation of project activities. The advisors will be based in the Gaunpalikaand 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:

Specific Responsibilities include:

• Lead capacity development support to partner Gaunpalikas in coordination with the Output Leads in Kathmandu and district staff;
• Represent MM in the Gaunpalika.
• Maintain working relations with Gaunpalikas, Development Partners, private sector, local government institutions at palika level and other DFID funded projects in the Gaunpalika;
• Report on progress of activities in all partner Gaunpalika and provide regular feedback to the Governance Manager.
• Support the municipality in planning, budgeting and social mapping, related to reconstruction and infrastructure.
• support participatory planning process, assist the Gaunpalika to design and formulate budgetary systems.
• Build capacity of Gaunpalika elected officials and staff in the areas of procurement planning, preparation of tender documents, evaluation and monitoring of construction works.
• Lead communication and stakeholder engagement activities with local government, civil society and private sector.
• Participate infield activities for selection, quality assurance, monitoring of activitiesin all Output Area across the Gaunpalika.
• Collaborate withother district-level advisors, and ensure effective knowledge-sharing and lesson-learning
• Ensure the timely submission of financial and operational reports
• Participate in program review meetings;
• 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.
• Make site visits as appropriate and meet with other relevant agencies in order to better understand the external environment in which Gaunpalikas are operating and the ways in which it relates to, or could relate to other Purnima output initiatives
• Assess capacity and reform process in partner Gaunpalikas, identify needs, and build agreements on steps, conditions and scope of engagement and come with suggested reforms and support required in Gaunpalika
• Mediate between varying interests at local and district levels to ensure that proper decision making and implementation of reconstruction activities
• 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.

Interested applicants should send a CV and covering letter to purnimaapplications@mottmac.com before 24th April, 2019 . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.