Team Leader Anti corruption

Background

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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.

Six years after the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in 2015, Mali continues to face many security challenges with the emergence of new threats to peace and stability. Insecurity, due to the conflict that began in the northern regions, has spread to the center of the country with the rise of violent extremism and the radicalization of young people. In addition, the deterioration of the security situation is exacerbated today by inter-community tensions. Insecurity and insurgency subsequently reduced the weak presence of the state in the affected regions leading to a deterioration of the rule of law and negative consequences for the coping capacities and livelihoods of the local population, especially women and young people.

Corruption and governance weaknesses are also widespread in several sectors of the Malian economy and in key state administrations limiting access to public services. The scale of this corruption is reflected in the statistics and data produced by both national organizations and international institutions. Mali is in fact ranked 137 out of 181 in Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perception Index and the governance indicators from the World Bank and the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance paint a similar picture. Perception surveys carried out recently among populations also confirm this trend as evidenced by data from “Mali-mètre 2023” which indicates that more than four out of five people believe that corruption is high in Mali (45% very high and 36% high i.e. a cumulative rate of 81%). Complains about corruption and bad governance - together with the persistent insecurity situation and the contestation of the results of the March and April 2020 legislative elections - were also one of the main causes of the popular protest which resulted in October 2020, in a transition process which should lead to the organization of general elections in 2024.

The “Project in support to the Fight against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment (LUCCEI – Phase 2)” is implemented in the framework of Axis 1 of the Malian Strategic Framework for the Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development (CREDD 2019-23) relating to the "Consolidation of democracy and the improvement of governance". This project also contributes to the achievement of several priorities of the transition charter, the strategic framework for the rebuilding of the State 2022-2031, the action plan for the rebuilding of the state 2022-2026 and the priority actions of the 2022-2024 transition government plan which include among their priorities: the promotion of good governance. The project also contributes directly to the implementation of the 4 strategic axes of the National Anti-corruption Strategy adopted in September 2023. It also contributes directly to the achievement of outputs 1.1 and 1.2 of the UNDP Country Program Document for the period 2020-24.

This project aims at helping people to access state institutions that are more accountable, transparent and respectful of the rule of law and to strengthen their confidence in the state by intervening on two main causes of the persistence of corruption in Mali, namely: “The shortcomings of the institutional framework for the prevention and repression of corruption” (political and institutional factor) and “the trivialization and social acceptance of corruption (sociological factor)”. This objective will be achieved through the activities planned within the framework of the following 3 results: “1. State institutions intervene more effectively and coherently to prevent and fight against corruption”; “2. Civil society, the private sector and the media are better equipped and are actively involved in the prevention and fight against corruption”; “3. Malian populations are better informed on the theme of corruption and are mobilizing to prevent and fight against this scourge”. The gender dimension in the fight against corruption is dealt with in a transversal way and is an integral part of each result.

The LUCCEI Anti-Corruption Project Manager will be responsible for the overall implementation of the project, s/he will coordinate the project team.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Rule of Law Advisor, the Anti-corruption Project Manager will be responsible for: 

1. Ensuring effective project management by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the project’s progress through monitoring, evaluation and reporting
2. Ensuring effective coordination of and maintain collaborative working relations within the LUCCEI team, and exploring synergies and ways to collaborate with other programs in the area of Anti-Corruption
3. Providing substantive technical assistance, incl. policy development and program support in the area of anti-corruption.  
4. Assuring the effective supervision of UNDP LUCCEI staff and collaborates effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination.
5. Build strategic partnerships, feed into programme design and implementation of the Country Office resource

UNDP adopts a portfolio  approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensuring effective project management by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the project’s progress through monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

• Provides strong leadership, vision and strategic direction for the program, and is responsible for the overall successful implementation of the LUCCEI project.
• Manages and coordinates the implementation of respective activities based on the relevant program documents, incl. supervision and guidance of other program staff, consultants and experts.
• Monitors the progress of implementation of program activities and key event schedules observing the workplans and set deadlines, incl. monitoring of financial resources to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Prepares regular program progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks issues, expenditures, etc.) and ensures timely submission of the reports to the relevant instances (Steering Committee, technical and strategic committee UNDP Senior Management, relevant donors, etc.).
• Ensures adherence of program activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations and, at the same time, observes the program timelines.
• Ensures program tracking in QUANTUM in accordance with UNDP procedures, incl. monitoring and management of risks.
• Ensures regular monitoring and evaluation, including but not limited to regular field visits as well as preparation and participation in Steering Committee meetings.
• Manages the transfer of project deliverables to national beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Ensures sufficient resource mobilization for the program in close consultation with Senior Management and is co-responsible for reaching the annual resource mobilization targets.
• Promotes the project by ensuring appropriate levels of visibility and public awareness on results and ongoing activities.

Ensuring effective coordination of and maintain collaborative working relations within the LUCCEI team and with the donors, and exploring synergies and ways to collaborate with other programs in the area of Anti-Corruption.

• Creates and maintains a collaborative working environment within the project team.
• Establish and maintain a continuous dialogue with LUCCEI 2 co-donors including in the framework of the committees provided by the PRODOC (Steering committee, technical committee and strategic committee)
• Fosters actively the exchange of information among all project team members to guarantee coherence during the implementation of LUCCEI activities.
• Ensures effective coordination with the responsible and/or focal points and staff from Ministry of National Refoundation (MRE), Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (MJDH), Anti-corruption prosecution office (PNEF), Central Office for the Fight Against Illicit Enrichment (OCLEI), Agency for Recovery and Management of Seized or Confiscated Assets (ARGAS), Civil Societies organizations, media and private sector.
• Develops comprehensive, detailed and aligned joint project workplans that include program activities, roles and responsibilities of all partners involved.
• Explores stronger synergies and joint programming and implementation modalities with other UNCT projects, international and national actors and national stakeholders or partners incl. anti-corruption activities jointly implemented by UNDP, UNW and UNODC in the framework of the PROSMED program.

Providing substantive technical assistance, incl. policy development and program support in the area of anti-corruption.

Supports the Rule of Law Advisor in providing policy advice to UNDP Senior Management in Mali, government counterparts, donors and other partners on issues related to Anti-Corruption.

• Provide advisory services and technical expertise to specialized anti-corruption bodies and units on preventing, detecting, investigating, corruption risks assessments and prosecuting cases of corruption and related offences.
• Provides sector specific and technical policy advice in coordination with the Country Office Support Management Team.
• Support Malian authorities in the implementation of the National strategies in anti-corruption and of the review mechanism of UNCAC (The United Nations Convention against Corruption), and provide technical assistance based on needs identified.
• Provide support to COs conducting and engaging in assessments related to all forms of crisis response, such as post-crisis, capacity and crisis-related/fragility assessments in coordination with the Country Support Management Team and other relevant Teams.
• Provides substantive inputs in the development of UNDP’s policies for the thematic area, incl. contributing to the formulation of global policy products.
• Design and conduct training workshops and seminars; make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Support the strengthening and capacity building of the national anti-corruption agencies, including the development of their mandates, structures and operational practices. 

Assuring the effective supervision of UNDP LUCCEI staff and collaborates effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination.

• Supervises effectively UNDP LUCCEI project staff. 
• Creates an environment which supports LUCCEI colleagues to succeed, provides the necessary resources to deliver and embraces continues learning.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the program area for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information.
• Supports capacity and knowledge building of national counterparts.
• Contributes actively to the linking with other national and regional programs in the area of Anti-corruption.
• Collaborates substantively with COs and Regional Programs to achieve regional/CO strategic goals and plans by supporting relevant regional initiatives and promoting synergies with the regional programs.
• Advocates for UNDP Anti-corruption work and represents UNDP Mali with national authorities, the donor community, and international financial institutions.
• Completes any other tasks as assigned by the Country Office.
   

Build strategic partnerships, feed into programme design and implementation of the Country Office resource.

• Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, private sector, civil society and development partners based on strategic goals of UNDP and country’s priorities. 
• Research and analyze information on donors and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation. 
• Produce periodic updates and briefs on country development situation to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ.
• Undertake selected studies/research on emerging development concerns that feed into UNDP Programme, and national policies and strategies.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

The LUCCEI project manager will work under the direct supervision of the Rule of Law Advisor (see organigram attached). He/She will supervise a team of 4 national staffs based in Bamako.

Competencies

• Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

• Cross Functional and  Technical Competencies:   

Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. 

Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Business Management - Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Management - Resource Management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.

Business Management - Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Development - Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

2030 Agenda - Gender: Gender Mainstreaming
 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree or equivalent in law, peace and conflict studies, political science, economic science, development or related area is required, OR

A bachelor's degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master's degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with master's degree) or 9 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level linked to anti-corruption is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in project management and coordination with responsibilities of similar scope and complexity is required.
• Proven experience in working with donors and development partners, incl. experience on resource mobilization is an asset.
• Proven track record and leadership experience related to anti-corruption in crisis and post-crisis context is an asset. 
• Previous experience working in a conflict or post conflict environment is an asset.
• Excellent command of ICT tools, in particular Microsoft Office products required

• Proficiency in oral and written French is required
• Knowledge of English is an asset.

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