UNDP Liberia

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO UNDP /018/07-MP

Post Title : Public Sector Reform Consultant
Organization : UNDP (Governance Commission)
Post Level : SSA
Duty Station : Monrovia
Duration : Five (5) Months
Start Date : 3 January 2008
Date of Issue : 6 November 2007
Closing Date : 21 November 2007

This vacancy is open to applicants of either sex. Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates.

Background:
In September, 2007, the Government of Liberia established through legislation the Governance Commission (GC) and mandated it to, amongst other tasks, undertake the following: 1. Promote good governance by advising, designing, and formulating appropriate policies and institutional arrangements and framework for achieving good governance and 2. Promote reforms, efficiency, and transparency in the Liberian Public Sector by recommending the rationalization of institutional mandates and structures: coordinate capacity building initiatives, and the development of appropriately designed merit-based system.

Prior to the establishment of the Governance Commission, its forerunner, the then Governance Reform Commission conducted an assessment review of the mandates, functions and organizational structures of eighteen (18) Government ministries and three (3) central management agencies between 2005 and 2007 in the discharge of its mandates in keeping with the provisions of the 2003 Accra Peace Accord and executive orders issued by the democratically elected government of Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The findings and recommendations of the assessment review were used to identify issues for institutional reform and subsequent work was undertaken to formulate recommendations on the mandates, missions, and functions and organizational structures of the ministries and some agencies designed to rationalize the functions and roles of ministries and agencies.

Due to the broad mandate which was given to GRC by the Accra Peace Accord and the two year life-span that it had to undertake its mandate, it undertook the mandate, functions and structures review without formulating and adopting a public sector policy and clearly articulating the raison d'etre, goal and objective (s) of the review of mandates, functions and structures of ministries and agencies. There is a need to develop an unambiguous rationale, goal and statement of objectives which are linked to the strategy for achieving them.

Besides, the exercises were conducted under a different governance environment and the GRC faced formidable challenges in gleaning the required information and other data. As a consequence, the scope of the ministerial review undertaken was not as wide ranging and encompassing as it should have been. In order to arrive at optimal structures and sizes, ministerial reviews embrace assessment of systemic and structural constraints, study the internal organizational structures based on approved functions, review management systems and procedures like information technologies as well as consider their impact on the structure. The rationalization of the ministries and agencies of public institutions in Liberia is yet to be finalized and approved by the government.

To date, the GC has undertaken the revision of the mandates, functions and structures of the ministries of Agriculture, Gender and Development, Youth and Sports, and Labor in addition to gathering establishment data from more than half of the 15 ministries. In order to complete the formulation of policy recommendations on the rationalization of the public institutions, the services of an international public sector reform expert is needed to undertake a systemic review of the Liberian public sector and make recommendations on measures needed to achieve the goal of enhancing public institutions delivery capacities and their effectiveness in resource utilization and the objectives of building an efficient and effective governance system, building and enhancing the productivity levels of government functionaries, and ensuring the maximum utilization of scarce public goods and national resources.

II. Tasks

In view of the foregoing, the Governance Commission needs an International Public Sector Reform Consultant to assist the Public Sector Manager in leading a team of national consultants to undertake the following:

-Develop a public sector reform policy and strategic framework;

-Assist Governance Commission to link ministerial reviews with civil service wide systems and policy initiatives such as decentralization, privatization, deregulation, outsourcing, and contracting out in order to arrive at an agreed division of responsibilities between the central and local governments and between the private sector and NGOs.

-Advise on the adaptableness and practicability of implementation of the report on the review of mandates, functions and structures of Ministries and agencies as well as assist in the revision and refinement of the mandates, functions and structures;

-Design Public Sector Monitoring and Evaluation framework to track and monitor progress on the implementation of reform programs and verify performance of public sector reform initiatives as well as assess and evaluate the performance of ministries and agencies;

-Review and propose measures for increased public involvement in policy formulation

 

III. Expected Outputs are:

•  Public Sector Policy and Strategic Framework Document;

•  Public Sector Evaluation and Monitoring Framework;

IV. Duration of Assignment

The assignment is expected to be carried out in a period of five months commencing January 2008.

V. Competencies

The general minimum requirements for the position of the consultant are :

•  Solid and proven experience in Public Sector Reforms and in particular Institutional Development and Human Resources Development and Management in post-conflict country;

•  Substantive knowledge of issues and challenges in the area of political governance in Africa and Liberia in particular;

•  Strong analytical and writing skills;

•  Computer literacy in Microsoft Software and TT packages;

•  Good writing and Public presentation skills; and

•  Fluency in English

VI. Qualifications

•  A post graduate degree in a relevant field

8-10 years experience working in similar or related fields

Email application to this vacancy should be sent to vacancies.lr@undp.org . Please insert Vacancy Announcement Number in the Subject of the email or written application.  Applications without the Vacancy Announcement Number or with the incorrect Vacancy Announcement Number will not be accepted. Attach photocopies of qualifications (i.e. technical certificates and academicals) and a one-page cover letter indicating your interest and suitability for the position.

Please note that applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for a written test followed by an interview.

Please forward all written applications to:

Deputy Resident Representative (Operations)

Attention: HR Unit
United Nations Development Programme
Simpson Apartment, Mamba Point
Monrovia , Liberia

cc: All UN Agencies and UNDP Programmes/Projects and All Counties

Note: All applications/queries must be addressed to: vacancies.lr@undp.org
Also you can download the P11 Form here