Council
of Governors
Terms
of Reference for a SDGs Expert at the COG Secretariat
Duration: 1 year
Starting
Date: 1st
October 2016
The Council of Governors (CoG) is established under Section 19 of the Intergovernmental Relations Act 2012 with the mandate to provide a mechanism for consultation amongst County Governments, share information on performance of the counties in execution of their functions, facilitate capacity building for governors, and consider reports from other intergovernmental forums on national and county interests amongst other functions (Section20).
The Council of Governors (CoG) is established under Section 19 of the Intergovernmental Relations Act 2012 with the mandate to provide a mechanism for consultation amongst County Governments, share information on performance of the counties in execution of their functions, facilitate capacity building for governors, and consider reports from other intergovernmental forums on national and county interests amongst other functions (Section20).
1.
Programme Officer — Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)
1.0 Background
1.0 Background
Kenya
is undergoing significant reform transition ushered by the Constitution 2010.
The country is at the threshold of potentially accelerated development given
the reforms as it addresses some historical, geographic and gender issues that
have hindered Kenya’s development.
The
Constitution 2010 devolved some political power and resources to 47
decentralized units offering greater opportunities but also challenges.
The
devolved units brings political and financial resources closer to the people
and should lead to more inclusive sustainable development and reduce historical
marginalization.
The
Intergovernmental Relations Act no. 2 of 2012established among others the
Council of County Governors (CoG) whose functions include consultation amongst
County governments, sharing of information on the performance of the Counties
in the execution of their functions with the objective of learning and
promotion of best practice and where necessary, initiating preventive or
corrective action, consideration of reports from other intergovernmental forums
on matters affecting National and county interests or relating to the
performance of Counties; and performing any other function as may be conferred
on it by this Act or any other Legislation or that it may consider necessary or
appropriate and through the Council, Governors identify priority issues and
deal collectively with matters of public policy and governance at the County
and National levels among others.
The CoG operates under sectoral committees which define engagement with the National Government agencies and other stakeholders.
To
implement its functions, the Council established a secretariat that coordinates
operations of the committees and facilitates information sharing among counties
and other stakeholders.
County Governments have been at the forefront in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that ended in December 2015. Kenya made substantial progress towards achievement of the MDGs, although the progress is highly variable across goals, counties just like other regions across the world.
With coming to an end of the MDGs in December 2015, the 193 UN member countries embarked in the implementation of the new development framework, Agenda 2030 on sustainable development which is a groundbreaking global commitment to end poverty and set the world on a sustainable path. It was endorsed by government leaders at a UN Summit in September 2015.
At the
core of this ambitious agenda lies a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and 169 actionable targets. Poverty eradication is the overarching goal
of the new agenda which is taking a far more ambitious approach promising to
address the unfinished business of the MDGs and meet the growing challenges in
the interlinked economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable
development.
The
universal nature of the agenda will provide an opportunity for engagement and a
new type of partnership to address the global challenges.
While
the goals are not legally binding, governments have assumed a moral commitment
to implement them to the best of their capacities and in accordance with
national priorities.
The
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development targets countries facing special
developmental challenges and intends to build on already existing bodies and
national policies with regular reviews, coordination and knowledge sharing. At
the country level, Kenya must sustain unity and solidarity in its approach to
the implementation of this new transformative Agenda.
Kenya,
like other developing countries embarked in the implementation of the SDGs in
January 2016.
The
new development framework will be implemented for the next 15 years to 2030.
Under the devolved system of the government, most of the activities under SDGs
will be implemented at the county level.
The
country will be producing one consolidated report on SDGs progress although
each of the 47 counties will have individual progress reports.
The
COG secretariat will support the roll out and coordination of SDGs including
reporting in coordination with the Ministry of Devolution and Planning (MODP)
and other stakeholders.
To
support the SDGs implementation and reporting at the counties, the COG is
recruiting a Senior Programme Officer to be in charge of coordination including
technical support to the counties for timely implementation and reporting on
SDGs.
The
programme officer will be responsible for developing and enhancing capacities
on SDGs at the CoG Secretariat.
2.0
Overall objective: To
promote / provide coordination, reporting and coherent interlinkages between
county and national governments, organizational arrangements, capacity and
impact, and partnership approaches within the established national framework
for implementation of Agenda 2030.
2.1 Specific Objectives
a.
Coordination and engagement
1.
Engage in a consultative process to ensure inclusion of the
considerations and perspectives on SDGs with key stakeholders including
discussions with senior leadership at the national and county governments, UN
as well as civil society, the private sector, and other non-governmental
stakeholders.
2.
Engage as appropriate with the regional and sub-regional
stakeholders to get different perspectives on SDGs for consideration at the
county levels.
3.
Ensure effective support to COG Secretariat in preparation,
coordination and reporting focusing on SDGs achievements at the county levels.
4.
Ensure regular liaison with Ministries and departments relating
to SDGs implementation and reporting.
5.
Standardize practices from other jurisdictions on implementation
of international principles in the context of a devolved governance system
guided by the principles of interdependence, consultation and cooperation.
b.
Capacity Building
1.
Contribute ideas, proposals and options for counties to
accelerate implementation and reporting of SDGs.
2.
Facilitate knowledge building and management on SDGs at COG
Secretariat and at the county level.
3.
Organize meetings, trainings, workshops and coordinate
monitoring and reporting activities on SDGs.
4.
In close collaboration with UN and MODP and other key stakeholders,
develop capacity building framework and manuals for County Governments on SDGs.
5.
Establish mechanisms at the COG for SDGs coordination and
reporting.
c.
Advocacy and sensitization
1.
Organize, in cooperation with relevant UN agencies and MODP advocacy
campaigns such as SDG campaigning, Development Cooperation Seminars, and other
efforts.
2.
Ensure liaison with the National Government and effective
advocacy of SDGs activities in close consultation with key stakeholders.
3.
Initiate, coordinate and implement common advocacy activities,
such as the preparation of the SDGs scorecard report and publication of other
relevant reports.
4.
Organize meetings/visits, liaising with all concerned parties,
i.e. UN agencies, government counterparts and other stakeholders; compile and
consolidate reports and action points as appropriate.
5.
Build a network of Government contacts and other stakeholders to
facilitate/support SDGs work in the counties.
d.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
1.
Lead a continuous observation, reflection, learning, iteration,
adaptation and quality improvement process to identify the most salient
problems and design appropriate responses, ensuring the highest quality
possible of the SDGs implementation at the county in close collaboration with
internal as well as external implementation partners.
2.
Ensure adequate documentation (including lessons learnt and best
practices) is made for all activities undertaken in the course of the SDGs
implementation.
3.
Coordinate collection of high quality data to document SDGs
effect and impact at the county level.
4.
Ensure effective implementation of M&E systems throughout
the lifetime of the SDGs period.
5.
Ensure the preparation and timely submission SDGs implementation
updates
e.
Representation
1.
Organize field visits for UN agencies and other stakeholders
upon request.
2.
Ensure that the COG and the UN are appropriately represented in
relevant coordination bodies at the county levels on issues that directly
relate to the SDGs.
3.
Any other assignment as it relates to SDGs that the COG CEO may
assign.
3.0
Qualifications and Experience
3.1
Experience
- Must
be thoroughly conversant with the global, regional and national
development paradigms and how they interrelate with the local development
challenges and opportunities.
- Must
have an understanding of the processes that culminated into the SDGs and
tools for monitoring global agenda at the local levels.
- Must
have thorough understanding of devolution in the Kenyan context and its
linkages to the SDGs.
- Must
be conversant with the Kenya’s Vision 2030, Medium Term Plans (MTPs),
sectoral plans including County Integrated Development Plans
- Overall,
they must have at least 15 years of experience in development work of
which at least 10 years must be at a senior level coordinating and working
with different experts across all sectors of the Kenyan economy.
International experience will be an added advantage.
- Should
be able to show proof of having worked on assignments in the past that
required high level interactions, coordination and timely interventions to
deliver output and understand the development landscape in Kenya and
within the region.
- Ability
to consolidate reports from different sources for concise coherent reports
will be highly desirable.
3.2
Qualifications
- A
minimum of a post-graduate degree in economics, public finance,
development studies or related discipline.
- Relevant
professional work experience, with at least 15 years of experience in the
relevant field, especially in socio-economic development, policy analysis,
reporting and evaluations.
- Expertise
in research and writing concise advocacy reports.
- Understanding
of the government’s planning frameworks and the link between policy and
planning, linkage between global development paradigms and national
development frameworks is an asset.
- Understanding
of Kenyan cultural, socio-economic, environmental, political and financial
challenges as they relate to sustainable development is required.
- Ability
to compile information from a variety of sources and synthesize it in a
coherent structure.
- Previous
experience in coordinating an array of different disciplines and producing
reports.
- Familiarity
with the country’s political developments and long term development agenda
- Excellent
English writing skills
- Ability
to work independently as well as in a team
4.0
Supervision: The
assignment will be task managed by the Council of Governors supervised by and
reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, Council of Governors with quarterly
reports shared with the Country Director, UNDP Kenya.
5.0 Duration: The contract duration is for an initial period of 1 year with a possibility of extension, subject to performance and availability of funds.
6.0 Output: The expected output of the assignment will be a fully functional system in place at the COG for coordinating implementation, capacity building and reporting on SDGs in all the 47 counties in Kenya.
7.0 Remuneration: This will be as per COG’s relevant remuneration scales.
How to Apply