Background
Launched in 2005 and currently active in over 20 countries, the UNDP ART Global Initiative (Articulation of Territorial Networks for Sustainable Human Development) is an entry point for all international cooperation actors interested in harmonising their respective actions in support of national policies for sustainable and local human development. Within an evolving development landscape ART capitalises on the complementarities of actors at the local level and puts in place multi-level governance systems for sustainable human development. It does so by promoting a programmatic, operational and administrative framework for coordination and institution building in its partner countries, i.e. ART Framework Programmes. ART’s objective is to enhance the capacities of national and local institutions and actors working in a complementary way at the local level, thereby achieving the Millennium Development Goals and attaining inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
The innovative modality promoted by UNDP ART is based on a multi-actor and multi sector approach, where the plurality of actors of a given territory – local authorities, CSOs, academia, the private sector, traditionally excluded groups - work jointly to define priorities, plan and implement sustainable human development strategies at local level. Taking the territory as the referential space for development efforts also allows greater coherence among those development actors operating in the same space, instead of each actor working in his sector. Development interventions are thus channelled in support of integrated territorial plans, reducing fragmentation and the overlap between programmes while increasing the impact and sustainability of efforts in support of sustainable human development.
Decentralized development cooperation is gaining rapid recognition as a means to establish and further decentralized governance, promote local and national development as well as consolidate stable ‘North-South', 'South-South' and ‘Triangular’ partnerships. UNDP recognized the key strategic role of DC in the international cooperation arena, and in 2005 designed the ART Initiative as the entry point for those DC actors wishing to harmonize their actions in support of national and local development policies.
Eligibility
Education
- Masters in a relevant discipline, such as Economics, Business adminsitration, Development Studies, etc.
Experience
- At least 15 years of proving relevant work experience, including assignments for bilateral and multilateral donors;
- Significant experience in local economic development processes in Latin America and Europe;
- Proven networks in the French DC community and the ability to mobilize partners in response to territories’ demands;
- Thorough knowledge of the role and mechanisms of key and strategic decentralized cooperation actors, networks and associations working
in Europe and other regions of the world, especially those gathering Municipal Funds and Autonomous Regions;
- Comprehensive knowledge of DC mechanisms instruments and tools; knowledge of the ART methodology and approach is a distinct
advantage.
- Solid knowledge on local development, including the implementation of the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda of Action on Aid
Effectiveness and the way these principles can be implemented at local level;
- Sound familiarity of the concepts and related principles of multilevel governance, Millennium Development Goals and sustainable
development;
- Experience in resource and partner mobilization, and partnership and network building and strengthening;
- Good understanding of local development challenges faced by developing countries and decentralized cooperation actors;
Language Requirements
- Fluency in spoken and written English and French is a must.
Deadline: 17 March 2013
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