Strengthening Shared Prosperity in Panama: Fostering inclusive growth and better opportunities for the marginalized and vulnerable

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Challenge Panama’s economic growth has been faster than any other country in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region over recent years, averaging 7.2 percent from 2001-2013. The country’s rapid growth has translated into significant poverty reduction. Between 2007 and 2012, poverty declined from 39.9 percent of the population to 26.2 percent, and extreme poverty from 15.6 to 11.3 percent. During the same period, income growth of households in the bottom 40 percent of population increased 8.2 percent, compared to the average per capita income, which grew by 6.6 percent. Although growth at the aggregate level has been largely pro-poor and inequality has declined, not everyone has shared equally in Panama’s prosperity. The indigenous peoples living in semi-autonomous territories (comarcas) and groups living in remote rural areas suffer from higher poverty levels and significant gaps in access to basic services than the rest of the country. For instance, in the poorest comarca with the largest population, Ngäbe Buglé, poverty rates reach 93 percent and extreme poverty 83 percent. In addition, most of the poor are settled in vulnerable areas, exposed to natural disasters. In order for Panama to maintain its growth model and for all Panamanians to benefit from it, economic, social, and environmental challenges must be addressed. These include ensuring a well-educated workforce with relevant skills to sustain economic growth, inclusion of marginalized groups and indigenous peoples, adequate and modern infrastructure to support a high performing economy, strengthened public sector institutions that promote efficiency and transparency, compliance with international financial standards to maintain investment flows, and sustainable natural resource management and resilience to natural disasters. Approach Given Panama’s unique development challenges and the sophistication of its economy, the World Bank Group (WBG) has supported the country’s efforts to maintain high growth, while ensuring that benefits reach all. The World Bank has been a key partner on policy reform for fiscal sustainability, enhanced targeting of social protection programs, and modernization of the public sector planning and budgeting system with enhanced transparency. Moreover, the World Bank program has had a clear focus on poverty and shared prosperity, supporting social inclusion by building productive alliances to help increase producer incomes, increasing the percentage of women receiving pre-natal care, and improving water and sanitation services in rural and poor communities. In addition to financing, the WBG has provided high-quality technical assistance and cutting-edge knowledge, particularly in managing fiscal risks stemming from natural disasters. WBG engagement in Panama also includes International Finance Corporation (IFC) investments and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) guarantees, which have supported the core growth sectors of the economy, centered on the Panama Canal, urban transportation, energy, trade, and financial services. Results World Bank (IBRD) financing helped achieved the following results from 2008 to 2015: Increased Income and Productive Capacity of Small-Scale Producers: Financing and technical assistance for access to markets was provided to 152 productive alliances of small-scale producers in high-poverty areas, including indigenous areas. Producers benefitted from increased agricultural productivity and a 23 percent increase in sales. Around 4,600 producers (30 percent women) received investment and technical support through 130 sub-projects covering a range of agro activities. Improved Targeting of Social Transfer Programs and Increased Social Security Coverage: By improving the targeting of the Red de Oportunidades program (translated as “Network of Opportunities”), the Government channeled resources to the poor in remote geographic areas, largely excluded in the past, increasing coverage in the indigenous comarcas (from 50% in 2008, to 70% in 2014) which represented 46 percent of beneficiary households. Improved Households Access to Quality Basic Health and Nutrition Services: Through the provision of a basic package of health services under the Coverage Extension Strategy, mobile health units provided regular access to a basic package of health services to 149,028 beneficiaries from 47 poor rural communities by 2014, with 86 percent of pregnant women receiving at least three prenatal controls (compared to 20 percent in 2010), and 96 percent of children under age one receiving full vaccinations (compared to 26 percent in 2010). Enhanced Capacity for Disaster Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change: The Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with a Catastrophe Risk Deferred Drawdown Option has been a quick and flexible instrument in addressing a national drought emergency triggered by El Niño phenomenon (2015-2016), including support to the Water Security High Level Committee in the development and implementation of the National Water Security Plan. Most of the World Bank disaster risk management support has been provided through technical assistance activities with key results including the development of the first Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Framework in Latin America, and a strengthened emergency preparedness and response capacity at the subnational level. Bank Group Contribution Following a decade of limited engagement, the World Bank Group partnership with Panama was rejuvenated in 2005.  Since then, the World Bank has delivered US$1.1 billion including operations in education, health, social protection, land administration, rural productivity, rural and urban water and sanitation, disaster risk management, public sector efficiency, and environment. Along with financial assistance, the World Bank has provided high-quality technical assistance and cutting-edge knowledge — in urban planning, urban transport system reform, disaster risk management, and logistics — to leverage increased economic activity resulting from the reversion of the Panama Canal in 1999. IFC and MIGA have provided support for private sector investments and employment generation.  IFC’s investment in Panama grew from nine projects totaling US$166 million over 2002–2006, to 28 projects representing US$ 1.2 billion gross investment during 2007–2014. These include support for the Panama Canal Expansion Project and the Penonomé Windfarm. The role of MIGA has been critical for improving urban mobility through the provision of the guarantee for the Metro Line 1. Partners Several operations have been implemented jointly or in close coordination with other donors. This was done successfully with the water program, providing, in part, a platform for dialogue on policy reform. Both the Metro Water and Sanitation Project and the Water Supply and Sanitation in Low Income Communities Project were coordinated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) to cover distinct geographical areas. This proved to be a good model, allowing each multilateral to manage and develop its project activities in focalized areas. In terms of knowledge services, the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment was conducted jointly with IDB to identify challenges in Panama’s public financial management system. Moving Forward The WBG will continue its partnership with Panama in line with the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) under implementation to help reduce extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity by supporting Panama’s growth while ensuring inclusion and opportunities for marginalized groups, and bolstering resilience and sustainability. The CPF features a mix of instruments, drawing on the strengths of the institutions of the World Bank Group to provide Panama with a package of assistance to best address the country’s development needs. Leveraging the comparative advantages of the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA will facilitate the delivery of a complementary suite of services and greater partnership with the private sector. The World Bank and IFC are already collaborating strongly in the energy sector where the World Bank is supporting the modernization of the sector through the elimination of distortions, as well as new legislation to diversify the generation matrix, and IFC is investing in renewable energy (wind). MIGA will explore providing guarantees for energy and other infrastructure investments. During the CPF period, the WBG institutions will further explore potential synergies to accelerate progress towards the WBG’s twin goals. Beneficiaries Hilaria Palacios is a mother of five children and is four months pregnant with her sixth. Previously, it was very difficult for Hilaria to access health services because it required walking long distances or paying prohibitive transport costs just to reach the local clinic. Thanks to community visits by a mobile team of health professionals, including a doctor, a nurse, a technician, nutritionist, an environmental health sanitation specialist, and a driver, health comes to Hilaria. This approach allows Hilaria to have monthly access to quality basic health services during her pregnancy. Hilaria Palacios, project beneficiary commenting on the difficulty of accessing care prior to the mobile health teams:  “I had to walk or take a boat to receive check-ups.  It was very difficult.”  Today, Hilaria receives care from the mobile health teams:  “Here, I receive monthly check-ups from the Doctor.”   Learn More Links to key related sites The web site of the World Bank for Panama offers in-depth information on all projects and programs in the country. Links to partner websites Ministry of Economy and Finance Multimedia  Ya no hace falta esperar a que llueva en Panamá  Providing better health quality for moms and their children in Panama  ¿Cómo se pueden reducir riesgos ordenando el territorio? BLOG A Tale of Two Panamas: How Results-Based Financing improves Health for Rural Mothers and Children  

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  • Colombia: Deputy Director for Programs

    Organization: International Rescue Committee
    Country: Colombia
    Closing date: 01 Apr 2019

    BACKGROUND:

    The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

    IRC COLOMBIA

    A combined two decades of economic mismanagement, a drop in oil prices, and the deterioration of democratic institutions has resulted in a humanitarian crisis inside Venezuela. Insecurity has manifested following protests in April 2017 against the president and his government, particularly for failing to address the growing inflation rate which lead to large-scale food insecurity. The demonstrations were initially peaceful but grew in severity of violence as time passed. Venezuela’s economic devastation worsened in the last half of 2017. This caused a massive migration of Venezuelans into neighboring Colombia in search of affordable food, medicine and work. The number of Venezuelans living in Colombia has increased to more than one million people.

    In response, the IRC has launched emergency programming in Colombia, focusing on an integrated response involving child protection, women’s protection and empowerment activities, primary and reproductive healthcare, and cash transfer programming. The IRC is in the process of delivering these and future activities directly in Colombia, and in partnership with local civil society organizations in Venezuela. In Colombia, IRC currently has operations in Cucuta, and Medellin, and is soon to expand to Bogota and Barranquilla.

    Length of Assignment: 2 years

    PLEASE SUBMIT AN ENGLISH CV.

    JOB OVERVIEW/SUMMARY:

    The position of Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is a member of the Senior Management Team and is integral to the successful implementation of IRC’s programs in Colombia. Working under the direction of the Country Director (CD), the DDP is responsible for overall program direction and implementation within the program framework, government policies and strategies, and in compliance with donor regulations, specifically in the areas of a) grant management b) program development, quality and implementation c) day-to-day representation with donor agencies and local and international stakeholders, and d) Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.

    The DDP will spearhead the development and execution of the Country Strategic Plan and also be responsible for supervising the Health, Child Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development and Grants Coordinator. This position will work closely and collaboratively with the different departments within the country program, the IRC technical advisors and the IRC Emergency Unit.

    The DDP will be based in Bogota, Colombia, with frequent travel to Cucuta, Medellin, Barranquilla, and any other national sites in Colombia where IRC designs and develops programming.

    MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

    Program Strategy, Design and Fundraising

    • Lead the operationalization of the current IRC Colombia response strategy and actively engage in strategic planning processes for the longer term.
    • Ensure, with Coordinators, and HQ-based Technical Unit staff, that project design reflects IRC program quality standards and industry best practices.
    • Lead efforts for sustainable program growth, proactively identifying opportunities for new programming initiatives and emphasizing multi-year funding to support them.
    • Provide leadership support to the program and grants teams to develop competitive, evidence-based and cost-effective funding applications.
    • Provide guidance, strategies and tools to ensure that program choices are based on needs assessment findings (primary & secondary data) and analysis, input from communities, a thorough understanding of context, technical best practices, and operational viability.
    • Formulate integrated program initiatives so that technical sectors complement each other and promote mainstreaming of protection principles and gender-responsive approaches.

    Program Management – Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

    • Provide overall leadership and management of IRC Colombia program portfolio, ensuring strategically coherent program direction, well-managed growth, and compliance with IRC and donor regulations.
    • Continually seek out ways to build the capacities of the program team members, individually and collectively.
    • Ensure that detailed, realistic and feasible project implementation plans are developed, and modified as needed, in collaboration with the Program Coordinators and Operations team.
    • Coordinate with other members of the Senior Management Team on appropriate management, compliance and performance standards, as well as effective systems for budget management, knowledge management and risk management.
    • Support programming staff to collect, document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices, incorporating these into new project designs.
    • With program staff, develop effective and appropriate M&E plans, including methodologies and tools to strengthen the quality of data collection, analysis and reporting.
    • Review M&E and accountability data with program staff to identify and address areas for operational improvement.

    Grants Management

    • Provide strategic direction in terms of development of a funding strategy, widening and strengthening donor base, ensuring quality grants management, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, ensuring quality information management related to programs/ grants, and supporting directly in all aspects of the proposal development and reporting processes.
    • Supervise all internal, external and reporting with programs and finance, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and IRC and partner requirements; conduct thorough reviews and/or revisions of all external reports compiled by the Grants Coordinator.
    • Ensure that Program Coordinators and Grants Senior Manager conduct routine monitoring visits to implementation sites to ensure donor compliance and quality program implementation.
    • Coordinate with the Program Coordinators and Grants and Finance teams to ensure sound budget management, expense control and timely contractual documentation.
    • Support the Grants Senior Manager to lead Grant Opening and Grant Closing Meetings with all relevant department and units and to ensure they take place on time. Also ensure that programming staff are well trained to properly manage project budgets.
    • Ensure that the program coordinators review BvAs on a regular basis; provide leadership and management support to ensure effective monthly grant review meetings.
    • Mitigate any potential risk by collaborating with the Finance Department to ensure that programming staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles.

    External Representation and Advocacy

    • Develop a sound understanding of the IRC’s programs to be able to professionally represent the IRC to implementing partners, the government and donors;
    • Assist the Country Director developing strong relationships with donors, assisting with visits and in the development of appropriate advocacy actions;
    • Forge and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations through regular communication, cooperation and, where appropriate, joint decision-making.
    • Act as the focal point for program-related communication between IRC country programs in the region and worldwide offices.
    • Identify funding opportunities and track them in collaboration with the technical teams.
    • Oversee programmatic inputs to advocacy efforts both in-country and globally.

    Staff Management and Development

    • Provide guidance and supervision to the technical coordinators, M&E Manager, the grants senior manager, information officers; to discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback on performance of direct reports, including timely implementation of performance management system.
    • Create a supervisory environment focused on the achievement of team and individual results that emphasizes the importance of learning, productivity, accountability and openness
    • Adhere to IRC’s performance management system, providing regular, timely and thoughtful coaching, feedback, performance assessment, and professional development for all direct reports, while making sure that they do the same for their direct reports.
    • Build capacities of programming staff in key project management principles, tools and approaches and ensure that these new skills are utilized on the job.
    • Manage recruitment, hiring and development of high-performing national staff to assume greater levels of responsibility.
    • Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

    PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

    The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

    As a leader you will be placed in a position of trust. To maintain that trust, you are expected to always:

    • Lead by example and be a positive role model to others.
    • Promote awareness of the IRC’s standards and make sure those you supervise are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to comply with them.
    • Monitor conduct of those you supervise and take responsibility for activities that occur under your supervision.
    • Be responsive to anyone who raises an ethics or compliance concern and make sure matters are resolved in a fair and appropriate manner.

    KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

    • Country Director, Colombia and Venezuela
    • Other Colombia-based staff, including operations, finance, and grants
    • Technical Advisors (based globally) and any roster staff required to support program staff inside Venezuela
    • Awards Management Unit to support all compliance and reporting for partners, as well as proposals
    • Global Supply Chain to procure goods and support partners to procure
    • Communications and Advocacy units to support any key messages at external meetings
    • Global Security to support any risk analysis and mitigation
    • Emergency Unit

    REQUIREMENTS

    Master’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences or a similar field;

    Minimum eight years of management experience working in a humanitarian or development setting with a minimum of five years of INGO program management experience.

    Experience in managing protection, ERD and/or health, and experience working in partnership with local organizations, is strongly desired.

    Proven ability to develop winning proposals to public and private-sector donors;

    Familiarity and experience with US and European, donors;

    Previous experience managing programs financed by US government agencies, DFID, EU, foundations and private donors a must, with previous experience in competitive environments a plus.

    Proven ability to manage projects to completion on time, within budget, and with the anticipated results.

    Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.

    Demonstrated successful leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching. Strong leadership, motivational and team-building skills;

    Proven fluency in English and Spanish a must

    How to apply:

    https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=rescue&id=3988

  • Colombia: Oficial Grants

    Organization: Save the Children
    Country: Colombia
    Closing date: 10 Mar 2019
    TITULO DEL PUESTO: Oficial Grants

    EQUIPO/PROGRAMA: Desarrollo de programas y Calidad

    UBICACION: Bogotá

    GRADO: 4 – oficiales

    Tipo de Contrato: Término Definido a 31 de dic…

  • Brazil: Corporate Alliances Acquisition Associate, GS-6, Brasília, Brazil post# 109567

    Organization: UN Children’s Fund
    Country: Brazil
    Closing date: 07 Mar 2019

    UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

    Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

    And we never give up.

    For every child, make a difference

    The Corporate Partnerships team has ambitious fundraising targets and outcomes to be reached based on market potential and building on successful results of 2018. Our aim and vision are to develop, manage and enhance the fundraising potential of working with businesses in Brazil and a core part of achieving this vision is the Corporate Alliances (CA) acquisition team (new business).

    After review, additional resource is being created to support the Acquisition (new business team) to embrace the new fundraising challenges and to reach the extra income success. The Corporate Alliances Acquisition Associate will support the CA Acquisition (new business) team with a strategic focus on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) alliance models. The role will have the objective to support the leverage of the flexible or non-fixed income fundraising potential to support both, the local and global UNICEF Programme.

    For further information, please visit www.unicef.org.br

    How can you make a difference?

    Under the supervision of the Corporate Fundraising Officer (Acquisition), the Acquisition Associate will undertake supporting tasks for new business such as:

  • Assist in specifying the pipeline and building corporate alliances focused on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) models, but not exclusively in those formats.
  • Support in the initial preparation of proposals with the new business team.
  • Assist on the implementation of the alliances and on reaching planned results.

    • Join our team to be responsible for:

    1) Implementation of corporate alliances focused on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) models and other acquisition campaigns:

  • Continuously map new corporate partnership opportunities, initiate contact with the companies’ focal points, and participate in the alliances’ prospecting processes;
  • Proceed with the Geneva clearance process on potential and current donor companies on a weekly basis;
  • Prepare and internally/externally approve the partnership contract; and keep corporate prospection planning documents update;
  • Follow up the delivering of annual reports to the partners and support in the negotiation of renewal focusing on the best results for UNICEF;
  • Support the planning and implementation processes of the corporate alliances campaigns by following up the milestones and results of it in collaboration with Market Services team;
  • Approach partners during emergency campaigns to explore additional fundraising opportunities;
  • Continuously research and test new and innovative ways of work to improve quality in results and to simplify procedures of processing the donations;
  • Monthly searching about competitors’ corporate alliances mechanisms and good practices, evaluating replicability;
  • Fortnightly, support plan and project pitches and campaigns with Marketing Services support and other related areas, including outsourced agencies.

    • 2) Suppliers relationship:

  • Assist and support in developing, drafting and maintaining contract information, monitoring reports and relationships with current and new providers involved in the corporate alliances through UNICEF;
  • Assist the development of new providers and follow up biding processes with Operations Sector / RM&P Associate as required;

  • Ensure that the providers’ payments are due and delivered on time.

    • 3) Monitoring and Evaluation:

  • Monitor and support the implementation of the corporate alliances campaigns to target audiences and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of each campaign materials/channels;
  • Support and monitor the level of fulfilment and success in donations processing, by analyzing and studying the best way to improve it;
  • Conduct the target and results analysis and control. Continuously monitoring campaign goals and marketing metrics related to customer engagement;

  • Compile lessons learned and support the review of successful and unsuccessful campaigns.

    • 4) Assignments of additional administrative duties and responsibilities:

  • Map potential companies from different segments and support on organizing the list of priority companies to be reached and prospected on a monthly basis;
  • Research about the prospected companies and support the evaluation of fundraising opportunities;
  • Assist the preparation of periodical corporate alliances fundraising reports, monitor and maintain control of records and results;

  • Develop, organize and maintain up-to-date data, information, record documents and control plans for the monitoring of project implementation; maintains library of corporate alliances reference materials.

    • To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Completion of secondary education preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization. A University degree is desirable (Business Administration, International Relations, Economics or Marketing);
  • At least six years of professional experience related to corporate fundraising, clients’ engagement, partnership development, or marketing;
  • Experience in retail sales is an asset
  • Fluency in Portuguese and English. Knowledge of Spanish will be considered as an asset

    • For every Child, you demonstrate

    UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

    The technical competencies required for this post are Relating and networking (I), Persuading and influencing (II), Planning and organizing (I) and Following Instructions and Procedures (II)

    View our competency framework at

    http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

    UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

    UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

    Remarks:

    Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

    Candidates must be Brazilian citizens or have a valid work permit.

    All candidates who wish to apply to this Vacancy Announcement are requested to prepare and submit their application in English.

    How to apply:

    UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520028

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