Project Coordinator

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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.
Organizational Context

The new National Development Plan for Somalia 2020-2024 prioritizes durable solutions to prevent and combat longer time displacement & crisis for an estimated 2.7 million displaced people and 877,000 Somali refugees who live in neighboring countries. The United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the stakeholders, has been supporting the governments’ efforts in effective implementation of the National Development Plan. The task of finding ‘durable solutions’ to address these problems is further complicated by a range of ‘political economy’ challenges that affect the situation of displaced persons and undermine the delivery of effective development assistance. These include a well-established network of ‘gatekeepers’ (intermediaries that effectively tax IDPs and the NGOs that provide services to them), the continuing machinations of local clan politics, uncertainty over land ownership claims, weak and fragmented governance structures and the lack of adequate coordination between central, regional and local authorities.
Better management of public and private land is a cornerstone for the sustainable financing for public service delivery towards populations affected by displacement. Working on aspects of land management in cities could unlock resources for service delivery and livelihoods to populations in displacement, and this will be possible if authorities develop tools necessary to manage private and public land efficiently, to generate revenues from the land value increments. In addition, participation of displaced groups in decision making must be ensured to create accountability on the revenue distribution processes and on the redistribution of services to populations that now are excluded from decision making.

Saameynta is a UN joint programme of IOM, UNDP and Un Habitat implemented with Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation and Minister of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction to address displacement challenges in an innovative manner in Baidoa and partly in Beletweyne. It seeks to support durable solutions that are affordable and sustainable through addressing specific inter-related systemic blockages, challenges, and opportunities.

Against this backdrop UNDP seeks to recruit a Project Coordinator to play a role in all aspects of project direction of all project operations, financial resources management, procurement and logistical services, and support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation, and representation.  
 

Job Purpose The Project Coordinator will undertake her/his duties and responsibilities, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative - Programme and the direct supervision of the UNDP Economic Recovery and Institutional Development Portfolio Manager to whom she/he reports, in close collaboration with the government counterparts, Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs), donors, private sector and civil society.
 Duties and Responsibilities

1.) Provide technical support for effective design and delivery of project outputs and activities focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide leadership and technical expertise to the government and CSO partners in the design, planning and implementation of activities, trainings and workshops as required.
• Oversee the development gender sensitive monitoring and evaluation systems in each Municipality and support capacity at the Ministry of Planning, Directorate for Monitoring and Evaluation, with equivalent support provided in the relevant Federal Member States. 
• Oversee of public and private sector readiness (including mapping of investors and for development of investment packages), standard operating procedures for private sector engagement in the delivery of public assets and services, Mapping, identification of ethical investors and negotiation of conditions for the implementation of the investment packages.
• Institutional capacity assessment on community engagement, planning, financial management and M&E. 
• Oversee the adoption of the CONSUL engagement platform to create a space for stakeholder consultations on financing of investment to support sustainable city development as well as social and economic integration of displacement affected communities.  Manage training of relevant local authority departments on the ono-line citizen dialogue/ engagement platform (CONSUL) for community outreach and social accountability and on financial literacy and fund management.
• Oversee establishment of social cohesion and social accountability mechanisms in every Municipality to create a direct forum of engagement between DACs and municipal authorities. 
• Regularly update the relevant CO programme team and senior management through substantive progress reports, briefings and/or presentations of the implementation of project results; Conduct ‘Development Challenges’ where participants compete in producing development briefs and take the best briefs forward.
• Conduct local and international forums for donor and private sector investment. 
• Provide talking points, briefing and background papers.

2.) Ensure strategic planning, coordination and implementation of the project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• In accordance with the Project Document and in close coordination with IPs and the project specialists, plan and develop project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets according to UNDP CO timelines. Design project budget. Ensure that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall direction set by the Project Document and lead to achievements of project targets and results.
• Coordinate various components of the project providing overall guidance and innovative solutions to projects. Constantly seek to improve project service lifecycle. Work in close collaboration with other teams in the office including programmes, operations as well as other UN agencies, Government officials, multilateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society in ensuring successful project implementation.
• Identify and build credible working relations with Governments, donor partners and other UN agencies.
• Mobilize resources to support the achievement of project outputs and outcomes.
• Ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment is integrated at all stages of the project cycle.
• Enhance capacity of staff by providing technical leadership.
• Oversee and coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication, and risk management plans for the Project. Coordinate and ensure timely updates of all planning instruments in close collaboration with relevant CO units.
• Ensure implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement, and HR plans. Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions. Regularly meet with IPs and other project counterparts.
• Assess project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results.
• Establish adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities in close collaboration with the CO Results Team. Ensure that adequate systems are in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken, including regular field trips for monitoring purposes. Develop innovative improvements to enhance performance of the project.
• Ensure that UNDP´s results-management systems are kept updated for project results-information including ATLAS project management module.
• Manage the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Board and donors. Ensure that donor and UNDP reports are prepared according to UNDP’s SOPs, quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to project donors. Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines
• Coordinate and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs.
• Implement project communications activities in close collaboration with the CO Communications Team.
• Organize and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP. Share information on technical project-related issues with donors, other partners and stakeholders.
• Implement project governance arrangements. Ensure organization of Project Board meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes as per CO SOPs.
• Immediately escalate issues with potential to impact UNDP´s effectiveness, financial soundness or reputation to the Programme Team and CO senior management. Ensure that UNDP´s corporate interest and rules are guarded at all times and that appropriate action is taken to immediately address problems and challenges.

3.) Ensure timely and effective management of programme delivery focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms.
• Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training and grants schemes to initiate activities, including drafting and reviewing terms of references and work specifications and overseeing all contractors’ work. Oversee effective provision of services to IPs as required.
• Oversee the appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations. Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, through advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures).
• Develop project budgets. Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenditure. Coordinate preparation of financial reports to donors, as required.
• Supervise and manage project personnel and consultants. Develop ToRs/JDs for project staff positions. Oversee recruitment processes. Establish performance objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance, and support to ensure optimum performance. Undertake performance evaluation according to UNDP´s policies and deadlines.
• Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project staff, IP’s and donors identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required. Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log.
• Provide management with top quality advice relating to strategic direction of project implementation and proper design of project activities.
• Facilitate day-to-day functioning of the Team. Manage resources (both financial and human) for achieving results in line with outputs outlined in the project document.
• Is in charge of the financial management elements of the project and approve project transactions (e-Requisitions) under written delegated authority from the Country Director.
• Solve complex project related issues and escalate sensitive matters to CO management in an efficient manner to seek a common solution.
• Prepare timely and regular progress reports for submission to CO management and external stakeholders
• Assist with implementation of audit requirements.
• Ensure security of the staff and assets belonging to the project.
• Ensure inclusion of lessons learnt and best practices to improve quality of future projects.
• Perform any other responsibilities that could be delegated by the supervisor.
• Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system.
•  Implement audit recommendations for the project. Provide inputs to audit management responses.
• Initiate operational closure of the project.

4.) Facilitates knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that the project systematically builds capacities of Implementing Partners and other national partners through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation.
• Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the CO Programme Team.
• Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring,
• Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation.
• Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned for application in Somalia.
• Maintain documentation on events and knowledge development.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will have supervisory/managerial responsibilities Project Officer and Project Associate will be reporting to the incumbent

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.

Functional & Technical competencies 

• Business Direction & Strategy:  Strategic Thinking:  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritised 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 in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
• Business Direction & Strategy:  Effective Decision Making: • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
• Business Development: Integration within the UN: • Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations 
• Business Management: Project Management: • Ability to plan, organise, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: • Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs.  • Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. • Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate • requests. • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Business Management: Risk Management:  • Ability to identify and organise action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
• 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

Required Skills and Experience Education:

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development, Political Sciences, Economics, Management or other relevant science , or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in managing IDP integration or social entrepreneurship project development and management in challenging environments with a focus on planning, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder and team coordination in international development organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of a project of similar complexity and nature is required.  
• Demonstrated knowledge and management experience of projects focusing on social entrepreneurship or business development, including business incubator development, skills and social enterprise/SME development, and business development services is required. 
• The ability to build innovative projects from the ground up would be an advantage.
• Experience in building or supporting start-ups, social enterprises or cooperatives would be an advantage, preferably in the context of Durable Solutions for IDPs.
• Excellent knowledge of project management principles and best practices. Project Management Certification, either Prince2 or PMP/PMI would be an advantage.
• Extensive managerial experience including experience in leading multi-cultural teams in stressful environments is required.
• Experience in working at the country level including in fragile/conflict environments is required. . 
• Good computer literacy – MS office applications, web-based management information system is required

Language:

• Proficiency in oral and written English is required
   

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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 Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
 Non-discrimination
 UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
 UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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