UNDP Jobs

The UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UNIAP) was established to facilitate a stronger and more co-ordinated response to human trafficking in the Mekong Sub-Region (Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). It initially brought together six Governments, thirteen UN agencies, three inter-governmental organisations and seven international NGOs at a regional level. This has now evolved into an extensive network of Government, local and international NGOs, UN organisations and donors throughout the six countries. The project has also become the Secretariat to the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) process, a government process based on a signed MOU among the six Mekong governments to collaborate and cooperate in building a sustainable system of sub-regional cooperation against trafficking.

The purpose of the present phase of UNIAP (Phase III – December 2007 to December 2013) has been to build on and further strengthen the regional response to human trafficking among governments, UN and development partners working in the anti-trafficking sector based on (a) improved cooperation within and between partners, (b) effective targeting of resources and expertise and (c) application/dissemination of the latest in lessons learned in and outside of the GMS based on solid empirical data collection and analysis carried out by UNIAP and its partners.

The project comprises interlinking services: coordination, technical assistance, including capacity building, issue analysis and advocacy; to the following constituencies: 

1. Governments;
2. UN Partners;
3. Other development partners and the broader anti-trafficking sector.

And also engages in:

1. Data collection, analysis and dissemination;
2. Responses to address new and emerging issues; and
3. Project Management.

The Regional Project Manager, as the head of the COMMIT Secretariat and the overall UNIAP project, will lead the team in all six GMS countries to support the above constituents, and in particular to the six GMS governments to effectively implement the COMMIT Sub-regional Plan of Actions (SPA) and achieve the overall goal of the project as outlined in the Phase III Project Document. He or she will be accountable to the Principal Project Representative (PPR), who is also the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Thailand or a manager delegated to oversee UNIAP by that Representative. The Project Management Board comprised of technical agencies (Government, UN and NGOs) through its bi-annual meetings will provide support and guidance to the Project Manager, through the Principal Project representative or the Manager delegated to oversee UNIAP by that representative as needed.

The Regional Project Manager will be under the direction and supervision of the Principal Project Representative or the Manager delegated by the Representative to oversee the UNIAPP project. The Regional Project Manager will be responsible for the timely achievement of project results and the delivery of project outputs he Regional Project Manager will ensure that the project maintains a UN system approach and multi-disciplinary framework in achieving the objectives outlined in the project document.

Specifically, his/her duties include:

Project Management Office:

• Under the direction and supervision of the Principal Project Representative or the Manager delegated by the Representative to oversee the UNIAPP project to provide overall management of the UNIAP Regional Management Office and the six UNIAP country offices (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), including responsibility for all day-to-day project management and administration at the sub-regional level (including finances, human resources, clerical matters, correspondence and communications, organization of activities, monitoring, reporting and evaluation). Note that each of the six UNIAP country offices includes up to four local and international project staff;
• Based on the COMMIT SPA, develop regional level annual workplans within the overall goals and objectives set out in the project document, with budgets and measurable targets;
  
• Assist the National Project Offices in each of the participating countries to develop country level annual workplans with active inputs from partner organizations;
• Ensure that national work plans address recommendations of international human rights mechanisms related to trafficking, including those of the human rights institutions;
• Provide substantive support to the six National Project Offices in each of the participating countries in planning and implementation of national level activities to ensure satisfactory project implementation and sub-regional coordination of country-level project activities;
• Write speeches and prepare strategic papers for the PPR to be delivered at key international events;
• Organization and preparation of the quarterly Management Board Meetings and other technical round table meetings as necessary;
• Organization and preparation of the Annual Project Steering Committee meeting and any COMMIT Taskforce meetings (to be conducted back to back with the PSC meeting) in close consultation with the PPR, six GMS governments and UNIAP member agencies and organizations.

Project Management in the Sub-region:

• Primary and overall responsibility for managing and coordinating the implementation of all project activities on the sub-regional level, under the direction and supervision of the Principal Project Representative or the Manager delegated by the Representative to oversee the UNIAPP project and taking into account the guidance set by the Project Management Board and in line with the Phase III project document;
• Oversee the formulation and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system for the UNIAP project as a whole, in accordance with the project document and established UNDP standards;
• Oversee monitoring of the progress of implementation of activities by organizations and sub-contractors agreeing to work with UNIAP support and providing them with necessary technical assistance, directly or through other resource persons or international/national consultants.

Advocacy:

• Maintaining strategic understanding of current key trends in human trafficking in the region, and lessons learned from successes and failures in the sub-regional, bi-lateral, and national responses to trafficking;
• Undertake regular analysis of the sub-regional anti-trafficking responses including identifying data gaps, opportunities and priorities for action, and making presentations of these analyses to key partners as requested;
  
• Engaging the six GMS governments, UN agencies, donors and NGOs in dialogues on key aspects of anti-trafficking policies, with an aim to further strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration and a comprehensive and inclusive approach to trafficking;
• Development and oversight of regional data collection and case management systems, tools and procedures to ensure that relevant information about the human trafficking problem are collected, analyzed and disseminated as part of the Project Paper objective 3.

Facilitation and Networking:

• For all services to the three key groups of partners (the three constituencies identified in the Background section) including responses to address new and emerging issues, ensure and facilitate regular reporting, communication and information exchange;
• Maintain effective collaboration, cooperation and mutual support among support among UN partner agencies within the Mekong Sub-region and with related global, regional and national programmes/projects of the UN agencies and system;
• Participate in workshops, meetings, conferences and other gatherings relevant to the work of the project, including making presentations on the work of the UNIAP;
• Ensure maximum publicity for the work of the project and efforts in the region, making available up-to-date information on human trafficking in the sub-region to the public through appropriate media.

Support to the COMMIT Process:

• Provide substantive leadership and support to the COMMIT Secretariat operating within the UNIAP (as outlined in the COMMIT Secretariat ToR), and through the National Project Offices to the National COMMIT Task Forces in each of the six participating countries, for effective coordination of partners’ efforts to implement activities contained in the COMMIT Sub-regional Plan of Action (SPA);
• Representation of the COMMIT Process, in consultation with Government partners, as the head of the COMMIT Secretariat;
• Oversee the formulation and implementation of an M&E system for the COMMIT SPA, in accordance with the SPA, the COMMIT MOU and established UNDP standards;
• Serve as a public spokesperson, in consultation and appropriate agreement with government partners, for the COMMIT Process;
• Organization and preparation of the annual COMMIT Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) as required in collaboration with the host government.

Resource Mobilization:

• Development and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the current phase of the project and beyond. This includes seeking potential funding from donor governments, and UN and private sector partners.
• Continued mobilization of resources for the possible extension of the SPA III.

Financial Management:

• Provide oversight on the contracting of project services to implementing agencies, ensuring compliance with UN procedures;
• Provide oversight on the development and maintenance of timely and efficient administrative management systems for the Project;
• Review financial reports in accordance with UNDP procedures and submit the reports to donors in a timely manner;
• Oversee the release of funds to counterparts, liquidation of funds and other processes;
• Liaise with appropriate officers of the partner UN, government and donor agencies, monitor and make necessary arrangement for the timely flow of project funds to implementing agencies;
• Monitor, analyze and maintain an overview of the progress of project implementation to ensure that timely technical, managerial and administrative support is provided to all the national project offices.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission;
• Demonstrates understanding of UNDPs programmatic and operational procedures, and project reporting processes;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Technical skills

• Excellent understanding of human rights, gender and governance, preferably in the area of human trafficking;
• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear and rigorous reports, briefs, procedural and technical opinions;
• Excellent computer skills and ability to use information management as a tool and resource for capacity development and institutional strengthening;
• Proven capacity in change management and skills and knowledge transfer, particularly in a developing country.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas;
• Develops basic knowledge of one or two UNDP Practice areas;
• Promotes a learning environment in the office;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired knowledge.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior.

Approach to work

• Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work;
• Ability to work to tight deadlines with limited supervision;
• Focuses on results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

People Skills

• Able to work with a wide range of stakeholders, and to manage possible differences of view among these stakeholders.

Education:

• Masters degree in a relevant social science discipline, including social sciences, education and/or law, with substantial experience in addressing human rights, gender and migration issues.

Work Experience:

• At least seven years of experience in a government, NGO, or UN agency dealing with development issues in the GMS related to poverty, gender equality, public health, human rights, and/or governance, preferably in the area of human trafficking;
• Seven years experience in managing development projects;
• Five years experience in project coordination and implementation on a (sub) regional level;
• Experience supervising multiple staff and project offices preferred;
• Knowledge/understanding of issues related to human trafficking;
• Proven record of working with donors and fund mobilization;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Familiarity with Windows-based computer applications.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills (English). Knowledge of a GMS language an asset;
• Excellent drafting and oral communication skills.

Remark:

• This is Project development funded position
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.