UNDP Jobs - 49860- Project Coordinator – ECOWAS/EU Small Arms Project

Project Coordinator – ECOWAS/EU Small Arms Project

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

15-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

30-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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.

Background

Under the overall supervision of the Team Lead- Project/Partnerships Coordinator and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director/Programme or his/her designate, the incumbent will be primarily responsible for coordinating the project activities in the respective countries and coordinating the project activities of the ECOWAS/ EU/ UNDP project. He/she will also provide technical support to the team lead in the management of the project.

The incumbent coordinates the activities of the respective NATCOMS to ensure smooth implementation of project deliverables. He/she will work in close collaboration with the Project/partnerships office in UNDP Nigeria to deliver on project results and ensure prompt reporting in line with the programme and partnerships agreements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

Coordinates implementation of work plans for the ECOWAS Small Arms pilot programme in-country;
Provides effective support to management of the project focusing on the achievement of the following results:
Coordinates programme reporting in line with donor agreements and ensure accurate communication of development results.
Supports Project team and Cluster coordinator to identify strategies for mobilizing resources and partnerships.
Facilitates communications, knowledge building and knowledge sharing of project development results among MRU participation countries.

Coordinates implementation of work plans for the ECOWAS Small Arms pilot programme in-country:

Coordinate and manage day-to-day administration and programme of the project, providing direction and validating project deliverables of the NATCOMs for the approval by the National Technical Committee;
Support national coordinators to formulate Annual work plans to ensure efficient implementation of project deliverables;
Manage and ensure the effective running of the programme through the provision of appropriate guidelines and development of programme personnel in accordance with UNDP’s policies and procedures;
Provides support to the project team lead in the coordination of Steering committee meetings composed of high level representation from the European Union, ECOWAS and UNDP;
Ensures preparation of projects progress reports as well as accurate financial reporting on the project to steering committee;
Ensures the provision of quality assurance for the project in-country and takes responsibility for monitoring project deliverables based on the quarterly reports.

Provides effective support to management of the project focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Creation of required project entries in Atlas, preparation of required budget revisions, revision of project award and project status, determination of unutilized funds, operational and financial close of a project;
Provision of guidance to the implementing partners on routine implementation of projects;
Presentation of information for audit, supports implementation of audit recommendations.

Coordinates programme reporting in line with donor agreements and ensure accurate communication of development results:

Provides programme guidance in the coordination of National Technical Committee meetings composed of representation from the NATCOMs, and key stakeholders;
Provides support on ensuring high quality project reports, quarterly and annually for partner in line with EU reporting guidelines;
Support team lead and serve as liaison between UNDP focal partners in the respective countries to also ensure that national partners such as the NATCOMs and the CSO’s are constantly involved in the implementation and dissemination of information.
Ensure the development of accurate communication of development results for the project;
Under the supervision of the UNDP Deputy Country Director/Programme or his/her designate ensure that sufficient resources are mobilized to ensure sustainability of follow up programme.

Supports Project team Lead to identify strategies for mobilizing resources and partnerships:

Conduct external and internal analysis for assessing additional opportunities in resource mobilization for respective NATCOMS;
Actively participate in the implementation of the Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) Strategy for the project;
Support team lead in the negotiation, drafting and revision of agreements with donors.

Facilitates Communications, knowledge building and knowledge sharing as required by the development partners, focusing on the following results:

Ensure communication of development results of the project are shared with the ECOWAS –EU partners as well as within UNDP;
Actively participate to identify and formulate lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader ECOWAS knowledge management efforts;
Ensure lessons from project are shared as contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results

The key results of the post are project implementation is on track within the selected pilot MRU and Sahel countries to deliver significant reduction in the proliferation of Small Arms and Light weapons and substituting them with concrete development interventions which affect livelihoods positively; and strengthening of the existing NATCOMs to perform their functions in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS convention.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Coordinates efforts of national project coordinators to ensure quality assuarance in project implementation in line with UNDP programming principles;
Support the team to ensure project outputs are achieved in line with desired outcomes;
Provides leadership in identifying challenges to programme inplementation in Liberia and addresing them.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Supports the building of effective networks with partners notably within the NATCOMs in- country, and seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts especially NATCOMS in the area of resource mobilization and effetive partnerships building.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Demonstrates good knowledge in the area of Small Arms and Light Weapons proliferation as well as the fundamental concepts of related discipline;
Demonstrates sound knowledge of Information Communications Technology (ICT) and applies it in the context of managing programmes, especially ATLAS;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
Demonstrates good knowledge of communication for development writing and advocacy.

Core Competencies

Promoting ethics, integrity and creating organizational precedents;
Demonstrating political acumen to foster project implementation;
Demonstrating the ability to work in an environment of creativity and innovation;
Demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills;
Exhibiting respect for diversity and divergent views;
Demonstrating the abilities of an emotionally intelligent person to achieve results;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking;
Promoting gender equality and human rights principles.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.

Experience:

Minumum 2 years of relevant experience at the national level;
5 years minimum experience in a similar position is desirable, but it is not a requirement;
Demonstrated experience in Project management of similar nature, communications for development;
Experience in monitoring and evaluation is essential. Sound knowledge of Small Arms and Light weapons related issues in the ECOWAS sub region;
Good knowledge of UNDP programme management procedures is critical. Knowledge of EU and ECOWAS procedures is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English.