Background

 
Under the overall supervision of the Team Lead - Project/Partnerships Coordinator and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director/Programme, the incumbent will be primarily responsible for coordinating the project activities of the participating Country Offices (Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Mali and Sierra Leone) as articulated in the ECOWAS/ EU/ UNDP project prescription. 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 national coordinators to ensure smooth implementation of project deliverables. He/she will work in close collaboration with the Project/partnership’s office in UNDP Abuja, Nigeria to deliver on project results and ensure prompt reporting in line with the programme and partnership’s agreement.

Due to the current situation the post holder will temporarily be located in Abuja, Nigeria. Once the situation in Liberia improves the post holder will be reassigned to the duty station Monrovia, Liberia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Coordinates implementation of work plans for the ECOWAS Small Arms pilot programme in in all the 6 participating countries;
• Coordinates programme reporting in line with donor agreement and ensure accurate communication of development results;
• Supports Project team Lead to identify strategies for mobilizing resources and partnerships;
• Facilitates communications, knowledge building and knowledge sharing of project development results among the participating countries.

Coordinates implementation of work plans for the ECOWAS Small Arms pilot programme in Liberia and the other Mano River Union countries

• Provides programme execution and administration of the project in the 6 countries by ensuring  delivery of project activities, providing direction and validating project deliverables  of the NATCOM in the 6 countries for the approval by the National Technical Committees of these countries;
• Supports national project coordinators to formulate Annual work plans to ensure efficient and effective achievement of project deliverables;
• 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 the 6 countries and takes responsibility for monitoring project deliverables based on the quarterly reports;
• Support the 6 COs and ensure that the project is integrated in the COs programming.

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 partners in line with EU reporting guidelines;
• Supports team lead and serves as liaison among 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.
• Ensures the development of accurate communication of development results for the project from the national coordinators.

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

• Supports team lead to conduct external and internal analysis for assessing additional opportunities in resource mobilization for respective NATCOMS;
• Actively participates in the implementation of the Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) Strategy for the project;
• Supports 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:

• Supports the national project coordinators and ensures communications of development results of the project are shared with the ECOWAS –EU partners, as well as, within UNDP;
• Actively participates to identify and formulate lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader ECOWAS knowledge management efforts;
• Ensures lessons from the project are shared as contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

 Impact of Results

The key results of the post are coordination of the efforts of the respective pilot countries in the MRU and Sahel region to deliver significant reduction in the proliferation of illicit 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
Contributing to results by leading programme implementation

• Coordinates efforts of national project coordinators to ensure quality assuarance in project implementation in line with UNDP programming principles;
• Supports the team to ensure project outputs are achieved in line with desired outcomes;
• Provides leadership in identifying challenges to programme inplementation in the 6 COs and addresing them.

Building Strategic Partnerships
Identifying and building partnerships

• Supports the building of effective networks with partners notably within the NATCOMs in the 6 COs seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic plan;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts especially NATCOMS  in the area of resource mobilization and effetive partnerships building;
• Provides support to offices in MRU and Sahel to ensure effective partnerships building.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• 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.

Client Orientation
Contributing to positive outcomes for the clients

•  Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between all actors in the partnerships;
• Demonstrates understanding of partners’ perspective and procedures;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality of project delivery.

Core Competencies:

• Promotes ethics, integrity and creating organizational precedents;
• Demonstrates political acumen to  foster project implementation;
• Demonstrates the ability to work in an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills;
• Exhibits respect for diversity and divergent views;
• Creates and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Demonstrates the abilities of an emotionally intelligent person to achieve results;
• Ensures fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking;
• Promotes 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:  

•  Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level;
• Demonstrated experience in Programme management, donor relations and 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 English and French is essential.

United Nations Considerations:

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

No fee:

The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicant's bank accounts.

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.