Jobs - 52822- National Project Coordinator

National Project Coordinator

Location :

Home-based in Loikaw, Kayah State, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

27-Mar-2015

Application Deadline :

02-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-10

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year (with possible extension)

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

The Export Sector Competitiveness Programme (ESCP) also called Netherlands Trust Fund phase III Programme (NTFIII) is based on a partnership agreement signed by the CBI and ITC in July 2013.

ESCP aims to enhance export competitiveness of selected sectors in selected countries through an integrated approach to sector competitiveness built around one outcome and the four following outputs:

• Validated plan for sector and enterprise development in place;
• Export capacity of male and female owned SMEs increased sustainably;
• Capacity of TSIs improved in providing sector development support services to SMEs along the sector value chain;
• Business linkages and technical partnerships/collaborations expanded.

The programme will be implemented through country/sector projects developed individually in line with the programme approach. Beneficiary countries include Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar and Uganda.

One of the selected countries for NTF III is Myanmar. The tourism sector has been chosen on the basis of the seven export priority sectors identified under the National Export Strategy (NES) elaborated by the Ministry of Commerce, with technical assistance provided by ITC. The Ministry of Commerce endorsed the selection. The Myanmar state of Kayah was chosen as the destination for project implementation in close consultation with the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce, as well as the private sector. The choice was based on its culturally rich and untapped potential to develop cultural community tourism tours, linking handicraft and food producers to the tourism value chain, while at the same time addressing high poverty levels especially among ethnic minorities.

NTF III Myanmar targets job creation at impact level in the Myanmar tourism industry and related supply chains. At the outcome level it is envisaged to increase the export competitiveness of the Myanmar tourism sector, as well as the competitiveness of the sector’s local supply chains. To achieve the long-term impact and the outcome, the project will deliver in three main ways.

Under Output 1, the project will increase the export capacity of tourism enterprises as well as that of community producers and service providers, supplying goods and services to the tourism industry in Kayah state.

Under Output 2, ITC will work with partners to improve the performance of tourism associations to provide tourism development support services to members. This includes the Yangon-based Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA), and the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association (MTM), as well as associations of tourism-related supply chains in Kayah state.

Under Output 3, ITC will strengthen linkages between local producers, service providers and tour operators. The project will enable local producers and service providers to adapt and sell their products and services to the tourism industry. In addition, project advisors will link Yangon-based inbound tour operators to foreign in-bound tour operators through trade fairs.

The Project Management Team (PMT) oversees day to day activities, management and tracking of budget and resources, administrative oversight including monitoring and compliance and managing the relationship with partner organizations in Myanmar.

The PMT is composed of:

The Geneva-based NTFIII Myanmar Project Manager is responsible for implementation of the project and takes responsibility for results, as well as compliance;
The NTFIII Programme Manager supervises the NTF III Programme overall, including development of the individual country projects as well as monitoring and reporting and will ensure coherence of the Myanmar project with the NTF III overall programme;
A full-time National Project Coordinator based in Loikaw, Kayah State, Myanmar, oversees project planning, implementation and reporting with Myanmar counterparts on the ground on a day-to-day basis. The National Coordinator will be assisted by a full-time National Project Coordinator Assistant, as well based in Loikaw;
A part-time “liaison consultant”, based in Yangon, keeps abreast of other tourism development projects to enhance collaboration, links with the Yangon-based national tourism related associations and assists the smooth flow of information from the field in Kayah to ITC.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the NTFIII Programme Manager and the direct supervision of the Myanmar Project Manager and in close collaboration with the other members of the PMT and the project’s liaison consultant in Yangon.

The specific duties include:

Coordinate day-to-day project implementation

Facilitate knowledge building by taking stock of all documents existing in Myanmar and Kayah state that deal with tourism development. Establish a database;
Develop a yearly detailed work plan for project activities in Kayah state;
Monitor, review, update and ensure the implementation of the approved plan;
Ensure an effective selection of project counterparts and beneficiaries;
Facilitate the carrying out of local surveys as well as the organization of workshops, roundtables and similar events by, among others: preparing invitations, selecting venues and participants according to agreed criteria, supervising logistical arrangements and preparing content and support material;
Participate in the training events that will be organized by the project and ensure that the training content meets the requirements of participants. Run evaluations and adapt accordingly;
Assist in the organization of biannual meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) composed by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF) and possibly its members, the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA), the Myanmar Tourism Marketing, Kayah state authorities, the Dutch embassy/representative and ITC;
Organise biannual working group meetings with Kayah state public and private key stakeholders to gather feedback on project’s progress;
Draft keynotes, speeches, technical papers, etc. as requested, and prepare the agenda for project’ meetings and events, including meetings of the Project Steering Committee (PSC);
Assist in preparing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with project partners;
Participate and facilitate where relevant study tours and tourism trade fairs with selected participants.

Public relations and coordination with project stakeholders:

Contribute to the project visibility by raising awareness among all stakeholders and project counterparts as well as by sensitizing the media on the project’s goals and activities, in collaboration with ITC’s Communication and Events Section;
Liaise regularly and coordinate activities with the focal points of all involved government agencies, especially the Kayah State Government and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism branch office in Kayah and relevant private sector organisations in Kayah;
Prepare and obtain necessary permissions from the Kayah State Government when applicable for the implementation of project activities (e.g international consultant travel in the field);
Review regularly on-going TRTA initiatives in the fields of tourism development and related areas, and ensure synergies with these projects;
Participate on behalf of ITC to relevant tourism related events;
Coordinate activities with national representatives of the main partner-organisations of ITC in this programme as UMTA, MTM, Kayah Hotelier Association, Kayah Restaurant Association, Kayah Guide Association and Kayah MOHT Branch Office etc;
Seek co-operation with any other organisation that might contribute to the success of the project;
Coordinate with other ITC activities in Myanmar and provide support, if required.

Supporting and guiding national and international consultants:

Draft and submit to ITC HQ for approval terms of reference for national and international consultants and sub-contractors and identify appropriate candidates for such assignments;
Prepare and manage agenda for international consultants of the programme, as well as for ITC HQ staff visiting Kayah state, make related organisational arrangements, provide briefings to ensure that their inputs meet the local needs and facilitate their work in Kayah state;
Ensure the necessary follow-up and provision of feedback from/to consultants whenever required;
Monitor and guide the work of consultants and/or sub-contractors;
Provide technical comments and feedback on consultants’ reports;

Administration:

Manage and supervise the budget component for local expenses and inputs, to ensure accuracy of financial requests and adherence to financial plans;
Be responsible for the procurement of local project equipment according to UN rules, and ensure its proper use and maintenance;
Manage the logistics of consultant’s activities and travel in Myanmar;
Arrange for the preparation of administrative formalities in the country in implementing the project such as e.g. travel arrangements, preparation of Authorization for Expenditures (AFE), workshop preparations, shipments, government clearances, trade fairs, etc.

Supervision:

Manage and supervise the work of the project’s National Coordinator Assistant and ensure timely submission of inputs.

Monitoring and reporting:

Prepare bi-monthly progress reports on project implementation status as per agreed template;
Undertake the Prime baseline survey as well as the mid-term review (2nd year) and final assessment (3rd year) survey for enterprises, community based producers and service providers and produce a draft report analyzing project’s achievement against baseline;
Support the Project Manager in the Monitoring and Evaluation responsibilities by contributing to the bi-annual project progress report according to the NTF III programme’s reporting requirements;
Communicate regularly via e-mail and/or phone with the ITC managing officer, and report on project implementation, important meetings, obstacles encountered, local developments, other TRTA projects and any other issues that may have an impact on the project;
Act as the ITC secretary in the Project Steering Committee meetings;
Prepare minutes on other important meetings and notes for the file on project events;
Provide, as requested, background notes and synthesis reports;
Prepare status reports in accordance with the obligations on financial reporting.

Other:

Undertake any other tasks requested by ITC and related to the implementation of the programme in Myanmar.

Expected outputs:

The outputs expected from this job are:

Yearly work plan for activities’ implementation in Kayah state developed and submitted to ITC;
Drafts of Terms of Reference (ToR) for national and international consultants, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and/or AFEs with project partners provided in timely manner;
Permissions obtained from Government in a timely manner, Government kept informed;
Training workshops, meetings, study tours successfully organized;
Support material for workshops, roundtables and similar events prepared;
Prime baseline, mid-term and final assessment surveys undertaken and submitted to ITC;
Keynotes, speeches, technical papers drafted and the agenda for project’ meetings and events, including meetings of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) prepared;
Financial reports prepared and submitted to ITC;
Minutes on meetings and notes for the file on project events prepared and submitted to ITC;
Comments on consultants’ reports provided in a timely manner;
Smooth and timely delivery of project activities assured including facilitation of missions to Kayah by International Consultants and ITC staff and coordination of organisations, associations and consultants;
Regular exchange via e-mail and/or phone with the ITC managing officer, and report on project implementation, important meetings, obstacles encountered, local developments, other TRTA projects and any other issues that may have an impact on the project assured;
Bi-monthly report and biannual progress report submitted to ITC;
Constant communication and feedback with local stakeholders, other development agencies working in Kayah;
Effective administration of Kayah local office.

Competencies

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
Sensitivity and diplomacy to interact with partners, especially with local and national government agencies and structure;
Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, team spirit;
Ability to work with minimum supervision;
Good organiser and manager;
Computer literacy.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced studies in business, economics, tourism management or related fields.

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in project management and hands-on business-related experience;
Very good knowledge of the structure and characteristics of the economy of Myanmar, the assets of its tourism sector and its threats and shortcomings. Familiarity with trade issues of sectors linking to tourism, like handicraft, agrifood and services;
Knowledge of development assistance issues and other trade-related technical assistance projects in the country and region;
Experience in working with an international technical cooperation agency and knowledge of UN procedures would be an asset;
Experience in working in the tourism sector and knowledge of public and private tourism stakeholders would be an asset;
Knowledge of Myanmar Government structure and requirements for implementation of activities at local level would be an asset.

Languages:

Fluent written and spoken English;
Knowledge of Burmese and local Kayah language(s) would be an asset.

Note:

Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with duly filled and signed UN-P11 form, academic qualification certificates. Applications without these document will not be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here:

http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx”.

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