UNDP Jobs - 55092- Re-advertisement - Regional Project Manager

Re-advertisement - Regional Project Manager - Action for Cooperation Against Trafficking in Persons

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

23-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year extendable based on performance and budget availability

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

Candidates who previously applied need not re-apply.

The UNDP project, Action for Cooperation against Trafficking in Persons (UN-ACT), was established to build on and expand on the previous achievements of the UNDP managed project United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), which was established in 2000 to facilitate a stronger and more coordinated response to human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

The main approach for the proposed project is to build the capacity of key stakeholders, and facilitate coordination and cooperation among all relevant actors in order to achieve the following long-term project outcome:

Key anti-trafficking stakeholders in the region are working in a more cooperative and mutually supportive manner to effectively combat trafficking in persons.

To work towards this outcome, the project has identified the following five interlinked outputs:

Output 1: Countries and regional actors increase their cooperation to effectively counter human trafficking;
Output 2: The COMMIT Process is strengthened to become sustainable and self-reliant;
Output 3: Policy makers, academia, non-governmental actors, and the public have increased access to evidence-based research and knowledge on trafficking;
Output 4: Civil society and other non-governmental actors are able to contribute more effectively to anti-trafficking efforts;
Output 5: Effective project management and operations.

The project will be implemented within an inter-agency framework that ensures that available resources are maximized through building on the strengths of the mandates of the respective agencies and providing gap-filling and bridging activities when gaps have been jointly identified.

The Regional Project Manager will report to the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) Manager, who is also the Principal Project Representative (PPR) for UN-ACT, or her/his delegate, for overall management of the project. The Regional Project Manager provides strategic leadership and support to timely achievement of project results and delivery of project outputs, through a consultative participatory approach that fosters a sense of ownership for key project stakeholders: (1) to provide quality assurance of project results and to manage overall M&E; (2) to position the project at the cutting edge of knowledge-development and knowledge-sharing relating to trafficking in persons; (3) to support external outreach, development advocacy and communications; and (4) to coordinate and negotiate with UN/UN partner agencies to ensure that the project maintains a UN-system approach and multi-disciplinary framework in achieving the objectives outlined in the project document. S/he will supervise appr. 30 staff at the regional level and in the country project offices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic planning and coordination of delivery of project results:

Manage the Regional Management Office and the six UN-ACT country offices (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), including overall responsibility for all day-to-day project management and administration at the GMS sub-regional level (including finances, human resources, clerical matters, correspondence and communications, organization of activities, monitoring, reporting and evaluation). Note that the project envisages increased geographical presence over the period of implementation;
Develop regional level annual work plans 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 work plans with active inputs from partner organizations;
Provide substantive support to the six National Project Offices in each of the participating countries in the planning and implementation of national level activities to ensure satisfactory project implementation and sub-regional coordination of country-level project activities;
Oversee management and coordination of all project activity implementation on the sub-regional level in accordance with the guidance set by the Project Management Board and in line with the project document;
Initiate, in consultation with each government, a process to progressively hand over secretariat functions to national institutions;
Monitor, analyze and maintain an overview of the progress of project implementation to ensure that timely technical, managerial and administrative support are provided to all the national project offices;
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 and negotiate 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;
Oversee the monitoring the progress of implementation of activities by organizations and sub-contractors agreeing to work with UN-ACT support and providing them with necessary technical assistance, directly or through other resource persons or international/national consultants.

Facilitation of knowledge management:

Maintain 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;
Develop and oversee 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 with integrity and in line with UNDP ethical standards;
Ensure and facilitate regular reporting, communication and information exchange.

Strategic partnerships, outreach and advocacy for development results:

Engage the six GMS governments, UN agencies, donors and NGOs in dialogues on key aspects of anti-trafficking policies, with an aim to further strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to trafficking;
Provide substantive leadership and support to the COMMIT Secretariat operating within UN-ACT, 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);
Develop and implement a resource mobilization strategy that includes seeking potential funding from donor governments, and UN and private sector partners;
Maintain effective collaboration, cooperation and mutual 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;
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;
Participate in workshops, meetings, conferences and other gatherings relevant to the work of the project, including making presentations on the work of the UN-ACT;
Write speeches and prepare strategic papers for the PPR to be delivered at key international events;
Represent and serve as a public spokesperson for the COMMIT Process, in consultation and appropriate agreement with Government partners.

Support to project governance arrangements, monitoring and evaluation:

Organize quarterly Project Management Board meetings and other technical round table meetings as necessary;
Organize and prepare regional COMMIT Taskforce meetings in close consultation with the PPR, six GMS governments and ACTIP member agencies and organizations, and the annual COMMIT Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) as required in collaboration with the host government;
Oversee the formulation and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system for the UN-ACT project as a whole in accordance with the project document and established UNDP standards, and for the COMMIT SPA, in accordance with the SPA, COMMIT MOU and established UNDP standards;
Provide donors with updated and timely information on project implementation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission, vision and values;
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;
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

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 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 complexity.

People Skills

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Work experience:

Minimum 10 years of experience in a government, NGO, or UN agency dealing with development issues relating to, poverty, public health, human rights, and governance, preferably in the area of human trafficking;
Experience from supporting inter-governmental processes;
Experience in project coordination and implementation on a (sub) regional level;
Experience supervising multiple staff and project offices;
Knowledge/understanding of issues related to the human trafficking;
Experience from working in the South East Asia region;
Proven record of working with donors and fund mobilization;
Familiarity with Windows-based computer applications.

Language requirement:

Excellent English oral and written communication skills.