UNDP Jobs - 58811- Project Coordination Specialist

Project Coordination Specialist

Location :

Tunis, Tunisia, until Security Conditions Improve in Libya, TUNISIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

18-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

More than a year

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

Tunis, Tunisia, until security conditions in Libya improve sufficiently to allow working in Libya. At which point the location of the post will become Tripoli, Libya.

In accordance with its mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2213 (2015), the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has been actively engaged in efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution to Libya's political and institutional crisis and bring an end to the armed conflict. Consultations with a wide range of Libyan stakeholders including parliamentarians, political leaders and various civil society personalities in Libya paved the way for convening the round of UNSMIL led Libyan political dialogue commencing in Geneva in January 2015. Since January 2015, UNSMIL has launched and facilitated the Libyan dialogue process to end the political and security crisis in Libya, and has so far convened several round of talks for the principal political track in Geneva, Ghedames (Libya), and more recently in Skhirat, Morocco.

UNDP is supporting UNSMIL to facilitate the Libyan political dialogue process. Additionally, UNDP and UNSMIL are planning for the provision of technical support to the Government of National Accord (GNA) that is expected to be formed as a result of the political dialogue process. These two efforts – the political dialogue and support to the GNA – are seen as one process and are supported under UNDP's Immediate Assistance to the Libyan Political Dialogue and Government of National Accord project.

The Project designed to provide a comprehensive range of governance support functions within the UN integrated framework through the project which is considered a complex and sensitive effort to support Libya during an unstable transitional period. Additionally, aspects of the Project's implementation, such as complexities arising out of remote management through third-party contractors in the sensitive Libyan context contains risk exposure which will need to carefully managed.

One aspect of the Project includes preparing mechanisms for consultation and coordination with the broader international community providing support to Libya both during the political dialogue process and to the GNA that is expected to result from that process.

Hence, the overall function and responsibility of the the project coordination spicialist will be to work closely with project donors for reporting purposes and ensuring periodic consultation and coordination sessions with the broader international community. When necessary, the Project Coordination Specialist will also provide backstopping support to the Project Manager on implementation issues.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Coordination Specialist will play an important role in the management and implementation of reporting and coordination processes associated with assistance with the political dialogue in Libya

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead, develop and implement a project reporting system:

Take the lead in the development, management and implementation of a reporting system that collects inputs from across the project team and channels them in an organized, regular fashion to identified end recipients;
Produce internal reports, evaluations, proposals, plans or policy documents as requested, on the basis of information solicited from across the integrated UN Team;
Produce reports and proposals on behalf of the Project Team for presentation to the counterparts, in consultation with relevant advisors;
Prepare project spot-check schedule and organize regular spot-checks of implementing partners, involving the participation of respective project officers using established and agreed upon checklists;
Provide regular inputs to UNSMIL reporting structures as required, ensuring inputs are submitted in an efficient and timely manner;
Monitor and report on progress of the project according to agreed work plans, in accordance with UNDP rules, procedures and standards;
Ensure that inputs, reports, proposals are copied to the appropriate recipients (donors, partners and beneficiaries) as agreed;
Develop agendas, presentations, reports and/or minutes in preparation for regular meetings of the Project Board (PRB);
Participate in the day to day operation of the Project Team, including through participation in the coordination of substantive administrative activities, interpretation of policy guidelines, work to improve the reporting system, whilst handle operational and administrative queries;
Provide comprehensive mentoring and ensure full familiarization of the Project Team with UNDP corporate monitoring and evaluation policies, systems and tools.

Coordination with external partners:

Coordinate with other elements of UNSMIL and UNDP (e.g. Public Information or Communications) to ensure their information needs are met by the reporting structures;
Anchor information-sharing and coordination with international stakeholders on project issues, including through organizing a periodic forum for information-sharing;
Ensure coordinated assistance and avoid duplication in efforts;
Identify centers of excellence which the project can partner with;
Liaise with UNDP country office, UNSMIL, donors, beneficiaries and all other partners on all matters concerning the implementation of the project;
Maintain relationship building with key project counterparts to ensure full partnership on the project;
Maintain relationships with donors to ensure ongoing resources for the project.

Participate in preparation and implementation of the project work plan:

Coordination of the project work plan, reports and proposals for funding preparation;
Coordination of substantive preparations and support provided Project Board meetings;
Coordination on behalf of the Project Management and UNDP all activities related to donor coordination and information sharing;
In collaboration with the Project Manager, strengthen transparency and accountability in project implementation, project management and carry out performance reviews to ensure targets are met and make appropriate recommendations for improvement;
Provide other support to the project manager as requested.

Ensure effective advocacy of project activities in close consultation with the Project Manager and the information / communication focal points of the UN:

Elaboration of the project communication and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy;
Elaborate, plan and implement communication and outreach strategies to enhance the strategic positioning of UNDP
Regularly produce success stories, case studies and features to share with stakeholders and audiences;
Identify and develop creative opportunities up to increase awareness of the project as well as UNDP, using traditional and new media;
Provide advice to the Project Team in developing project-related communications activities and initiatives for the purpose of ensuring a carefully coordinated internal communications strategy for the Project Team;
Maintenance of the systematic information on project activities;
Prepare presentations, speaking points and other outreach material for major advocacy events;
Clear, consistent and timely responses to media inquiries and preparing statements and corporate positions to media and other external audiences, as applicable;
Prepare and implement media and communication strategies for the project under the overall guidance of the Project Manager and in consultation with UNSMIL;
Contribute to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages;
Provide support on reputation management issues.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and management:

Identify and synthesises best practices and lessons learned directly linked to other projects goals and activities;
Motivate and guide the project team to document best practices covering concepts, strategies and implementation approaches;
Contribute to work-process analysis: suggest effective alternative options for streamlining business processes;
Monitor practices, and project-specific news and developments in order to ensure guidance to the team that reflects the best and most current available information;
Organization and provision of training, consultancy and advice to colleagues on communications;
Produces knowledge products to improve understanding of the issues and ways forward emerging through project work;
Knowledge sharing with UNDP Regional Advisor providing news and stories for corporate awareness of project activities and communication initiatives undertaken for the project.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

Ability to generate new ideas and approaches, research best practices and propose new one and more effective ways of doing things;
Document and analyze innovative strategies and new approaches.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow;
Ability to create effective advocacy messages/strategies when required;
Determines appropriate resources, methods, partners, information and solutions.

People Management:

Encourages collaboration and improves team responsibilities and/or project deliverables;
Takes ownership of responsibilities;
Proven ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communication:

Ability to build professional networks with institutional partners;
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform ideas;
Ability to create and promote enabling environment for open communication;
Presents complex, conceptual ideas in practical terms to others.

Delivery:

Ability to get things done under difficult circumstances and working environments;
Creates new and better services;
Adapts and implements actions for the purpose of successful project implementation.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Project Reporting and Analysis:

Expert knowledge of the area with particular emphasis on the experience of reporting and coordination;
Ability to evaluate data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful manner;
Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations.

Relationship Management:

Demonstrated ability to engage with colleagues and counterparts and forge productive working relationships;
Demonstrated ability to present complex initiatives to different audiences.

Research and writing skills:

Specialist knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management;
Excellent writing and editing skills; Ability to prepare quality reports, briefs and/or speeches.

Quality Assurance:

Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities, to ensure that quality requirements and goals of delivered results are fulfilled.

Secondary:

Knowledge Management:

Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing.

Client Orientation:

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Expands understanding of subject by clients and leads action.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (masters or equivalent) in communications, law, political or social sciences, international relations or related fields.

Experience:

5 years of relevant work experience at the national or international level in the area of project coordination including design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; Proven reporting and communications experience;
Experience in working with or within political dialogue supporting bodies;
Experience of working with a range of international agencies, UN organizations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs);
Proven ability to work harmoniously with people from varying cultures and backgrounds;
Ability to work in hardship conditions and stressful situations.

Language:

Fluency in English, including excellent writing skills, is required;
Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Other:

Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Front Page, Adobe In-Design; web-based management systems;
Experience of working with a United Nations field mission or experience of living and working in transitional societies is highly desirable;
Knowledge of the Libyan context and the current transition process is an asset.

Application:

Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Job site at http://www.ly.undp.org/content/libya/en/home/operations/jobs/ and please ensure to fill in and upload Personal History Form - P.11 which is available at http://www.ly.undp.org/content/libya/en/home/operations/jobs/ in the relevant field of the on-line application;
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications that are short-listed will be contacted;
Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.