UNDP Jobs - 69540- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Policy Special

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Policy Specialist

Location :

Kuwait, KUWAIT

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Dec-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 months

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

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties.

Under the framework of the Institutional Capacity Development for Implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (ICDI/KNDP) project, UNDP and GSSCPD attempt to improve human capacity and organizational effectiveness of the GSSCPD for development planning. The aim is to support GSSCPD attain the ability to deliver effectively according to its mandates.

GSSCPD is responsible for elaborating, coordinating and overseeing the Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP) which addresses the challenges of economic development, human and social development, the efficiency of the state institutions and administration and combating corruption, in accordance with H.H. the Amir’s State Vision “Kuwait 2035”.

Within this context, GSSCPD is seeking to recruit a Policy Specialist on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who will provide technical advice to the office of the SG on how new strategy to foster potential SME projects. The assignment will contribute to the following:

KNDP objective: Reducing the Unemployment phenomenon;
KNDP policy: Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through elimination of operational barriers, providing financial support and facilitating administrative procedures in a way that ensures the sustainability of SMEs, attracts youth and new market entrants;
Indicator: Workforce size according to the economic sector and nationality (page 78 KNDP).

The assignment will also contribute to the following ICDI/KNDP project outputs:

Output 1.1: Improved human capacity and organizational effectiveness of the GSSCPD for development planning.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Secretary General (SG) and with close coordination with the GSSCPD Project Manager, the SMEs Policy Specialist will assume the following tasks:

Provision of technical advice to the SG in setting and implementing new initiatives related to SME project development

Propose a methodology to create strategic SME projects based on the national agenda and conduct an assessment of the needs for strategic SME projects and identify/ propose a list of potential projects;
Provide expert inputs for the design of tools and implementation of survey instruments for the assessment of national needs for potential SME projects;
Facilitate and conduct roundtable discussion regarding SME in Kuwait and the advancement of the SME sector;
Produce a strategy for developing the SME sector in regards to the Knowledge Economy.
Establish partnerships (local and international) to better position Kuwait’s SME for foreign investment and financing (seed funding). Establish the hurdles faced to achieve such goals;
Map out the difference between Kuwaits current SME financing models and other countries promoting SME sector, also providing the advantages and disadvantage of each model;
Produce reports on how the SME sector in Kuwait will affect the GDP and the jobs market;
Produce reports comparing different SME sectors in the region and their effects on their respective GDPs and jobs market;
Conduct a cost and benefit analysis on initiatives by Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) that supported the SME sector and their effect on the SME sector in Kuwait;
Work in close cooperation with the main stakeholders (SME Fund, Manpower Government Restructuring Programme (MGRP)) on SME related initiatives and projects.

Capacity building, training and ongoing advisory support to the SG’s office at GSSCPD

Based on thorough assessment, identify the coaching and training needs related to the technical office in the SG’s department at GSSCPD and develop a training plan to address them;
Provide coaching and on-the-job-training for staff at the technical office in the SG’s department to enable them to implement their role in relation to the establishment of the KPPC and other strategic projects;
Provide continuous support to various departments at GSSCPD in relation to planning and monitoring the implementation of various KNDP related projects;
Present monthly reports to the GSSCPD and Project Manager highlighting key deliverables and achievements with recommendations for the way forward.

Indicative approaches:

As indicated above, a key objective and approach in this assignment is to develop national capacities through facilitating learning from other countries experiences, training and knowledge and skills transfer to the staff of the SG’s Department at GSSCPD. The specialist would thus be required to submit a capacity development/expertise and knowledge transfer plan based on an understanding of the needs of the Department.

Outputs and Deliverables:

A Work Plan at the outset of the assignment including- 2 weeks;
A training plan for the SG’s department staff- End of Month 3;
List of proposed SME development projects to be suggested and discussed with relevant public entities to achieve the objectives of the national plan (to be specified after starting the assignment);
A strategy for the SME sector in Kuwait and cost and benefit analysis of current SME initiatives plan (to be specified after starting the assignment);
Monthly and quarterly progress reports as per standard templates- Ongoing.

Roles and Coordination Requirements

The Specialist will work under the direct management of the Secretary General (SG) at the GSSCPD. The Specialist will also indirectly report to the ICDI/KNDP project management based with the Technical Cooperation and Development Support Department at the GSSCPD by submitting regular reports on progress and impact of the assignment.

Competencies

The SMEs Policy Specialist should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:

Functional competencies:

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Minimum Bachelor Degree in Business management or any related field.

Experience

Minimum of 15 years of proven experience in the area of strategic planning, management of private sector projects;
Knowledge and familiarity with private institutions;
Experience in working with participatory approaches;
Excellent communication and writing skills is required;
Familiarity with Kuwait governmental institutions is an added advantage;
Excellent computer skills, with MS. Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Language requirement

Fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is a must.

Note:

This position will be on governmental contract administered by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development.
As part of the application, the applicant must attach a CV.