UN WOMEN Jobs - 92968- M4C Project Manager, Solomon Islands (Open to Solo

M4C Project Manager, Solomon Islands (Open to Solomon Islands Nationals ONLY)

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

15-Sep-2020

Application Deadline :

10-Aug-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One (1) year.

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

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Markets for Change - Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Projects (hereinafter referred to as the M4C Programme) is a six-year initiative aimed at ensuring that marketplaces in rural and urban areas in Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory environments, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.

The M4C Programme aims to promote the gender, social and economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors. Through the creation of representative groups in marketplaces, a focus on economic security, the strengthening of local government institutions, procedures and development approach, and the design and building of gender-responsive infrastructure, market vendors will be able to influence decision-making on market management and resource allocation, supporting the economic and social empowerment of market vendors, and the advancement of women market vendors. In Solomon Islands, a total of 12 markets will be reached over the course of the Project. Evidence to date underlines support by local government and market management.

Markets for Change (M4C) Programme will use a multi-sectorial approach to build on previous work done by UN Women, and other UN agencies and partners, to strengthen the present network of market vendors, empower women market vendors and create an enabling environment for their growth. M4C will also support gender-responsive and universally accessible infrastructures regarding market extensions and refurbishments. For the Markets for Change project in Solomon Islands, UN Women will act as the Implementing Agent with UNDP acting as the Responsible Party for the delivery of Outcome 2 of the project as part of the programming for Women's Economic Empowerment.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Project Manager, the Project Manager will be the team leader for the M4C Solomon Islands project with the overall responsibility for the project management and implementation in the Solomon Islands office, ensuring high quality of work for project implementation, strategic partnerships, financial and human resource management, and knowledge building.

The Project Manager will adopt an approach focusing on quality and result oriented management. The Solomon Islands Project Manager will participate with the M4C teams in Vanuatu and Fiji to jointly support a regional M4C approach, guided by the Regional Project Manager. The post will also work with UN Women Solomon Islands MCOs programme and project teams as well as its Operations Unit, in addition to the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and Pacific and HQ teams, in order to implement project activities and ensure maximization of the impact of M4C projects' beneficiaries, and to exchange information and ensure complementarity in service delivery with sister UN agencies and other national/international stakeholders, while ensuring consistency with the Solomon Islands UNDAF and other National Development priorities and adequate responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Reporting to Regional Project Manager, the Project Manager is responsible for coordinating the M4C Solomon Islands portfolio which includes coordinating relationships with national partners and stakeholders, and the monitoring and reporting, and the finances and personnel of the portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Management of the UN Women Solomon Islands’ M4C Project;
Direction of UN Women M4C programming in Solomon Islands;
Partnership and support to resource mobilization;
Managing the financial and human resources of the UN Women Solomon Islands’ M4C Project;
Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on M4C;
Advocate and facilitate knowledge building and management and communication.

Management of the Solomon Islands’ M4C Project:

Supervise and lead the development of project work plans, budget plans, procurement plans and operational plans with the related detailed budget allocations for project implementation, including working with UNDP to align planning and management of Outcome 2 activities;
Lead and supervise the implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and other activities related to the implementation and sustainability of the projects;
Manage the M4C project resources and administration to ensure proper accountability for and utilization of allocated funds;
Continuously monitor the implementation of activities and budget expenditures and ensure that projects' implementation is in line with agreed upon work plans and related time frames;
Ensure evidence based and disaggregated data collection and prepare narrative reports on projects' progress, oversee projects' review and ensure UN Women's visibility across projects' implementation is compliant with UN Women's rules and regulations;
Work closely with governmental and local partners to ensure ownership and delivery of projects' results;
Ensure that close cooperation and coordination is maintained with project partners and existing and future consultative committees for project implementation;
Conduct regular technical briefings for M4C project donor;
Oversee the procurement actions under the project.

Direction of M4C programming in Solomon Islands:

Provide inputs into planning, monitoring and evaluation of UN Women's M4C work in Solomon Islands related to women's rights and protection, including the identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation;
Contribute to M4C programme strategies and other programming documents, and ensure their effective implementation;
Create linkages and synergies between M4C project and other UN Women programmes and projects to maximize impact for targeted beneficiaries;
Manage relationships with governmental and non-governmental national stakeholders to maintain discussions and ensure proper planning for addressing strategic priorities and including for risk management;
Ensure technical support and advice on issues related to women's rights, particularly women in markets and protection is provided, as needed, to governmental counterparts and non-state actors and UN Agencies;
Identify and share with the office, emerging protection planning related to women's rights issues.

Partnership and Support to Resource Mobilization:

Liaise, within the overall framework of UN Women Solomon Islands Women's Economic Empowerment Programme, with implementing bodies, governmental organizations, donor agencies, UN Agencies and NGOs in order to strengthen the network of support to women's rights and protection-related issues and widen the potentialities of the M4C managed project;
Liaise with donors, raise and maintain interest in areas of women's protection and rights relevant to the Solomon Islands context, including emerging areas;
Support resource mobilization efforts for ensuring the sustainability of existing M4C project and funding new ones in Solomon Islands.
Formulate M4C related funding proposals and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation in line with regional approaches, analyze and research information on relevant donors, and support the identification of opportunities for cost-sharing;
Contribute towards strategic communication of the project's findings, good practices and lessons learned to local, national, regional and global partners including UN agencies.

Managing the financial and human resources of Solomon Islands’ M4C Projects:

Ensure that the M4C Projects have the human resources and capacities needed to respond to requests for assistance and to deliver on project commitments;
Supervise personnel assigned to M4C project;
Support alignment of M4C monthly planning of the work through a collaborative approach with the M4C Vanuatu and Solomon Islands teams and regularly follow up on developments and challenges;
Hold regular M4C Solomon Islands project staff meetings;
Coordinate M4C Solomon Islands projects' staff participation in external coordination meetings and other activities related to M4C work;
Provide clear direction and monitor performance of staff working on the projects based on specific benchmarks;
Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing including synthesis and dissemination of lessons learnt and best practices in procurement and operational areas to contribute to regional M4C approaches;
Ensure linkages are established and maintained with other UN Women programmes and projects;
Provide constant briefing/debriefing of senior management, staff and project teams on issues relating to area of work;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on M4C:

Coordinate and gather and compile all information necessary for monitoring and reporting on programmes and projects from the planning to the evaluation stages;
Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds by partners;
Conduct regular monitoring visits;
Write annual and quarterly reports;
Review and coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports.

Advocate and facilitate knowledge building and management and communication:

Ensure documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced are in accordance with UN Women guidelines;
Contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally of the programme;
Organize major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.

Competencies

Key Performance Indicators:

Timely and quality implementation of Programme/Portfolio activities against set workplans, timelines and budgets, in line with the Strategic Note.
Quality and timely reporting.
Strong relations with partners and stakeholders.
Regular and timely monitoring of activities.
Timely and quality implementation of advocacy events in line with work plan.
Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated.

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity
Integrity
Professionalism

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
Accountability
Creative Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Inclusive Collaboration
Stakeholder Engagement
Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

Financial Management: Level 3
Formulating Strategies: Level 1
Business Acumen: Level 2
Project/ Programme Management: Level 3
Technical Expertise: Level 2

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification

Master’s degree or equivalent in public administration, law, human rights, gender equality, management, social sciences or other related areas is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience

At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national partners, preferably related to M4C Project in Solomon Islands;
Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects;
Previous experience working in the UN system is an asset.

Specific Additional Technical Expertise Required

Understanding of WEE
Understanding and experience working in the area of gender.
Strong practical experience working with Microsoft Packages i.e. Excelsheet, Powerpoint, Word.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required;
National language of the duty station is an asset;
Knowledge of other UN official working language is an asset.