UNDP Jobs - 48813- NIM Project Manager

NIM Project Manager

Location :

KIGALI, RWANDA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

25-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year renewable

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 Government of Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies (EDPRS 2) sets out four thematic areas to address specific economic transformation objectives for the period of 2013-2017. These areas include (i) Economic transformation for higher growth, (ii) rural development, (iii) Productivity and Youth employment and (iv) Accountable governance.

The United Nations in Rwanda has aligned its support for EDPRS 2 through the UNDAP (United Nations Development Assistance Programme). The UNDAP (2013-2018) is framed around three key Results areas that are quite similar to those of EDPRS 2: (i) Economic transformation, (ii) accountable governance and (iii) Human development.

For the implementation of the UNDAP, UN agencies in Rwanda have devised a division of labour and UNDP country Office was given a big chunk of support for sustainable economic development. This support channels mostly through development projects executed by national counterparts.

Cognizant of the challenges identified during the implementation of EDPRS 1, including but not limited to:

Limited expertise in results-based management (RBM) and development of monitoring indicators;
Inadequate skills in conducting evaluations, with greater focus placed on the monitoring function;
insufficient focus on policy research and preparation of policy briefs;
Lack of a national Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) policy and consistent reporting tools;
Insufficient capacities at decentralised levels on RBM and M&E.

The UNDP Rwanda Country Office and the GoR through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) have prepared and signed a new five year project (2014-2018) titled ‘’Support for Effective Development Cooperation for Result’’.

This new project has two main objectives:

Support for Effective Development Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation, particularly from non-traditional sources;
Strengthen Government of Rwanda‘s National Evidence- Based Policy Planning, Analysis and M&E capacities, mechanisms and processes.

This project came from a merger of 3 former UNDP/ GoR separate projects: (a) Supporting Harmonization, Alignment, and Coordination for Aid Effectiveness in Rwanda (b) Strengthening Government of Rwanda’s National Evidence-Based Policy Planning, Analysis and M&E Project and (c) Support to Special Activities through Evidence-Based Policy Research and Advocacy in support of MDG Initiatives in Rwanda.

The merger has been thought to be the most effective and efficient implementation strategy for programmes falling under similar results areas and implemented by the same institution, MINECOFIN, which will help avoid unnecessary duplication, and reduce transaction costs.

The project’s four outputs are jointly implemented by MINECOFIN and UNDP in the following way:

Output 1: Enhanced Government capacities to lead on aid effectiveness (coordination, harmonization, alignment & mutual accountability) implemented by MINECOFIN’s External Finance Unit (EFU);
Output 2: Strengthened Government capacities to effectively mobilize external resources based on strategic priorities of investments and financing needs from non-traditional sources implemented by MINECOFIN’s EFU and UNDP’s Poverty and Environment Unit;
Output 3: Strengthened technical capacity of MINECOFIN and other participating institutions to carry out and disseminate evidence-based analytical policy research and devise effective Monitoring and Evaluation Systems jointly implemented by MINECOFIN’s National Development Planning and Research Directorate (NDPR) and UNDP’s Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU), and
Output 4: National Human Development, MDGs, EDPRS II and other UNDP-MINECOFIN mandatory reports produced, disseminated and understood by all stakeholders also jointly implemented by MINECOFIN’s NDPR and UNDP’s SPU.

The present ToRs outline the duties and responsibilities of the one of the Project manager, in particular the person in charge of monitoring the above listed Ouput 3 and 4.

Duties and Responsibilities

The project Manager will:

Manage and ensure the realization of project outputs through activities;
Provide direction and guidance to project support team(s)/ responsible party (ies);
Coordinate closely with key relevant stakeholders;
Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of finance reports and also prepare quarterly progress reports as well as end of project reports;
Participate in relevant UNDP planning and progress reporting events/ activities for purpose of establishing synergy with other projects;Prepare quarterly and annual planning and review reports and submit to the project’s steering committee;
Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project.
At the closing stage, prepare final project review report and undertake the mandatory closure processes as stipulated by UNDP.

The project manager will also be responsible for the followings:

Ensuring the implementation of the project, focusing on achievement of the following results through the:

Identification of strategic and innovative programme areas of cooperation;
Operationalization of UNDAP/CCPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies;
Analysis and presentation of UNDP poverty reduction policies, and their implementation in the Country Office (CO);
Ensuring the linkages of the MDG/SDGs and Human Development portfolio with other UNDP practice areas in CO: Democratic governance, Poverty and Environment;
Ensuring the effective management of the project focusing on quality control of the full cycle of project management:
Ensure that funds are made available to the project;
Ensure that risks and issues are properly managed, and that the logs in Atlas are regularly updated;
Ensure that critical project information is monitored and updated in Atlas, using the Activity Quality log in particular.

Maintaining advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP’s mandate and mission focusing on achievement of the following results:

Advocacy for the Millennium Development Goals, the Post 2015 development agenda , Human Development and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings;
Support the monitoring of progress and formulation of strategies towards the achievement of the MDGs and eventually Sustainable Development Goals as the ultimate emanation of the ongoing Post 2015 Consultations;
Management of events and publications on economic issues.

Management of the research and publication process of the UNDP mandatory reports such as the National Human Development Report (NHDR) as well as dissemination and awareness rising of the global annual Human Development Reports.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example; Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Good knowledge of economics and current development issues particularly those pertinent to UNDP’s Practice Areas;
Ability to analyse data, apply conceptual models, policy frameworks;
Ability to lead formulation and evaluation of development programmes and project;
Ability to apply economic theory to the specific country context, carry out high-quality economic and development research.

Management and Leadership

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics or Development Studies from an internationally recognized academic institution.

Experience

At least 5 years progressive Post- graduate work experience at the national or international level in providing project management support, monitoring and evaluation, or in an advisory role of developing projects or programmes;
Sound understanding of Rwandan development context, MDGs, SDGs and Human Development;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems preferably UN Atlas.

Language requirements

Excellent knowledge of English and French (written and oral).