Historique

Poverty reduction and growth are the highest priorities of the Government. The Rectangular Strategy Phase II reaffirms government’s commitment to prioritize policies and investment in support of agriculture; infrastructure; private sector development and employment; and human resources development. The global economic crisis and the rise in food and fuel prices have led the RGC to adopt a dual approach. This aims to increase national competitiveness and diversify the economy; and to expand the social protection and safety nets.

The government has identified agriculture as the top priority for Cambodia’s socio-economic development, focusing on increasing productivity and diversifying within this sector. In 2006, the Royal Government of Cambodia updated its 2001 Diagnostic Trade Integration Strategy.  The result was the preparation of the Cambodia Trade Integration Strategy 2007 (CTIS 2007.)  The strategy was endorsed by the Sub-Steering Committee on Trade and Trade-Related Investment in March 2007 (the Committee serves as National Steering Committee for all Aid for Trade in Cambodia) and launched officially by H.E. Prime Minister Hun Sen in December 2007. 

CTIS 2007 stresses the need for Cambodia to expand and diversify its export base above and beyond its original, two core export sectors – garments and tourism.  To support this major strategic orientation, CTIS 2007 identifies: (1) 19 product and service export potentials for export development focus (including cassava) (2) “cross-cutting” reforms and institutional developments required to unleash growth in those potential exports; and, (3) capacity developments in areas of trade policy and Aid for Trade management.

This is also in line with the results of the country’s Trade Policy Review undertaken in 2011 in partnership with the World Trade Organization (WTO) that calls for Cambodia to move away from its dependency on garment and rice and urges to diversify and expand the country’s export basis.

Cassava is the second largest agricultural crop in Cambodia and growing rapidly.  Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) indicates production of nearly 4.250 million MT in 2010, up from 3.5 million MT in 2009.  MAFF sources estimate that 2012 production may reach as much as 8 million MT. The fast growing importance of the sector for export diversification and export revenues cannot be underestimated.  The sector might have been generating anywhere between $200 to $300 million worth of “informal” export revenues in 2010.  Even though Cassava has become the second largest agricultural crop in term or income, employment, hectares cultivated, and exports (more on this in the next section), there is very little technical assistance support provided to the sector.

This lack of technical support is potentially serious considering cassava cultivation could have ecological consequences. Research has shown that continuous cassava cultivation on small plots could contribute to serious nutrient depletion and deterioration of chemical and physical conditions of the soil. When grown on even gentle slopes, continuous cassava cultivation could even contribute to soil erosion. But it need not be the case: cassava cultivation can be made sustainable using proper methodologies or when part of a sustainable integrated system.  To this end, in 2010, the Ministry of Commerce and UNDP Cambodia released a very preliminary report on the potential environmental consequences of cassava cultivation and processing (as well as rice and rice-field fishery).    As the study was very preliminary further research work is required.

UNDP, in its CPAP, has vowed to support the above goals of economic diversification and poverty reduction and in particular the human capital development and competitiveness issues. Similarly, at the request of the Government, UNDP has decided to re-engage deeply in the trade sector, trade being an engine for economic growth, through the creation of a dedicated project within UNDP.

The project will contribute directly to:

• UNDAF outcome on “promotion of equitable, green, diversified economic growth”
• CPAP Outcome #1 on Poverty Reduction: strengthening national and sub-national capacities to develop a more diversified, sustainable and equitable economy
• CPAP Output #1.1: supporting human capital development and institutional capacity for selected sectors of importance for the diversification of the economy
• CPAP Outcome #2: enabling national and local authorities, communities and the private sector to sustainably manage eco-system goods and services and respond to climate change
      

Devoirs et responsabilités

The Project Manager will perform under the overall supervision of the UNDP Assistant Country Director, and Team Leader of Poverty Reduction Unit. S/he will work closely with the assigned Programme Analyst and project team to deliver the expected outputs.

S/he has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis. S/he is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making for the project in close consultation with UNDP Programme Analyst. Her/his prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the work plan, to the required standard of quality and within the specified limits of time and cost.

Specific tasks will include, but will not be limited to:

1. Project planning:

Ensure that the work plan and the resource needed are in place to deliver the expected outputs.

• Take the lead to develop the project annual/quarterly work plans and indicators for result-based management
• Develop approach/strategy to implement the work plan in consultation with project stakeholder and/or with any technical assistance provided under the project
• Work closely with the appointed Programme Analyst to obtain the approval from the project board on the work plan and the related budget plan

2. Project implementation and monitoring:

Closely monitor the project to ensure that the available resources of the project including mainly human resources and financial resources are well managed and effectively used to deliver the project outputs as agreed by the project board.  

• Take lead in implementing the project as per the agreed work plan approved by the project board
• Regular monitor progress toward timelines set for each milestone; follow up with the project team and identify the potential risk/issue that relate to project delivery status and take appropriate action to prevent delay
• Ensure that budget is spent in accordance to the agreed work plan in a transparent and efficient manner following UNDP financial rules/regulation
• Ensure accountability, transparency and competiveness in procurement and contracting aspects of the project
• Proactively provide necessary inputs as required by the management of the project and other stakeholder
• Coordinate and support the preparation of the project board meeting and ad hoc meetings with partners as required
• Liaise with the Project Board and Programme Analyst to assure the overall direction and smooth implementation of the project
• Take action to response to the recommendation from the management of the project
• Consolidate knowledge/lessons learnt and good practices

3. Project reporting:

Ensure the reports required are submitted on time in accordance to the required standard and format. 

• Prepare and submit Quarterly Reports and Annual Reports on time
• Prepare the project budget/delivery report and related documents for UNDP Senior Management and/or donor
• Ensure good quality and accuracy of financial reporting to donors and timely submission
• Prepare the Lesson Learned Report

4. Partnership Building:

• Work closely with national counterparts to build cooperative relationships and establish the organization as an effective partner
• Build and maintain partnership through networking with stakeholders to generate their interest in the area of trade related development as well as UNDP programme as a whole and in contributing to the resources mobilization effort

5. Knowledge management and sharing:

• Ensure that experiences and lessons learnt from programme implementation are adequately recorded and disseminated
• Support the sharing of experiences and best practices at national, regional and international levels in the context of South-South cooperation

Impact of Results

The position will contribute to strengthening UNDP’s ability to contribute to trade integration strategy that can be mainstreamed through the new NSDP and Vision 2030 that are being formulated by the Government at the moment and it will serve as a basis for the design of the new Rectangular Strategy that will guide the work of the new Government following the upcoming general elections.

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

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

• Knowledge and understanding of evaluation and development evaluation in particular
• Knowledge of current development issues particularly those pertinent to UNDP’s Practice Areas 
• Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data
• Ability to coordinate the work of others
• Ability to implement new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
• Good knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent presentation skills

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 openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• High gender and intercultural sensitivity, tact and diplomacy
• Good team-player willing to assume additional responsibilities
• Able to operate under pressure and tight deadlines

Client Orientation

• Organises and priorities work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise

• Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise
• Analyses ongoing trends, evolving needs and emerging issues to identify appropriate responses for capacity building

Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Assess project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical point of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Analyses country situation to identify opportunities for project development
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly

Innovation and Judgment

• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate
• Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
• Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviors

Core Competencies:

• Self-development and initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Inform and transparent decision making

Qualifications et expériences requises

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or other related fields
• 3 years of relevant experience in project management including finance, procurement, and Human Resources
• Experience working in the context of trade development in Cambodia or in other countries, especially in the area related to cash crop is a strong asset
• Hands-on experience in development projects and establishing inter-relationships between international organizations and national governments
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with partners at middle management and working level; including government, academia, civil society, private sector, UN and other development donors
• Experience in working with government entities managing donor funds is an asset
• Experience in handling of web based management systems
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required