Background
Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Kosovo Director and the Returns Programme Manager, the Project Coordinator, SPARK Organised Returns (OR) ensures effective monitoring of the implementation of sub-projects and undertakes regular field visits to project sites. The Coordinator will ensure the swift issuance of project contracts, amendments, and extensions for implemented sub-projects and oversee the timely collection of information for the production of monthly and quarterly reports and their submission under cover letter to the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo and other return stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Communities and Return (MCR) and the British Embassy.
The Project Coordinator ensures sound budget and financial management of the projects, including reviewing requests for budget revisions from implementing partners and manages a small local multi-ethnic team of finance, administrative and technical staff, as well as contributing to making recommendations on best practices and sustainability within the returns process.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
- Ensures support organised and group returns of minority IDPs displaced in Serbia and Montenegro, as well as within Kosovo, using a community-based, multi-sectoral approach which may include but is not limited to: housing assistance; socio-economic assistance; community mobilisation and development;
- Ensures implementation of inter-ethnic tolerance building and dialogue activities to support reconciliation.
- Ensures guidance in responding to the needs of returnees wishing to return in larger groups as identified by the Ministry for Communities and Return (MCR), the UNMIK Office of Communities, Returns and Minority Affairs (OCRM) and UNDP after the sub-projects have been reviewed and endorsed by the Central Review Mechanism (CRM).
- Ensure all ethnic groups and minorities throughout Kosovo are assisted through the SPARK OR sub-projects
Function / Expected Results - Ensure organised and group returns is implemented through adapting the structures and mechanisms of the UNDP returns projects - The number of families (as per the project concept paper) returned to their newly reconstructed houses
- Socio economic Assistance provided to the returned families
- Completed Community Development component
Function / Expected Results –Facilitated inter–ethnic peace building activities supporting reconciliation.
- Successful completion of the sub-project without major ethnic based problems throughout the implementation.
- Joint activities (i.e. agricultural, business etc.) among different communities of the same project site.
Function / Expected Results - Built further partnership with MCR and municipal return related structures with stronger capacities
- The strengthened capacity of the municipal related structures on implementing different project activities (reporting- financial and narrative), monitoring of contractors, follow up and implementation of the procurement procedures, management etc.
- The strengthened capacity of the Ministry staff on above mentioned activities and in addition to policy and their relations with the municipal related structures
Function / Expected Results – Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the sub-projects implemented within SPARK OR
- Compiled final financial and narrative report on the activities throughout the implementation of the project.
- Achieved planned project delivery rate throughout the year, at the overall UNDP Kosovo delivery rate.
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
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
- In depth knowledge on development issues
- Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
- 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
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results based management and reporting
- Ability to lead formulation, implementation monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
- Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit
- Strong IT skills
- Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change.
Management and Leadership
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
- Leads teams affectively and shows conflict resolution skills
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
- Build strong relationships with clients and external actors
- Remains calm in control and good humoured even under pressure
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced Degree in Development Studies, Economics, Civil Engineering or an IDP/Refugee Returns and Reintegration related field.
- Additionally, a qualification in Administration and Management would be an advantage.
Experience:
- Minimum of five (5) years professional experience in the field of IDP/refugee issues, development or emergency relief cooperation, preferably in transition countries;
- Minimum of five (5) years progressive project management experience in directly implementing large multi-sectoral projects within an international organisation in a post conflict development context
- At least five (5) years proven track record in managing multi-cultural teams successfully and working in culturally sensitive environment
- Previous experience with complex UN and/or UNDP recovery programmes is essential;
- Previous experience in Kosovo of managing complex development projects, as well as a thorough understanding of the political environment affecting the return sector is essential;
- Excellent, proven experience in dealing with local government challenges, NGOs, and bilateral and multilateral donors;
- Experience in mainstreaming MDGs in project formulation and implementation
Language Requirements;
- Excellent command of English Language both oral and written
- Working knowledge or fluency in Albanian or Serbian would be an advantage