JOB OPPORTUNITY in UNDP : National Project Manager

JOB OPPORTUNITY in UNDP

National Project Manager (1 position), Level : SB 5/Peg 2 (Only for Nepalese nationals)

Location : Kathmandu, NEPAL
Application Deadline : 19-Jan-22 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left : 14d 22h 28m
Additional Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract : Other
Post Level : Other
Languages Required :English
Starting Date : 01-Feb-2022
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
Duration of Initial Contract : One year

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.

Nepal’s agriculture shows weak growth rates with low productivity, coupled with a food trade deficit and high malnutrition. This is associated with low marketed volumes and farmers’ limited access to agriculture technology. Postharvest losses are high, with careless crop handling and a lack of storage facilities contributing to postharvest losses.

Against this backdrop, the project on value chain development of fruit and vegetables focuses on increasing production, reducing postharvest losses and promoting market linkages. Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development ( MoALD), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the 5-year project aims to increase incomes for smallholder farmers growing fruit and vegetables. It will target two road corridors (the B.P. and Arniko highway and the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway) in provinces 3 and 4. About 10,000 farmers and 20 cooperatives will be beneficiaries.

Management arrangements:
The National Project Manager will work under the guidance and supervision of the National Project Director. S/he will work in close collaboration with UNDP Nepal office, government partners, the donor and other relevant stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the National Project Director, the National Project Manager is responsible for project implementation, comprising the following responsibilities.

General Responsibilities:
1.Day to day operational management and the delivery of outputs and activities in a timely and efficient manner;
2. Recruitment, coordination, and supervision of staff, consultants and contractors;
3. Coordination, management and monitoring of project finances, administration, procurement and logistics;
4. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with the donor, implementing partners and other counterparts;
5. Ensure strengthening Gender and Social Inclusion work through project interventions;
6. Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, knowledge management and communication of the project.

Specific Responsibilities:
1. Day to day operational management and the delivery of outputs and activities in a timely and efficient manner;

Ensure that all activities under each output are prepared in a timely manner and implemented in accordance with stated outcomes and performance indicators;
Prepare Annual Work Plans, Quarterly Work Plans and other documents for the approval of the Project Board;
Monitor and manage project progress and update risk management status to the National Project Director;
Lead monitoring, quality data collection and timely submission of technical and progress reports to the donor, partners, and UNDP;
Liaise with the UNDP Portfolio Manager for assuring project quality and the operational compliance with the UNDP rules and regulations;
Organize Project Board meetings on a regular basis;
Consult with the Project Board through the National Project Director on any issues that require the Board’s attention, including issues related to deviation from the approved work plans and deviation from the approved target and/or budget.

2. Recruitment, coordination, and supervision of staff, consultants and contractors;

Lead recruitment planning and day-to-day management of all project personnel (staff, consultants and contractors);
Develop terms of reference and technical specifications of staff, consultants and contractors;
Coordinate and manage the recruitment process in consultation with the UNDP Country Office;
Provide supervision and coordination of the work of project personnel to ensure delivery of project outputs and outcomes in a timely manner.

3. Coordination, management and monitoring of project finances, administration, procurement and logistics;

Act as the focal point for the UNDP Country Office to ensure that all financial and administrative matters related to the project are transparently, expediently, and effectively managed in line with UNDP rules and regulations;
Develop narrative and financial reports for the Project Board and to the donor;
Coordinate and support all activities for the annual audit exercise;
Provide Management responses to the Audit and Evaluations;
Ensure Implementation of audit and evaluation recommendations
Ensure timely preparation and implementation of the procurement plan;
Support proper use and maintenance of office equipment.

4. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with the donor, implementing partners and other counterparts;

Establish and maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders, government and non-government organizations;
Keep abreast of agricultural value chain and postharvest loss management issues emerging in Nepal and identify synergies and responses;
Facilitate strategic dialogue between project staff, the donor, implementing partners at federal, provincial and local levels, non-governmental organizations, and other counterparts.

5. Ensure strengthening Gender and Social Inclusion work through project interventions;

Provide advice and direction on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender & social inclusion initiatives in the programme plan and implementation strategy;
Facilitate in creating an environment to address GESI issues;
Review, monitor, and report on the progress of GESI related targets and work plan on a regular basis;
Liaise with CO Gender Specialist as per the need for effective implementation of the GESI strategy and other guiding tools.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting Knowledge Management and Communication of the project;

Prepare quarterly, six-monthly, annual and project completion reports, summarizing findings, achievements, conclusions and recommendations on the progress of the project;
Facilitate the process of monitoring and evaluation of project as per UNDP requirements and procedures;
Supervise the development of knowledge products (including brochures, briefs, documents on lessons learnt, manuals for extension workers and farmers, evaluation reports);
Facilitate the dissemination of information about the objectives, progress, and achievements of the project;
Take the lead, coordinate and participate in the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings related to the project;
Build the project’s reputation in the knowledge networks to draw on and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt;
Create and foster good working relationships with the media (social media, newspapers and journals, radio, and television).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Serves and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Good inter-personal skills;
Clear and upfront communication skills;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Collaborates effectively in a team environment;
Organized and good with following-up on pending issues; meets deadlines;
Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing;
Focuses on delivering results by taking calculated-risks and problem-solving approach;
Fair and transparent decision making; regularly shares information with team members.

Functional Competencies:

Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued learning and development on personal level as well as for supervisees;
Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
Demonstrates strong numerical and analytical skills;
Has experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation tools;
Experience in developing business plans for financial institutions including energy enterprises
Experience in coordination, technical assistance and advisory support top government and private institutions;
Experienced in delivering training and other needed capacity/ institutional building support to a wide range of stakeholders including financial institutions;
Demonstrates excellent organizational and administrative skills;
Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate;
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at Project level.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in an agriculture-related topic (including agronomy, horticulture, agricultural economics) or any other relevant field.

Experience:

A Master’s degree with more than 10 years of work experiences or Ph.D. with 5 years of work experiences in the relevant field.
At least 5 years of experience in the project management on agriculture research and development in Nepal.
Sound understanding of agriculture policies and agriculture research and extension systems.
Ability to manage and supervise a team of multidisciplinary professionals.
Good understanding of UNDP rules and procedures (an experience of completing UN assignments would be an asset.

Language Requirement: