Job Title: Project Coordination Specialist
Organization: UNDP
Job Identification: 14600
Location: Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Apply Before: 12/13/2023, 07:59 AM
Job Schedule: Full time
Grade: P3
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Practice Area: Governance
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 5 year(s)
experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 7 year(s) experience
Required Languages: Proficiency in oral and written French
and English Languages
Vacancy Timeline: 1 Week
Mobility required/no mobility: mobility required
Job Description
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at
UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations
and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all
personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and
fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our
diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations.
People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are
strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our
values and inspiring
stories.
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.
In January 2019, the first peaceful transfer of power since
independence took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the
election of Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo as President of the Republic.
The election, which had been expected since 2016, put an end to months of
political tension and uncertainty, notably around the debate on the possibility
of a third term for the incumbent president, Joseph Kabila Kabange, the
shrinking of political space and the expression of public freedoms, and the
delays in preparing and organising the elections. It also opened a new chapter
in the political history of the DRC.
The governance challenges remain significant and require
special attention. They include chronic insecurity, limited rule of law and
rampant corruption. Since the signing of the Sun City Agreement in 2002, the
DRC has had three electoral processes: in 2006, 2011 and 2018. The latter took
place at a time when the eastern provinces - Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu,
Tanganyika and Haut Katanga - were marked by high levels of insecurity
resulting from atrocities perpetrated by more than a hundred-armed groups, combined
with repressive actions by the security forces. The country faces cycles of
instability and remains underdeveloped despite the presence of significant
natural resources in its territory and subsoil. A "state of siege"
was declared by the authorities in 2021, resulting in the management of
governance responsibilities by the military and the suspension of political
activities in Ituri and North Kivu.
Furthermore, the factsheet of OCHA in November 2022 reveals
that around 5 million persons have been internally displaced in the three
provinces in the east (Ituri 1.5M, North Kivu 2.1M, South Kivu 1.36M). The main
reasons for the displacement are armed attacks and clashes (84%) and land and
intercommunity conflicts (12%). It is crucial to provide them with access to
elections while ensuring their protection and avoiding further violence and
conflicts.
Reports of hate speech and information integrity problems
are also on the rise, particularly on community radio and community media.
Similar trends are present on social media now used by 17.6% of the population.
However, the Congolese media landscape is pluralistic, and the legal framework
is favourable to press freedom, with 600 television channels, more than 600
radio stations and almost 600 print media. The outbreak of hate speech and
messages with tribalist, xenophobic, sexist, and misogynist overtones is a
threat to unity and social cohesion around the elections. In view of the rising
diplomatic tensions involving Rwanda, hate speech is of great concern to the
Congolese authorities and the United Nations. Massively relayed through social
networks, such speech and messages could provoke a "hate crisis"
during the elections and aggravate community tensions that could potentially
lead to violence - especially in areas of instability - if adequate measures
are not taken to combat hate speech.
Although not very visible compared to the endemic sexual
violence amplified by the armed conflicts in the DRC, violence against women
during elections and in politics nevertheless reinforces the discrimination of
which women are victims. Their non-reporting raises the fear that forms of
violence linked to the elections will reappear as in the past. These include
gender stereotyping in the media, as well as physical, psychological
(intimidation) and sexual violence against women, whether they are voters, elected
officials, candidates, campaign members, supporters, observers, or election
workers. These forms of electoral violence are often committed to hinder or
manipulate their political participation.
Lack of inclusion is another challenge to better governance
in the DRC. While women represent 52% of the population, the differences in
representation between men and women remain significant due to the economic,
political, and socio-cultural context as well as the deteriorating security
situation and violence against women. Young people are also poorly represented
in governance institutions, even though they represent around 60% of the
population and were at the forefront of political mobilisation in the run-up to
the 2018 elections. For the 2023 elections to serve as a catalyst for progress
in governance in the DRC, stakeholders expressed the need for increased
transparency, inclusiveness, and responsible leadership in the management of
the elections.
Under the context, UNDP developed a project supporting the
electoral cycle in 2022, ‘Electoral Cycle Support Project (PACE) 2022-2024’.
The Japan-funded project ‘Supporting the organization of peaceful and
inclusive elections in conflict-affected areas in the East of the Democratic
Republic of Congo in 2023 (the Project for Electoral Assistance)’, and the
Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-funded joint project ‘Supporting the prevention
of electoral violence in the provinces of Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and
Kasaï-Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo (PREVEL)’ will contribute to
the implementation of the PACE, and of UNDP stabilization and conflict
transformation initiatives, in an integrated way. UNDP seeks a Project
Coordinator who manages and coordinates these projects funded by Japan and PBF.
Position Purpose
The Project Coordinator is based in Kinshasa and will travel
frequently to other provinces such as Ituri, South Kivu, North Kivu,
Haut-Katanga, LUALABA and Kasai Central, etc. The Project Coordinator will be
under the overall supervision of the Team Leader for Governance Pilar and the
direct supervision of the PACE Project Manager. He/She will regularly work in
close collaboration with the Pillar 3 and all Governance projects, the
coordinators of the two pillars I and III, and teams supporting implementation
of the project, along with focal points of partner agencies UN Women and UNESCO
involved in the PBF project. She/he will coordinate all aspects of project
implementation, with a view to ensuring that activities support each other, and
maintain a clear peacebuilding focus.
The Project Coordinator will ensure project activities
remain coherent with and complementary to other electoral and peacebuilding
activities in the area, including by coordinating with the Pillar1 & 3
Team. The Project Coordinator will ensure adequate communication and where
relevant joint implementation, between participating agencies to ensure
coherence and synergies between outputs, with a view towards reaching the
results and the overall outcome. The Project Coordinator will regularly visit
activities in the provinces of project implementation with a view to ensuring
that project components are well-coordinated, so that direct and indirect
beneficiaries benefit from all relevant components of the project. She/he will
also be in-charge of planning and leading joint missions for members of the
Technical Committee, in the lead up to the midterm and annual progress
reporting. The Project Coordinator will lead drafting of progress reports,
supported by the M&E officer and focal points of the implementing agencies
who are responsible for ensuring good quality of data shared with the M&E
officer, and ensure that communication about the project is conducted. The
Project Coordinator supports the Steering Committee and keeps regularly
informed the Resident Coordinator. The Project Coordinator will liaise closely,
in due course, with the PBF Secretariat PACE Project Manager.
Summary of key functions
- Lead
and coordinate project initiation and rollout phases.
- Lead
and coordinate partnership and resource mobilization.
- Manage
project activities and achievement of project targets and results
- Coordinate
provision of high-quality technical advice and build partnerships
Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the CO
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure high-quality technical advice and contribute to
partnerships and resource mobilization
- Ensure
that technical outputs are provided according to plans and up to highest
technical standards. Review and clear technical outputs for quality.
- Establish,
maintain, and facilitate strategic dialogue between project staff and
Government officials at central and local levels, NGOs, partners, donors,
and other stakeholders in project ́s area of work.
- Provide
technical advice, draft papers/briefs/proposals in project ́s technical
focus.
- Identify
areas of cooperation and coordination with other UN agencies and/or
development partners for implementation of joint activities within the
area of the project.
- Identify
resources mobilization opportunities in close collaboration with the
Programme Team. Develop funding proposals and concepts as requested.
- Provide
inputs to UN coordination platforms and participate in meetings, as
requested.
- Lead
the organization of project steering committees and technical committees,
as requested by the project document.
- Ensure
a clear and transparent communication with the RUNOs, RCO, PBSO, donor
partners and the Senior Leadership
Lead and coordinate project initiation and rollout
phases
- Coordinate
closely with the UN Women and UNESCO (RUNOs) as well as the UNDP Pilar 3,
to design, implement and oversee key assessments, feasibility studies and
other quantitate and qualitative research in support of projects
development and design, including institutional capacity assessments,
infrastructure assessments, community and police perception surveys,
assessments for behavior change communication campaigns.
- Lead
and facilitate consultation and validation workshops with key clients
including UN agencies, international partners, and donors to identify key
priorities and complementarities between the project and other existing
initiatives in support of the same area.
- Draft
presentations, briefing notes and concept notes to keep the RCO, the UNDP,
UN Women and UNESCO teams abreast of the project development process and
ensuring feedback is incorporated.
- In
close consultation with the RUNOs M&E teams, develop an effective
M&E system, ensuring key data collection tools, reporting templates
and data analysis processes are established.
- Mobilize
personnel, goods, and services to initiate activities, including drafting
and reviewing Terms of References (ToRs), Request for Proposals (RFPs) and
work specifications.
- Develop/use
rosters of pre-qualified consultants, Implementing Partners (IPs) and
other service providers in support of project outputs and activities.
- Oversee
or contribute to the recruitment of and orient new staff of the
cross-border project, roles/responsibilities, and other parameters to
ensure smooth rollout of the project.
- Oversee
the work of national and international consultants that support project
implementation.
- Develop
the project’s Annual Work Plans (AWPs), Human Resources (HR) Plans,
Procurement Plans and Communications Plans.
Management of project activities and achievement of
project targets and results
- Ensure
that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall direction set
by the Project Documents and lead to achievements of project targets and
results.
- Ensure
implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as
according to detailed implementation, procurement, and HR plans.
- Identify
bottlenecks and develop solutions.
- Design
and launch Expression of Interests (EOIs) and other scoping measures to
assess partnership opportunities with national institutions, firms, and
civil society organizations.
- In
consultation with the RUNOs M&E Team, ensure that adequate systems are
in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that
systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken,
including regular field trips for monitoring purposes.
- Ensure
that UNDP ́s results-management systems are kept updated for project
results- information including Quantum project management module.
- Manage
the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of
the project and achievement of annual targets to the Joint Steering
Committee. Ensure that PBSO and UNDP reports are prepared according to the
Peacebuilding Fund SOPs, quality standards and in line with the
contractual obligations set in the project document.
- Coordinate
and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs as
requested.
- Implement
project communications activities in close collaboration with the RUNOs
and their respective Communications Team.
- Oversee
the appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application
of PBF and UNDP rules and regulations. Coordinate preparation of financial
reports, as required in the initial planning.
- Monitor
budget implementation to ensure accuracy and reliability of project
expenditure.
- Supervise
and manage project personnel and consultants. Establish performance
objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback,
guidance, and support to ensure optimum performance.
- Manage
and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project
staff, implementing partners, identify new risks and update risk
frameworks for consideration of the Steering Committee and decision on
possible actions if required. Update the status of these risks by
maintaining the project risks log.
Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the CO
- Synthesis
of lessons learned and best practices.
- Sound
contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:
The Project Coordinator supervises all programme activities.
S/he works in close collaboration with UNDP Country Office colleagues, in
particular Pillar 1 (Governance) and Pillar 3 (Stabilization), while
maintaining effective working relationships with project Responsible Parties,
RUNOs, donors and other partners.
Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align
challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively
mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on
opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively
initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond
immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy,
navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3:
Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
- Cross-Functional
& Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy-Strategic
Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized
plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of
challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on
the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to
anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to
model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
Business Direction & Strategy-System Thinking: Ability
to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated
elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how
altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability
to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects,
in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the
implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual,
while optimizing return on investment.
Business Management - Project Management: Ability
to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols
to achieve specific goals.
Business Development - Integration within the UN: Ability
to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in
joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to
strategic and/or practical situations.
Agenda 2030: Peace - Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding
and Responsive: Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity
Business Management - Partnerships Management: Ability
to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders,
Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in
line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's
degree in public administration, BA, political or social sciences,
international studies, management, and development related field is
required
- A
first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an
additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due
consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum
5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of
professional work experience working on project
coordination, Security Sector Reform, Donor relations and
coordination for multi-lateral and bilateral cooperation policy and
resources mobilization is required. This includes experience gained in a
governmental, multilateral, and/or civil society setting, at the national
or international level.
- Working
experience on project and programme implementation, policy,
programming, and operations in the areas of political and security
analysis and report, economic development, peace building and security,
conflict and crisis prevention and management, recovery, and development
is (required/desired). This includes experience gained in a governmental,
multilateral, and/or civil society setting, at the national or
international level.
- Experience
working in developing country settings is required and experience in
crisis contexts essential.
- Demonstrated
experience to plan and implement highly appraised security reform projects
and experience of prevention of violence and conflict management is
desired
- Knowledge
of the Africa region and Great Lakes Region experience is considered a
real advantage
Language:
- proficiency
in oral and written French and English language is required
- Knowledge
of another UN language is an asset.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the
initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a
probationary period.
Disclaimer
Important
information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position
with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for
US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level
posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a
G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to
commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on
applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the
advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more
candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain
applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar
positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description,
experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation
and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected
candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks,
and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that
does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion,
nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age,
language, social origin or other status.
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