Back Project Manager

The Capacity Development for Local Government (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country. These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank. The Government of Sri Lanka will implement the Local Development Support Project (LDSP) in four provinces – North, North Central, Eastern, and Uva – to strengthen local service delivery and local economic infrastructure and enhance bottom-up approaches to support public engagement in local decision-making processes, including through participatory planning and feedback mechanisms for service delivery. Specifically, LDSP will focus on developing Local Area Participatory Development Plans (LAPDP) at the LA level, based on aggregated plans from the ward level, and synergized with sector plans of ministries.
The overall objective of the CDLG project is to strengthen the capacities of LAs to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable and be able to plan, enhance resilience, and deliver better services. The capacity development support, coupled with the fiscal support (through Basic Transfers and Performance Transfers provided through LDSP project) for inclusive service delivery and economic investment, is aimed at strengthening the role of elected representatives at the local level. It is about improving local governance systems and making local governments “fit for future”, as well as increase downward accountability of elected officials and local governments. The project also aims to strengthening mechanisms for public engagement in local decision-making processes.
The CDLG project is implemented within the framework of UNDP Sri Lanka’s Flagship Portfolio on SDG16+ on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which brings together the governance and peacebuilding work under one umbrella. The portfolio intervenes across three inter-related pillars: (1) Parliament and Independent Commissions; (2) Rule of Law and Access to Justice; and (3) Public Sector and Local Governance. The portfolio approach allows UNDP to provide a cohesive and integrated support to the national as well as to all levels of sub-national governments to achieve their governance and development objectives.

Post Context:

In this context and under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager of SDG 16+ portfolio and guidance of the Programme Quality and Design Analyst-Governance, the project manager is responsible for the overall delivery and reporting of the project, including planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring of the project. The project manager is responsible for facilitating collaboration and ensuring accountability within the team for achieving the CDLG project objectives, and in turn contribute to the achievement of STRIDE and LDSP project objectives.  The project manager also ensures that the CDLG project team promotes a client-oriented approach, and engage with local officials to design and deliver a capacity development programmes that meets their needs. He/She should also ensure that the CDLG project also contributes to achieving UNDP Sri Lanka’s programme priorities and work in close collaboration with Programme team leaders and Country Office team. He/she should have strong networking skills and be able to position UNDPs work with all relevant government counterparts, donors and stakeholders.

 

Project management:

• Responsible for day-to-day management of the project, including managing project staff, hiring and overseeing external consultants, maintain working relations with key project partners.
• In collaboration with the project team, develop annual workplans and/or revise work plans and project budgets according to the decision of the Board (if necessary).
• Act as the team focal point and assure excellent communications with donors, government partners (at all levels), implementing partners, etc.,
• Responsible for finalizing baselines and targets of the project based on capacity needs assessment, and update project results and resource framework
• In collaboration with the Local Governance Specialist and the project coordinators in all four targeted provinces, support coordination of project activities related to capacity development, including establishing partnerships with relevant authorities at provincial, district and local levels as well as civil society actors.  
• Assist with resource mobilization, including through the development of concept notes, project documents and detailed budget plans.
• Responsible for the delivery of and reporting on project work plans
• Maintain oversight of expenditures and ensure both value for money and efficient delivery in line with established targets
• Maintain a roster of experts in key areas of local governance to provide capacity development support to local governments.

Partnership engagement:

• Identify and engage in policy dialogue on strengthening the role of local governments across sectors and issues and with all actors including government, NGOs and citizenry, UN partners and the private sector, ensuring all voices are heard and share knowledge across teams so that the work of UNDP is known to all.
• Cultivate relationships with technical experts locally and internationally demonstrating UNDP Sri Lanka’s expertise and innovation.
• Engage the international policy dialogue on local governance, SDGs and South-South Cooperation, identifying linkages and supporting evidence for local governance programme    Develop and convene networks of collaborators both conventional and novel who are willing to participate in the dialogue, are attracted to local governance issues and can advance the work and profile of UNDP.  
• Demonstrate empathy for new partner perspectives by adapting analysis and policy to reflect their priorities.

Team Collaboration

• Anchor CDLG project within the SDG16+ portfolio and secure programme teams collaboration and agreement on priorities, policy and work planning commitments
• Critically assess and advise management and team of results and recommendations for improvement.
• Learn from colleagues and adapt to new thinking and approaches.
• Continually seek opportunities and linkages within broader country office efforts for local governance work
• Support project team to lead on conducting learning seminars and discussion groups on relevant subjects.

Knowledge building and management

• Support project team to collate insights and knowledge from project implementation and share information widely
• Support project contribution to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Capture and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of Project achievements, particularly with regard to local success stories;
• Ensure linkages with broader UNDP programmes

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work, and openness to the use of new technologies to improve local governance systems

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Local governance and local development:          

Knowledge and expertise in democratic governance, and local governance and local development issues in Sri Lanka

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Political Economy Analysis

Knowledge of the interaction of political and economic processes in a society; including distribution of power and wealth between groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time, and how these dynamics both affect, and are affected by, UNDP's development support.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Capacity development for development effectiveness     

Know how in using capacity development support to transform local development and ensure development effectiveness

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Governance principles:

Knowledge and capacity to integrate governance principles (inclusion, non-discrimination, transparency and accountability) as well as gender and human rights into project implementation

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Gender:

Ability to effectively integrate gender considerations into all programming and project operations related activities throughout the programme management cycle.

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Education

• Master's degree in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area.
• Master’s degree with 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in development sector with specific experience in local governance and local development, specifically including:

Experience

• Experience working with Government at national and sub-national level in Sri Lanka, and strong local networks within the sector.
• Experience managing and coordinating projects, specifically local governance projects.
• Strong management experience and a clear track record managing teams.
• Experience in supporting capacity development of local government institutions and strengthening systems  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in the UN System is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil and strong English skills.  

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: One (1) year with possibility of extension