Back Project Manager

Although the Bissau-Guinean Constitution is founded on democratic governance principles, expressed in the consecration of people as the holder of sovereignty, the rule of law as an affirmation of the primacy of legality, the separation of powers and respect for human rights, the participation of citizens, and a multi-party system of government, deep challenges persist when looking at the reality of governance in Guinea-Bissau. The challenges stem primarily from intertwined causes, including the political instability that has been affecting the country since its independence, the legacy of colonial and post-independence forms of centralized government systems, and the political-military dynamics.

Guinea-Bissau has shown overall governance deterioration, as measured by the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance with notable poor performance in areas that include rule of law, participation and human rights, welfare and sustainable economic opportunities. Weaknesses in areas such as access to justice, endemic corruption, lack of decentralization, effectiveness of public administration and basic services, respect for human rights, persistent and entrenched gender inequality, the weakening of the state by structures of organized crime require attention as they result in the state’s inability to provide effectively and efficiently goods and services to the population while helping build vertical and horizontal social cohesion.

The UNDP Country Office (CO) in Guinea-Bissau, as key government partner in the area of governance, has been developing and implementing various projects in a variety of governance related domains, including rule of law and justice, anti-corruption and accountability, decentralization and local governance, electoral and parliamentary support as well as civic engagement. Additionally, taking into consideration the UN mission transition, UNDP has been adapting to the new environment by reinforcing some of its capacities in the governance domain.   

In coordination with the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), UNDP is the lead agency for the implementation of a Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) project on “Political Stabilization and Reform through Confidence Building and Inclusive Dialogue” in close collaboration with UNFPA, WFP and UNIOGBIS. The project is expected to strengthen the government’s and civil society’s capacity to accelerate political stabilization and systemic reform processes that are key to sustainable development in the country. The project should provide the technical support, capacity strengthening and resources to enable a smooth transition during the drawdown of UNIOGBIS. The project enables the participating UN agencies to advance key peacebuilding priorities while providing for better coordinated strategies and stronger partnerships related to political stabilization and confidence-building efforts.

In this context, UNDP is recruiting a Project Manager to coordinate and manage the overall intervention of the above-mentioned project to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the agreed project activities while achieving all objectives set out in the project document. Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme) and the direct supervision of the Head of Governance Unit at UNDP, the Project Manager will also work in close collaboration with this  Unit and other UNDP Programme and Administrative Units, particularly procurement, budget and finance, other UN Agencies,  especially with WFP, UNFPA, and UNIOGBIS/PAS and GU, as well as the PBF Secretariat and the UNCT when necessary, including the country Gender Thematic Group.

Summary Key Functions:

• Ensure overall project coordination and the implementation of project activities
• Provide programmatic quality assurance
• Ensure operational oversight of the project
• Ensure proper and effective cooperation with Administration and budget monitoring
• Facilitate knowledge building and management

Ensure the implementation of all project activities and achievement of all project deliverables

• Ensure effective and realistic activity planning and project coordination among the multidisciplinary project team;
• Ensure the overall day-to-day management and implementation of project outputs and activities as outlined in the project document;
• Provide strategic guidance and management oversight to ensure project implementation is on track to ensure the project achieves the planned results under relevant plans;
• Prepare Annual Work Plans (AWP) and mid-year, annual and final narrative reports in compliance with the guidance from PBSO and local PBF Secretariat and as required by PBF rules and regulations;
• Coordinate with partners to ensure smooth implementation of all project activities;
• Establish annual results, on-going feedback and mid-term and final assessments in line with UNDP Rules and Regulations in line with the approved project document and consultation with other UN agencies involved in the joint project taking into account other agencies policy, rules and regulation for the project components implemented by other UN agencies;
• Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and coordination of the project;
• Ensure project meets expected results with including quality, budget, delivery timelines, and strategy and deliver promptly agreed deliverables;
• Provide project management support to other UN agencies and national implementing partners, as needed.

Provide effective programmatic assurance and implement assurance activities

• Monitor progress of implementation and update, when relevant, the AWPs;
• Monitor timely implementation of planned activities and assess the progress toward and the achievement of planned targets;
• Organize regular reviews to track implementation, inform on the implementation progress (both programmatic and financial) and coordinate revisions and corrective actions;
• Monitor the implementation and revisions of the agreed M&E plans in the project document and ensure that project's monitoring mechanisms are designed and implemented according to UNDP standards and the standards of other UN agencies related to the project components implemented by other UN agencies;
• Provide control quality of AWP and project revisions, ensure that activities, targets and benchmarks are formulated according to UN/UNDP/UNFPA/WFP policies and regulations and meet the programmatic standards and agreements with the partners;
• Support preparation and review, as required, project reports (semi-annual, annual and final) and ad-hoc documents, if and when agreed by all parties involved, to ensure that project reports are consistent with relevant standards and ensure timely submission.

Ensure effective operational oversight and implement oversight activities

• Ensure that a Risk Management Framework and accompanying comprehensive risk mitigation measures are developed, implemented and that frameworks are regularly updated;
• Regularly report on project risks to the Project Coordination Team and Project Board;
• Ensure that governance processes and procedures for the project are correctly followed and that governance activities such as Project Coordination Team and the Project Board meetings are organized according to an established calendar and their summaries and action points are elaborated and available to all signatory organizations in the Project Document;
• Ensure a timely and adequate follow-up on the recommendations coming from the different governance bodies;
• Plan and implement reviews and/or external independent validations as required;

Ensure proper and effective liaising with Administration and budget monitoring

• Oversees the UNDP's corporate systems (ATLAS) are kept updated;
• Monitor budget execution rates and provides continuous feedback to CO and the projects on rate of financial delivery;
• Ensure that financial plans are in place and regularly updated;
• Advice and prompts action in case of under-delivery and lack of/delay of financial planning.

Facilitate knowledge building and management

• Establish and maintain a usable, auditable and well-organized records of the project;
• Identify and capture lessons learnt and best practices within the project and develop and draft inputs to knowledge management platform;
• Advice on and support the development of communication strategies, in coordination with communication specialists and communication officers of other UN agencies for the project components implemented by other UN agencies, to position its contents with national and international audiences;
• Analyse relevant new and emerging policy, laws and regulations and strategy initiatives at national (programme country Government) and international (UN System) levels, prepare briefings and advice the Project Coordination Team, Project Board, and UNDP/UNFPA/UNIOGBIS/WFP Management on the implications for the implementation framework of the project;
• Actively promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture between the projects, the CO, other UN agencies implementing project components and local PBF Secretariat.

IV. Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

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

Primary

Trends and emerging areas analytics

Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design

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

Results-Based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

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

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

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

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals t Management

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

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge

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

Secondary

Resource Mobilization

Ability to identify and organize programmes  and projects to implement solutions and generate resources (definition is unclear and not well linked to the stated competency)

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Education :

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Political Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences, Law, Public Administration, Peacebuilding, International Relations or related field;
• Prince2 training and certification, RMG are desirable.

Experience :

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in governance and sustaining peacebuilding projects and/or programmes.
• Previous experience in project management in international development organizations and/or bilateral development agencies.
• Solid background in inclusive and gender-sensitive peacebuilding and political dialogue.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
• Experience of supervising professional and general services staff and consultants.
• Sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national staff.
• Proven programme management experience with sound knowledge of all aspects of the project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation).
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills.
• Applied design thinking in development is an asset.
• Experience of working with UNDP or another UN agency is an asset.
• Experience in working in Africa, particularly in Portuguese speaking countries and/or in UN Transition countries is an asset.

Language Requirements :

• Excellent command of written and spoken French or English. Proficiency in Portuguese would be an asset.

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.

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: 1 Year with possibility for extension