Back Project Manager, Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan

Job ID: 34726

Practice Area - Job Family: Democratic Governance - DIGITAL SYSTEMS

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 28/01/2021

Duty Station: Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan

Education & Work Experience: G-Bachelor's Level Degree - 5 year(s) experience

Languages: English, Russian

Turkmen

Grade: SB4

Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Europe & the CIS

Contract Duration: 1 year with possible extension

open to the Turkmenistan citizens only

Background

In order to prevent penetration of global pandemic, Turkmenistan has launched stringent preventive measures, closing its borders and imposing controls on the movement of people and goods. Turkmenistan also introduced additional restrictions including the closure of public spaces, banning weddings, mass gatherings etc. These measures came in line with the WHO mission recommendation of July 2020, regarding activating the critical public health measures in Turkmenistan, as if COVID-19 were circulating.

While the crisis spares no one, its effects are felt more severely by the vulnerable and underprivileged. In Turkmenistan these include unemployed youth, rural population, persons with disabilities, children, and elderly. Gender intersects with each of these factors to create disproportionate impacts on women and girls. It is essential, therefore, to have targeted policies addressing the gender disparities resulting from structural and social factors, to provide affected populations with long-term empowerment opportunities.

Women suffer disproportionately greatly, especially female-headed households with low income, single mothers, mothers of large families, and with disabled members. They are in a disadvantaged position regarding public services due to most cases low education level and low-income level along with the societal role of a housekeeper, which makes it more difficult to seek right information on provided public services and procedures given lack of transparency.

To address socio-economic impact of a global pandemic, including abovementioned challenges and following the UN Framework on Socio-Economic Response to COVID, the Government of Turkmenistan has created a Joint Working Group with the UN Country Team and developed a Socio-Economic Response Plan (SERP), which was approved at the highest political level by the Presidential Decree in July 2020, which is a strong signal of support in Turkmenistan.

The SERP includes all five pillars of the UN Framework on Socio-Economic Recovery and defines the short and mid-term actions to reduce the impact of the pandemics. Development of digitalization of public services is reflected as cross-cutting issue in all pillars as it touches upon all aspects of SERP, be it health, social, or economic dimensions. The third pillar of SERP particularly addresses the issues of development of digital economy and digital services. Namely, it is proposed to improve the relevant legal framework for the development of digitalization (electronic signature, personal and business identification number system, etc.) and accelerate the implementation of digital solutions for providing public services, including to businesses in line with the "single window" concept.

The project is designated to contribute to the implementation of this pillar focusing on piloting digital and contactless solutions to automate and simplify public services. The work in this area, along with mitigating the socio-economic impact of the global pandemic, will also contribute to the implementation of such state development programmes as the Presidential Programme for Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2019-2025, the Concept of the Government of Turkmenistan for the Development of Digital Economy for 2019-2025, the Programme for Development of Foreign Economic Activity for 2020-2025, as well as other sectoral development programmes, strategies and plans.

PROJECT STRATEGY

The project aims at building on the existing experience and develop and automate digital public services for population and businesses. This will enhance access to and enable benefits from public services for those most affected by the socio-economic crisis in Turkmenistan and aid the faster national recovery.

It will also help UNDP to build partnerships with new national counterparts such as the Ministry of Justice (Adalat), General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Turkmen-Communication Agency and pave the way for upscaling the pilots under this proposal and ensure a more holistic support to developing digital systems in the area of governance and public services.

The overall objective of the project is to enhance effectiveness of governance through digitalization of public services. The Outcome indicator for the project will be: At least five new, modern gender sensitive digital services are developed and offered to citizens.

The project objective is expected to be achieved through the two interrelated outputs: Output 1: Government entities and other stakeholders are supported to promote digital solutions and practices through creation of the appropriate regulatory and legislative basis for digital services, targeted capacity development measures and information/awareness building efforts.

Potential national partners and related public services are Ministry of Justice (civil registration); General Prosecutor’s Office; Turkmen-Communication Agency (digital infrastructure).

Output 2: Gender-smart digital solutions are piloted to incite further upscale of public service automation and simplification.

The project will introduce an innovative approach to digitalization of public services with further attempts to provide a unified platform for several government entities.

Duties and Responsibilities

PROJECT MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

The Rapid Financing Facility Proposal will be implemented through a direct implementation modality (DIM) and will be fully managed by the UNDP in close partnership with key Ministries and other relevant stakeholders.

UNDP Country Office (CO) in Turkmenistan will mobilize its programme team and operations team for implementation of the initiative under direct supervision of RR and control of ARR. The Country Office has full capacity to deliver the Rapid Financing Facility proposal within the 18-month timeframe. UNDP Resident Representative, Assistant Resident Representative/Programme and Operations Manager will supervise the project implementation in accordance with the UNDP programme and project management policies and procedures and the guidance for this funding.

The project is to be carried out by a Project Manager (PM) and Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The overall duration of the project is 18 months. UNDP is the Implementing Agency (IA) for the project. A Project Board (PB) will be established and will serve as the project’s coordination and decision-making body. The PB is responsible for ensuring that the project remains on course to deliver products of the required quality to meet the outcomes defined in the project document.

The national partners will appoint National Project Coordinators (NPCs) for the project implementation. The NPC chairs the Project Board (PB) and is responsible for providing government oversight and guidance to the project implementation.

UNDP Programme Specialist on Governance, Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth is assigned with the responsibility for the day-to-day quality assurance of the project implementation.

The Project Manager is in charge of the day-to-day administration of the project with the support of the PIU and manages the implementation of all project activities. The PM is accountable to the Project Board for the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of the activities carried out, as well as for the use of funds.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall responsibilities: The Project Manager has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Project Board within the constraints laid down by the Board. The Project Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making for the project. The Project Manager’s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost.

Working under the supervision of the UNDP Programme Specialist of Governance, Economic Diversification, and Inclusive Growth to whom he/she will report, and in partnership with the project staff and PIU, the PM will be responsible for leading the Project Team in the day-to-day implementation of the Project and managing Project resources effectively and efficiently so as to achieve the Project Objective and Outcomes within the set timescale and available budget. More specifically, the PM will perform the following duties: Under the Output 1 Project Manager will be responsible for liaising with national partners on possible areas of collaboration in terms of developing digital solutions to enhance public services, developing annual work plans of concrete activities upon agreement with national partners, holding consultations with national partners on needs assessment, conducting actual assessment with the support of international expert team, providing recommendations on development of appropriate digital solutions based on assessment, developing a road map for further piloting of digital solutions, other necessary activities within the project implementation.

Under the Output 2 Project Manager will be in charge of coordinating well-established communication and dialog with respective stakeholders to pilot digital solutions, streamlining respective activities to pilot gender-smart digital solutions to enhance public services, organizing tendering process (if need be) in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures, optimizing sustainability of benefits realized within the project, providing scaling up recommendations with support of international expert team, other necessary activities within the project implementation.

PM responsibilities will also include:

Overall project management:

• Management and supervision of project implementation and evaluation across all components. Assurance of successful completion of the project in accordance with the stated outcomes and performance indicators summarized in the Project Results Framework.
• Regular communication and coordination with the national partners, members of the Project Board, and all other partners and interested stakeholders, with regard to all project activities. Organization of Project Board meetings at least twice a year.
• Regular communication with senior UNDP management with regard to all project activities. Assurance of coordination with other UNDP projects and broad strategic initiatives.
• Preparation of Annual Work Plans (AWP), including monthly targets and deliverables as well as annual spending targets in accordance with the Project Document. Tracking of work outputs throughout the year in light of these Annual Work Plans.
• Tracking and managing of project spending in accordance with the project budget, as well as UNDP rules and procedures, to ensure transparency, responsibility, and timely fulfilment of both program targets and budget targets.
• Preparation and submission of Annual Project Progress Report, Donor Report and other required progress reports to the Project Board and UNDP in accordance with applicable requirements, in all required languages (English, Russian, and/or Turkmen, using outside translation as needed).
• Coordination of the work of international and national consultants engaged in the project.
• Supervision of regular data collection and analysis, as well as reporting and public outreach via the mass media, events, and other means, to disseminate the results of the project.
• Oversight of the overall administration of the project office.
• Travel within Turkmenistan if required; possible travel outside the country for participation in directly relevant international meetings.
• Support during the project evaluations, if any.

Running a project:

• Plan the detailed actions according to annual work plans of the project approved by the Project Board and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria.
• Mobilize goods and services to initiate activities, including drafting Terms of References and work specifications.
• Monitor events as determined in the Monitoring & Communication Plan, and update the plan as required.
• Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement.
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Be responsible for managing issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log.
• Based on the review, prepare the AWPs for the following years, as well as Quarterly Plans if required.

Closing a Project:

• Prepare Final Project Review Report and Project Lessons Learned Report to be submitted and presented to the Project Board.
• Identify follow-up actions and submit them for consideration to the Project Board.
• Manage the transfer of project deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials to national beneficiaries.
• Prepare final CDR for signature by UNDP management.

Developing a Project:

• In cooperation with the Programme Analyst on Governance, Economic Diversification, and Inclusive Growth lead the process of developing and mobilizing resources for new projects in the areas of Project Manager’s expertise, such as digitalization of public services.

Competencies

• Technical expertise to appreciate project aims, ability to speak the “language” with experts;
• Good analytical and planning skills, ability to set forecasts and refine/review them in the light of experience and further analysis;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, being good communicator at all levels;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders;
• Strong managerial skills, results-orientation, team building and leadership skills;
• Decisiveness, independence, good judgement, ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to work effectively under close supervision, as well as under minimal supervision.
• Decisiveness, independence, good judgement, ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under close supervision, as well as under minimal supervision

Required Skills and Experience

• University degree in Economic Development, International Development, Development Studies, Public Administration, IT Engineering and other related fields, or another field with direct relevance to the project;
• At least 5 years of managerial experience, preferably in the area of economic development, digitalization, and public services in Turkmenistan;
• Close familiarity with the roles, activities, and priorities of the Government of Turkmenistan, with regard to digitalization and development of public services;
• Technical understanding of digitalization processes in government agencies and proven track record of initiating or managing innovative projects in IT domain;
• Superior skills in organization and management, including past experience with planning, tracking, evaluation, and supervision of consultants and/or employees;
• Strong skills in financial tracking and budget management; training/ certification in finance is an asset;
• Fluency in Russian and English, in reading, writing, and speaking. Fluency in Turkmen is highly desired and will be viewed as a strong asset;
• Ability to use information technology as a tool and resource;
• Demonstrable skills in office computer use - word processing, spread sheets, etc.

Disclaimer

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