Back Regional Project Coordinator (RPC)

Office/Unit/Project    UNDP TRCO/ Uplands Rural Development Project
Title    Regional Project Coordinator (RPC)
Level     NPSA-9
Duty station (City and Country)    Adana, TURKEY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Type (Regular or Short term)    Regular
Office- or Home-based    Office-Based
Expected starting date    20/03/2025
Expected Duration    12 Months 

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. 

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Upland Rural Development Project (URDP) is jointly funded by Government of Turkey and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Project will be supervised by IFAD (Financier). The financing agreement of Phase I was signed on 26.12.2017 and became effective through the Approval of the Board of Ministers, numbered 2018/11274 and dated 22 January 2018. It will be implemented in two phases and will operate over two funding cycles.

Uplands Rural Development Project (URDP):

The overall objective of the Upland Rural Development Project (URDP), on the other hand, is to enhance the welfare and socio-economic resilience of small farmers in highlands. This objective can be attained by making the use of natural resources sustainable and improving the resilience and economic opportunities of poor people in rural areas based on farms and agribusinesses linked to more profitable economic clusters. The key strategy of the Project includes developing rural production, encouraging sustainable use of soil and water, and enhancing the adaptation capacity of smallholding farmers to climate change. This strategy depends on two basic complementary outcomes (outputs): (i) Development of critical agribusinesses through better natural resource management and high added value for rural transformation by using an economic clustering approach, (ii) Enhancing access of small farmers to financial services by strengthening special financial resources. 

At the first stage, the Project will be implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean (Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye) and the Western Black Sea (Bartın, Kastamonu, Sinop) regions targeting 45 districts and 30,000 households. At the second stage of the programme, the inclusion of additional provinces will be evaluated by IFAD depending on the successful implementation of first phase. Quantitatively URDP’s two phases are expected to benefit about 47,400 households, or 256,000 beneficiaries. URDP beneficiaries are divided into three main categories: (i) economically active poor households, (ii) economically active households with upsides, and (iii) contributors to rural development and clustering investments. URDP has three components: (i) Clustering for Flexible Rural Transformation, (ii) Inclusive Rural Finance, (iii) Project Management. 

3. Scope of Work 

Under the supervision of Projects Coordinator and MoAF Surveys and Projects Department (SPD) of General Directorate of Agrarian Reform, the URDP Regional Project Coordinator (RPC) will carry out his/her duties within the scope of work program by travelling the other provinces which he/she is responsible for. The RPA will carry out all operational management, coordination and reporting activities for the implementation of the activities at the regional level. The Regional Project Coordinator is also responsible for coordinating the work of the Provincial Technical Support Staff contracted by the project. 

The main responsibilities of the Regional Project Coordinator is to plan all operational works in coordination with Central Project Management Unit (CPMU), provide support to implementation on site, technical support and prepare the necessary monthly, quarterly and annual realization and impacts of these realizations, province-based monitoring and evaluation where she/he responsible for and preparing all reports required by Provincial Project Management Unit (PPMU) and CPMU in order to ensure that the activities in the annual activity plan and budget of the project are realized.

Implementation of operational strategies ensured

• To follow the rules and principles specified in the Financing Agreement (FA) and Project Implementation Manuel (PIM) in accordance with the general guidelines provided by UNDP, MoAF General Directorate of Agrarian Reform (GDAR) Survey and Projects Department (SPD) in accordance with the Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs), conducting and coordinating the necessary needs analysis and data collection regarding the preparation of the draft versions of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry (PDAF) Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) and providing the necessary technical support inputs 
• Provision of all kinds of technical support to ensure that the Draft AWPBs comply with the approved PIM 
• Preparation of Implementation Plans subject to activities in the AWPB in cooperation with PPMU, making necessary revisions in case of requirement 
• Planning monthly activities of the Farmer Supports Teams (FSTs), the reports prepared by the FSTs for daily, weekly, and monthly monitoring and measurement of their impacts, converting them into collective realization reports. 
• Coordinating awareness raising activities aiming to inform the target beneficiaries about opportunities, tools, menu of investments 
• Ensuring through appropriate informative/training sessions and permanent follow-up, that the project approach is understood and bought-in by all stakeholders

   

  Management of Regional and Provincial Project Activities

   

  • According to the project AWPB implementation plan, to follow the progress in implementation, to coordinate and execute the collection of the data needed for M&E reports, to report important deviations for project coordination and management, and to prepare the necessary revisions and to make recommendations.
  • Coordination and supervision of the UNDP contracted provincial field project staff (M&E Assistant, Field Civil Engineer) 
  • Working in close contact and coordination with UNDP contracted regional staff (a.i. M&E Officer, Gender Specialist, Business Development Analyst, Finance Officer, Accountant and Procurement Officer) 
  • To prepare and compare the technical inputs, prepare a detailed timetable for the implementation of the AWPB, to convey the progress, potential and emerging risks and bottlenecks of the implementations regularly, to work in close cooperation with the PDAF for the implementation of the time plan to jointly ensure compliance with the approved timetable of the AWPB and actively participate to the project activities. 
  • Providing all necessary technical support to the MoAF, UNDP, IFAD and project staff required on a provincial and regional basis within the scope of the Project. 
  • To follow the physical realization of the project activities and filling in the tables, sheets or activity cards needed to maintain the necessary information. 
  • To follow and make suggestions about any bottlenecks or problems that will have a real / potential impact on the progress of the project or to make suggestions to improve and to accelerate the implementation of the project. 
  • Assisting to manage the contracts (e.g. procurement of supplies, works, services etc.), providing information by monitoring the procurement and realization of goods / services from contracted dealers in accordance with the terms and conditions of the corresponding contracts 
  • Supporting the preparation of the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) as well as the implementation of the district plans and the Matching Grant Programme, 
  • Ensure that all measures to improve transparency in the project grants activity are applied and updated regularly which are outlined in the Matching Grants Manual.
  • Supervise the applications and assessment processes, and final grant payments
  • Develop project planning process and ensure the work plan and a fully costed budget are prepared based on sound capacity assessments and in accordance with UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines. 

     

    Partnership building, Communications and Knowledge Management, Reporting

     

    • Participating in meetings, organizations, or workshops to disseminate the project and to prepare recommendations, participating to activities to promote the project and participating in IFAD missions, when needed. 
    • Within the scope of the project, working with the Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist, preparation of communication plans within the scope of the project, preparation of implementation plans at provincial level, collecting information and visual materials about project implementation and presentation of information and preparation of materials and submit to SPD. 
    • In terms of human resources (unpaid leaves, health report etc.) to follow and organize the work of the Technical Support Staff at the provincial level. 
    • Regarding IFAD implementation support and supervision missions, in coordination with SPD, to make necessary preparations and to collect necessary data, to prepare reports and presentations 
    • Submitting monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual planned and realized activity reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, procurement planning and realization reports on a provincial basis in a timely and complete manner. 
    • The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

      4.      Institutional Arrangement

       

      The Regional Project Coordinator reports to the Rural Development Projects Coordinator and the Head of Surveys and Projects Department of General Directorate of Agrarian Reform. The incumbent reports to UNDP and MoAF, specific reporting lines will be communicated to the incumbent upon signature of the contract. He /She will work in coordination with the Regional and Provincial Project Staff, Provincial Project Officers, PPMU and CPMU employees

       

      5.   Competencies

       

      Core   Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible  Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

      Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)  Thematic Area Name Definition 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 Development Knowledge Facilitation
        • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally Business Management Project Management
          • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals 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 Business Management Communication
              • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience 
              • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels Business Management Monitoring
                • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results  

                   

                  6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA Minimum Education requirements

                  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, Engineering or related field is required, or 
                  • 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 Minimum years of relevant work experience 
                    • Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in design, implementation, and/or monitoring and evaluation of development projects.  Required skills 
                      • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. 
                      • Knowledge and experience in relevant thematic area Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
                        • Experience with the agriculture and rural development sector will be an asset. 
                        • Professional experience in an internationally funded development project. Institution (Such as UN, IFAD, World Bank, ADB, EDB, etc.) or European Union
                        • Working in internationally financed agricultural development and/or Ministry of Agriculture projects is an asset  Required Language(s) 
                          • Fluency in Turkish and English.