UNDP Careers
Location: St. John’s, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda
Financing to the private sector, particularly among MSMEs, has been constrained according to Compete Caribbean 2020 Innovation Firm Performance and Gender Survey, access to finance and financing costs emerged among the main obstacles identified by local firms as it drags on their ability to conduct business. Specifically, access to finance was second only to the education of the workforce as the most severe barrier to firm development and improvement.
The governments of both Saint Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda have signaled the need to address the high youth unemployment which has implications for rising crime and violence and the lack of skill development among young people. The rising crime and violence are both gender based, and gang related. Evidence has shown that gender- based violence in particular serves as a barrier to women’s entry and full engagement into the formal workforce. When women or youth suffer a financial setback there are very few resources to help them back on their feet – often leading to a spiraling into a state of acute vulnerability. Improving access to finance helps to safeguard the economic empowerment of women.
The Joint Programme supports the beneficiary countries in addressing their SDG commitments by improving and sustaining greater financial inclusion for the underserved groups of women and youth. This project not only focuses on increasing the volume of finance, but also on mechanisms to increase investments, and improve effectiveness for all beneficiaries, especially women, youth especially from poor communities and more generally the unbanked.
Through a three-pronged approach the JP aims to increase access to and the effectiveness of commercial innovative finance solutions in the Eastern Caribbean to achieve the SDGs. Building on the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF) initiative the JP will: i) strengthen institutional capacity in the beneficiary countries to better match commercial innovative financing solutions to specific gaps; ii) close the financing divide for Caribbean women
and youth, unleashing their entrepreneurial potential; and iii) enhance the enabling environments to help catalyze new innovative financing solutions, enhance the regulatory capability, and improve the overall cybersecurity and resilience of the infrastructure for greater digitalization of the economy. This approach develops new and strengthens existing partnerships between UN agencies, governments, and the private sector.
Scope of Work
Under the overall guidance and in coordination with the UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) for Barbados and Eastern Carribean, the Joint Programme Coordinator will implement the agreed project activities and ensure that objectives are reached as set out in the project document. The Joint Programme Coordinator will be working in close partnership with the Implementing Partners (IPs). The position assumes full responsibility for developing workplans, managing and implementing effectively and efficiently all project activities and resources (human, financial, physical/material assets, etc.) under all components of the project in order to meet expected results. The Joint Programme Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day management and decision-making for the project(s).
The Joint Programme Coordinator will be expected to deliver results in the areas of:
- Advisory support on policy and overall direction of the project
- Liaise with the Project Board and partners or its appointed Project Assurance roles to ensure the overall direction and integrity of the project;
- Lead the strategic planning, formulation and monitoring of programmatic issue.
- Lead on the development of workplans for each Country under the Umbrella programme.
- Ensure the overall relevance, and performance of the project, the effective realization and quality of outputs, and adherence to applicable UNDP’s standards, rules and regulations;
- Promote gender equality and women’s participation in the dialogues.
- Provide technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation, as well as in preparing project reports focused on capturing results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application;
- Implementation of programme results
- Implementation of reporting, monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies
- Liaise partner and coordinate with external and internal partners
- Ensure knowledge building and management
- Provide technical support for project planning, management and implementation
- Provide direction and guidance to project team(s)/ responsible party (ies);
- Manage the realization of project outputs through activities;
- Develop annual work plans for the projects in consultation with the IP and in agreement with Donor and UNDP guidelines;
- Manage the Projects’ finances according to the budgets;
- Mobilize goods and services to initiate activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications;
- Monitor events as determined in the Visibility & Communication Plans, and update the plan as required;
- Manage and monitor the project risks as initially identified in the Project Brief appraised by the LPAC, submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risks Log;
- Ensure effective information flow and coordination between the UNDP Project and the UNDP Multi- Country Office;
- Lead the recruitment, procurement, and other administrative tasks inclusive of drafting TORs, according to UNDP rules and regulations;
- Supervise the maintenance of the Project related documentation (contracts, reports, correspondence,an inventory list of all equipment purchased, etc. under the Project);
- Ensure strong partnerships and coordination between the project, UNDP Barbados MCO, The Implementing Partners, Universities, Regional Organizations and strategic partners.
- Organize Project Board Meetings, project review and/or evaluation meetings;
- Follow-up on the implementation of Project Board decisions and recommendations;
- Manage the activities of the project team, as well as local and international experts;
- In close consultation with the Project Board, ensure the efficient functioning of the project management assurance;
- In close consultation with the Project Board, ensure the efficient functioning of the project management assurance;
- Prepare Final Project Review Reports being submitted to the Project Board. Identify follow-on actions and submit them for consideration to the Project Board;
- Manage the transfer of project deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials to national beneficiaries;
- Perform other duties as required.
- Knowledge management and learning
- Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example: Excellent knowledge of capacity building theory and the application of methodology: good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies;
- Excellent ability to identify significant capacity-building opportunities, ability to get capacity built, excellent ability to demonstrate national capacities built (mastery of the tools and their application);
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
- Display understanding of the relevant contemporary ICT tools and continuously act towards personal capacity building;
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral): Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, Respectful and helpful relations with all UN staff.
- Partnership building and resource mobilization
- Advocates for UNDP’s work and represent UNDP with national authorities, the donor community, and international financial institutions, where requested;
- Engage with government officials at the national, regional and local levels where requested;
- Establish and maintain dialogue with government officials, both local and national, NGOs, partners, donors and communities to provide knowledge and understanding, ensuring accurate interpretation of the program’s mission;
- Liaises regularly and forges close linkages with other UNDP programs, agencies and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing support to the UNDP Barbados MCO;
- Contributes to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of Responsible Parties for the implementation of UNDP projects;
- Supports programming work and participates effectively in coordination forums and frameworks.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Institutional Arrangement
The Joint Programme Coordinator will report to Head of the Poverty, Governance and M&E Cluster and will oversee the coordination of the National Project officer for St. Lucia.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 2: Scaleup solutions and simplifies processes, balances
speed andaccuracy in doing work others in
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from and accuracy others and support their learning
Adapt With Agility:
LEVEL 2: Adaptprocesses/approaches to new situations,
involve othersin change process
Act with determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity And Inclusion:
LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences,
considers in decision making
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area
Name
Definition
2030 Agenda:
Prosperity
Poverty and
Governance
Sustainable Financing
2030 Agenda:
Prosperity
Poverty and
Governance
Sustainable Financing: Blended Finance and Private Sector
Financing
Business Direction & Strategy
System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall processor system, and to consider how altering oneelement can
impacton other partsof the system
Business
Development
Knowledge
Generation
Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge,
relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management
Portfolio Management
Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programme 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 Management
Partnerships Management
Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil societyand private sectorpartners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Min. Education Requirements
yearsMinimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Financial Economics, International Investment, Business Administration International Development, Project Management or similar field is required, or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Finance, Financial Economics, International Investment, Business Administration International Development or similar field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced
university degree.
Min. Years Of Closely-related Relevant Work Experience
- Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in international development, international financing, public financial management and/or developmentcommon system
work, /project management or closelyrelated activity.
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.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- A deep understanding of public sector finance principles, including budgeting, revenue generation, expenditure management, and fiscal sustainability.
- Familiarity with innovative financing mechanisms such as impact investing, social impact bonds, crowdfunding, and blended finance, to explore creative ways of mobilizing resources for sustainable development projects.
- Experience in building and managing partnerships with diverse stakeholders including governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and international organizations, to leverage resources, expertise, and networks for project implementation.
- Experience in project administration/management would be an asset
- Experience working withlarge teams, providing technical/coordination support
- Previous experience withinthe UN commonsystem or International Developmental Organizations, NGO or government is desirable.
- Experience and knowledge of the countries’s institutional framework and policies of climate change is an asset.
Required Language(s) Fluency in English is required.
Professional Certificates
The Following Documents Shall Be Required From The Applicants:
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
- A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
- Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.
Disclaimer
Important applicant information
All posts in the NPSA 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.
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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