Project Management Specialist – P3

Background

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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.

Prior to the outbreak of war in 2015, Yemen’s fishing sector was the most productive industry in Yemen’s economy. It ranked second only to oil and gas in terms of Yemeni exports and contributed 15% of Yemen’s GDP. Today, the sector still provides a main source of food security, earnings, and employment for Yemenis living along the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Capture fisheries output was estimated at around 200,000 tons per year before the conflict, of which 40 to 50 per cent was exported.

The fishing sector supports around 115,000 small-scale fishers and around 1,000,500 of their household members. It also provides jobs for another half million people along the value chain (up to retail and including service providers) and offers a livelihood for 18% of a total population of 9.4 million in coastal communities. Jobs include a wide array of activities in fish processing, canning, processing plants and marketing activities. Fisheries are also a major source of foreign exchange earnings and fiscal revenues for the Government of Yemen. Fishing sector was the most productive industry in Yemen’s economy. It ranked second only to oil and gas in terms of Yemeni exports and contributed 15% of Yemen’s GDP. Today, the sector still provides a main source of food security, earnings, and employment for Yemenis living along the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Capture fisheries output was estimated at around 200,000 tonnes per year before the conflict, of which 40 to 50 percent was exported.

The Fisheries Programme under Economic Recovery and Development Unit (ERDU) at UNDP Yemen is supported by funds from two different sources.

The World Bank funds the Sustainable Fishery Development in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (SFISH). The project aims to support actions to improve fishery production and quality by reducing post-harvest losses and improving climate resilience and access to markets, thus contributing to restoring fishery sector-related livelihoods and creating economic opportunities for women and men. It will promote interaction and networks between fishers, micro and small fish processors, wholesalers, and retailers to improve access to markets in targeted coastal areas. It will also support developing local governance systems and knowledge to effectively manage fisheries and ensure climate resilience that aligns with the fishery sector strategy of Yemen.

The German Investment Bank (KfW) funds the Fishery Harbour Rehabilitation and Value Chain Rehabilitation in Aden (Aden Fishery Harbor “AFH”) The project aims to support actions to improve Improvement of the economic situation of the population, especially of women in the fisheries sector of Aden and contribute to quantitative and qualitative improvement of the food situation of the population.

AFH will rehabilitate the fish harbour at Hajif, to restore the minimum requirements for re-launching operations, productivity, and re-establishing effective management of the harbour. The project will contribute to employment creation, especially for youth and women, and mobilize fish value chain actors whose livelihoods depend on fish production and processing but have been greatly affected by conflict.

The Project Management Specialist will be responsible for technical, administrative, and operational management of the projects, under direct supervision of the Project Manager. PMS will deputize for the PM in their absence.

Position Purpose

The Project Management Specialist will coordinate and manage the overall implementation of the Fisheries Programme under the supervision of the Project Manager. He/She will provide strategic oversight of technical planning, financial management and budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the projects in line with corporate standards and guidance.

The Project Management Specialist will play a lead role in all aspects of project delivery, strategic planning and partnership, resource mobilization, and provision of technical assistance to its different components aiming to reach planned targets and expected results with high quality and in a timely manner. He/she will facilitate knowledge management and sharing as well as elaboration of resilience-building initiatives of UNDP.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties And Responsibilities

Ensures effective project management:

• Coordinates and manages the overall implementation of the projects.
• Provides strategic oversight of technical planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the projects.
• Prepares, reviews, and adapts project Annual Work Plans, including human resources and procurement plans, in line with Projects’ Activity Matrix and Results Framework and compliant with UNDP’s Rules and Regulations.
• Ensures projects are implemented in alignment with UNDP’s Rules and Regulations and donors Practical Guide to contract procedures for WB, KfW and others.
• Manages partnership and contract arrangements with government counterparts and responsible/implementing partners for project implementation.
• Coordinates and collaborates with the Projects’ M&E Specialist to ensure that the projects’ monitoring mechanisms and evaluation moments are designed and implemented according to UNDP Yemen standard operating procedures, UNDP programme and project management guidelines, and donors’ requirements.
• Ensures quality and timely preparation of results-focused and accountability reports (quarterly, bi-annually, annually and final, as required) and ad-hoc updates if and when requested and Quantum updates in line with donor agreement and UNDP programme and project management guidelines and donors’ standards and ensure timely submission.
• Oversees the development and implementation of the projects’ risk management framework in line with UNDP’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) policy.
• Ensures quality and timely planning, conduct of and follow up on projects’ oversight and governance initiatives and recommendations – projects’ reviews, audits, monitoring missions, evaluations and board meetings.
• Ensures implementation of adaptive management approaches, conflict and gender sensitivity in the projects.

Responsibility for management of project financial administration, procurement and operations:

• Ensures strategic and efficient management of financial resources of the projects.
• Analyzes and ensures alignment of project budget with Activity Matrix and Results Framework.
• Provides technical and managerial advice on the development of systems, processes and mechanisms to support discretionary fund distribution, monitoring and accountability.
• Monitors achievement of the financial targets. Monitors budget execution rates and provides continuous feedback and advice to PM and CO on rate of financial delivery. Ensure that financial plans are in place and regularly updated.
• Exercises proper financial control, especially in relation to RPs and contractors.
• Manages the procurement of goods and services for the project in compliance with established corporate procedures regarding (sub-) contract review and the awarding of contracts; evaluates for cost effectiveness and manages the negotiations in connection with eventual agreements.
• Leads the preparation of the annual human resources and procurement plans, as part of the AWP, and ensures the timely procurement of goods and services.
• Leads and ensures timely organization and implementation of audits according to agreed schedule and monitors the follow-up and implementation of audit recommendations.

Ensures Project Development, Coordination, Partnership Building And Resource Mobilization

• Together with the PM, engages and coordinates with other relevant projects implemented by UNDP Yemen, as well as UN organizations, NGOs and other agencies, to ensure complementarity, minimize overlaps and/or duplication, and identify synergies and areas of cooperation.
• Within the context of SFISH & AFH being the fishery programme at UNDP, supports the development of strategic partnerships and alliances with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fish Wealth, General Authority of Fisheries, other related institutions, other UN Agencies, bilateral organizations, regional partners, academic and Civil Society Organizations.
• Coordinates the negotiations in establishing new partnerships, drafting of agreements, and monitoring their implementation.
• Together with the PM, designs and develops resource mobilization strategy for additional, complementary and/or follow-up activities, within and beyond the current project duration; engages with potential donors and supports the negotiations in establishing new donor agreements.
• Participates in relevant meetings and forums, representing the project, as per guidance of the PM.
• Contributes to the design and formulation of AWP activities and interventions, as per goals, outcomes and outputs as defined in the project document, on the basis of lessons learned and with the input of innovative approaches.

Ensures Innovation, Knowledge-building/management And Communication

• Leads activities to build capacity and create awareness around PPM and ERM within the SFISH & AFH Project Team.
• In collaboration with the PM and involving Project Team and responsible parties, leads activities to build capacity and raise awareness on activity portfolio innovation, shares global good practice in innovation, coordinates regular activities to identify opportunities for innovation of the Projects’ activity portfolio and ensure follow-up on recommendations.
• Leads the identification and synthesizing of lessons learnt and best practices emerging from the Project.
• Together with PM, actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the Project Team and the responsible parties.
• Ensures the development and dissemination of knowledge and communication products in line with the approved project document.

Gender Equality And Women’s Empowerment

• Support gender mainstreaming throughout the project life cycle, including design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Ensure coordination and partnership with national gender mechanisms, women-led organizations, academies, networks, and forums on climate change issues, etc.
• Support the institutional and technical capacity of the project team and stakeholders on gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as social safeguards aspects.
• Support the implementation and reporting of gender-responsive actions and activities according to the allocated resources with the aim to improve employment and business opportunities for women and youth in the fishing community and value chain.
• Contribute to the country office communication, and knowledge management system on gender equality and women’s empowerment

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

• Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

• Cross Functional and Technical Competencies:

Business Direction and 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 Direction & Strategy – Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

Business Development – UNDP Representation: Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.

Business Management – Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Business Management – Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organizations programmes 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.

Audit & Investigation-General – Financial and Managerial Accounting and Finance Key Concepts: Key concepts and principles of financial accounting, interpret financial analysis, managerial accounting, etc.

Audit & Investigation-Audit – Fraud Awareness and Investigation Techniques: Basic knowledge to understand the foundations of fraud, how to detect red flags and conduct initial fact findings.

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Fisheries, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field is required. Or
• 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.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience at the international level in project management of development projects, preferably in the fisheries sector are required.
• Substantial hands-on experience in design, management, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the area of value chains and/or capacity development is required.
• Proven experience and track record of engagement with senior officials, such as in the United Nations, government and external partners is an asset.
• Significant experience with establishing and maintaining relationships among international organization and national governments, with UN Agencies, NGOs, bilateral organization and donors is an asset.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of spreadsheet, database packages and web-based financial and administrative management systems is an asset.
• Experience with ERP systems including Quantum would be an asset.
• Prior work experience with World Bank/ German Investment Bank KfW funding is an asset.
• Experience in crisis countries would be an asset

Language

• Proficiency in oral and written English is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Note: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest UNCS performance evaluations (if applicable).

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

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.

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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