National Project Coordinator

​Requisition ID: 7314 
Grade: ISA-NOD 
Country: Belize 
Duty Station: Belize 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 21 working days per month (12 months)
Application deadline: 22-Apr-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.  The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declarationadopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

This position is located under the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), which is responsible for delivering the Organization's advice, learning and knowledge on industrial policy and attendant policy-making process to Member States. The Division contributes to maintaining and enhancing the Organization's technical, policy and normative knowledge base to support sustainable industrial development in Member States. It further responds to the need of developing countries to build the capacities to formulate and implement industrial policies and strategies to pursue industrial development with the greatest potential for attaining the SDGs in the 2030 Agenda. In this context, the Division supports Member States in identifying, designing, implementing and evaluating policies and strategies that aim to expand and diversify their manufacturing capacity, and advocates for sustainable industrialization strategies at the global, regional and national levels. By collaborating with other organizational entities, the Division ensures that capacities built, and policy advice provided are integrated into UNIDO TC programmes and projects.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Project 240163 “Industrial development and technology transfer among the Member States of the Caribbean Community

CARICOM is an intra-regional organisation in the Caribbean region which aims at economic integration, co-ordination of foreign policy among the Member States, implementation of common service projects and cooperation for social, cultural and technological development. CARICOM Member States are classified as 'Small Island Developing States' (SIDS), with many of them being vulnerable due to problems specific to island states (small population, remoteness, natural disasters, sea level rise, etc.).

UNIDO aims to contribute to industrial development and technology transfer among the CARICOM Member States with advanced technology and knowledge. The project will have three (3) pillars: 1) investment and business promotion, 2) technology transfer in the agro-industrial sector, and 3) industrial structure analysis and policy-making capacity development. Output 1.5 will enhance the policymaking capacity of the Belizean policy ecosystem, and in particular that of Government of Belize. Apart from developing the policy capacity, the output, together with the Government of Belize, will produce an industrial policy focusing on green and blue economy.

The policy activities are structured in three main domains:

1) The setting up of policy infrastructure consisting of a Policy Support Unit (PSU), a coordination unit to ensure inter-ministerial policy alignment, and the creation of a stakeholder platform to ensure that all relevant stakeholders in the policy process are included and have a chance to influence the process.

2) Capacity building activities for evidence-based policy making, targeting all relevant stakeholders in the policymaking process. These activities may include awareness-raising, technical training, study tours, and participation in international fora such as UNIDO’s Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF).

3) Direct policy advice with the goal of delivering an industrial policy, attendant policy instruments, policy implementation plan, and a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework. Importantly, these items will be produced by UNIDO together with the Government of Belize, to ensure capacity development through learning-by-doing techniques.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:

INDICATIVE TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES:

The Gantt chart below presents the indicative timeline for the expected activities and deliverables over the duration of the assignment. Dark blue cells indicate the delivery of key milestones and outputs, while lighter colours represent periods during which activities are being carried out.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (maste's degree or equivalent) in economics, development studies, public policy, or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least seven (7) years of professional experience in coordinating the implementation of development/technical cooperation programmes/projects/policy formulation, is required.
• Strong understanding of Belize’s economic structure, productive sectors, and policy environment or similar country in the region is required.
• Experience in evidence-based analysis, industrial policy, or sector development is required.
• Knowledge and familiarity of UNIDO's industrial policy methodology is desirable.
• Experience in policy formulation is required.
• Proven ability to coordinate teams and manage policy research processes is desirable.
• Experience/knowledge of other development agencies donor communities, private sectors, government and relevant institutions in the country, or similar country in the region is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Spanishis desirable.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org