Project Manager - TRANSFORM (Open to All Applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories, supporting national efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, strengthen resilience, and accelerate sustainable development. As the development arm of the United Nations, UNDP collaborates with governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities to build inclusive and resilient pathways for human development.

In Mozambique, UNDP has been a trusted partner since 1976, working with national and local authorities, UN entities, civil society, and communities to promote inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable development. Guided by the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, UNDP develops targeted and innovative solutions to address the country’s evolving development challenges. 

Our Country Programme Document is structured around four interconnected pillars: i) human development, multidimensional poverty, gender equality and public health management; ii) inclusive economic recovery, diversification and sustainable livelihoods; iii) climate resilience and natural resource management; and, iv) inclusive and decentralized governance, justice, peace and social cohesion. 

These focus areas reflect UNDP’s comparative advantage in Mozambique and align with national development priorities and the UNSDCF. The Country Office works both upstream and downstream to build resilience and expand opportunities, particularly for women and youth. This includes strengthening community resilience to disasters and conflict, scaling area‑based models for integrated recovery and service delivery, and leveraging stabilization efforts in Cabo Delgado to support post‑conflict recovery, institutional strengthening, and locally led economic revitalization. 

The CO has also been carrying out a review of its structure and organogram to achieve an optimal and sustainable configuration that aligns staffing to respond to new challenges and the expected growth of the CO to enable UNDP effectively support Mozambique’s current and emerging development priorities. UNDP upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability. We maintain a zero‑tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment (including sexual harassment), and discrimination. All selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 

Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are foundational to UNDP’s mandate and integral to everything we do. Across all programmes and operations, UNDP promotes equal opportunities, inclusive participation, and the advancement of women and marginalized groups so that development gains are equitable and sustainable. 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. 

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) sets the overall framework and targets for wildlife conservation, including through KMGBF targets focused on species conservation (target 4) and sustainable use and management of wildlife (targets 5, 9). More specifically, three multilateral environmental agreements (MEA) govern specific aspects of wildlife protection, sustainable use and trade: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar).

Mozambique’s terrestrial protected area (PA) network which covers almost 30% of the country’s land surface includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which cover 2.16% of the country's marine and coastal area.[1] Mozambique’s PA system aligns with international conservation goals and plays an important role in country’s response to climate change impacts and biodiversity loss while contributing to the achievement of Mozambique’s sustainable development goals through various wildlife economy activities such as ecotourism and carbon projects. 

A child project Transforming wildlife conservation and livelihoods at the landscape scale in Mozambique (TRANSFORM) designed under the GEF-8 Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Program (WCD IP) is part of the GEF-8 phase of the Global Wildlife Program (GWP) will be implemented across two ecologically critical and socioeconomically complex landscapes that demand urgent, integrated responses. The project will lift systemic barriers to biodiversity conservation by addressing institutional weaknesses and limited collaboration among stakeholders within the landscapes, enabling community participation, and implementing scalable models for benefit-sharing and sustainable land use based on vibrant and sustainable wildlife economies in two of Mozambique’s most critical conservation landscapes. 

To lead the implementation of the TRANSFORM project, UNDP Mozambique is recruiting a Project Manager to lead and manage the project’s implementation. 

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

The Project Manager -TRANSFORM will lead the project team, both from a technical and managerial / operational point of view, providing technical leadership and overall operational management for the successful execution and implementation of the project. This includes the daily responsibility to manage, coordinate and supervise the implementation of the project and the delivery of results, exerting the necessary quality control, in accordance with the project document and agreed work plans. Furthermore, the Project Manager will be responsible for financial management and disbursements, with accountability to the government and UNDP.   

The Project Manager -TRANSFORM is located at the project’s office in Maputo and works administratively under the supervision of a designated officer within the National Agency for Conservation Areas (ANAC, Public Institute), reporting to the Project Board. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities  

Coordinate effective project planning and implementation:  

• 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;  
• Coordinate / manage the day-to-day activities of the assigned project and the overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring in order to optimize the use of resources and to ensure the successful achievement of project objectives and results specified in project document. Provide subject matter technical advice and support and ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget and specified constraints, and in keeping with high-quality standards; 
• Facilitate establishment of interactive and inclusive platforms for project implementation and collaborate with other programme units and project teams to ensure integration of critical development issues in the project activities and expected project outputs;  
• Ensure implementation activities are in alignment with UNDP policy and programme management procedures and all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows; 
• Ensure operational management of assigned portfolio including through timely procurement of goods, services and/or infrastructure (as relevant), effective management of human, technical and financial resources, etc.  

 Establish partnerships and open channels of communication:  

• Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support key objectives and ensure inclusive implementation and participation of key stakeholders in assigned portfolio; 
• Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify stakeholder needs and how best to leverage their participation and/or strengthen their engagement. Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies; 
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners;  
•  Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.  

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:  

• Review the results framework and update the indicators, baselines, and targets of the assigned projects. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting;  
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets in accordance with the established quality criteria and UNDP rules, regulations, and standards. Identify, analyze, and take adequate measures to manage emerging issues, problems, and risks. Conduct field visits to project location sites; 
• Liaise with the Finance team to ensure administrative requirements, budgets and use of financial resources are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations: 
• Prepare corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements; 
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project. 

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s):  

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia; 
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners; 
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;  
• Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff;  

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

Institutional Arrangements  

The Project Manager will work under direct supervision of the Head of the Environment Climate Change and Resilience Unit UNDP CO and will work closely with the designated officer within the Implementing Partner Institution (ANAC, I.P.) to provide technical backstopping support for and ensuring the availability of information on progress and performance regarding the implementation of the project. The Project Manager will develop and provide progress reports on a monthly basis to UNDP CO and ANAC, I.P. These reports will include: i) status of activities; and ii) challenges encountered on the ground during project execution. 

Competencies

CORE

• Achieve Results:    LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work 
• 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 others and support their learning 
• Adapt with Agility:    LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in 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  
   

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

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 

2030 Agenda: Nature, Climate and Energy    

• Ecosystems, wildlife and biodiversity

Partnership: Private sector resource mobilization

• Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.

General (across the functions): Project Management  

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Finance: Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

Procurement:      

• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

2030 Agenda: People         

• Gender Climate Change and Risk Management of Disasters with a Gender Perspective

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in a field related to Environment, Natural Resources Management, Rural Development, Conservation, and/or Sustainable Agriculture, or a closely related field. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience as a lead project manager in relevant sectors. 

Required Skills

• Experience in gathering and processing data and information;
• Experience in managing work teams and supervising technical assessments, reports and technical documents; 
• Knowledge of key software packages (MS Office)

Desired Skills

• Experience in the public participation development process associated with environmental and sustainable development is an asset;
• Experience in working and collaborating within governments is an asset as well as experience in GEF projects;
• Prior experience with UNDP projects would be an asset; 
• Knowledge of environmental or biodiversity related policies is highly desirable.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.

Professional Certificates

• Certification in Project/Programme Management would be an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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