Programme Coordinator

The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund established in Myanmar in 2009 with the purpose of increasing the livelihoods' resilience and nutrition of poor people in Myanmar by focusing on interventions that increase income, food availability, utilization and stability of access to food. LIFT has received funding from 14 donors to date[1]. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the Fund Manager (FM) to administer the funds and provide monitoring and oversight.

LIFT is active in the four main agro-ecological regions of Myanmar, including the central dry zone (Dry Zone), the Ayeyarwaddy Delta (Delta), Rakhine and the upland areas of the country (Uplands).  Read more about LIFT on www.lift-fund.org.

The LIFT Fund Management Office (FMO) has a substantial programme unit with teams responsible for LIFT’s work in each agro-ecological zone (see above for these zones) as well as teams for each of LIFT’s main cross-cutting themes (financial inclusion, private sector & inclusive value chains, and civil society strengthening).  The FMO also has teams responsible for communications, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), policy, learning and knowledge management and for support services.  LIFT is seeking a senior management position, the Programme Coordinator, for the programme unit at the FMO. 

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The primary purpose of the position is to lead and deliver on a number of cross-programmatic efforts for the LIFT Fund Management Office. 

The position will also act as a deputy for the Fund Director/FMO and often Officer in Charge when the Director is on travel.

Under the direct supervision of the LIFT Fund Director, in close coordination with other LIFT personnel, and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks and areas of activities:

1.  Promote, supervise and support a high performing, effective and supported programme unit.  The main tasks include:

1. Ensuring coordination and collaboration to optimize synergies between LIFT’s thematic and geographic programmes. This will include convening and facilitating discussions between programmes on common activities (e.g., farmer advisory services) and outcomes (e.g., nutrition) and supporting programme leads/teams to implement cross-programmatic initiatives (e.g. value for money).
2. Arranging fair and timely assessment of proposals submitted for funding and making recommendations to the Fund Board on funding proposals that are consistent with LIFT’s strategy and operating guidelines.
3. Ensuring that all LIFT’s geographic and thematic programmes are consistent with LIFT’s gender strategy.
4. Organizing field visits of Fund Board members or other relevant stakeholders.
5. Leading the preparation of LIFT’s annual and semi-annual reports as well as the monthly updates from the Fund Management Office.
6. Supporting the establishment of LIFT’s strategic partnerships with civil society partners and the implementation of LIFT’s beneficiary accountability framework.
7. Supporting geographic and thematic programme managers to develop and maintain food security and livelihoods profiles for all the major agro-ecological zones of Myanmar, using all available information including: LIFT’s baseline assessment, information from LIFT implementing partners, information from other agencies and other secondary sources.
8. Identifying gaps in terms of expertise within FMO and ensuring that they are filled through short and long term consultancies and partnerships, that appropriate support is mobilized for the programme unit.
9. Overseeing the preparation of Terms of Reference for national and international consultants as needed.
10. Leading the recruitment of new personnel as required.

2.  On behalf of the programme unit, work closely with all other units to advance cross-FMO efforts. The main tasks include:

1. Representing the programme unit, work closely and collaboratively with heads of other FMO units (communications; MEAL; policy; support services) to develop key cross-progammatic approaches and then support the programme teams to implement these in a consistent way across the full programme portfolio.  This may include common approaches to project mid-term reviews or recruitment of technical consultants or, for example, drafting or supporting the compilation of major annual and semi-annual reports,
2. Ensuring that key lessons of LIFT-funded projects are identified, documented and shared appropriately. This includes leading special studies (e.g., comparative studies of approaches adopted by LIFT partners, or studies to determine the efficacy of innovative approaches), and conducting cost comparisons and value-for-money reviews where possible and relevant.    
3. Supporting the development of LIFT briefing papers in areas related to agriculture, livelihoods and rural development.

3.  In close collaboration with the Fund Director, represent LIFT with its important stakeholders. The main tasks include:

1. Representing LIFT FMO and sectoral working groups or inter-agency coordination efforts. 
2. Engaging with the government to ensure that relevant departments are appropriately involved in LIFT programme development and that programme results are fed back to relevant departments in a regular and timely manner.
3. Supporting LIFT’s civil society engagement activities.
4. Supporting the Fund Board in relation to national policies, strategies and programmes whenever they exist.

4.  Other duties as assigned by the Fund Director. 

The incumbent will be responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and those of UNOPS.

Deliverables

Deliverables will be agreed in annual work plans.

Education

• A Master's Degree in economics, agricultural economics, agriculture, management, development economics, rural development or related field is required.
• Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered as equivalent.

Work Experience

• A minimum 7 years of relevant technical experience in a field related to rural development, economic and/or social policy development or livelihoods is required.
• Four years of this experience must be experience in developing countries.
• Demonstrable senior management and representational experience is required.
• Significant experience in rural development programme management is essential.  Ideally this will have been related to one or more sectors relevant to rural development.
• Significant professional international experience in more than one country context is required.
• Experience working and/or cooperating with development partners, including donors, is required.  
• Experience working with Government counterparts is required. 
• Significant professional experience in Southeast Asia is preferred.
• Knowledge of the political, economic and social situation in Myanmar is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent analysis, identify issues, evaluate options, recommend solutions and write analytical or summative reports is required.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft packages (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access) is required, along with the ability to use software tools to present data clearly and concisely.

Language

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

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