Project Manager

The overall objective of “Empowering Women to Participate in Public Administration and Socio-Economic Life” project is to empower women, increase women's participation in public administration in accordance with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The project will also contribute to the implementation of the fourth priority area of the Uzbekistan Development Action Strategy for 2017-2021: increasing social and political activeness of women and strengthening their role in governance of the state and society, as well as the Outcome 8 of UNDAF 2016-2020: more reliable protection of citizens' rights and freedoms.

The main partner of the project is the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan (WCU). The project will also cooperate with the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chambers of the Parliament (Oliy Majlis), the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the NHRC, the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, the State Statistics Committee, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, the Academy of Public Administration, the Academy of Sciences, khokimiyats, civil society organizations and the media.

Under direct supervision of the UNDP Programme Specialist/Cluster Leader on Good Governance, Policy and Communications and overall guidance of the Project Board, the Project Manager will be responsible for the operational management of the project according to the project document, UNDP corporate rules and procedures and for fulfilling the following duties and responsibilities:

• Responsible for day-to-day management, administration and decision-making for the project;

• Oversees strategic planning process for the project and ensures its implementation in accordance with the signed project document;

• Responsible for ensuring that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost;

• Manage the realization of project outputs through activities;

• Ensures that project contributes to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefiting both women and men in its activities (gender mainstreaming);

• Provide direction and guidance to project team(s)/ responsible party (ies);

• Identifies partnership strategies with regard to providers of specialised expertise and possible co-financiers, and leads resource mobilisation for project components;

• Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project;

• Liaise with any suppliers;

• Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria;

• Mobilize goods and services to initiative activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications;

• Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the IPSAS;

• Manage and monitor the project risks as initially identified in the Project Document, 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;

• Be responsible for managing issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log;

• Prepare the Quarterly Project Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures in UNDP format) and Quarterly Operational Report (AF format) and submit the reports to the Project Assurance team;

• Prepare the Annual Review Report (UNDP format) and Project Implementation Report (AF format) and submit reports to the Project Assurance team;

• Based on the ARR, prepare the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and Annual Plan of Activities and Procurement Plan for the project years;

• Monitors the implementation of project components, analyses problems that hamper their implementation and takes appropriate measures to ensure timely delivery of required inputs and achievement of project-wide results;

• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports, including proper utilization of funds and delivery, budget revisions, availability of funds, reconciliation of accounts, establishment of internal control mechanisms. Acts as a focal point to liaise with auditors and ensures follow-up actions. Ensures the accuracy and reliability of financial information and reporting;

• Monitors and facilitates advocacy and mass media outreach activities, writing of success stories, newspapers coverage, PR campaigns;

• Organize workshops, seminars and round tables to introduce project outputs to all stakeholders involved. Render support to related UNDP thematic activities such as publications, sharing of knowledge and group discussions;

• Undertake resource mobilization activities to be built on the project achievement that contribute to project scaling-up and replication

• In cooperation with the UNDP CO and national project experts, develop a suitable project exit strategy during the last year of the project;

• Ensure proper operational, financial and programmatic closure of the project;

• Prepare Annual Project Review Report and Final Project Review Reports to be 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;

• Prepare final CDR for signature by UNDP and the Implementing Partner;

• Perform other duties related to the scope of work of the PM as required.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team leader and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Informed and transparent decision making

Functional Competencies:

Communications and Networking

• Has excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
• Has excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the team through leadership and personal example;
• Actively mentoring project staff under her/his supervision;
• Leadership and Self-Management;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Competent in leading team and creating team spirit, stimulating team members to produce quality outputs in a timely and transparent fashion.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills.

Education:

• University Degree in Law, Public Policy, Social Sciences or other relevant area is required. 

Experience:

• Proven track of at least 3 years of analytical and research work experience or practical experience in project management in the field of Women empowerment and Gender Equality in governmental or non-governmental organizations is required.;
• Previous experience in international development organizations would be considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, Uzbek and Russian is required;

Others:

• Knowledge of and experience in gender mainstreaming;
• Experience in working and collaborating with governments and women empowerment, gender issues;
• Initiative and strong leadership skills;
• Result and client-orientations;
• Strong analytical, communication, writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and cross cultural communication skills, ability to work in a team and to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, ethics and honesty;
• Ability to use information and communication technology as a tool and resource.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC 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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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