UN Cluster Coordinator

UNOPS

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

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.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 
UNOPS Thailand Operational Hub (THOH)

UNOPS Thailand Operations Hub (THOH) is under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office and was established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific.

Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the Hub comprises three main offices – THOH Thailand, THOH Indonesia and THOH Pacific Operations Cluster and the Hub's current portfolio spans HR transactional services, financial management services, procurement services and project implementation services currently being provided to a wide range of other UN entities, INGOs and Governments/Government agencies in South East Asia and the Pacific.

SECO Myanmar

The project is providing trust fund management services to the UN Trade Cluster Programme for the Union of Myanmar with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It consists in a long-run engagement of Switzerland. Developed within the overall Delivering as One (DaO) process in Myanmar and related United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2018 -2022), the project aims at nurturing the right synergies with existing mechanisms such as the Aid for Trade (AfT) -Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) machinery. The project is based on the "UN Trade Cluster" configuration encompassing four implementing agencies (UNIDO, ITC, UNCTAD and the ILO). UNCTAD is the lead agency of the joint programme with overall joint-programme coordination and supervision tasks carried-out jointly with the UN Cluster Coordinator. UNOPS is the trust fund manager of the project: it ensures the financial coordination to manage the trust fund on behalf of the SECO.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Coordinator will work under the overall guidance and supervision of UNOPS, and the direct guidance and supervision of the SECO-UN Trade Cluster agencies, i.e. primarily with UNCTAD as lead agency of the joint-programme with overall coordination tasks and with each participating agency, namely the ILO, UNIDO and the ITC.

The Coordinator will also work in close coordination with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Myanmar to ensure that the SECO funded project is well embedded in the overall DaO process in Myanmar. In that context, he/she will make sure that the project leads to an effective integrated approach and enhanced impact at the country level with increased value-added supported by four principles, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and relevance. Within the DaO process, the Coordinator will look at all possible additional funding. Within the AfT- EIF machinery, he/she will particularly look at additional EIF contributions to the project. Finally, with regards to the national partners, the Coordinator will work in close cooperation with the Myanmar Government and all other relevant public and private stakeholders at state (Shan) and national level.

• Promote and support value chain development in horticulture and tourism with a view of enabling local value chains for export-readiness, this should include the promotion of a market systems approach to value chain development poverty reduction, responsible tourism, organic production, social inclusiveness, women’s economic empowerment,  environmental protection, public/private sectors partnership, interagency coordination, and national ownership as the SECO and UN overarching values guiding this project
• Be responsible for managing and coordinating all stages of the Cluster Programme in Myanmar (i.e. review and finalization of the Programme together with the main stakeholders, implementation and monitoring) and ensure along the preparation of detailed and regularly updated Annual Work Plans its overall quality and coherence, specifically driving a programme that is adapted to local market needs and based on market system analysis. This should be done in close cooperation with the UN Trade Cluster’ agencies, Project Management Board and by leading the Project Management Unit;
• Ensure smooth interagency coordination by setting up a system of knowledge sharing and management as well as a work-plan and meeting schedule for the involved agencies and their experts and joint communication.
• Coordinate inputs from the implementing entities, work in close cooperation and maintain regular contacts with them with headquarters and field project officers or offices, and facilitate the work of the agencies and their technical experts in the country, on a regular basis and in particular in cooperation with the Project Management Board.
• Lead the Project Management Unit by providing information and suggestions to the implementing entities, and particularly by identifying possible joint activities, facilitating joint TOR for these activities and the involved experts, therefore contributing to their coherent and well-sequenced work without interfering with their expertise and their own internal processes.
• Assist and advice, as required, the national and State’s authorities in selecting the national officer’s members of the Project Management Board, and support or launch initiatives aimed at enhancing the technical capacity of relevant Ministries. Keep the state Government and the respective national line Ministries and their representations in Shan state informed about the project implementation.
• Work in close cooperation and coordination with the AfT-EIF National Project National Implementation Unit and Government/Donors Steering Committee led by the Ministry of Commerce.
• Ensure the project’s progress and implementation plan is updated and reflected in the Myanmar UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2018-2022), provide advice to participating UN agencies on this, and cooperate with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in this regard.

• Prepare and regularly update Result Measurement Plans and Monitoring reports for the project to effectively monitor results; provide recommendations and lessons learnt to enhance the delivery for subsequent Annual Work Plans;
• Closely monitor the implementation of the activities, identify problems and deficiencies, and initiate and propose corrective actions when necessary in close consultation with UNCTAD, joint programme lead agency and all the UN Cluster participating agencies;
• Carry out missions to the targeted areas in the context of the implementation of the Programme;
• Support and coordinate external Result Oriented Monitoring missions;
• Co-chair the Project Management Board and participate in the SECO-UN Global Management Board meetings, prepare relevant inputs as required and ensure appropriate follow-up to relevant decisions;
• Prepare monitoring, financial (UN agency expenditure level) and progress reports, bi-annual and annual reports for the SECO-UN Global Management Board, and for the Ministry of Commerce / EIF-Aid for Trade Steering Committee, as required.
• Develop and facilitate a monthly public-private dialogue roundtable on tourism in Shan state, involving all public and private sector stakeholders.

• Develop an overall framework that guides knowledge management for this project;
• Manage the development of a webpage Develop for the project to facilitate sharing and exchange of information, and facilitate the dissemination on the project’s goals and activities among interested national and international audiences;
• Collect and disseminate relevant data that is useful for the project’s stakeholders.

• To ensure a regular transfer of skills to the national counterparts in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Coordinator will plan and oversee the implementation of a training plan for key Ministry officials as well as participate in and instigate ad hoc training on project specific and project management related methodologies.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The incumbent will primarily report to the UN Cluster agencies on their respective components and then to the Head of the SECO-UNCTAD Global Management Board for substantive supervision and the Senior Portfolio Manager, HRSC, UNOPS for administration

• Strategic thinking and coordination, organization skills;
• Strong leadership and management skills;
• Building alliances/partnerships skills;
• Substantive knowledge of political, social and economic development issues of the Region;
• Capacity to promote knowledge sharing and familiar with Results-based Management (RBM).

• 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.