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Technical Project Advisor (Liberia)

Liberia

  • Organization: UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization
  • Location: Liberia
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Technical Co-operation
  • Closing Date: Closed

Female candidates from all Member States are particularly encouraged to apply.

VACANCY  ANNOUNCEMENT TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

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 of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, 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 in the next fifteen years. 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 in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions. 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 Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Directorate of Programme Development and Technical Cooperation (PTC) is responsible and accountable for providing technical cooperation services to enhance the capabilities of developing countries and economies in transition to promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID). The Department of Agri-Business (PTC/AGR) provides a range of technical cooperation services to assist developing countries add value to the output of their agricultural sector and generate employment opportunities in off-farm activities for rural communities, thereby contributing to increased food security and a sustainable reduction of poverty. The conceptual framework is that of agri-business value chains: comprehensive analyses offer a rigorous base for the deployment of specialized services targeting the weaker links of the chain: agricultural mechanization, modern processing technologies, packaging of perishable products, the promotion of food safety in the processing and regulatory environment; and interventions to improve competitiveness and productivity. The Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security Division (PTC/AGR/RJH) provides technical cooperation services to improve livelihoods in rural communities through productive activities. The focus is on business activities among socially and economically marginalized people, including in particular women and youth, in the farm and non-farm sectors including the creative industries. Both entrepreneurial and technical human capacities are strengthened and matched with opportunities to produce new and improved marketable products. Knowledge and technology introduced in the rural communities match the absorptive and innovative capabilities of the poor and vulnerable segments of the rural society. The Division fosters the development of an entrepreneurship culture from the grass-root level. It supports local and national institutions set up to provide rural communities with technical and entrepreneurial capacities and contributes to the incubation and development of self-reliant economic activities in rural areas. It strives to integrate vulnerable people in rural areas in local and global value chains. Finally, the Division contributes to human security in countries affected by man-made and natural disasters by helping restore livelihoods and build resilience amongst vulnerable communities. In doing so, it helps stabilize populations and curb rural-to-urban as well as cross-border migrations.

PROJECT CONTEXT: During the civil crisis in Liberia between 1989 and 2003, tens of thousands of Liberians fled their country. After the ceasefire agreement in 2003, a significant number of displaced Liberians chose to repatriate and reconstruct their livelihood in their homeland. While Liberia was in the process of recovery, Ebola broke out and seriously affected the socio-economic life of the Country and its people and puts a tremendous burden on the Liberian government. Ebola led to the withdrawal of investors, resulting in a reduction of revenue and budget shortfall. The annual GDP growth rate was estimated at 8.7% in 2013 and projected at 6% for 2014, before dropping to less than 1% in 2015. While the World Bank observes a decrease in Liberia’s GDP by 1.6% in 2016, it establishes a 2.5% growth for 2017 and 3.0% growth for 2018 . According to the recent update of economic review by the World Bank, the initial recovery is driven largely by increased production of gold and iron ore, following the small increase in the prices of gold and iron ore on the international market. Non-mining sector GDP growth remains very low. Agricultural sector growth remains subtle due to weak recovery in global prices of rubber and palm oil. Headline inflation continued to rise in 2018. This is largely due to a sharp drop in foreign exchange supply (30% following the drop in the exports and donor inflows), in the face of relatively rigid demand for U.S. dollars and rising global oil prices. The inflationary impact of Liberian Dollars (LD) depreciation is magnified in the context of highly dollarized Liberian economy. Consequently, many vulnerable people have lost their jobs and their livelihoods have been disrupted, and this scenario is particularly dire in the rural communities where development is slower to reach. According to UNDP Human Development Index, Liberia’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.435-which puts the Country in the low human development category positioning it at 181 out of 189 Countries, a drop in 4 positions from the 2015 rank. Liberia’s 2018 HDI of 0.435 is below the average of 0.504 for countries in the low human development group and below the average of 0.537 for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa . According to the World Bank, in 2016, 50.9% of Liberians lived below the national poverty line, meaning that more than 2.2 million Liberians were unable to meet their basic food and non-food needs . Employment is still a major challenge. According to the Liberia 2010 Labor Force Survey, the unemployment rate is 3.7%, however, the level of vulnerable employment is at nearly 80%, which is twice as high for young people between ages of 15 and 35 than the other age groups. Young people between 15 and 35 years make up 53% of the workforce and constitute 58% of the unemployed . The high unemployment rate of youth may be attributed to, among other factors, the lack of sufficient jobs to absorb the entire youth population; the lack of formal education for thousands; the lack of skills for jobs currently available; and inadequate training for available high demand jobs including technicians in heavy machinery, mining and electrical wiring. According to ILO, more than half of the workforce of the population of 15 years and older are illiterate. This disqualifies thousands of youth from the few available salary positions in the banking, private and public sectors. Liberia has so far attracted over USD$16 billion in foreign direct investment and has allocated approximately half of its land mass to mining (e.g. iron ore and gold), rubber, oil palm and forestry concessions of transnational corporations (TNCs). These operate alongside an informal sector of micro and small enterprises and the rural subsistence agricultural sector that employs the majority of the population. This massive inflow of foreign investment creates thousands of jobs annually, but these jobs are unavailable to unskilled and semi-skilled workers. The contribution of the mining and quarrying sectors to Liberia’s GDP was 14% in 2015; however, the sector only employs around 2% of the total workforce . According to the past experiences of Liberia, youth has difficulties in taking advantage of the foreign investment in the traditional export sectors (rubber, palm oil, forestry and mining), due to the lack of training opportunities and hard skills they are ineligible for the existing job opportunities. Collaborating with TNCs, the proposed project aims to contribute to developing the private sector in particular, both upstream and downstream of the value chains of wood industry. The creation and expansion of businesses that can be developed into partnerships (supplies, clients and service providers) with the TNCs will not only create a robust local economy, but also expects to reduce operational costs in Liberia, which would make the Liberian products and services more competitive locally and internationally. TNCs have not been able to engage with the communities who lack the required skills for employment. Importantly, communication between the TNCs and communities in the respective concessions is a major hurdle to achieving a mutually benefitting relationship. UNIDO has supported the wood industry and its value chain through a series of interventions around concessions. The fact that over 80% of Liberia’s youth is unable to find a secure employment creates a security risk that is aggravated by the unfavourable regional trend of youth employment that may lead to violence. Hence, building marketable skills and know-how among youth for the creation of livelihood and job opportunities must be urgently addressed in order to develop productive as well as labour-intensive industries with high potential for growth and subsequent promotion of social stabilization in the country and its communities. Youth unemployment has been a major cause of interpersonal violence and organized crimes in the country, particularly in concession project affected communities (PACs) of the TNCs. Liberia has large rubber plantations, both in concession areas and on land privately owned by Liberian business people. Many of these plantations contain overgrown rubber trees that are no longer able to produce rubber (latex). These plantations require replanting, which is an expensive effort particularly for small plantations. Rubber trees can be used to produce rubber wood and become an important commodity for the Liberian economy. Production of rubber wood entails a high investment cost due to the necessary equipment and consumables that cannot be found locally in Liberia. However, at present there are two large producers of rubber wood operating in Margibi County. Additionally, a Chinese company is currently investing in a new rubber wood production plant. Rubber wood has significant economic and environmental potential in Liberia as it is both a labor-intensive and environmentally responsible product. As such, it can create jobs while reducing the current rate of deforestation of the Liberian rainforest. The Pillar 1 of the Liberian Government’s 5-year development plan, “Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development,” focuses on the empowerment of Liberians with the tools to gain control of their lives through more equitable provision of opportunities in education, health, youth development and social protection. Through the implementation of this development plan, the Government of Liberia aspires to expand technical vocational education and training for youth, in order to build their entrepreneurial and marketable skillsets for job readiness. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has stated that the Government of Liberia will focus on furniture as one of its key priorities areas, since the sector has high potential to generate employment opportunities for young people. As such, the government will look to partners to assist in providing technical assistance including skills training and proper machineries for production and finishing in order to benefit from the Government’s efforts to enforce Part IV, Section 3.1.c of the Small Business Empowerment Act that ensures that at least 25% of all public procurement contracts in goods, services and furniture are allocated and provided to Liberian-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). In addition to enforcing this Act, the Government will work with the Liberia Carpentry Union, with membership of 12,550 across the Country to establish warehouses and showrooms for furniture producers to allow them to showcase and store works as well as develop large-scale manufacturing . UNIDO’s assessment of the local wood industry, conducted in May 2017, identified that low investment capacity and the low quality of products made by the local carpenters were a major constraint in their capacity to access the market and the Small Business Empowerment Act. Difficulties in accessing quality raw materials and limited technical know-how are the major underlying factors for the low quality of products. With the support of the Government of Japan, UNIDO conducted two projects in 2017 and 2018, targeting unemployed youth with absolutely no skills from Margibi, Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties. The projects introduced rubber wood as a new material for wood processing products as well as technological solutions adjusted to the local reality. During the training conducted in the projects, the participants gained technical know-how and were given access to processed rubber wood, which can improve the quality of their products and make them more competitive as carpenters. As of today, more than 450 beneficiaries of these two projects are making contributions to their communities. Some of the beneficiaries have got a job or have established wood and furniture production groups by themselves, while the others are currently seeking advanced trainings. The project aims to promote the social stabilization by creating jobs and livelihoods for the vulnerable people and communities with a particular focus on youth in Nimba County by providing technical and vocational training in close coordination with the TNCs. Nimba County is the largest county with a population of second to Montserrado County, and there the largest extractive TNC, ArcelorMittal, is operating and planning to expand their operations. Through this intervention, the proposed project expects to contribute to easing the tension between the TNCs and communities, as well as to empowering the existing superior educational institution, Nimba County Community College (NCCC), to train the youth to generate their livelihood in partnership with Brooker Washington Institute (BWI). In addition, the Nimba local government authorities and NCCC, as well as ArcelorMittal have expressed a strong interest in the development of the wood industry as they are familiar with UNIDO previous interventions to provide vulnerable people with alternative livelihoods in their concession project affected communities (PACs). Duty station: Monrovia, Liberia, with mission(s) to be authorized separately Duration: EOD: 01 April 2019, COB: 31 March 2020 (with possibility of extension)

Main Functions

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager (PM) in the Rural Entrepreneurship Development, Job Creation and Human Security Division, Department of Agri-Business, as well as in close coordination with the Project Management Team in UNIDO HQ in Vienna, UNIDO Ghana Country Office in Accra, Ghana, as well as the relevant government ministries and agencies, donors, Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) and other key stakeholders, the Technical Project Adviser (TPA) will head the project implementation team and is responsible for the day to-day project management and implementation. More specifically, the TPA will carry out the following duties: Project Management and Coordination 1. Prepare an annual work plan and a Plan of Operation as per the log frame in the project document including monitoring tools. 2. Obtain the endorsement from the Ministry of Commerce Industry (MOCI) on the work plan. 3. Prepare the TOR of an Inception Mission, conduct the Inception Mission, and prepare a report of the Inception Mission 4. Conduct a baseline survey to collect baseline data for a regular monitoring and a terminal self-evaluation. 5. Conduct regular monitoring activities as per timeline, compile required information in a report and provide feedback and recommendation as per monitoring results. 6. Identify project partners as per planned modalities (training institutions, subcontractors, service providers, etc.) to implement project activities. 7. Prepare job descriptions of short-term national and international consultants and assist the PM with their identification and selection. 8. Manage and supervise national and international consultants in the fields and collaborating institutions. Monitor their work as well as ensure satisfactory outputs are delivered as per JDs, TORs, work plans and other agreements. 9. Prepare terms of reference (TOR) of subcontractor(s) and initiate procurement; monitor the implementation of subcontracts, provide assistance as required and ensure the satisfactory outputs are delivered as per the TORs. 10. Hold coordination meetings with the MoCI and other relevant governmental agencies. 11. Hold joint and individual coordination meetings with partner TNCs and send minutes of meetings to the PM. 12. Establish a steering committee and regularly hold steering committee meetings, and send minutes of meetings to the PM. 13. Regularly update and consult the PM on the field coordination and implementation of the project in accordance to the log frame. 14. Regularly update the Embassy of Japan to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone on the field coordination and implementation of the project in accordance to the log frame. 15. Regularly update the UNIDO Field Office in Ghana on the field coordination and implementation of the project in accordance to the log frame. 16. Ensure that international community, the private sector organizations and businesses are abreast with the status of the project, nurture partnerships, create synergies and explore additional fund mobilization for upscaling of the project. 17. Strategize and implement visibility activities for the project in close coordination with the donor, the government counterpart, subcontractors, and media as well as the Project Management Team at the HQs. 18. Assist the Evaluation Expert in preparing and conducting a terminal self-evaluation. 19. Prepare and submit a Progress Report of the project to the PM. 20. Prepare and submit a Terminal Report of the project to the PM. 21. Prepare and submit an End-of-assignment report to the PM. Project Finance and Administrative Management 1. Initiate request for funds; ensure that finances are available for planned project activities. 2. Update budget plans and propose budget revisions when needed. 3. Approve all project disbursements and expenditures in accordance with financial request to HQ and in accordance with UNIDO regulations. Ensure the proper liquidation of all operational advances. 4. Ensure all the UNIDO properties are kept in the best conditions and safeguarded all the time and the record of project properties is always updated. 5. Ensure that procurement and activities are conducted and documented in a timely matter and according to UNIDO guidelines. Others 1. Regularly participate in the donor and government coordination meetings, report on the government policies and donor priorities that relevant to the operations of UNIDO and AGR in particular to the UNIDO Field Office in Ghana and the PM. 2. Develop pipeline projects and assist the PM with the resource mobilization. 3. Perform any other duties as required by the PM.

Core Competencies

INTEGRITY: To work honestly, openly, impartially and in accordance with the values of the United Nations. PROFESSIONALISM: To work in a competent, committed and calm manner. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY: To work effectively, respectfully and inclusively with people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. RESULTS ORIENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: To be accountable and responsible for achieving results and meeting performance standards. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: To plan, organize and manage work effectively and efficiently. COMMUNICATION AND TRUST: To communicate effectively and build trust. TEAM ORIENTATION: To cooperate at various levels. CLIENT ORIENTATION: To be responsive towards those to whom services are provided internally and externally. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION: To realize continuous improvement, support innovation, share knowledge and skills and learn from others.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree in engineering, development economics, agri-business, international development, business management or other relevant social and political science disciplines.

Languages

Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.

Computer Skills

Field of Expertise

A minimum of 5 years practical of progressively responsible experience in the field of public-private partnership, entrepreneurship skills development, and/or training and capacity building including experience in developing countries and/or countries in transition. Working experience in technical assistance and project management on the ground is a must. Previous working experience for UNIDO is preferred. Sound computer proficiency is essential. Knowledge of human security approach is desirable. Working experience in Africa is desirable.

<strong>This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal. </strong>

This vacancy is now closed.
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