Project Officer - SDP

UNDP operates in more than 170 countries and territories around the world. UNDP offers global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations that can withstand crisis, and that drive and sustain growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.

In Botswana, the role of UNDP is shaped by the status of the country as an upper middle-income country. UNDP has been collaborating with the Government, civil society and the private sector to develop solutions to meet global and national development challenges. UNDP’s approach has been to develop and sustain strategic partnerships that find innovative solutions to address gaps on both the demand and supply side of development processes.

Botswana has reached a relatively high level of infrastructure development, is well-resourced and able to fund most of its developmental needs. However, Botswana requires best practices, high-quality policy advice on how best to respond to challenges associated with its middle-income status, including widening inequalities and disparities, persistent poverty among population groups, and climate change and natural disaster risks.

In support of its development mandate, UNDP Botswana has partnered with government of Botswana and private sector to implement the Supplier Development Programme (SDP). The project aims to create demand-based, market-driven opportunities for SMEs to increase their competitiveness through the innovative Suppliers Development Methodology while connecting essential small-scale producers/suppliers to larger markets locally as well as abroad. Additionally, it will strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in country to encourage innovation and create employment.

As a tool, the SDP has a targeted approach to engage large scale companies purchasing (or willing to purchase) goods and services from SMEs.  The SDP focuses on integrating suppliers into a strategic relationship that allows them to improve their productivity, competitiveness, and quality of products. The SMEs will go through a rigorous six stage improvement process over a period of 12 months with close involvement of the lead/anchor company. The improvements brought about in these SMEs will enable them to produce/manufacture more goods in better quality, less time and low costs; enhance their capacity to explore and enter new markets including export markets. This important linkage between large sourcing companies and their small suppliers’ remains central to the assistance, helping the SME’s to expand and generate employment opportunities. The project will focus on five (5) priority sectors of Mining, Agro Processing, Leather, Projects (infrastructure), and Textile to develop the associated value chains. This project is a component of the larger programme called “Support to Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth Project” signed with the Ministry of Investment and Trade (MITI.)

Role Summary:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager of the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), the  Project Officer provides  daily support to  ensure that the  business consultants engaged in the SDP programme are effectively managed and  engaging with  their Suppliers and Buyers to achieve the  agreed deliverables .The Project Officer works in close collaboration with the Operations and Programme staff in the Country Office (CO) to ensure consistent service delivery.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Provide daily management and support to the SDP business consultants
• Support the existing partnerships between the Buyers & Suppliers on the programme
• Provide high level technical support to SDP Project Manager in the overall management of the SDP programme 
• Provide  technical support to the visibility of the SDP programme
•  

1.  Provide daily management and support to the SDP business consultants, through the following activities:

• Support in the effective management of the SDP business consultants to ensure that set reporting deliverables, per respective contracts, are met
• Review and provide  technical  feedback on consultants’ reports
• Upload, review  and collate relevant project information on the programme value chains
• Prepare regular progress status reports   on the work  done by the consultants
• Prepare for, participate in and take minutes, of regular  townhall SDP Consultants’ meetings
• Proactively respond to consultants’ requests to ensure they carry out their work effectively both for technical and welfare issues
• Effectively manage  any human resource issues that may emerge

2. Support the existing partnerships between the Buyers & Suppliers  on the Programme through the following activities:

•  Prepare for, participate in and take minutes, of  regular townhall meetings with Buyers, Suppliers and  relevant stakeholders
• Prepare for, participate in and take minutes, of regular  site visit meetings with representatives of the programme  value chains
• Prepare any other progress reports on the programme value chains as required by the project manager

3. Provide high level technical support to SDP Project Manager in the overall management of the SDP programme  through the following activities:

• Preparation of key documents such as materials for project board meetings, visits to the programme value chains   as required
• Ensure that  procurement and financial processes for the SDP are in accordance with UNDP project reporting requirements
• Ensure that the SDP budget is maintained accordingly and prepare regular budget status reports for the project manager’s attention
• Any other tasks as may be required by the SDP project manager

4. Provide  technical support to the visibility of the SDP programme through the following activities:

• Provide support to ensure  SDP is properly branded and marketed
• Prepare relevant content / information for publicity purposes of the SDP for both internal media (UNDP newsletter / website, SDP website) and external media (print, electronic)
• Perform any other duties to support the SDP outreach and PR activities

Impact Of Results

The key results have an impact on the accurate, safe and timely execution of the UNDP Botswana SDP Project. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP’s position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision-making of the Project Team, and UNDP Management.

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise

• Business development
• Programme publicity, lobbying and advocacy
• Innovative thinker and doer
• ICT savvy demonstrated in reporting and programme management processes
• Multi tasker with ability to perform various functions at the same time without compromising on expected results
• Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported;
• Ability to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify and resolve operational problems;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents;
• Excellent report writing skills;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Excellent communication skills.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on project results and responds positively to feedback;
• Ability to achieve results and meet strict deadlines in an effective manner, maintaining a high-quality standard throughout;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for UNDP’s strategic initiatives;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Builds staff competences, creating an environment for creativity and innovation;
• Builds and promotes effective and emotionally intelligent teams;
• Adapts easily to rapidly changing, multiple pressing demand work context;
• Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;
• Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Fair and transparent decision making and calculated risk-taking, and;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Education:

Minimum:  Commercial degree or Equivalent e.g Business Administration, Commerce etc. Additional post-graduation qualifications, an advantage 

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level is required.

 The following knowledge and experience would be an advantage:

• Business management
• Working with value chains
• Working in the private sector
• Branding and marketing
•  Strong ability to write reports
• Human resources management
• Event management

Language Requirements : Fluenecy in English and the local language required.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply. The selection process will be fair and transparent.