Project Coordinator - Efficient and Accountable Local Governance (EALG)

Under the overall guidance of the National Project Director (NPD) and direct supervision of Portfolio Manager of Democratic Governance Cluster as well as in close coordination with Local Government Division (LGD), the National Project Coordinator will be responsible for strategically leading the project implementation, generating expected outputs and outcomes in line with the approved Project Document; and to provide overall strategic management support to the project through coordinating technical activities. S/he will be reportable to Head of UNDP Governance Cluster. The specific duties and responsibilities include:

Result-based Project Implementation and Management:
 

• Ensure, in cooperation with the NPD, high level technical effectiveness of activity implementation and achievement of project outputs and outcomes;
• Lead and facilitate the preparation and implementation of the annual results-based work plans and result frameworks in close consultation with the Components, national/international experts and relevant UNDP cluster.
• Monitor, supervise and facilitate the day-to-day functioning of the key professionals and project team;
• Manage the human and financial resources, in consultation with the UNDP, for achieving results in line with the outputs and activities outlined in the project document;
• Provide strategic leadership and managerial support to the project for ensuring successful implementation and possible replication;
• Provide high level technical inputs and insights to other related projects within UNDP and outside agencies for possible collaboration;
• Plan, guide, mentor and ensure proper development and implementation of national advocacy strategy, M & E Plan and policy advocacy for longer-term sustainability and policy influence for improved local governance;
• Extend technical inputs and backup supports to UNDP CO for showcasing the project for further possible resource mobilization;
• Establish and maintain continuous strategic relationship with various government institutions e.g. LGD, IMED, ERD, Planning Commission, IMED Wing and Planning Cell of LGD;
• Prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports and organize, corresponding monthly and quarterly progress reviews, taking input from CO technical experts and other technical project staff;
• Liaise effectively with senior level functionaries of government, donor and other stakeholders for possible replication of the success stories;
• Organize meetings of the Steering Committee and support the Local Government Division (LGD) in the organization of the Project Implementation Committee meetings;
• Carry on the policy advocacy for mainstreaming of the pilot/ learning of project within the LGD;
• Coordinate the work of the entire project and provide policy advisory services; Coordinate the distribution of responsibilities amongst team members and organize monitoring and tracking system of all components of the project.

Research, Learning and Knowledge Management:
 

• Lead and guide the project team for capturing best practices from the fields and document the lessons learning as well as community satisfactions through survey/ research and studies;
• Pursue EALG Project performance as a successful and innovative case for promoting a unique experience in the UNDP regional office through continuous capturing of learning and documentation.
• In this context, build partnership with relevant practitioners, academics and civil society organizations including think tanks;
• Provide strategic and technical inputs to CO for facilitating the South-South Cooperation through sharing learning from EALG project.
• Assist NPD and train staff in documentation of best/good practices, lessons learned and in ensuring the mechanisms for up-scaling programme achievements from downstream pilot interventions;
• Organize internal and external networks or communities of practice covering prominent experts in government, non-government, think tanks, private companies, international development organizations and the UN system;
• Develop and apply the web-based MIS System for real time monitoring and supervision by pertinent stakeholders;
• Record key competencies available in different government agencies and development organizations for exploring possible collaboration;

Evidence-based Policy and Reforms:
 

• Undertake study and participatory researches for creating evidence base in initiating policy advocacy and reform process;
• Ensure highest UNDP standards in the provision of technical and advisory inputs, organization of workshops, seminars, training and delivery of outputs (products);
• Ensure consistent documentation of the development issues, concerns covering the situation and related strategic scopes and opportunities in the form of reports, monographs etc.
• Identify opportunities to enhance team-work within LGD and field administration, line departments, etc.;
• Work closely with UNDP to ensure that the programme is achieving expected outcomes, progress and milestones are managed and completed;
• Ensure programme outputs are aligned procedurally with UNDP corporate strategy, UNDAF, CPD and practice area development goals;
• The National Project Coordinator will also provide inputs and services as may be required by the Management of the Project and UNDP with the objective of achieving high level of project performance and results;
• Activate Policy Advisory Group (PAG) to provide policy support to LGIs for improved governance.

Mainstreaming and Resources Mobilization:
 

• Identify possible areas of collaboration with other LGD projects for wider collaboration and learning improving local governance and service delivery;
• The National Project Coordinator will ensure thoughtful and efficient guidance and inputs as required by Management aiming to achieve the high-level results-based outcomes for eventual mainstreaming;
• Assist the UNDP CO in further resource mobilization through developing a business case model pulling the lessons learnt from the project for wider demonstration through assisting CO in further resource mobilization;
• Lead the project for having larger coverage in terms of public education, social sensitization and awareness raising through using innovative and alternative avenues of media including various forms of social media, facilitating strategic partnerships with the press, educational institutions, capacity building related other projects/interventions, media, etc.;
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reporting;
• Ensure successful coordination with multiple and multi-level stakeholders for facilitating broader network, strategic alliance building and mainstreaming;

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards; 
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;  
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; 
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies

Management and Leadership:

• Demonstrates effective project management skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback, timely responses to queries;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Provides strategic leadership and managerial support to the project for ensuring successful implementation and possible scaling up;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates results-oriented approach to work;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines;
• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrated ability to function at both policy advisory and project implementation level;
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary developmental issues, adaptability and ability to treat all people fairly;
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision, adapted to changing external environment.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:
 

• Ability to engage with high ranking UNDP Advisors, Experts, Managers, Government Officials and international donor community and provide policy advisory support services;
• Ability to plan and strategize and manage the scaling up the project to a national level;
• Ability to identify opportunities, conceptualize and develop project reports;
• Ability to analyze situations and act accordingly;
• Ability to effectively support in strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to formulate and manage training programmes and design relevant training materials;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change;

Knowledge Management and Learning:
 

• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through personal example: Excellent knowledge of capacity building theory and the application of methodology: good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies;
• Excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities, ability to get capacity built, excellent ability to demonstrate national capacities built (mastery of the tools and their application);
• Display understanding of the relevant contemporary ICT tools and continuously act towards personal capacity building;
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral): sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff,

Professional Competencies
 

• Strong background in some of the following technical areas; local governance, governance, human rights and project management 
• Ability to take initiative in complex emergency situations that takes advantage of windows of opportunity with communities and governments so as to rapidly implement programs that would otherwise be missed opportunities; 
• Solid knowledge in contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology; 
• Prior experience of Project Manager; 

Professional Competencies

• Strong background in some of the following technical areas; local governance, governance, human rights and project management 
• Ability to take initiative in complex emergency situations that takes advantage of windows of opportunity with communities and governments so as to rapidly implement programs that would otherwise be missed opportunities; 
• Solid knowledge in contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology; 
• Prior experience of Project Manager; 
• Knowledge Management and Learning;
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;  
• Knowledge on development issues; 
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Behavioural Competencies

• Good interpersonal skills;
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships to facilitate work goals;
• Demonstrable capacity to build knowledge through using various sources;
• Exhibit strong teamwork skills in a complex environment;
• Ability to promote learning environment, human rights and gender friendly work environment;
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a multicultural environment including the training and development of national colleagues.