Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Capitalizing on the achievements and lessons learned from the two previous phases, as well as taking into account the insights from extensive consultations conducted in 2024 and 2025 and the findings and recommendations of the MEG 2 final evaluation, the third phase of the MEG Project will consolidate and facilitate the successful completion and institutionalization of all project results. The overarching aim is to ensure that institutions at all levels are equipped, empowered, and prepared to assume full ownership of the Project's outputs, thereby guaranteeing sustainability, scalability, and continued impact well beyond the Project's lifecycle.

The overarching goal of the project is to advance the democratization of local governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, fostering more equitable, effective, and efficient public service delivery for citizens, with a particular focus on water supply and wastewater management services. By strengthening policy dialogue, regulatory frameworks, and governance reforms, the Project aims to enhance the sustainability, fairness, and effectiveness of essential local services. This will be achieved through two specific outcomes:

  • OUTCOME 1: Governments at all levels collaborate to institutionalize performance driven policies that strengthen accountability, inclusivity, and gender responsiveness in service delivery at the local level.
  • OUTCOME 2: Improved water sector policy and regulatory frameworks enable local governments to deliver inclusive, accountable, and high-quality water and wastewater services that benefit all citizens, including the most vulnerable at the local level.

The MEG 3 project is financed by the Governments of Switzerland and Sweden and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), within a 48 month period (March 2026 – February 2030). 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Effective Governance Sector Leader, the Project Manager will execute the duties and responsibilities outlined below in the following functional areas:

  • Effective coordination of project activities and successful implementation of project strategies 
  • Project management and supervision of the project team
  • Policy advice and technical guidance in the course of project implementation
  • Partnership and Advocacy 
  • Gender mainstreaming 

Effective coordination of project activities and successful implementation of project strategies: 

  • Provide overall coordination and take management responsibility for successful implementation of the project’s activities in line with AWP;
  • Coordinate project activities to deliver intended outputs and achieve desirable impact of the project applying programming tools and policies in line with the UN Results Based Management Approach;
  • Contribute to identification of relevant in-country stakeholders and convene regular meetings of the Project Board and other key consultations;
  • Contribute to identification and documentation of partnership opportunities with various stakeholders during implementation of the project activities;
  • Liaise with the local governments, relevant ministries, and other relevant institutions to collect, analyze and disseminate information relevant to the Project;
  • Ensure close collaboration, interaction, experience sharing and synergies with other similar EU-funded interventions/other UN agencies and donors with purpose to maximize the impact and the efficient use of resources;
  • Ensure that all project-related issues and risks are identified and reported in a timely manner and suggest corrective measures;
  • Ensure local governments provide co-financing to fulfil project results and objectives;
  • Provide direction and guidance to the consultants engaged and responsible parties where applicable;
  • Implement the Visibility strategy and communication plan in line with the visibility guidelines and donor requirements; 
  • Provide inputs for information exchange and lessons learned; 
  • Contribute towards creating opportunities for expansion of the regional project.

Project management and supervision of the project team:

  • Manage project implementation based on UNDP best practices;
  • Provide guidance and technical advice to project team and project counterparts;
  • Oversee the work of the team as well as other external consultants and contracted companies;
  • Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures ensuring full understanding of all aspects of the project;
  • Manage financial allocations and approve expenditures according to authority delegated and ensure timely payments in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
  • Monitor and analyses project progress using applicable monitoring & evaluation and risk management tools in cloud-based digital engagement platform – Quantum; 
  • Ensures the existence and implementation of successful quality assurance for the project’s financial, procurement and administrative processes to attain the project goals and desired impact in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations as well as in line with the project timelines;
  • Provide the Effective Governance Sector Leader and the Project Board with regular reports on all aspects of project’s progress;
  • Maintain regular coordination, information sharing, and generally foster excellent relationship with the donors;
  • Participate in UNDP programme-level committees and working groups;
  • Comply with security and safety requirements and regulations and ensure the same are respected by all project personnel. 

Policy advice and technical guidance in the course of project implementation:

  • Provide conceptual guidance and technical advice to the project team and projects counterparts;
  • Provide strategic leadership and steers the policy formulation processes within the projects in line with the project documents;
  • Guide the design and delivery of the technical assistance to local governments; 
  • Identify and synthetize best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to projects goals;
  • Ensure strategic synergies and coordination with other relevant interventions; 
  • Advise on issues of further projects’ development, proposal writing, project documents writing and resource mobilization as well as on strategic development.

Partnership and Advocacy:

  • Establish good working relations with relevant institutional and organisational partners at state, entity and local levels, as well as with main international organisations working in the domain of governance, civic society and other relevant area; 
  • Provide inputs in identification of linkages between the projects and other relevant UNDP and non-UNDP implemented interventions, in the country, or beyond, maximizing the efficient and effective use of resources;
  • Participate in UNDP programme-level committees and working groups, national and international forums, making substantive contributions as appropriate;
  • Assist management in preparing for high-level consultation meetings with donors and government authorities;
  • Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of Projects achievements.

Gender mainstreaming and knowledge management:

  • Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the projects’ activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
  • Ensure gender equality is mainstreamed throughout the project team, consultants and staff management activities;
  • Support local governments and CSOs to mainstream gender equality;
  • Ensure knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in programme knowledge management activities and products.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will report to the Effective Governance Sector Leader.

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact .
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems .
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands .
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies 

Business Direction & Strategy    

  • System Thinking:    
    • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development    

  • Knowledge Facilitation:    
    • Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. 

Business Management    

  • Project Management:    
    • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • Communication:    
    • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
    • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. 
  • Results-based Management:    
    • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 
    • Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Partnership management    

  • Resource mobilization:    
    • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
  • Relationship management:    
    • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Law, Public Administration, Social sciences or related field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.   

Experience:

  • Minimum five years (with Master’s degree) or seven years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in the areas of civil society, local governance in BiH and development of civil society.

Required Skills:

  • Experience in direct management of programme/project of similar size and scope. 
  • Previous experience in partnering with governmental institutions at state/entity/local levels concerning water supply and wastewater management services. 

Desired skills:

  • Proven experience in water services management and public policies reform activities in cooperation with national partners and institutions.
  • Experience in cooperation with relevant professional associations, non-government organisations and other non-government actors.
  • Experience in coordinating the design of key infrastructure interventions at local level to improve overall quality of public services.
  • Proven ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks in highly organized manner with strong analytical and research skills.
  • Knowledge and experience in implementation, coordination and policy advice relevant to gender mainstreaming in public sector institutions.
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Previous good experience in working for UNDP. 

Required Languages:

  • Excellent writing, and verbal communication skills in English and any official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian)  is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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