Project Analyst (NPSA9)

On August 2, 2017, Republic Act No. 10929 otherwise known as the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act of 2017 was enacted. This mandated the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as the lead implementing agency to oversee the effective and efficient implementation of said Act. The Free Public Internet Access Program was then created to address the digital divide in the Philippines by providing free access to internet service in public places throughout the country such as the national and local government offices; public basic education institutions; higher education institutions, and TESDA technology institutions; public hospitals, health centers and rural health units; public parks, plazas, libraries, and barangay reading centers; public airports and seaports; and public transport terminals.

Working closely with the DICT, UNDP have supported the provision of free public internet services in select sites through the DICT-UNDP Free Wi-Fi for All Project as part of the National Program on Free Public Internet Access. The DICT-UNDP Free Wi-Fi for All Project originally planned to reach 100,000 sites by 2022 but is now being redesigned to fit the new national context and DICT priorities.

The Connectivity, Capability, and Resiliency through Free Wi-Fi for All (CoRe FW4A) Project, as amended by DICT and UNDP, aims to address the issue of limited free public Wi-Fi internet accessibility among women and men in public places and in government offices. Responding to this problem will supplement learning and help augment the government's disaster preparedness and response, and healthcare services.

The Project Analyst shall have the following main functions:

• Ensure day-to-day strategic support to Project Coordinator in management of the project, including the financial and administrative management for the delivery of the project’s activities
• Support to development of strategic designs, work plans and project reports; and
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships and coordination with key counterparts to ensure the strategic positioning of DICT and UNDP.

Ensure day-to-day strategic and technical support to Project Coordinator in management of the project, including the financial and administrative management for the delivery of the project’s activities focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure the effective, efficient and timely implementation of project workplan;
• Ensure delivery of outputs and contribution to outcomes through an effective implementation plan and close coordination with DICT and UNDP management and technical teams;
• Draft terms of references and provide technical support to procurement and contract management;
• Provide technical support in overseeing internet network design, planning, implementation and monitoring;
• Provide technical assistance, support capacity building of key partners and their coordination for effective implementation of the project;
• Ensures gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, researches, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
• Monitor and quality assure the partners and contractor’s outputs, i.e. deployment of equipment and activation of internet, among others, through field visits, analysis of reports and dashboards;
• Support in monitoring project disbursements with the DICT and UNDP financial guidelines as reference; and
•  Identify and synthesize good practices, challenges, and lessons learnt, and suggest possible solutions and timely advice to the Project Coordinator.

Support to development of strategic designs, work plans and project reports focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support in technology appraisal and modelling, area-based assessment, and identification of most appropriate technology and innovations to reach the project beneficiaries;
• Preparation and updating, if necessary, of the project document, detailed annual work plan, procurement and M&E plan, and transition of implementation modality;
• Work closely with Team Members/M&E Officer to ensure that Monitoring and Evaluation data are delivered in a timely manner and in an appropriate format;
• Oversee the contribution to weekly, bi-monthly, quarterly, mid-year, annual and any other reporting;
• Contribute to the identification of risks and issues and updating of risk logs in ATLAS;
• Oversee national partner reporting, as relevant, and where necessary help them to improve in line with UNDP and project reporting standards;
• Provide timely inputs to donor reports on implementation, the achievement of outputs as well as contribute to reporting on progress towards outcomes and impact
• Promote information sharing and coordination with other components and UNDP projects;
• Draft briefing notes and progress and technical reports and presentations for the Project Board, and as needed; and
• Together with project counterparts, work under the Project Coordinator to identify new technologies and areas of support for to sustain and/or enhance the components and interventions beyond the project life.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships and coordination with key counterparts to ensure the strategic positioning of DICT and UNDP focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Build and maintain an effective relationship with DICT, other key partners and stakeholders through regular reporting on progress updates and invitations to site visits and workshops;
• Draft Memorandum of Agreements, Responsible Party Agreements, or other relevant legal instruments with relevant entities;
• Support in the Project Board Meeting regularly and as needed;
• Promote coordination, dialogue, and good practice knowledge sharing among stakeholders;
• Ensure effective collaboration with the UN and other development partners;
• Support to management, certification and reporting on financial disbursement based on approved work plan and payment schedule; and
• Project advocacy and visibility and coordination with relevant stakeholders.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Information Management, Information and Communication Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with at least four (4) years of relevant project management and/or implementation experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in designing, planning, monitoring and/or evaluating development projects, managing the development and execution of policy and institutional reforms and innovations, coordinating development cooperation and collaboration of sectors, and other related work.
• At least two (2) years of progressive experience in technical and/or administrative support to multilateral organization and/or government agencies’ project implementation.
• Minimum of two (2) ongoing or completed projects related to information communication and technology (ICT) works i.e. system development, installation, provision or use of VSAT and internet, etc.
• Previous working experience with a UN organizations at local or international level.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
• Certificate in Project Management is an advantage