I4P Project Manager (IPSA10)

Following the end of a 22-year long authoritarian regime marked by human rights violations, The Gambia has been undergoing a broad democratic reform and transitional justice process since 2017. The latter was led by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which concluded its investigative work in December 2021 with the publication of its Final Report, outlining 265 recommendations to advance justice, healing and reconciliation in The Gambia. While several recommendations focus on prosecutions and compensations, most recommendations are forward-looking, calling for the establishment of preventive mechanisms, including institutional and legal reforms, to ensure non-recurrence and to strengthen peacebuilding efforts across the country. Special emphasis is made in the TRRC Final Report for the Government to further localize peacebuilding efforts, as well as intervene in specific conflict-prone areas.  

Against this background, in December 2022, UNDP, together with UNESCO and UNICEF received funding from the UN Peacebuilding Funds to implement the project, “Strengthening the National Infrastructure for Peace to Promote Social Cohesion in The Gambia” (I4P Project). The project aims at strengthening the national peacebuilding architecture of The Gambia, in a context marked by several alarming threats to social cohesion such as growing frustration around the slow implementation of TRRC recommendations, a heightened rise of hate speech, as well as greater instability in selected communities, particularly those along borders. 

Under the overarching goal of strengthening the national peacebuilding architecture, the project will contribute to the implementation of specific TRRC recommendations, including i) support to the establishment of the Peace and Reconciliation Commission (PRC) as one of the TRRC successor bodies; ii) strengthening the competencies of a diverse, yet complementary, set of stakeholders to prevent and mitigate hate speech; and iii) piloting the first-ever set of reconciliation and conflict prevention initiatives in socially and economically excluded communities. The project team will be comprised of the Infrastructure for Peace Project Manager (I4P Project Manager), a National UNV and a driver. The project team will form a part of the UNDP Governance Cluster under the supervision of the Head of Governance.

The I4P Project Manager will report to the Programme Specialist/Head of Governance and be an integral part of the UNDP team for the duration of the contract, supporting the realization of its development mandate in The Gambia within the context of the National Development Plan (NDP); and more specifically, supporting the implementation of the I4P Project. The I4P Project Manager shall have the following responsibilities: 

1. Ensure effective management of the Women’s Political Leadership Project and supervision of the team, focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming achieving the following results 

1. Ensure achievement of the overall aims and objectives of the project with a focus on providing specialized support to the Ministry of Interior, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Council for Civic Education, and other I4P institutions;
2. Effectively manage and coordinate the project from the planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring;
3. Ensure tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Perform the function of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
4. Ensure effective application of RBM, active monitoring of project achievements against indicators, including the implementation on monitoring and evaluation tools for achievement of results;
5. Prepare timely donor and other project reports focused on capturing results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application; 
6. Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Prepare and deliver all necessary financial and operational revisions and narrative reports, including workplans, in a timely manner; 
7. Preparation of inputs for reporting, including donor reporting;
8. Coordinate the work of and provide guidance to project consultants as needed; 
9. Facilitate the Project Board or its appointed Project Assurance roles to assure the overall direction and integrity of the project; 
10. Ensure timely initiation and completion the terminal evaluation of the project, including supporting the consultants to achieve the expected outputs and deliverables of the inception report, terminal evaluation report, organizing validation meeting with stakeholders, etc.;
11. Lead the joint work with other implementing partners to draft the final project report and lessons-learned report; 
12. Lead the presentation of all project and lessons-learned reports to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for review, document key recommendations made by the PSC as inputs for the terminal evaluation report and project records; 
13. Undertake monthly project visits to ensure implementation and project monitoring activities, where possible in collaboration with implementing partners and responsible parties; 
14. Ensure efficient transfer and/or disposal of project assets to the designated partner/s as guided by the project document, UNDP policies and procedures in consultation with Head of Governance;
15. Ensure strong visibility of project activities and achievements.

2. Provide top-quality policy advisory services to the Country Office and project partners, and PBF coordination of UN agencies (UNESCO and ITC)   

1. Contribute to strategic policymaking on peacebuilding - providing peacebuilding advice to the government, develop and/or support the development of peacebuilding and reconciliation policy related strategies;
2. Prepare and submit regular reports to senior management bi weekly, updates on key issues of peace at senior management meetings;
3. Support the government in the implementation of national and international activities on peacebuilding;
4. Facilitate the strengthening of national peace infrastructures, such as peace committees, Council of Traditional Authorities and Leaders to encourage joint, inclusive and gender sensitive peacebuilding approaches at the local level;
5. Monitor and provide technical inputs /advice to the CSOs implementing the UNDP's components of the Peace and Social Cohesion related work to ensure the achievement of results that are aligned to human rights, gender and conflict sensitivity;
6. Identify capacity needs of local peace partners/structures and support the design and implementation of capacity development initiatives;
7. Support strengthening capacities for local conflict early warning reporting and response system;
8. Enhance coordination and foster collaboration at the policy and strategic levels;
9. Provide input in outcome review reports and other reports on peace and reconciliation at the country programme levels;
10. Support the training of key partners in peacebuilding, mediation, conflict management, conflict sensitivity development and related topics;
11. Liaise and support the Ministry of Interior towards the establishment and operationalization of the Peace and Reconciliation Commission in The Gambia;
12. Analyze data and write relevant analytical reports, share findings; 
13. Coordinate project technical meetings with UNESCO and ITC to ensure smooth implementation of activities; 
14. Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes and provide support on preparation of donor reports.

3. Develop strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization 

1. Develop and maintain partnerships and cooperation with the Government, as well as relevant experts, international organizations, assistance agencies and donors; 
2. Establish pipelines and mobilize resources for project including ensuring timely donor reporting where necessary; 
3. Lead and support project networking, linkages and partnership development with other UN agencies and development partners; 
4. Strengthening partnerships with academia, development partners, think tanks and civil society for successful implementation of UNDP governance priorities in The Gambia; 
5. Liaises regularly and forges close linkages with other UN programs, agencies and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned with or providing assistance to The Gambia; 
6. Contributes to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of Responsible Parties for the implementation of UNDP projects; 
7. Supports programming work and participates effectively in established UN coordination forums and framework.

     D. Perform any other tasks, in connection with Programme, which may be entrusted to it by the UNDP Country Office'

Institutional Arrangement 

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Head of Governance Unit. 

• 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

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking  

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

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

Business Management: Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management: Project Management            

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management: Partnerships Management   

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNCDF strategy and policies

Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Development Studies with a specialization in Peace Studies, Political Sciences, the Politics of Alternative Development, Conflict Prevention, International Relations or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with 2 additional years of qualifying relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of advanced degree.

• Minimum 5 years (Master's degree) or 7 years (Bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in peacebuilding, conflict mediation and democratic governance at national or international level;
• Experience providing policy and management advisory services;
• Minimum 3 years experience in programme/project cycle management in the areas of  peacebuilding and the promotion of democratic governance;
• Multi-cultural/multinational/multi-stakeholder working experience;
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity building/training for different groups of audience and stakeholders;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Demonstration of strong resource mobilization capabilities and proposal writing is desirable;
• Demonstrated analytical and thought leadership capacity including research in broad governance areas in a developing country context is an asset;
• Experience working with an international organization, nongovernmental organization, or within the United Nations common system (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programs) in West Africa is an added advantage.

Language Requirement

• Strong written and spoken English.

Travel

1. UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
2. The I4P Project Manager is expected to travel within the 5 regions of The Gambia.