National Project Coordinator

​Requisition ID: 2131 
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior) 
Country: Philippines 
Duty Station: Cotabato City 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with a possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 26-Apr-2023  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. 
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all organizational entities within UNIDO, in particular the Office of Change Management (ODG/CHM), the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance (ODG/LEG), the Strategic Planning and UN Engagement Division (ODG/SPU), and the Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO), the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies.

It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.

The Directorate houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).

Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST)

Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST) develops and implements an innovative service package in response to UNIDO's mandate for fair and responsible local industrial production and trade with a particular focus on building the required skills and capacities and foster a conducive business operating environment to ensure that such production and trade are as inclusive as possible, promoting – among others – the development of human capital through vocational training and industrial skills development.

In collaboration with IET/IFI, IET/PPP, TCS/SME, TCS/CPA, and GLO/MSR, the Division will conceptualize and negotiate such services and raise funds from Member States, development partners, IFIs, and the private sector to coordinate their effective implementation and devise ways in which their implementation can be brought to scale.

This will include cross-cutting and sector-specific initiatives for sustainable supply/value chain and skills development in industrial sectors where UNIDO has, over the years, accumulated expertise, such as agro-industries, fisheries, textiles, leather, light manufacturing, health, mining, automotive and pharma and others. It will do so through close engagement with Member States, private sector associations, industrial enterprises, international quality, standards and trade-related governing bodies, other UN Agencies (e.g. ILO), development partners, NGOs and consumer associations, as appropriate, ensuring solid and operational partnerships.

Skills Development and Fair Production Unit (IET/PST/SFP)

The Skills Development and Fair Production Unit supports Member States in integrating into the emerging global systems of fair and sustainable trade. To this end, it leverages partnerships with the private sector to enhance employees' skill sets to become the sources driving the sustainable transition. The Unit also promotes learning, concepts and norms to augment the attractiveness of industrial employment for youth and women under transparent, fair and social working conditions. The Unit also deploys foresight and planning instruments to guide Member States in developing the industrial skills in future cohorts of industrial employees and respond to re- and up-skilling requirements of actors in a sustainable value chain.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The Island of Mindanao in the Philippines has undergone social unrest in the past decades due to the Moro Conflict. Since 1960s, political tensions and open hostilities have developed between Philippines’ Government and Moro Muslim rebel groups. To defuse these tensions, lengthy peace negotiations have led to the formation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019. Philippines’ and BARMM’s political commitment will be fundamental to ensure Bangsamoro’s institutional strengthening. Collaboration of foreign donors to ensure institutional strengthening and delivery of peace dividends will also be fundamental in the coming years to enhance BARMM’s socio-economic conditions & human security.

UNIDO action fits in this context by supporting the development of BARMM’s Agribusiness Sector. The action aims to support agribusinesses in post-conflict Bangsamoro to increase their sales to the Filipino market and their exports to the market of Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) (General Objective).

To contribute to the achievement of this objective the action will ensure that:

1. BARMM’s institutions enforce the implementation of the reviewed Halal and sea products’ standards and certification procedures (Outcome 1);

2. Local testing laboratories are upgraded to ensure compliance to the reviewed Halal and sea products’ standards (Outcome 2); and

3. Supported local agribusinesses obtain the certification for the reviewed Halal and sea products’ standards (Outcome 3).

To achieve these outcomes the support will be threefold:

1. Institutional support is provided to BARMM to review and to implement Halal and sea products’ standards and relevant agreements (Output 1); 2. Capacity development program is carried out to help local testing laboratories to be upgraded (Output 2); and 3. Skills development and technology transfer program is delivered to selected local agribusinesses to comply with Halal and sea products’ standards (Output 3). Capacity development activities for the relevant stakeholders will include an integrated skills development and a technology transfer program.

UNIDO’s intervention will be part of a larger EU intervention: EU Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Programme (EU BAEP) - towards peaceful, cohesive, secure & inclusive development in Bangsamoro. EU BAEP is designed to deliver on two major outcomes: Outcome 1: Local agricultural production is improved in quality, diversity, consolidation and its response to the needs of the market; Outcome 2: BARRM has an elaborate policy and strategy for further development and investment promotion in Agri-business. Outcome 2 will include: Output 2.1 (The capacities and systems for specific agricultural and sea product quality procedures are improved); Output 2.2 (BARMM agri-business development and investment promotion strategy is elaborated and implemented).

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The National Project Coordinator will work under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) in Cotabato City and under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager (PM) and the Industrial Development Expert (IDE) at UNIDO HQ. He/she shall provide technical and project management assistance in support to the implementation of project activities in close coordination with project partners.

The incumbent will undertake the following duties:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or  equivalent) in international development, engineering, business administration, economics, agribusiness management, food systems, or other relevant discipline is required. 

Technical and Functional Experience and skills:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in supporting the implementation of development/technical cooperation programs is required; prior experience in BARMM is desirable.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of the country or other developing countries is required.
• Experience/knowledge of other development agencies, donor organizations, private sector entities, and/or governmental/non-governmental organizations in the Philippines is required.
• Experience in the area of industrial development within private or public sector organizations is desirable.
• Good understanding of capacity building needs and challenges in productive sectors in the Philippines is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Filipino is also required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies (as applicable)

WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.

WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside.
Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org