Project Coordination Specialist at UNDP:Deadline:12-07-2022

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Gender equality is a human right, good governance, democracy, sustainable development and inclusiveness principle as enshrined in the fundamental principles of the Constitution (Article 10) of the Republic of Rwanda adopted in 2003 and revised in 2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goal 5. As such, the public sector, private sector, non-governmental and religious institutions are responsible for mainstreaming gender in their policies, plans and processes to ensure inclusive and transformative development.

The Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) has been ascribed the responsibility to ensure that public and private institutions, civil society and faith-based organizations contribute to the attainment of national commitments as enshrined in the National constitution, international/regional instruments as well as policies and programs. To guarantee that gender equality and women’s empowerment principles are mainstreamed in policies and programs of different sectors and at different levels, GMO, through its Five-year Strategic plan (2017–2022) aspires to build accountability systems and mechanisms for the sustainability and acceleration of gender equality. Currently, GMO with support from UNDP has started to engage the private sector to establish gender accountability systems through the newly designed five-year (FY 2018/19 – 2022/23) project- “Promoting gender accountability in the private sector in Rwanda” which uses the Gender Equality Seal (GES) certification approach.  The GES approach has been and continues to be piloted in selected private sector companies and public institutions that work closely with the private sector.

The project supports and guides the private sector’s delivery and compliance to gender equality principles and commitments by establishing standards that promote gender equality and women empowerment. In addition, the project provides participating companies and public institutions working closely with the private sector necessary tools and guidance to promote a more equitable work environment that maximizes the capacities and benefits of all employees and that enhances their service delivery, productivity and revenues.

The Project Coordination Specialist will oversee the implementation of project interventions. S/he will be based at the Gender Monitoring Office and will work closely with UNDP’s Governance unit and the Private Sector Federation (PSF) secretariat.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure effective implementation of the project

• Develop annual and quarterly work plans and budgets for the project and coordinate and monitor the implementation of project activities;
• Facilitate effective roll-out of the project to targeted companies and public institutions;
• Provide technical support to and technically oversee the implementation of project activities with partners and stakeholders;
• Initiate innovative approaches for effective project implementation;
• Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the project including the development of M&E framework and reporting templates;
• Develop terms of references for different assignments in the project document;
• Ensure that annual and quarterly project financial and progress reports are timely prepared and submitted to UNDP on a quarterly basis;
• Undertake the organizational Diagnosis and gender assessment among selected companies and public institutions;
• Supervise contractors especially gender consultants to ensure quality and timely delivery of contracted services;
• Advise the project steering committee on key strategic orientation of the project and suggest ideas that may lead to impactful changes;
• Provide inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts;
• Coordinate learning and communication activities of the project.

Promote collaboration among project stakeholders

• Organize Project Steering Committee and Technical Committee meetings in consultation with UNDP and GMO;
• The Project Coordinator will report directly to the Programme Specialist/ HOU Transformation and Governance Unit;
• Serve as a liaison person between GMO, UNDP and Private Sector Federation (PSF) Secretariat;
• Organize cross-learning sessions for partners.

Strengthen partners’ capacities in gender analysis 

• Build gender analysis capacities for participating companies and public institutions where the project is rolled out;
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and coordinate and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings to partners as needed;
• Develop and implement strategies and plans for strengthening partners’ capacities in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming.

Resource mobilization

• Contribute to building partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Project Coordination Specialist  will report directly to the Programme Specialist/ HOU Transformation and Governance Unit.

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.

Technical/Cross-functional Competencies

• • Legal Analysis and Report Writing: Ability to apply legal analysis to a diverse range of complex issues, and express themselves clearly; ability to communicate well, to all levels of staff and contractors/consultants, governments et.al.

  • Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

  • 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.

  • Strategic engagement : Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.

  • Audit risk management: Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.

  • Fraud awareness and investigation technique: Basic knowledge to understand the foundations of fraud, how to detect red flags and conduct initial fact findings.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in International Development, Gender Studies, Economics, Sustainable Development, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Project Management or other related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in  a related field with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.