The UNDP office in Skopje currently employs a team of over 70 people and manages a portfolio of projects in environment and energy, democratic governance and inclusive prosperity worth around USD 17 million.

To address the growing flood-related challenges in the Polog Region and country-wide, and the associated socio-economic consequences, UNDP in implementing a 4-year programme which includes a comprehensive set of complementary mitigation and resilience building measures funded by SDC and SECO. These measures, derived from new and existing flood risk assessment studies and plans, will be combined to maximize the benefits for communities and environment. The project’s ambitious goal is to instigate transformational change in managing flood risk in the region, accelerating the shift from purely reactive responses to floods to integrated systems to manage hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure of communities and assets in order to prevent/mitigate losses and alleviate the impact of future floods.

The two components of the programme will contribute together to a higher-level goal of bringing about real transformation toward integrated flood risk management. While SECO-funded interventions will focus primarily on strategically selected state-of-the-art infrastructure projects, SDC will help improve legal, regulatory and financing environments, enhance flood preparedness, and introduce innovative technologies to early warning systems and nature-based solutions for particularly vulnerable communities.

The project is implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the local self-governments of Polog Region municipalities, the Hydro-Meteorological Service, the emergency response agencies, the Water Management Organization and affected communities.

The Project Monitoring Associate shall provide technical and advisory services for implementation of the construction activities of the project Improving Resilience to Floods in the Polog Region. Will be expected to daily monitoring of the construction sites for the ongoing activities.

In addition, the incumbent might be engaged in providing to support to other projects with construction companies and shall be charged proportionally in other projects. S/he will work under direct supervision of the Project Manager and will closely collaborate with other Programme and Project teams. The Project Monitoring Associate will be based in the UNDP North Macedonia office in Tetovo, with possible travels within the country.

Technical and advisory services for implementation of the construction activities of the project Improving Resilience to Floods in the Polog Region:

• Familiarize with the project document and other relevant planning documents, feasibility studies, etc.
• Familiarize with the existing and planned construction projects based on review of technical documentation, site visits and meetings with relevant stakeholders.
• Advise on the national legal requirements and procedures, international standards applicable to construction works.
• Independent review of the BoQ and Internal price estimates and confirmation of their relevance.
• Review reports, and other written documents submitted by the contractors and supervising engineers and provide feedback for their improvement.
• Conduct daily field visits to the locations during the period of works in order to actively oversee execution of the works by the chosen company.
• Monitor the execution of construction works and report on all technical issues including but not limited to timeliness, quality, compliance with technical specifications and contract conditions with an aim to alert on any irregularities and potential problems, etc.
• When and if needed, provide technical advisory and/or hold site meetings with the contractors, UNDP engineer and prepare back to office reports.
• Coordinate and manage final inspection of the completed works.
• Monitor the dynamics of the construction works.
• Additional review (in coordination with the respective supervising engineers) of the interim/final payment certificates before payments are authorized.
• Advise on qualification requirements for selection of the Bidders (relevant qualification requirements, educational background, relevant authorizations and licenses applicable to national law, and knowledge of the local market and its research before recommending criteria for evaluation.
• Review the technical documentation provided by the bidders through the tendering procedure.
• Support the Evaluation Committees in reviewing and analyzing received financial offers and compare them with the cost estimates and current market prices for equivalent materials and type of works.
• Provide on-demand support on any issue of relevance to the Project in line with her/his experience and expertise.

Provide administrative support to the implementation of project:

• Provide technical and administrative assistance in preparation of tender documentation for construction works (drafting ToRs, tender dossiers).
• Maintain active communication with the procurement unit and other UNDP colleagues involved in the procurement system.
• Assist the organization of field visits, missions, conferences and other logistics arrangements for different Project needs related to construction works.
• Arrange meetings and draft routine correspondence, minutes including preparing background materials for discussions and briefing sessions.
• Draft Note to Files for the purpose of the project activities related to the construction works.
• Provide assistance to the Project team members as necessary.

Facilitate knowledge sharing within the Project:

• Keep track of lesson generated within the construction works throughout Project implementation. Document, report and share them as necessary.
• Keep track of the changes of UNDP procedures and provide timely advice to the Project Manager and other project staff on what are the applicable procedures to fulfilling the project objectives.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Monitoring Associate will be engaged on a NPSA contract and will report to the Project Manager. The Project Monitoring Associate will be located in Tetovo but will also travel in the Municipalities in the Polog Region and Skopje as per the requirements of the project implementation.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

• Business Management – Monitoring 
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and program performance and results.
• Business Management – Evaluation 
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks.
  • Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
• Digital & Innovation – Data analysis
  • Digital & Innovation Data analysis Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
• Digital & Innovation   Data storytelling and communications        
  • Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.
• General – Event planning and execution      
  • Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.
• Digital & Innovation – Behavior change communication/communication for development
  • Knowledge of appropriate digital communication methodologies for development and behavior change, and ability to apply them practically.
• 2030 Agenda: People Gender
  • Gender mainstreaming.