Background

UNDP Pakistan works with the Government and communities to develop and implement local solutions to development challenges. In an evolving development context, UNDP supports the efforts of Government of Pakistan to build a more equitable, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient society, and to achieve its SDGs and COP25 targets.

The Resilience, Environment and Climate Change Unit (RECCU) is supporting projects across the country to respond to the growing threat of climate change, to mainstream environmental concerns into national development planning processes, and to expand access to environmental and energy services for the poor. In particular, UNDP has sought to ensure that the poor have stronger capacities to manage, adapt, and monitor climate change. Climate Change is a huge development challenge as well as a huge environmental challenge. It is a growing problem and is now hitting the poorest and the most vulnerable first and hardest.

The 2022 floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, resulted in the loss of more than 1,700 lives, displaced around 9 million men, women, and children, and inundated almost one-third of productive agricultural land in Pakistan. These downstream challenges are compounded with institutional issues whereby the Government of Pakistan requires support for developing overarching frameworks to structure its flood response activities and technical expertise to set up and develop bankable projects, establish standardised mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, and enhance strategic communications for public outreach.

UNDP has responded to the challenge by developing and launching a flagship Flood Recovery Programme (FRP) to support the Government of Pakistan’s flood recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The Programme has four key objectives dealing with the following thematic areas:

• Restoration of housing and access to/revival of essential community services.
• Restoration of livelihoods and income-generating capacities.
• Restoration of governance and service delivery.
• Accelerated environmental clean-up with strengthened capacities for Disaster Risk Management.

With the support of the Government of Korea (KOICA), FRP will employ an integrated approach to improve agriculture production in the flood-affected areas by implementing Agricultural Productivity and Rural Village Water Supply Enhancement of Flood Damaged Regions in Sindh Province project.

The  project will aim at improving the lives of flood affected communities through the installation of comprehensive community water supply systems in selected villages. In this regard, the project is aligned with the key development priorities of the Government of Pakistan that are focused on undertaking recovery and development work in flood affected areas of the country. More specifically, the project is informed by the findings of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) that provides a quantitative assessment of the damages done by the floods. The project is also aligned with the Government of Pakistan 4RF which structures the Government of Pakistan’s flood response as per its four strategic recovery objectives. The key activities under the project will focus on the following areas:

• Rehabilitation of recovered flood affected agricultural land;
• Rehabilitation/ reconstruction of on-farm irrigation water management schemes (water courses);
• Establishment of comprehensive community water supply schemes;
• Capacity development of government officials, communities, and farmers.

Position Purpose

Against this background, FRP is looking for Project Specialist who will support the FRP team in managing the day-to-day KOICA funded project implementation.

The Project Specialist will assist in the design and implementation of project activities, while ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Project Specialist will demonstrate a client-oriented approach, tact, and ability to work with people of different cultural backgrounds. S/he will work in close collaboration with other project colleagues of the FRP team, as well as with other UNDP Pakistan CO units, government officials, technical advisors and experts, donors and civil society to successfully implement the activities.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Overseeing Project Implementation and Achievement of Results:

• Work with the FRP Team in the identification, preparation, implementation, review, and adjustments in the overall Programme implementation strategies.
• Support overall management and supervision of the project implementation in line with the project document and donor agreements in full accordance with the UNDP programme and operations policies and procedures.
• Develop and update assigned sections of the project’s Annual Work Plan, budget, and other related documentation for the timely commencement and delivery of the project activities.
• Manage the project budget and ensure that project funds are available when needed and disbursements are achieved according to the work plans and cost-sharing agreements.
• Adhere to UNDP’s rules and regulations and internal control mechanisms in the areas of procurement, recruitment, assets etc., as required.
• Ensure timely procurement of goods and services by designing high-quality Terms of Reference for consultants/contractors, specification documents, scope of works, and any similar documents in compliance with UNDP procurement policies and procedures.
• Liaise with the UNDP CO procurement unit to facilitate elaboration and finalisation of the bidding documents to solicit proposals for consultancy services, supply of goods, equipment and civil works.
• Conduct timely evaluation of the bids and technical proposals by participating in the relevant evaluation committees.
• Coordinate and monitor the work of project experts and consultants.
• Manage contractors and contract execution to ensure delivery according to the scope, budget and time and in compliance with the technical documentation.

Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Knowledge Management

• In close collaboration with FRP M&E team, support implemenation of an effective project results monitoring and evaluation system.
• Identify, analyse, and propose measures to manage emerging issues, problems, and risks.
• Conduct field visits to project location sites and monitor project progress.
• Take part in quality and timely reporting according to country office and donor reporting schedules.
• In close coordination with the FRP Communication Associate, support the implementation of an effective communication strategy to promote and foster awareness about the projects among its multiple stakeholders and the wider public in close collaboration with the UNDP country office communications team.

Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization:

• Active collaboration to maintain partnerships with development partners, KOICA, government institutions, the private sector, UN entities, the donor community and other stakeholders to contribute to the achievement of the project objectives.
• Maintain close working relations with national and local partners to ensure optimum project/programme impact and participation and ownership by national stakeholders, including civil society.
• Advise and support the country office in strengthening partnership and donor relationship management, including visibility and strategic engagement, and advise senior management on resource mobilisation efforts.
• Active participation in the design and delivery of multi-stakeholder events and initiatives in coordination with the UNDP country office team.
• Plan and coordinate the organisation of missions related to existing and potential donors.
• Ensure effective resource mobilisation by contributing to the development of the project concept notes and donor proposals.
• Follow up with KOICA to ensure that contributions are received on a timely basis, in accordance with the payment schedule in the donor agreement.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

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

• Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy-System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools

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 UNDP strategy and policies

Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Procurement-Contract Management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical solutions.

2030 Agenda: People-Gender: Gender-responsive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, including International Development, Community Development, Project Management, Peace and Conflict Studies or any other related field is required, OR 
• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in international development including programme and project design, management and coordination is required.
• Proven experience of effective partnership development with national counterparts, development partners and civil society is required.
• Proven experience with project management and project implementation is required.
• Proficiency in standard software applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc. is required.
• Experience of working on a KOICA project/familiarity with KOICA policies and regulations is highly desirable.
• Relevant work experience in sustainable policy and programming development at the community level is an advantage.
• Experience in UN agency and/or International development organizations is an advantage.
• Experience in managing diverse teams, technical vendors and senior stakeholders around complex challenges, is an asset.
• Experience in resource mobilization is desired.

Language:

• Proficiency in written and oral English is required.
• Working knowledge of Korean is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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