Loan Management Specialist – Head of Loan Management Unit (LMU)

BACKGROUND

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Since the Government of Japan’s (GoJ) announcement of USD 5 billion assistance package to support Iraq’s reconstruction at Madrid Conference in October 2003, which initially consisted of USD 3.5 billion Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan and USD 1.5 billion ODA grant, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) concluded 33 ODA loan agreements with the Government of Iraq (GoI), comprising 31 project loans and 2 budgetary support loans amounting to approximately USD 11 billion over the period January 2008 – December 2023. 

The GoI is the owner and executing agency of the Japanese ODA loan-financed projects. Key project implementation activities, such as procurement, contract management and financial management, are undertaken by the implementing ministries and agencies of the GoI. As a standing mandate, JICA promotes efficient use of the loans and needs to ensure that the project implementation is undertaken in an accountable, transparent, and efficient manner in line with JICA guidelines and procedures and that the loans are properly used for the purpose of achieving each project’s objectives expeditiously.

As one adequate and sound monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability, transparency and efficiency in project implementation and usage of the loan, GoI, GoJ and JICA agreed to establish a joint Monitoring Committee (M/C) to meet on a quarterly basis. The M/C, reports to the Prime Minister’s Office, is chaired by the Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission (PMAC) with membership of senior officials from the Ministry of Planning (MoP) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Embassy of Japan (EoJ) and JICA consists of high-level officials from the line ministries.

The Loan Management Unit (LMU) has been established within UNDP Iraq Country Office (CO) in 2009 to facilitate and accelerate implementation of the Japanese ODA loan-financed projects in Iraq by providing fiduciary monitoring on behalf of the GoI and JICA, implementation monitoring and evaluation and capacity development support to the M/C in particular and the GoI in general. The support targets procurement, contract management and financial management for the ODA Loan project implementation, as well as developing the capacities of oversight and implementing ministries.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Loan Management Specialist  – Head of Loan Management Unit shall direct, supervise and administer the LMU activities, represent the LMU as a component of the Development Finance Unit (DFU) within the CO, the Monitoring Committee (M/C) and GoI counterparts as well as JICA, ensures that the LMU adequately delivers the duties, responsibilities and tasks sets in the Project Agreement between JICA and UNDP for Partnership Services for Support Unit to the M/C on the Japanese ODA Loan Projects and assures the quality, reliability and timeliness of the deliverables and services provided. S/he is also responsible for the performance development of LMU’s staff and for developing and implementing the LMU’s annual work plan and budget. S/he shall report to the Head of the Strategic Advisor-Head of Development Finance Unit.

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.

Key duties and accountabilities include: 

Ensure GoI – GoJ inter- and intra-governmental coordination and processes to facilitate Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) plans and memoranda / legal agreements within GoI system in accordance with Iraq’s legal and regulatory framework and internal processes / practices, Japanese public administration and IFI operations policy, and lead the coordination within triangular coordination framework among GoI-GoJ/JICA-UNDP: 

• Review and analyse GoI’s development policies, strategies, plans, needs and challenges and GoJ’s Country Development Cooperation Policy for Iraq, then provide advice and recommendations to the GoI and GoJ on prospects development cooperation interventions and assistance.
• Facilitate communication and coordination among relevant GoI and GoJ parties for new ODA Loan projects formulation, endorsement and commitment.
• Facilitate the legal and regulatory processes within the GoI, particularly Ministry of Planning (MoP) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) and ensuring Council of Ministers (CoM) approval of new ODA Loan project proposals, memoranda, legal notes and agreements.
• Advance deliberations, communication and legal steps within the GoI to expedite listing of new ODA Loan projects on the Annual Investment Programme and the Investment Budget component of Federal Budget Law and the pursuant effectuation of legal documents. 
• Pursue with GoJ, particularly JICA, the internal processes and legal steps for new ODA Loan projects.
• Lead the coordination with the M/C and JICA for the preparation of the quarterly M/C meetings, the preparation of aggregated progress report and presentation on procurement. Contract management (including procurement and technical / engineering theme), disbursement and overarching issues and oversee the preparation of the minutes of meeting.
• Promote the ODA Loan monitoring set – up and mechanism, particularly the ODA Loan M/C, as model for GoI – and other IFI – funded development projects in Iraq.
• Attempt to replicate Iraq’s experience with GoI-GoJ/JICA-UNDP monitoring set – up and mechanism as model case for triangular cooperation among developing nations. 
• Provide advice and consultations to the GoI and GoJ / JICA and promote the culture of triangular cooperation within the UN System and IFIs.

Direct, supervise and improve the fiduciary and site monitoring activities of the LMU:

• Direct and supervise fiduciary monitoring activities of the LMU to ensure compliance with JICA guidelines and internationally accepted procurement, contract management and financial management guidelines, procedures and practices.
• Direct and supervise the site inspection and verification activities of the ODA Loan projects to ensure adequacy, quality and timeliness of reporting to the M/C and JICA.
•  Identify, examine and analyse project – specific, e.g., procurement, contractual and engineering issues, and overarching issues and challenges, particularly those related to enforcement of GoI laws, regulations, instructions and interministerial coordination and provide advice, recommendations and solutions to the implementing Project Management Teams (PMTs), the M/C and JICA to address them.
• Promote awareness of the M/C, oversight ministries and implementing ministries with the mandate, duties, responsibilities and tasks of the LMU and ensure these parties’ collaboration and coordination with the LMU.
• Enhance the capacity of the LMU staff in fiduciary and site monitoring, communication and reporting.

Design and implement effective third-party project monitoring mechanism for large-scale Japanese ODA Loan projects in Iraq in compliance with international procurement guidelines, especially on Design-Build (D/B) and Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) contracts and engineering / legal advisory on technical challenges in large-scale infrastructure projects:

• Review and evaluate the existent structure, functions and mode of operation of the M/C as the oversight and monitoring platform for the ODA Loan projects and provide advice and recommendations to enhance the mandates and role of M/C.
• Review, analyze and evaluate the fiduciary and site monitoring functions and activities of the LMU to improve and augment these function and activities.
• Communicate and discuss the ODA Loan monitoring set – up, mechanism, mode of operation of the LMU and enhance GoI’s competent parties’, particularly MoP entrusted with development projects planning / monitoring and evaluation, for involvement in the ODA Loan overall monitoring activities.

Managing and administering the LMU and lead the LMU’s capacity development activities with oversight and implementing entities, specifically PMTs, in procurement, contract management, financial management and monitoring and evaluation:

• Maintain close communication with UNDP CO Senior Management and JICA to enhance UNDP – JICA partnership, added value and strategic intervention in sustainable development context. 
• Develop the LMU’s annual work plan and budget for the implementation of the UNDP – JICA Partnership Agreement and submit it for review and approval by the Head of DFU and UNDP’s Senior Management prior to submission to JICA.
• Ensure the alignment of the work plan with UNDP Country Programme Document and Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Determine the human and financial resources required for the LMU to accomplish the tasks and deliver the outcomes set in UNDP – JICA Partnership Agreement.
• Assign roles and responsibilities and oversee compliance of LMU staff with these roles and responsibilities.
• Oversee and guide LMU staff activities, ensure pre-planning and logistics of individual activities, particularly site inspection and verification missions and follow-up on mission and event reporting.
• Discuss and approve LMU staff individual performance objectives and learning and capacity development plans and provide overall direction, clarify performance expectations and desired results, monitor and oversee progress, and make necessary decisions or actions to ensure delivery and achievement of the set performance objectives.
• Lead in the identification of capacity weaknesses and capacity development needs of ODA Loan oversight and implementing entities, particularly via the LMU’s fiduciary and implementation monitoring activities.
• Plan capacity development interventions via traditional classroom trainings and on/off-the-job technical assistance in consultation with the M/C and JICA.
• Ensure technical support to PMTs in financial management and international banking practices, including opening and amending L/Cs and processing of Statements of Payment. 
• Assess the impact of the LMU’s capacity development interventions and re – design and re – align the capacity development plan in line with the outcomes of the impact assessment and emerging needs and challenges, in consultation with the M/C and JICA.

Facilitate knowledge sharing, dissemination and ensuring awareness and visibility of the LMU’s roles, activities and achievements:

• Attempt to accelerate and facilitate planning, formulation and implementation of GoI development projects via promoting and sharing relevant LMU’s knowledge and experience with GoI parties, particularly MoP. 
• Develop knowledge products on the ODA Loan Programme design, management, monitoring and share these within UNDP, GoI and other stakeholders, particularly IFIs, in line with UNDP internal knowledge management framework and in accordance with UNDP’s quality standards.
• Lead the knowledge – sharing and learning activities among the ODA Loan relevant parties within the GoI, particularly Al Basra PMT Coordination Group and MoP’s Follow – Up Team on Grant and Loan Funded Projects.
• Promote and disseminate awareness of the ODA Loan and the LMU’s intervention within the GoI, particularly senior decision – makers.
• Promote public awareness and visibility of the ODA Loan Programme and UNDP’s intervention via social media and traditional media of communication. 

Other Duties:

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• The incumbent will have overall responsibility of managing the LMU team, Provide strategic focus, Engage with internal/external partners and stakeholders, lead, developing, and empower people, create a culture of performance and make decisions and exercise judgment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Engineering, International Development Studies, Public Administration, Economics, Finance, or other related areas 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, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Minimum of 7-years (with a master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in ODA loan (bilateral or multilateral) management and advisory role for social and economic infrastructure projects is required
• Working experience with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) or Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) or bilateral / multilateral financial institutions (IFIs) on financing development projects is desirable. 
• Experience in oversight, monitoring & evaluation of large-scale infrastructure development project funded by IFIs, such as JICA, JBIC, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and have implemented projects with JICA procurement Guidelines, FIDIC red/ yellow/ silver book, or any other international procurement guidelines, is highly desirable.
• Working Experience in the Region / Middle East, especially with Government of Iraq is highly desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of Japanese public administration, JICA & IFIs’ strategies, approaches, rules & regulations, processes and system is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic language would be an asset.

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 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation 
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture,  identify/address barriers to inclusion 

People Management Competencies: 

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

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: Portfolio Management

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Direction & Strategy: Effective Decision Making

• Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications. 

Business Development: Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. 

Partnership Management: IFI Partnerships

• Knowledge and understanding of IFIs (strategies, approaches, processes and systems).

Partnership Management: OECD/DAC Partnerships

• Knowledge and understanding of OECD DAC Members policy, strategy, systems and decision-making processes related to ODA.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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