Project Analyst-Action Platform (Quelimane)

The project is implemented in partnership with different key stakeholders including the International Labor Organization (ILO). It adopts various innovative approaches such as an ecosystem development approach at various levels. At the national level, it will develop and support the implementation of favorable regulatory conditions and relevant incentives for businesses to formalize; and address non-regulatory bottlenecks at the level of informal firms.  Lack of awareness and capacity in terms of business skills, and financial and digital literacy are one of the main barriers to transforming this sector.

The informal economy ecosystem is composed of different inter-connected and interdependent stakeholders whose actions eventually influence informal enterprises’ ability to operate: the existence of gaps within the functioning of the ecosystem hinders this ability. At the sectoral level, the project is supporting the establishment of a collective action platform in the agricultural marketing sector in Quelimane to contribute to multistakeholder dialogue and collective action toward formalization in this sector. The platform will help identify and address systemic gaps at a localized level to augment the overall interventions for increased impact, supporting specific actions that contribute to formalization and inclusive growth in this segment of the Mozambican economy. The focus on this sector is warranted on its transformative potential, both at the household and enterprise levels, in terms of its contribution to broad agricultural growth, inclusive human development, as well as greater economic and market integration in the country, which could help raise living standards and address food security concerns, among others, as recognized in the government’s 2020-2024 five-year plan and other relevant policy documents and studies.

Key to the platform’s activities in Mozambique is the establishment of a collective action plan which will be built on the basis of the information produced in the Baseline Assessment sectoral case study undertaken in 2022 during the inception phase of the project, as well as of additional consultations with key stakeholders in this important sector of the Mozambican economy. The action plan will aim at structuring collective action from stakeholders, and mobilize their collective resources, including their expertise, and where possible in-kind or financial resources, to address the critical ecosystem gaps identified. The project will also support the workplan implementation with complementary resource actions aimed at addressing identified gaps on a selective basis through the implementation of the Ecosystem Award. 

Context

UNDP Mozambique is looking for the services of a national Project Analyst –  Action Platform to support the functioning of the agricultural marketing collective Action Platform in Quelimane. The Project Analyst – Action Platform will be responsible for the coordination of stakeholders including governments, financial institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector (informal enterprises, research institutions, academia, producer organizations, and associations) to improve and support the implementation of activities of the platform, including implementation of the action plan, monitoring, and mobilizing additional resources for the platform. S/he is expected to be knowledgeable about multi-stakeholder coordination, have a good understanding of the agricultural marketing-sector landscape and experiences in dealing with key public and private stakeholders and have technical knowledge on private sector development and engagement.

1. Coordination and partnership management:

• Work in close collaboration with the Instituto Cerais de Moçambique (ICM), both with its HQ offices in Maputo and its delegation in Quelimane, and the District Agriculture Services in Quelimane to support the functioning of the agricultural marketing collective Action Platform in Quelimane;
• Undertake platform secretariat activities to operationalize it (planning, implementation, partnership management, development of documents) and ensure that the platform is operational/ functioning including the governance structure, partnership agreements, vision, and collaborative action plan; 
• Promote and advocate for the development/strengthening platform; and act as a first point of contact for platform stakeholders; 
• In consultation with stakeholders organize, coordinate and facilitate platform meetings; 
• Establish, promote and build effective partnerships through regular interactions with project stakeholders and share information transparently across the whole network, including by updating the stakeholder mapping and database; 
• Ensure engagement of platform stakeholders in the planning and implementation of platform activities; to strengthen and implement recommended sector-strengthening approaches;
• Manage the project activities according to the project document (PRODOC), work plans and budgets and ensure that work is consistent with UNDP output 4 implementation strategy;
• Develop concept notes for platform activities, and Terms of Reference (ToRs) for consultants, minutes, PowerPoint Presentations, as may be required;
• Proactively engage with regulators and key stakeholders to improve the enabling environment to deliver platform development and expansion opportunities.

• Monitor the work of the platform against the collaborative action plan, ensure successful implementation of platform activities, and hold members accountable for the delivery of work plan’s outputs; 
• Develop platform technical reporting mechanisms and prepare platform progress reports;
• Organize annual reviews of the performance of the platform based on the agreed-upon interventions;
• Identify and support the development and dissemination of knowledge products, best practices, and lessons learned from the platform activities; 
• In collaboration with stakeholders, contribute to the learning outcomes as per the donor requirements;
• Monitor the implementation of decisions made by the platform stakeholders.

3. Facilitate Capacity Building Initiatives:

• Facilitate appropriate platform capacity development interventions including trainings, mentorship and coaching programs for different stakeholder; 
• Support key stakeholders to contribute to state-wide and national policy development in the agricultural marketing that should contribute to business growth and international competitiveness and transformation of informal actors to the formal sector;
• Contribute to the development of the visibility and profile of the platform by promoting its role within and across the agricultural marketing sector in the transformation of the informal economy;
• Identifying key strategic pathways (directions and relationships) to leverage initiatives and resources to maximize the impact of the platform’s role to support the transformation of the informal economy and increase stakeholder competitiveness in the agricultural marketing sector;
• Proactively engage with regulators and key stakeholders to improve the enabling environment to deliver platform development and expansion opportunities;
• Contribute to identify new areas and specific actions that the agricultural marketing collective Action Platform can support going forward, as part of its mandate.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Mozambique team and direct supervision of the project coordinator, the Project Analyst – Action Platform will be responsible for facilitating the collective action platform activities and providing secretariat services.

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  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction and 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 alerting one element can impact on other part of the system.

Business Development:            

• Collective intelligence design
  • Ability to bring together a diverse group of people, data information or ideas and technology to design the services and solutions. 

Business Management:      

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve the specific goals.
• Partnership Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders Governments, civil society and private sectors, experts and others inline with UNDP Strategy and polices.
• Risk Management
  • Ability to identify and organize action around mitigation and proactively managing the risk.
• Communication
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Business Development:              

• Knowledge Generation
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. 

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness:             

• Effectiveness
  • Project Quality Assurance