Project Coordination Associate

Disasters affect Serbia’s economic and environmental standing, diminish the country’s development potential, pose a risk to social stability, and jeopardize EU investments. The effectiveness of the disaster risk management system relies on the adequate human, physical, and financial capacities for planning, preparation, responding, and post-disaster recovery, as well as on proper vertical and horizontal coordination between all the relevant institutions. 

The critical problem of the Serbian Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management System is the fragmentation of the institutional framework, procedures, and insufficient capacities at the central and local level for adequate prevention, preparation, and response to disaster risk needs of the communities and population. 

To support national authorities in addressing above mention challenges, the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia entrusted UNDP with implementation of the EU for Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Resilience Programme (March 2020-March 2024).

Furthermore, Serbia responded well to the challenges posed by the public health crisis of COVID-19. There was a significant investment in the health sector, with the purchase of consumables, medical equipment, and the construction of three completely new COVID hospitals, two new and several renovated laboratories for molecular diagnostic of COVID 19. Strengthening the health sector with the aim of improving access to quality public health care for all citizens is one of the priority tasks of the Republic of Serbia (RS). Serbia is moderately prepared for health-related emergencies. In the coming year, it should strengthen the overall managerial capacity, human resources and financial sustainability of the health system. In the area of public health, legislation on healthcare is partly aligned with the EU acquis. The national plan for human resources in the health sector has still not been implemented, while the number of physicians leaving the country still remains high. According to the EU Progress Report for 2020, the EU-funded centralized electronic health record system is still not used and compliance with EU health indicators is not yet ensured. On serious cross-border health threats, including communicable diseases, the surveillance and response capacity remains limited and needs to be modernized. A centralized health information and communication system has yet to be implemented. Harmonizing Serbian legislation with the Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare has yet to be completed. An e-health unit at the Ministry of Health should be established to coordinate the complex activities involved in setting up a comprehensive health information system at all levels of care. Additional work is needed on using laboratory data for surveillance; on quality and biosafety and biosecurity management systems and on strengthening diagnostic capacities. This will include the reconstruction and upgrade of the laboratories that are part of the Ministry of Health network in the context of an increased health system resilience to emergencies. Serbia has a good primary health care structure with 158 primary health care centers (PHCs) in each municipality with links to local self-governments, which creates a solid base for response to potential emergencies. Nevertheless, there is a need to work on capacity building and better connectivity with all local partners, including the civil sector, which can make a significant contribution in responding to emergencies. To support the Government of Serbia in overcoming challenges in the functioning and of the national health system, the EU entrusted UNDP with the implementation of the “EU for a More Responsive Healthcare System” Project. UNDP will implement the Project in close coordination with the partner agency – WHO. The Project lasts four years and will enable the reconstruction of the Biosafety Level two laboratories and implementation of the Laboratory Quality Management System, public health upgrade of Disaster Risk Register, development of procedures for reacting in emergencies, the establishment of the eHealth system and effective risk communication and community engagement.

In light of the abovementioned, the UNDP is seeking to engage a Project Coordination Associate to assist the UNDP Programme Analyst in the implementation of project activities. The purpose of this position is to provide support services for the UNDP project and accountable implementation of the project activities and achievement of project results.

Duties and Responsibilities

His/her key responsibilities of the role include:

Support in Project coordination:

• Be responsible for generating quality results and outputs from the project activities through providing high quality project implementation and management inputs to Programme Analyst and relevant project partners;
• Ensure regular support, follow-up and monitoring of the planning, development and implementation of project activities with special consideration of poor, marginalized and disadvantaged groups and gender issues;
• Manage, mentor and coordinate with project partners and beneficiaries for enabling them to ensure successful accomplishment of project targeted activities, trainings, events and overall performance;
• Deeply analyze workplan, progress reports etc. received from beneficiaries and contracted parties, prepare analytical findings, share with Programme Analyst, other concerned and national partners for devising necessary future steps for ensuring quality project results;
• To prepare the project progress reports with the coordination of monitoring component of the project.

Project administrative and financial tasks:

• Draft TOR for hiring experts for providing technical and expert supports to project partners, and beneficiaries in connection to project needs and annual workplans;
• Make all efforts as coordinator to provide technical and administrative support for the organization and the management of the activities in close cooperation with all the stakeholders;
• Monitor and manage contracted parties so that due deliverables are made as per the contract and workplan, review and analyze progress reports together with financial reports made by contractees;
• Provide trouble shooting supports as and when requires so that expected results are made in line with the Project outputs and objectives;
• Provide support to the expert teams and beneficiaries so that deliverables are made ensuring value for money, required staffs are recruited following appropriate rules and policies;
• To prepare an Annual Work Plan and Budget.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Guide expert teams for ensuring closer coordination with the project partners, coordinate field visits by various external visitors (donors, UNDP CO, study/evaluation team, local, central government representatives, media etc.);
• Regularly update stakeholders on project status, milestones achieved, and any potential risks or issues;
• Partnership management and fund disbursement implemented in coordination with the Programme Analyst;
• Regular liaison with project partners and other government institutions in relation to providing substantial support to the organizing of training and workshops.

Required Skills and Experience 

Education:

• Secondary education is required.
• University degree (bachelor´s degree) in social sciences, technical sciences, economics or related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 (seven) years (with Secondary Education) or 4 (four) years (with Bachelor´s degree) of experience in providing project support with involving international organizations/ national governments.

Required Skills:

• Experience in project coordination and implementation of activities;
• Having project Monitoring and Reporting skills is required;
• Experience with project management would be considered an asset;
• Full computer literacy networking and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.);
• Good communication skills and effectively maintain liaison with the relevant stakeholders.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in one or more of the following: programming, monitoring, implementation, evaluation and reporting of EU-funded projects; Please clearly indicate in which area(s) you have experience in your application;
• Experience in one or more of the following: procurement, recruitment, finance, logistics, general administration, communication and PR. Please clearly indicate in which area(s) you have experience in your application;
• Experience in organization of various events including high-level ones;
• Evidence of ability to express ideas clearly; to work independently and in teams; to demonstrate a sense of self-assuredness combined with cultural and gender sensitivities;
• Working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experience in the handling of web-based management systems;
• Experience working in the UN system or other international organizations will be considered an asset.
• Experience in partnership building at national, regional, and local level;
• Practical experience working with the Government capacity building and other relevant areas is an asset;
• Experience in working in the areas of disaster resilience, emergency management, health, and migration) would be considered an asset;
• Understanding of current policies and legislation relevant for the field of disaster resilience, health and migration, and familiarity with the EU accession process, global trends and emerging needs in this regard.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Serbian and English

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/21252