Background
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Between the mid-1960s and the end of 1998, Cambodia faced a series of internal and regional conflicts which left a legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) across the country. Since 1979, mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) have claimed nearly 20,000 lives and injured over 45,000 others, causing unprecedented suffering to individuals, their families and communities, and severely impeding rural livelihood development.
As a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has an aspirational goal to be known as landmine-free by 2025. The RGC has also adopted a national Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on landmines and ERW – SDG 18: End the negative impact of mines/ERW and promote victim assistance.
The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) is the national authority responsible for the regulation, coordination, and monitoring of mine action activities throughout Cambodia, and serves as the coordination body to implement the National Mine Action Strategy (NMAS) 2018-2025 in pursuit of a Mine Free 2025.
Clearing for Results (CfR) is a flagship project of support to the RGC in mine action since 2006. Now in its fourth phase, the CfRIV: Mine Action for Human Development (2020-2025) is a multi-donor project nationally implemented by the CMAA with technical and financial support from UNDP, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the RGC.
CfRIV is focused on continued support to the national authority to integrate land clearance and release activities, victim assistance, mine risk education and gender mainstreaming in mine action efforts and broader national and international frameworks, while supporting enabling factors which will allow for development in villages declared mine free. Particular concentration is now shifting to enhancing the RGC’s capacity to move from proactive clearance of mines/ERW to managing residual risks, namely efficiently and effectively responding to individual explosive ordnance hazards identified post-2025.
Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the incumbent will work closely with CMAA and UNDP teams. He/She will be based in CMAA.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Coordination Specialist will be, under direct supervision of UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and Assistant Resident Representative, in charge of the Project. In close collaboration with the UNDP Programme Analyst in charge of the project, the Project Coordination Specialist is expected to provide technical assistance to CMAA to mobilize resources to support Cambodia’s mine action effort, to coordinate and monitor the project which is led by the national Project Director and Manager, both of whom are appointed by CMAA. Specifically, the Project Coordination Specialist will provide technical and management support and advice to the National Project Manager in the following areas:
- Coordination support and advice on the management of the CfRIV project, including planning and execution of the activities to ensure that the project delivers outputs in a timely and efficient manner.
- Institutional capacity development and policy advice.
- Resource mobilization, stakeholder coordination, and partnership building and management with Government agencies, operators, CSOs, UN agencies, development partners, and the private sector.
- Monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
- Knowledge management, advocacy, and communication of results.
Coordination support and advice on the management of the CfRIV project, including planning and execution of the activities to ensure that the project delivers outputs in a timely and efficient manner:
- Coordinate with the CMAA’s relevant departments and with UNDP Cambodia to develop detailed annual work plan (AWP) in line with the Project Document and project Board’s decision and based on discussion with and inputs from relevant colleagues and to ensure that the workplan allocates sufficient budget for gender-related activities identified by the team.
- Coordinate with the CMAA’s relevant departments and with UNDP Cambodia to develop recruitment and procurement plan.
- Facilitate the organization of Project Board meetings as per Project Document and the Board’s decision.
- Provide technical and management support and advice to CMAA to ensure that all activities are implemented in a coordinated and timely manner, and that results are delivered as planned to fulfill the expected outputs and in accordance with rules and procedures applied to the project.
- Ensure that activities are implemented following sound financial management and in accordance with rules and procedure.
- Provide technical support to CMAA to procure clearance services, to monitor and oversee the operators’ activities, including their financial management of the funds received from the project.
- Keep abreast of relevant development dynamics especially in key related institutional frameworks and national policies, which will impact the delivery of the CFRIV.
- Supervise UNDP recruited project team of international and national personnel and provide the necessary support so that they successfully succeed in their work.
Institutional capacity development and policy advice:
- Coordinate and collaborate with the CMAA, Mine Action Planning Units, national and international mine action operators and with relevant stakeholders in-country, regionally, at HQ, and in other UNDP projects/programmes; ensuring sound strategies, plans, and structures that promote efficient management and supervision of the sector;
- Advise on the integration of International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) in the national policy frameworks, on the implementation arrangements, and on the development of a suite of National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) which align to the IMAS.
- Provide technical advisory support on the establishment of normative frameworks across the five pillars of mine action, in particular the victim assistance.
- Collaborate with the national authorities, and national/international counterparts, to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, coordination, and response across Victim Assistance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), and integrated programming to leverage off land release operations for socio-economic development.
- Provide advice on and support to linking mine action with socio-economic outcomes through enhanced socio-economic data collection in land release operations, with a particular focus on economic growth, poverty reduction, livelihood activities, and achievement of the SDGs.
- Support and advice on the institutional capacity need self-assessments of national authorities, and the related capacity development plans and execution of UNDPs capacity development response.
- Provide strategic assistance and capacity development support on humanitarian Mine Action to line ministries, sub-national authorities, and local administrations of the regions affected by landmines and ERWs.
- Provide advice and support on the cross-cutting principles of mine action, including gender mainstreaming, and environmental protection.
- Advocate for and provide guidance on the adherence to international treaty obligations and reporting.
Resource mobilization, stakeholder coordination, and partnership building and management with Government agencies, operators, CSOs, UN agencies, development partners, and the private sector:
- Support effective and timely resource mobilization in close collaboration with CMAA and UNDP country office, including providing advice and support to CMAA to mobilize resources from private sector.
- Prepare necessary reports and documents in support of future resource mobilization efforts.
- Oversee and coordinate the development of concept notes and full project proposals.
- Build and maintain partnerships through networking with stakeholders to generate their interest in the area related to the project and in contributing to the resource mobilization effort.
- Support the development and maintenance of a donor database for mine action in Cambodia, including strategies and priorities of various donors and private businesses both globally and in Cambodia.
- Contribute to the development and enhancement of a communications plan and resource mobilization strategy.
- Promote information sharing and coordinate programme activities with other UNDP initiatives as well as with other United Nations agencies and donors, to develop inter-agency synergies.
- Raise the visibility of the programme strategies through knowledge sharing and well-developed communication materials.
- Ensure that experiences and lessons learned from project implementation are adequately recorded and disseminated.
Monitoring and evaluation, and reporting responsibilities:
- Act as the Mine Action Team Focal Point for the provision of Mine Action services to other relevant UNDP projects and programmes to ensure effective internal coordination and integrated programming.
- Provide substantive technical and policy support to the country office, and multi-country office programme teams in developing, expanding, and strengthening projects/programmes for the implementation of national and international norms and standards.
- Provide technical expertise to and work with CMAA’s relevant department to develop project M&E plan, including annual joint CMAA/UNDP/donors field visits and technical level field monitoring.
- Work with CMAA to develop a detailed results framework (log-frame) in line with the Project Document, including indicator, baseline, and targets where needed and with an emphasis on the higher level of results, e.g. outcome and impact that the project has made over the past decades (from phase 1) to the development of Cambodia and safety of the people.
- Analyze gender-related issues in mine action and mainstream gender in the workplan, M&E tools and in project results frameworks to ensure that the project not only addresses gender issues in mine action but contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment and that gender-sensitive results can be captured and reported.
- Develop M&E guidelines and tools and build the capacity of CMAA and other relevant stakeholders at the local level to use the tools, to collect and to analyze data.
- Coordinate with CMAA to collect data, to conduct field monitoring, and to analyze data.
- Facilitate external review and evaluation of the project and mine action sector where relevant.
- Provide technical support to CMAA to improve the Performance Monitoring System (PMS) and mine sector monitoring and reporting.
- Produce timely reports – both internal and external – following relevant requirements and established procedures.
Knowledge management, advocacy, and communication of results:
- Lead and facilitate knowledge production, including identification and documentation of case studies, and lessons learned.
- Develop and work with CMAA to implement the communication strategy for the project and for CMAA for mine action sector.
- Ensure that knowledge products are gender sensitive.
- Promote knowledge within and outside Cambodia through South-South Cooperation mechanisms, publications, workshops, exchange and experiences sharing, etc.
- Ensure that lessons learned, case studies, etc. are captured in the reports that are made available to the public.
Other tasks required by the office:
- The incumbent may also be required to take on other relevant initiatives/projects within the scope of TOR depending on the workload at the time. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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
People Management competencies:
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management
- 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; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
- 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.
- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
- Results Based Management : Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
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 altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
2030 Agenda: Prosperity
- Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility: Mine Action
Required Skills and Experience:
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, social sciences, peace and conflict studies, or other relevant disciplines is required,
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum ten years (with master´s degree) or twelve years (with Bachelor´s degree) of increasingly responsible experience in project management, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting preferably in the mine action sector.
- Solid experience in providing technical assistance to the government and other stakeholders in project implementation, design, coordination, and monitoring and evaluation is required.
- Sound knowledge and experiences in gender mainstreaming.
- Experience in developing high-quality knowledge products.
- Solid knowledge and experience in advocacy, and resource mobilization.
- Proven track record of capacity-building support to national counterparts and CSO partners in the mine action sector.
- Experience in providing professional partnership coordination with high-level Government representatives, donors, UN agencies, CSOs, and the private sector is an asset.
- Experience working in the mine action sector in Cambodia or Southeast Asia is an asset.
- Familiarity with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and procedures is an asset.
Required Languages:
- English – ability to present in high-quality English to both policy and technical audiences.
- Working knowledge of Khmer is desirable.
Disclaimer
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UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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