Project Manager

UNDP’s Governance Cluster is an integrated initiative that addresses issues affecting the lives of people on the ground in a holistic and cross-disciplinary manner, aiming at the sustainable development of the most marginalized communities throughout the country. One the mission of UNDP Governance Cluster is to support livelihood improvement efforts of the Government of Tajikistan through improving local governance and creating conditions for sustainable local economic development.

Within the Governance cluster, UNDP is implementing the project on Livelihood Promotion in Tajik-Afghan Cross-border Areas (LITACA), phase III aimed to support local producers by providing equipment and supporting marketing, labelling, design, and export. The LITACA project, phase III is a four-year initiative, financed by the Government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by UNDP Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The beneficiaries are small and medium farmers, agro-processors, and handicraft workshops, both individuals and cooperatives and cooperatives, traders (wholesalers, retailers, small- and medium-sized enterprises) in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The focus in on vulnerable women, unemployed youth, and people with disabilities. The duration of the project is from April 2021 to March 2025.

The project has three outputs: (i) increased employment opportunities for communities living in border provinces of Afghanistan and Tajikistan; (ii) enhanced LITACA products’ access to market; and (iii) improved access to cross-border trade. It is implemented in 10 cities and districts of the Khatlon Region of Tajikistan (Kulob, Bokhtar, Shaartus, Jayhun, Qubodiyon, Panj, Dusti, Farkhor, Hamadoni, and Shamsiddin Shohin) and bordering districts of the Provinces of Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar, and Balkh of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The One Village One Product (OVOP) movement is a unique approach to local development which was first introduced and adopted by Japan, Oita Prefecture in 1979. Later this concept was adapted for implementation in the Republic of Tajikistan under the project LITACA, financed by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by UNDP Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The Initiative aims to mobilize the rural community for bettering their lives by empowering themselves to establish and run their joint businesses by exploiting the natural resources that are accessible in their communities, applying traditional handicrafts, and ensuring high-quality products.

The Project Manager has the overall responsibility for day-to-day management of the assigned project and ensure coordination and collaboration with other economic development and livelihood promotion projects implemented in Khatlon region. The Project Manager will be responsible for the following functions: 

– project management

– partnership, coordination, and cooperation

– monitoring and evaluation

– knowledge sharing and communication. 

• Facilitate the day-to-day functioning of the project team and consultants hired by the project. 
• Manage the human and financial resources for achieving project results in line with the outputs and activities outlined in the project document and annual work plans.
• Establish performance management system, based on UNDP’s results and competency assessment system, to monitor project personnel performance. 
• Be responsible for financial project management through Quantum, in line with delegated authorities and internal control framework. 
• Ensure timely and efficient planning, implementation and follow up procurement activities within the assigned project. 
• Develop the annual and quarterly work plans for the projects. 
• Develop terms of reference for consultants and advisors who will be working towards programme delivery and supervise their work.
• Develop agreements with partners (Letters of Agreement, Responsible Party Agreements, Low-Value Grant Agreements, etc.)
• Organize Programme Steering Committees meetings, preparatory meetings for the UNDP Afghanistan, MEDT and donor representatives.
• Ensure organization of cross-border activities among entrepreneurs and businesses of Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
• Participate and substantively contribute to the planning and conduction of external audits, evaluations and reviews related to assigned project.
• Apply consecutive efforts to integrate gender equality considerations in project-related activities and in daily leadership practices.
• Ensure successful localization of One Village One Product initiative in Tajikistan coordinated with relevant partners at all levels.

Partnership and Resource Mobilization:

• Work collaboratively in a team environment with other UNDP projects to ensure integration, strategic focus, and gender-responsiveness of all programme activities.
• Keep close collaboration and regular communication with the relevant staff of UNDP and Agakhan Foundation Afghanistan to ensure coordinated approach for the regionally focused activities.
• Ensure close cooperation and partnership with the project donors and partners on project related issues. Particularly the coordination should be ensured with initiatives of international partners in Khatlon region.
• Prepare proposals for mobilization of human, technical or financial resources from international development organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector to support and leverage the project outcomes. 
• Ensure that projects activities are closely coordinated with stakeholders and that a high level of collaboration and cooperation is in place at the regional and district level. 

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Manage the implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation, information, and reporting systems as well as communication strategy for the assigned project.
• Monitor national context, emergence of players/stakeholders and actualization of risks that have implications for the project. 
• Compile a summary of lessons learnt and experiences for further development of recommendations to ensure better quality of project’s outputs.
• Undertake missions to all project locations on a quarterly basis.
• Ensure midterm and end term evaluations are undertaken properly and in line with UNDP standards.

Knowledge Sharing and Communication: 

• Lead the process of knowledge capture of national and international know-how in the subject area and production of knowledge-based products. 
• Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, and donor reports as per set requirements. 
• Supports relevant, high-impact advocacy activities and campaigns with key partners.
• Collects knowledge on current and emerging trends by gathering relevant information on projects, strategies, approaches, and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices. 
• Contributes to knowledge network and communities of practice. 
   

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management Competencies

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

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals 
• UN policy knowledge – ethics
  • Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity
• 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
• Risk Management
  • Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Inclusive Growth
  • Job/ Employment /Decent work Promotion 
• Gender
  • Women’s Economic Empowerment, including labor issues