Project Manager

The Integrated Pathways for Labour Market Inclusion – IP4LMI project is a comprehensive programme aligned with the second phase of the “EU for Social Inclusion Programme” IPA 2019, Lot 2, which aims to support various typologies of community and social care services and models of active labour measures and inclusive practices in vocational education for groups at risk. 

The project aims to strengthen inclusive and active employmen and skills models in 19 targetted municipalities of Prrenjas, Gjirokaster, Vore, Mallakaster, Cerrik, Librazhd, Shijak, Kavaje, Kurbin, Kukes, Kruje, Pogradec, Korce, Kamez, Vlore, Shkoder, Elbasan, Durres and Tirane, scaling up models of active labour market programmes (ALMPs) and skills development programmes. The project intervention is directly aligned with the National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030, the National Strategy for Social Protection 2020-2023, the National Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2021-2025, and the National Strategy for Youth 2022-2029. Moreover, the project is developed within the framework of Albania’s Economic Reform Programmes 2023-2025, and responds to EU integration requirements, particularly in social and employment policy (Chapter 19).  The project will be implemented by UNDP Albania with Swedish Public Employment Services (Arbetsförmedlingen), and the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF)

IP4LMI’s expected impact is to enhance the partnership of the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) with municipalities, to establish and deliver inclusive and integrated employment, skills development for vulnerable groups, in collaboration with labour market actors. The project will be implemented by UNDP in collaboration with Swedish Public Employment Services (Arbetsförmedlingen), and the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF).

IP4LMI support is proposed to contribute to the following three outcomes: 

• Outcome 1 – Fostered inclusive and tailored employment opportunities for groups at risk, women and men, boys and girls, in line with the needs of the regional labour market. 
• Outcome 2 – Improved access and flexibility of the skills development for youth and low qualified adults from the groups at risk.
• Outcome 3 – Promoted and delivered accessible and innovative needs of supported employment and skills development for people with disabilities. 

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Inclusive Growth and Jobs Programme Specialist, in close cooperation with the UNDP Programme and Operations Units, national authorities, and the respective institutions, the IP4LMI Project Manager will be responsible for the IP4LMI Project implementation, including planning, financial delivery, recruitment of the experts/consultants, procurement of goods and services, and reporting. The work will be carried out in line with the Project Document and in full compliance with UNDP Rules and Regulations.

Implementation of the Project activities:

• Day-to-day management of Project activities, monitoring the financial performance of the Project according to the project budget; 
• Coordinate with relevant implementing partners and responsible parties to ensure that the expected outputs are delivered in a timely manner, according to the project document;
• Ensure that the project is implemented in compliance with UNDP Procurement, Financial and Human Resources rules and regulations; 
• Ensure that the project is implemented according to work plans and within the established budgets;
• Ensure the implementation of the project communication plan and visibility requirements;
• Ensure the results-based implementation of project activities; 
• Act as project assets custodian and ensure the project assets are properly inventoried and reported;
• Provide professional advice based upon his/her specific area of expertise that is relevant to the project activities’ goals and objectives.

Implementation of reporting, monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies:

• Lead, supervise and monitor the project implementation process, including effective monitoring of project work plan and relevant activities as per outputs; 
• Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods used to verify progress and the results, undertakes the project’s independent evaluations;
• Ensure timely submission of financial and activity progress reports on the financial and operational status of the project, as well as on adequate financial management of allocated resources;
• Ensure the timely preparation of reports to donors and the Project Steering Committee; 
• Provide periodic analytical updates on the situation in respective sectors of the project;
• Collect, analyze and consolidate general and issue-specific materials, documentation, and contribute to the preparation of policy papers, corporate planning and reporting tools, resource mobilization and advocacy materials.

Liaison, partnerships and coordination with external and internal partners:

• Maintain and develop new partnerships with government institutions, development partners, private sector, civil society in the relevant thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities; 
• Analyse and research information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office efforts in resource mobilization, and maintain close relationships with donor partners;
• Closely liaise with implementing partners, Swedish Public Employment Services (Arbetsförmedlingen), and the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF);
• Closely liaise with other teams to ensure coherence and synergy among all projects of UNDP Albania;
• Advise team members and management on new developments regarding key partners and stakeholders.

Knowledge building and management:

• Facilitate knowledge building and management in the areas of the project interventions;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories; 
• Contribute to the design and implementation of appropriate learning strategies for stakeholders and target groups.     

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

• 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 

• Working with evidence and data:           
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data, with a goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.
• Effective Decision-Making:         
  • Ability to make decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• 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.
• 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
• Solutions Mapping:       
  • Ability to engage and build rapport with vulnerable communities and get consent, facilitate participatory processes and navigate intricate power relations and cultural dynamics.
  • Having the sensitivity and ability to identify grassroots solutions, capacities, assets, coping strategies that impacted communities have developed or used to address (emerging) development challenges. 
  • Being able to understand these solutions from a people’s perspective and learn about the conditions that enable or prevent communities from developing such grassroots solutions or coping mechanisms.
  • Understand how solutions and needs are paired, and how grassroots solutions can be used as an entry point to identify unaddressed or unmet development challenges and how to use these insights to inform policy design. 
  • Ability to reverse engineer solutions, understanding what aspects (artefactual, principles, conditions, configuration) can be scaled and how, being able to assess their potential to be transferred to other domains, regions or contexts and build a case for that.
  • Ability to appreciate and integrate various sources of knowledge (academic, experiential, observational, traditional, indigenous) in problem solving processes. 
  • Set up structures and processes to collect ideas, solutions and facilitate matchmaking between supply and demand of solutions.”
• Business Acumen:         
  • Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome
  • Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organi]ation and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
• Relationship management:       
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding.