Job title: Project Manager
Location: UNFPA Odisha State Office, Bhubaneswarย
Full/Part time: Full Time
Duration: Contract duration to align with the proposed project extension/duration, with a maximum period of 11 months.
The Position:
Based at the UNFPA Odisha office at Bhubaneshwar, the Project Manager will provide substantial managerial, coordination and technical support to the implementation of the project, namely โSocial Empowerment of Women Self Help Groups of Mission Shaktiโ ensuring that the objectives of the project and the deliverables/results are achieved in time and with quality. He/She will lead a team of professionals based at Project Management Unit (PMU) at Mission Shakti, and will be responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of the Project, including support to Head of Office in all substantive and administrative matters, work closely with Government counterparts, implementing partners, and will undertake field visits to the project geographies for program planning and management achieving the quality standards set out for this project.ย
The Project Manager shall work under the overall guidance of the Head of Office, UNFPA Odisha.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.ย UNFPAโs strategic plan focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.ย
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in Programme results.
Job Purpose:
Originating as the flagship programme of the Odisha State government to empower women through Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs), Mission Shakti has evolved and now is a separate Department of Government of Odisha. The Mission Shakti Department endeavors to empower 70 lakh women organized into 6 lakh Self Help Groups through facilitating credit-market linkages for economic and financial empowerment of women.ย
Mission Shakti (MS) has created opportunities for WSHGs for better income generation in convergenceย with different government departments for provisioning of services, procurement of goods and to scale up financial inclusion initiatives thus giving an impetus to economic strengthening and paving way for transformative change in womenโs empowerment in Odisha.ย ย The WSHGs have played a pivotal role in creating awareness on social issues, supporting the communities in disaster preparedness and response including in the COVID-19 response. The WSHGs have emerged as a powerful platform for the government to reach out to communities and households even in the most remote locations of the state.ย
UNFPA is partnering with Department of Mission Shakti to carry forward the unique initiative of empowerment of women through WSHGs through building in and developing capacities of women on Digital and Financial Literacy as well as on important aspects of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and on Gender based Violence. The overall goal of the project is to empower Women Self Help Group (WSHG) members in Odisha over a period of three years through:
Digital & Financial Literacy (28 Districts; ~600,000 women) Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights, Gender based Violence (30 Districts; ~300,000 women) Collaboration/Partnerships through Knowledge Management and SSTCThe position of the Project Manager is of extreme importance to the overall design and achievement of envisaged results of the project. Reporting directly to UNFPA Head of Office, Project Manager will be responsible for:
You will be responsible for:
Project Management & Coordination Prepare and regularly update overall implementation plan for the project with risk framework using Results Based Management tools. Support Head of Office in identification of Implementing Partners and prepare required documents for partnerships. Support, guide the development of Annual Work Plans of the implementing partners with annual/quarterly budgets.ย Develop and implement mechanisms for close monitoring of progress on implementation identifying potential risk areas and bringing it to the attention of management. Support Management in managing and coordinating project activities, from substantive, administrative and financial points of view, applying strategic planning and systematic coordination of project activities. Manage day-to-day project implementation and overall coordination of project outcomes. Ensure supervision of the Project personnel and ensure effective communication and coordination between the Project personnel, implementing partners and the management Maintain strong relationship with Mission Shakti officials and regularly updating them on project progress as well as soliciting feedback from them Prepare reports/materials for the project steering committee Ensure timely preparation and compilation of the Project Annual/Quarterly Work Plans and Progress/Final substantial and financial reports and its submissionย Support in Preparation of monthly reports on key project activities, issues and required action points. Prepare the project semiannual progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks and issues, expenditures), annual review report and final review reports as appropriate.ย ย Ensure the quality of outputs and results with optimal monitoring mechanisms; establish effective coordination, monitoring, information sharing and reporting systems. Guide and orient efforts and contributions of consultants, staff and government counterparts towards achievement of project objectives.ย Mobilize goods and services to initiate activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications. Identify any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the Project. Provide direction and leadership in advocating project objectives and in ensuring that all interested parties are well informed about the project activities and goals.ย ย ย ย ย 2.Training & Capacity Building
ย ย ย ย 3. Policy and advocacy support
Identify key policy level gaps from implementation and draw upon a policy advocacy plan Analyse data from secondary sources as well as from project MIS and prepare analytical reports on policy engagement Gather existing knowledge and lessons learned from work on women empowerment/SHGs globally for sharing widely within the state through workshops, consultations and other forums Engage in programme and project development and review as required, ensuring the integration of a gender approachOthers:
Carry out any other related duties as may be requested by UNFPAยQualifications and Experienceย
Education:ย ย
Masters Degree or equivalent in any of the following areas: Management, Rural Development, Public Policy, Social Sciences or any related area.
Knowledge and Experience:ย
Two-Three years of work experience of programmes/projects of similar nature. Work experience with Government and/or UN agencies is desirable Knowledge of the ICPD and UNFPA mandate issues Experience working and mobilizing partnerships with governments, civil society, international organizations and donors Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) Experience developing and delivering capacity building exercises for diverse audiences is an assetLanguages:ย
Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of Odia language will be an advantage.ย
Required Competenciesย
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,ย Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,ย Embracing cultural diversity,ย Embracing changeFunctional Competencies:
Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships Delivering results-based programmes Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilizationCore Competencies:ย
Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, Communicating for impactยUNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - clickย hereย to learn more.
ย
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.ย
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.