Background
ย Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:ย we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a โleave no one behindโ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
ย UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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The UNDP, in partnership with several donors, has led the design of the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Phase I. The fund aims to enhance community capacities to protect development gains and improve well-being amidst shocks and stresses, contributing to Zimbabweโs economic growth. This will be achieved through three key results:
Evidence-Based Policy Making: Creating a robust body of evidence to inform policy decisions and resilience applications. Multi-Donor Trust: Establishing a trust to unify partners around the Resilience Framework, enhancing the absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities of vulnerable communities. Risk Financing Mechanism: Developing a mechanism to provide timely, coordinated, and predictable responses to risks and shocks from a resilience perspective.Phase II of the ZRBF will build on the successes of Phase I, aligning with the implementation frameworks of the Government of Zimbabwe, the UN system, and various development partners. This alignment ensures that interventions are integrated with national priorities and global development goals, promoting long-term sustainability and resilience.
UNDP Zimbabwe plans to partner with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for ZRBF Phase II. The program aims to bolster the resilience of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and marginalized rural communities. It focuses on sustainable natural resource management and climate action to improve food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe.
The ZRBF operates on joint programming principles, providing flexible, coordinated, and predictable funding to enhance national resilience to shocks. Improved stakeholder coordination will facilitate policy dialogue, programmatic harmonization, and the development of evidence for better targeting and program design.
ย Duties and Responsibilitiesยย
1.Ensure Effective PMU and Fund Administration Management focusing on achievement of following results:ย
Manage the ZRBF PMU staff ensuring adequate guidance, support and skills development through coaching and mentoring is provided for delivery of results; Develop Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with grant recipients and Standard Administrative Agreements (SAAs) with contributing Partners for approval of the Steering Committee of the ZRBF; Ensure the tracking and management of funds approved by the ZRBF Steering Committees and their proper administration; Monitor and track project approvals, budget records, disbursements and statements of expenditure submitted by the Grant Recipients on an ongoing basis; Ensure consistency between ZRBF operations and UNDP operational policies; Ensure timely donor reporting adhering to the reporting requirements described in the ToRs of the ZRBF; Develop ToRs for consultants, and support and supervise consultants and other service providers;ย Manage the implementation of donor agreements on disbursement schedules to ensure sufficient funding of workplans;ย Ensure timely collection of contributions in accordance with the payment schedules of the different contributing partners; Ensures gender equality approach throughout the project cycle; Develop, in close coordination with donors and Government of Zimbabwe, the main programmatic and legal documents (Terms of Reference, Memorandum of Agreement and others) and the continued positioning of ZRBF as the vanguard of resilience building in Zimbabweโ ensuring continued relevance of ZRBF and its activities.2. Strategic planning, formulation, management, and policy analysis focusing on achievement of following results:ย
Advise the ZRBF Steering Committee on programme policy, planning, monitoring and fund administration issues;ย Ensure effective management of the Secretariat for the Steering Committee; With support from the relevant advisors at Country Office, regional office and HQ levels oversee the development and set up of a system for continued analysis and testing of causal relations for resilience building; Lead the formulation and continuous refinement of the operational policies and procedures of the crisis modifier component of the ZRBF; Oversee the implementation and maintenance of the overarching resilience M&E framework for ZRBF; Serve as the primary focal point and resource person for the crisis modifier in relation to OCHA and the wider humanitarian community in Zimbabwe; Organize Steering Committee and Technical Consultative Committee meetings in accordance with agreed ToRs; Advise the RR/DRR on policy issues related to the ZRBF.3. Ensure project performance, results-based reporting, risk management focusing on achievement of following results:
Maintain regular contact with Grant Recipients and provide support and guidance on implementation and the preparation of results-based progress reports, in line with the developed Theory of Change;ย Oversee the organization and systems for optimal progress and impact reporting for the multi-donor fund; Ensures that all reports and evaluations are done through gender responsive approach; Ensure the quality of analysis, models and products developed by the ZRBF-PMU; Oversee the preparation of consolidated analytical results-based progress reports based on submissions from Grant Recipients within the timetable specified in the Memorandum of Understandings;ย Prepare strategic materials, briefs and/or position papers on emerging results and outcomes of the ZRBF;ย Provide periodic summary reports to the Steering Committees on the overall progress of the ZRBF; Develop and implement annual visibility and communications plans in accordance with donor agreements; Ensure internal controls, oversight, risk management including timely implementation of audit recommendations.4. Ensure effective and Strategic Coordination, Networking, Resource Mobilization and Partnership focusing on achievement of following results:
Ensure Contributing Partners and stakeholders are kept informed of the activities of the ZRBF; Negotiate Grant agreements with current and new donors to ZRBF in accordance with the TORs of the ZRBF;ย Mobilize and interact with UNDP HQ and Regional Centres and relevant UN entities to appropriately respond to any needs occurring within ZRBF; Mobilize resources for ZRBF as necessary; Serve as the main contact for internal communications and reporting on the ZRBF with outside parties; Create networks and promote initiatives with partner organizations; Actively promote regional exchange of Resilience Building in Southern Africa.5. Facilitation of Knowledge Management and Advocacy Services:
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Project Coordinator operates under the general supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (Programmes) and works in close collaboration with government entities and donors to manage the Project Management Unit (PMU).
ย Competencies CORE Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย 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 demandsย 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 Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย ย ย
ย ย Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinkingย ย ย Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPโs mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinkingย ย ย ย ย ย
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.Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation ย ย ย ย ย ย
Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.Business Management: Project Managementย
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.ยBusiness Management Communicationย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
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 audienceย Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.Partnership Management: Relationship Managementย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding.Thematic Competency: Climateย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Climate Strategies and Policy: Financing Strategies, Plans and Investment Frameworks. ย ย ย Required Skills and Experienceยย Education: Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction or other relevant Social Sciences is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: Minimum of 7 years (with masterโs degree) or 9 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant experience with increasing responsibility in international development and with international organizations along with relevant field experience in transitional environments.
Required Skills:
Practical experience implanting initiatives within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus; Experience in managing multi-donor and multi- partner projects; Demonstrated experience in donor, CSOs, CBOs, Government and private sector liaison. Desired Skills: Previous UN or UNDP work experience will be an added advantage; Experience in managing a Resilience, Climate Change or DRR projects will be an added advantage; Experience leading a multi-disciplinary technical team in challenging contexts is desired; Experience in supervising setting up M&E systems for results-based reporting an advantage. Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Shona or Ndebele is required. Professional Certificates: Certified project management experience eg MSP is an asset. ย Disclaimerย Applicant information about UNDP rosters
ย Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
ย 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.ย ย
ย 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.ย
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