Background
Office/Unit/Project DescriptionUNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) was established through a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1978, calling upon UNDP “to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people”. Since its establishment, UNDP/PAPP has delivered over USD 1.7 billion in development assistance to the Palestinian People.
UNDP’s Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023-2025 sets out a vision of “a world in which all Palestinians can enjoy a dignified life and fulfil their own vision of a unified, peaceful and free society”. The PPF is centered around the concept of ‘Transformative Resilience’ and its three elements: a cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, and ownership and leadership.
UNDP is currently leading a range of multi-sectoral programmes and projects in East Jerusalem under its East Jerusalem portfolio. These initiatives prioritize the preservation/ development of national systems and the improvement of livelihoods for the most marginalized communities. Recently, there has been an accelerated focus on infrastructure upgrades and construction, with numerous infrastructure and civil works either underway or planned. These efforts span key sectors, including education, health, economy, housing, energy, cultural heritage, and more.
2. Scope of Work
The incumbent will undertake the following key functions:
1. Effective project management by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the project’s progress through monitoring and evaluation.
• Supervise and coordinate the infrastructure activities of the project on a day-to-day basis, including, as needed, supervision and guidance of the communication coordinator and M&E coordinator, as well as required consultants and experts -as approved by the steering committee - with a view to achieving project results.
• Ensure the delivery of planned project activities and quality.
• Develop comprehensive/detailed project work-plans that include all project activities and roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders and set out corresponding milestones.
• Monitor the progress of implementation of the project activities and key event schedules, review the work- plans and set deadlines, and monitor the financial expenditures and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports, and provide the relevant guidance to the partners.
• Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, submitting information on the new risks and possible mitigating measures to the Technical Committee for consideration and updating the status of these risks by maintaining an up-to-date Project Risk Log.
• Assume responsibilities in line with the office Internal Control Framework and act as a `first authority` for Project transactions.
• Ensure the adherence of project activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP processes at the same time, observe the project timelines.
• Ensure that gender equality is pursued in all the activities and reflected in work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where relevant, analyzed in detail.
• Ensure that accessibility for people with disabilities is reflected in all activities.
• Consult regularly with other UNDP and participating agencies’ projects and programs on related activities, where synergies are possible.
2. Lead coordination and foster strong partnerships with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders focusing on the achievement of the following:
• Coordinate the activities of the project staff, experts and consultants working as part of the technical assistance team.
• Be responsible for the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical outputs, briefs and required documents, ensuring timely production and submission of outputs and reports by all members of the project team, contractors and project partners.
• Organize donor coordination visits, steering committees and project review meetings. Prepare background documents, briefs, issues papers, and progress reports for the Steering Committee meetings and for donor reporting. Follow-up on the implementation of Steering Committee decisions and recommendations.
• Supervise outsourced research and dissemination of research findings.
• Coordinate the delivery of the project in an effective and efficient manner, working closely with institutional counterparts, development/UN/donor partners and civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Develop guidelines and procedures for managing the project in an effective and result-oriented manner, ensuring that objectives and targets are met; correct inputs are provided; agreed procedures are followed up; and that outputs are produced in a feasible and timely manner.
• Compile annual work plans, human resources plan, procurement plan in line with the project outputs and objectives, to be approved by the Technical Committee.
• Monitor the delivery status and submit quarterly narrative and financial analysis of the overall project in relation to the agreed work plan and implementation strategy.
• Ensure that the plans and activities are closely coordinated with the stakeholders - both national and international - and that a high level of collaboration and cooperation is in place at all levels.
• Monitor the project, with the support of the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Analyst in addition to agency-specific M&E focal points, by preparing, updating and assessing indicators to monitor progress and submitting results-based progress reports.
• Assess the impact and effectiveness of the project through regular field visits and highlight achievements, progress and challenges through impact and results-driven reports.
• Ensure full functionality of technical assistance for each project component
• Follow up and coordinate, together with national partners, donors and development partners, the conduct of periodic Technical Committee meetings and follow up on the decisions and recommendations made.
3. Lead project monitoring, reporting and learning activities:
• With attention to infrastructure development and civil work activities, develop project monitoring, evaluation and learning plan including baselines, quantitative and qualitative data collection and quality assurance tools as well as design and oversee of the project external evaluation with support from the UNDP/PAPP RBM Coordinator and Programme Specialist.
• Ensure continuous field presence and responsiveness to context-specific dynamics for infrastructure works to enable timely adaptation of project activities to be emerging needs, risks, and opportunities based on real-time insights and evolving ground realities.
• Guide implementing partners on monitoring activities and data collection and verification for infrastructure works to align with the overarching project results framework and M&E plan.
• Timely prepare project progress reports and ensure submission in compliance with UNDP corporate and donor requirements, while ensuring quality reporting against project’s results framework.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports, presentations, and other materials, including briefings to senior management, to share information on achievements, challenges, etc.
• Update and file relevant documentation and data both internally and on corporate systems (Quantum, Quantum+).
• Oversee the preparation of knowledge products by project experts and implementing partners and support the strategic dissemination of knowledge products and information gathered throughout the life of the project, in close collaboration with the UNDP Communication Analyst.
• Prepare all required technical and financial reports for Steering Committee meetings, document the outcomes and recommendations of these meetings, and coordinate actions with support from the Programme Specialist.
4. Performing other duties within their functional profile, as deemed necessary, for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
3. Institutional Arrangement:
Under the guidance of the Assistant Special Representative (ASR) and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, the Project Manager will supervise the implementation of the infrastructure works to ensure the success of the project and accomplishment of its objectives. The Project Manager will oversee a team of at least three project engineers at NPSA 7 level, as well as external technical engineering experts, ensuring alignment with the assigned project structures.
4. Competencies:
Core competencies
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: The position has a supervisory role.
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area
Name
Definition
Business Direction and Strategy
Effective Decision Making
Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
Business Direction and Strategy
Negotiation and Influence
Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.
Business Development
Knowledge Facilitation
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 Management
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Partnership management
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
Business Management
Results-based Management
Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
Business Management
Monitoring and Evaluation
Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
5. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA
Min. Education requirements
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, project management, or related field is required OR
First-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience
Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in managing or serving in a key programmatic role on economic development projects with a focus on private sector and/or livelihoods development
Required Skills
N/A
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Operational experience in most of the following areas: infrastructure projects, engineering projects, civil works activities.