UNDP Job Vacancy for Project Coordinator (Facility for Inclusive Markets Project), Abuja, Nigeria
UNDP Nigeria seeks a suitable and experienced national coordinator for its newly initiated Facility for Inclusive Markets (FIM). FIM aims to assist the GoN in the co-creation of inclusive markets: markets that generate value addition, employment and income. FIM will systematically feed inclusive market experiences from the private sector, the GoN or donor funded projects (FIM input partners) into the learning and planning structures of GoN (FIMs 'output partners'). These experiences will inform the role of GoN (FIMs client) in economic growth, gearing its approach to value chains towards systemic change. FIM contributes to the private sector component of CPAP, subcomponents II and IV.
FIM will have an opportunistic approach, with emphasis on agriculture, where the bulk of inclusive markets experience lies in Nigeria, working on priority value chains. It will capture lessons from different sources, including international centers of knowledge, and codifies those into actionable knowledge products that respond to the needs of its client. These products will be embedded in FIMs output partners, relevant institutions that inform the GoN such as training facilities and think tanks.
The candidate will work under the overall strategic direction of the UNDP Country Director and the on-going guidance and direction of the Deputy Country Director (Programme), and working in close coordination with the UNDP Governance Team Leader and the GoN representative, the Project Coordinator (PC) will be the head of the Project Team (PT) for the FIM, Nigeria Project (otherwise referred to as FIM) funded by UNDP. The project is expected to be funded over a 4years period 2010-14.
The PT will, during the initial year of operation, work from the UNDP office and then planted within relevant institution(s) in subsequent years of operations. The PC will be required to manage a small team consist 3 Project and Operational Support staff, but will engage and manage severally both international and national Technical Support Service resources. Hence, bringing together both the PT and the Technical Support Service resources. As such, he or she will be required, inter alia, to provide high quality advice on critical policy and technical and planning issues on private sector inclusive market operations to FIM clients, including relevant input and output partners, interact on substantive and operational issues with senior Governmental, non-governmental and donor officials and Private Sector Development stakeholders, and assume overall responsibility for the coordination, planning, budgeting, management, monitoring and reporting of project activities. In line with UNDP regulations and rules as well as specific commitments made in the FIM project documents, s/he will also ensure prudent and effective management of the assets as well as the human and financial resources of the project, ensure complete project documentation at all times, guide the preparation and submission of annual work plans, and prepare and submit timely progress reports to the Project Board through UNDP, as required.
Job Responsibilities
FIM is a new and innovative initiative that will be shaped and sharpened in its first year. FIM depends to a large extent on meaningful relationships with its partners and its responsiveness to its client, the GoN. The coordinator has a crucial role in establishing the ambition of FIM on the ground, building those relationships.
Key functions includes:
- strategic advice on inclusive market issues and planning to top level policy- and decision-makers in FIM client and output institutions, based on careful analysis and research
- Development of a wide range of productive professional relationships, ranging from technical to policy levels, across a broad spectrum of relevant public and private sector inclusive markets stakeholders (client and partners)
- leadership in designing and managing relevant, feasible and monitorable knowledge management windows, national capacity development programmes, researches, advocacy and alliances on inclusive markets operations with demonstrable results
- strategic advice and direct input to facilitate successful FIM project inception and embedding in primary national institutions
- Effective and professional managerial and technical leadership as well as oversight for project implementation
- Coordination and provision of professional inputs of the highest quality across the entire project cycle
- Implementation of performance measurement and monitoring systems subject to quality assurance by GoN and UNDP
- Convening of and timely and efficient support for coordination mechanisms related to the project (Project Board) and potentially bringing together potential partners
- Approaches to gender equality are integrated into project processes and deliverables
- Provide strategic advice on inclusive market issues and planning to top level policy- and decision-makers in FIM client and output institutions (including Government, UNDP, development partners and private sector operators), based on careful analysis and research. For this purpose, the coordinator will need to be a thought-leader and initiator in all these activities, prepare and present relevant products (concept notes, issues papers, reports, case studies e.t.c) as well as support planning processes, guide the design, execution, review and publication of researches, and analysis on inclusive private sector development issues which can turn the project into the pre-eminent source of cutting-edge thinking and writing on Nigeria's private sector development. In addition, provide overall strategic operational advice and guidance on resource and management matters.
- Provide leadership in designing and managing relevant, feasible and monitorable knowledge management windows, national capacity development programmes, researches, advocacy and alliances on inclusive markets operations and planning with demonstrable results - designed to deliver significant and sustainable results that can link client planning process to systemic development in market – across the State and relevant value chain sectors that impact directly on Nigeria's private sector development.
- Provide strategic advice and direct input to facilitate successful FIM project inception and embedding in primary national institution(s) through the establishment of productive working relationships with key GoN partners and stakeholders, articulation of detailed work plans, formulation of operational procedures, and development and implementation of an implant strategy to mobilize and establish needed capacity and resources (human & otherwise) with GoN institution(s).
- Ensure the provision of effective and professional managerial and technical leadership as well as oversight for FIM Project implementation through leadership and guidance to a team of at least 3 staff, and through supervision of work planning, budgeting, management and reporting processes, effective use of all project resources (assets, people, funds) in line with UNDP regulations and rules, liaison with implementing partners, monitoring of outputs and outcomes, on-going assessments of the effectiveness of work packages in supporting progress toward results and ensuring the authorised and effective use of FIM's physical and financial resources. S/he will ensure that FIM proofs its value added in the course of its first year.
- Together with the other staff of the PMU (and UNDP PSD staff), coordinate and provide professional inputs of the highest quality across the entire project cycle to the work of the Nigerian and international professionals involved in the project. This includes but is not limited to: (a) providing professional advice on contextual, policy, programming and operational issues; (b) ensuring that consultants and sub-contractors are working on the basis of approved and up-to-date job descriptions and/or terms of reference; (c) overseeing the successful coordination and provision of logistical support; and (c) providing background research/information and sharing or providing access to international good practice.
- Ensure that approaches to gender equality are integrated into all aspects of planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, including FIM project output and activities, subject to rigorous assessment of effectiveness.
- Build and maintain a wide range of strong, cooperative and productive professional relationships, ranging from technical to policy levels, across a broad spectrum of relevant public and private sector inclusive markets stakeholders (clients, public and private input/output partners, relevant local PS Networks, BMO and other individual contacts) - on a regular basis to gather their feedback and input for improving the direction, design and progress of projects. Pursue linkages and cooperation with other relevant value chain development donor partners, projects and programmes.
- Implement relevant, effective and technically up-to-date performance measurement and monitoring systems subject to quality assurance by GoN and UNDP, which include regular performance monitoring and evaluation of the project using a participatory approach with partners/participants and are robust enough to meet demanding standards of quality set by government and UNDP. Regularly share information on progress of implementation and any challenges and emerging issues with UNDP senior management, the Economic Governance and Private sector Team Leader and inclusive markets development partners, to support rapid resolution of any such challenges. Meet the administrative, managerial and financial reporting requirements of UNDP and development partners, as stipulated in the project documents, and as agreed by the Coordinating Committee.
- In consultation with UNDP and the representative institution(s) of the Federal Government of Nigeria and private sector on the Project Board), convene meetings of the Project Board, at a frequency to be determined by members. Supervise the provision of secretariat functions in support of the Committee, including preparation of agendas, timely preparation and circulation of minutes of meeting and transmittal of reports and other relevant documentation. S/he will also facilitate bringing together potential partners in different fora.
Scale of Impact
FIM will have to establish a credible voice on what works, for what reasons and under which conditions in inclusive market development in Nigeria and will need to develop a vision on inclusive market development that reflects UNDP's ambition on poverty alleviation, that is realistic for the GoN and is critical towards issues of sustainability and scale of impact.
He or she will need to develop and balance four actions lines:
- Advocacy and alliances: enhancing exchange between client and partners by organizing periodic events, signposting and a Business Call to Action (MDGs), the first in the world.
- Capacity building: international and national trainings for GoN, promoting peer-state learning, on-the-job training and south-south exchanges on i.e. commodity exchange markets.
- Knowledge management: facilitating accessibility to information by launching Nigerian portal for Inclusive Markets, establishing service data bases and promoting thematic case studies.
- Research: creating clarity on key concepts and approaches (i.e. value chains, markets, making markets work for the poor M4P), result measurement and poverty dynamics.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards
- Promotes the shared vision, mission and strategic goals of the partners supporting the initiative
- Displays strong inclusive, cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism
Functional Competencies:
Commitment:
- Serves and promotes the values and strategic goals of FIM
- Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others
- Responds flexibly & positively to change through active involvement
- Understands the need for and challenge of mainstreaming experience from experiments
Job Knowledge & Expertise:
- S/he should have a strong grasp of the strategic, policy and nuts-and-bolts issues involved in capacity development and planning in the area of policies that affect markets and value chain development in Nigeria.
- Ability to support policy planning processes, lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.
- Understands the functioning of the federal and state governments, its political economy, policy and planning processes and its learning systems in Nigeria
- Understanding private sector development (including informal sector) in relation to poverty alleviation and the reality of the private sector in Nigeria
- Synthesizes and creates clarity in complex thematic of value chains and inclusive markets
- Conceptually translates detailed implementation guidance to high-level policy information
- Solid academic background and demonstrated abilities in analysis of value chain and market situations and providing strategic advice.
- Ability to understand and apply tools such as the logical framework and results-based approaches. Solid knowledge and experience of project management.
People Skills:
- Strong inter-personal communications and diplomatic skills, with an ability to listen, understand and respond effectively to different and divergent points of view expressed by a wide range of stakeholders (including donors, GoN officials, private sector operators e.t.c.).
- Outstanding networking skills
- A track record in ideas marketing
- Fluency in institutional analysis and identification of change agents
- Understand, works and mobilizes different incentive structures of partners and client
- Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others
- Ability to provide constructive feedback and maintain open dialogue
- Ability to solicit information from external partners effectively and to build relationships
- Works with a positive attitude and helpful orientation to team, partners and client
Results-Orientation:
- Ability to build strong relationships with the input and output partners (most especially GoN as the primary client), focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
- Ability to influence through persuasive argument, helpful guidance and follow-through, balancing quick-wins with long-term results
- Works with attention to detail, accuracy and quality
- Plans, prioritizes and incentivizes to deliver collaborative tasks on time
- Manages tasks with dependability, reliability and initiative
Communication:
- Ability to communicate clearly and convincingly to a broad range of audiences
- Possesses experience in facilitation and process management
- Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills
- Communicates messages consistent with FIM's goals and vision.
Job Requirement - At least a university degree in Economics, Agric. Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration or any other social sciences
- Progressively responsible work experience of at least 5years of relevant experience (with Masters) or 7years (without masters) with not less than 3years in providing project management leadership on project(s) focussed on managing core issues of private sector development and enabling environment, i.e. facilitating an effective business regulatory environment and public private partnerships.
- Skills in training, policy planning process facilitation, private sector strategic planning, and partnership-building.
- Advanced analytical skills, sound judgment, resourcefulness, ability to take initiative, capacity to work in a self-directed manner and in a multi-cultural environment, and ability to create a multi donor team-based work environment.
- Ability to prepare high quality policy briefs, analytical reports, and technical research reflecting global good practice in democratic governance.
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English.
- Excellent PC user skills: word processing, spreadsheets, databases and web-based research.
- Ability to travel within Nigeria and overseas.
- Strong skills in written communications in English particularly in preparing issue-based papers or reports.
- Excellent spoken English and at least a local Nigerian language is also required.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
