Zimbabwe nationals: Project Manager (GCF Project)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Harare, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

Background

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Zimbabwe has received funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the project  entitled “Building climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural livelihoods in southern Zimbabwe” The objective of the proposed project is to strengthen resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities, particularly women, in southern Zimbabwe in the face of increasing climate risks and impacts. The project will contribute to the following GCF Fund-level impacts for adaptation: 1.0 “Increased resilience and enhanced livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, communities and regions” and 2.0 “Increased resilience of health and well-being, and food and water security” for vulnerable smallholder communities in southern Zimbabwe. The project outcome will strengthen the adaptive capacities of vulnerable smallholder farmers, especially women, to climate change-induced impacts on their agroecosystems and livelihoods through revitalization of irrigation schemes, upgraded water and soil moisture management and water use efficiency, climate-resilient agriculture, improved access to climate information and markets, and partnerships with public and private sector actors. To achieve these outcomes the project proposes to overcome the identified barriers through implementation of the following three interlinked Outputs, using GCF and co-financing resources: (i) Increased access to water for climate-resilient agriculture through climate-resilient irrigation systems and efficient water resource management; (ii) Scaled up climate-resilient agricultural production and diversification through increased access to climate-resilient inputs, practices, and markets; and  (iii) Improved access to weather, climate and hydrological information for climate-resilient agriculture. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement (MLAWRR) is the implementing partner and the project will be implemented for 7 years from June 2020 to May 2027.

Against this background, the Zimbabwe Country Office needs a highly qualified, experienced and self-motivated Project Manager to lead the project team. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager is responsible for overall management of the Project, the day-to-day management, decision-making for the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision of project staff, consultants and sub-contractors as well as preparing project reports as specified in UNDP and GCF requirements. The Project Manager’s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and budget. The Project Manager reports to the UNDP Programme Specialist Poverty Reduction Environment and Climate Change (PRECC).   They will also work in liaison with the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor and Government-nominated project focal points.

Ensuring effective management of the GCF Project

  • Day-to-day management of the project to ensure the direction of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results;
  • Oversee and coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication, Capacity building, Monitoring and Evaluation, and risk management plans for the Project;
  • Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project staff, UNDP and MoLAWRR identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Project Steering Committee for consideration and decision on possible actions if required and update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log;
  • Plan and develop project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets in accordance with the Project Document and in close coordination with project stakeholders and the PMU staff;
  • Ensure that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall direction set by the Project Document and lead to the timely achievements of project targets and results;
  • Ensure implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement and HR plans;
  • Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions;
  • Develop innovative improvements to enhance the performance of the project;
  • Coordinate and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs;
  • Organize and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP;
  • Ensure organization of Project Steering Committee meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes;
  • Ensure compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms;
  • Provide technical advice, draft papers/briefs/proposals in project’s technical focus.

Maintaining effective project monitoring, evaluation and reporting 

  • Manage the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Steering Committee and GCF. Ensure that GCF and UNDP reports are prepared according to UNDP’s SOPs, and quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to GCF; and ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines;
  • Establish adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities in consultation and collaboration with Ministry, UNDP, and consultants and; ensure that adequate systems are in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken, including regular field trips for monitoring purposes;
  • Assess project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results.

Maintaining collaborative working relationships among key project partners, partners and donors

  • Ensure and coordinate the provision of high-quality technical advice and the building of collaborative partnerships;
  • Establish, maintain and facilitate strategic dialogue between UNDP Staff, project staff and Government officials at national and local levels, in project’s area of work;
  • Establish strong collaborative relationship with the ZRBF project team, implementing partners and stakeholders as well as identify and establish collaborative partnerships with ongoing initiatives; 
  • Ensure appropriate inputs into the collaborative platforms including the National Resilience Building Platform;
  • Ensure that the Project systematically builds capacities of stakeholders through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation;
  • Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the Government partners and UNDP;
  • Coordinate the advisory activities of the project technical advisors and ensure that technical outputs are provided according to plans and up to highest technical standards and review and clear technical outputs for quality.

Effective Staff Management and Supervision of the Project Management Unit

  • Establish performance objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance, and support to ensure optimum performance as well as undertake performance evaluation of project management staff;
  • Develop ToRs for consultancies and other short-term jobs support and supervise consultants as well as oversee effective provision of services to project stakeholders as required;
  • Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring.

Effective project budget and resources management

  • Manage project disbursement schedules from GCF and co-financing from UNDP and Government ensuring co-financing is timely disbursed and accounted for;
  • Mobilize personnel, goods, and services, including training, drafting and reviewing work or goods specifications and overseeing all contractors’ work;
  • Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system and support audit and Implement audit recommendations for the project as well as provide inputs to audit management responses;
  • Oversee the appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations. Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, through the advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures);
  • Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenditure;
  • Monitor and ensure compliance of project activities with social and environmental safeguards;
  • Coordinate preparation of financial reports to UNDP as required.

Knowledge capturing, management and dissemination 

  • Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation and facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned;
  • Facilitate knowledge building and management;
  • Ensure that project communications activities are being implemented.

Institutional Arrangements

The Project Manager reports to the UNDP Programme Specialist Poverty Reduction Environment and Climate Change (PRECC).   They will also work in liaison with the UNDP colleagues, Regional Technical Advisors, Partners and Government-nominated project focal points. The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall supervision of all project personnel. The Project Manager   will be located at UNDP Country Office and should be willing to commute regularly to various meetings in ministries and on-site.

Competencies:

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 

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 demands 

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

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Technical and cross-functional Competencies

2030 Agenda: Planet Nature, Climate and Energy: Climate Change Mitigation: Sustainable Infrastructure: Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience

Finance: Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of the work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Business Direction & Strategy:

Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authorities, area of expertise

Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific

Risk management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

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.
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in Climate Change, Agriculture, Rural Development or related field.
  •  Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.  

Experience:

  • Minimum 7 years (Master’s Degree) and 9 years (Bachelor’s Degree) relevant experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, management/coordination, monitoring and evaluation of complex development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
  • At least 3 years’ experience in working on climate change adaptation projects preferably designing, managing or providing technical advisory services to large donor funded complex adaptation projects;
  • Demonstrable knowledge and familiarity with multilateral/bilateral donor agencies like GCF, GEF, EU funding and reporting modalities;
  • Demonstrable technical expertise and knowledge in climate change adaptation, agriculture and livelihoods;
  • Demonstrable knowledge and familiarity with GCF and GEF funding modality and prior experience in the UN System is an added advantage;
  • Experience in rural development setup and the Agriculture Sector in Zimbabwe is desirable;
  • Previous experience with the UN or international donor-funded projects;
  • Extensive project management experience including results-based management, monitoring and evaluation;
  • Experience in managing large-funded donor projects with a minimum of US$5 million.

Language: English (Proficiency Requirement – High in oral and written)

  • Ndebele, Shona or other languages spoken in the areas of project operation is an added advantage.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  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.

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.  

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. 

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POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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