Portfolio Coordination Officer

Contract

This is a IPSA-8 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 1 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-8 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions will be covered subject to the Supervisor’s approval.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF’s Local Development Finance Practice (LDFP) is a center of excellence and innovative fund for local government finance and local economic development. LDFP promotes and supports transformative investments through local governments and domestic financial institutions (banks, pension funds) in LDCs by piloting and scaling up innovative financing mechanisms and policies in the public and private sectors.

In line with this global orientation, the UNCDF/LDFP in West and Central Africa is developing and implementing an innovative portfolio of global and country program which focuses on:

• Fiscal decentralization;
• Providing financial support to cities and local governments in developping countries;
• Developing financial mechanism for municipal natural resources management;
• Unlocking financing for Women’s economic empowerment and SME;
• Integrating climate change adaption into local governments’ planning and budgeting systems;
• Increasing the amount of finance available to local governments for climate change adaption.

In view of supporting the Regional Technical Advisor for the Local Development Finance (LDF) Practice in Western and Central Africa (WCA) in the coordination and the implementation of the Projects in the Portfolio, an Officer is being recruited under her guidance and direct supervision, and in collaboration with the Regional Portfolio Manager. The Coordination Officer will be responsible for effective implementation of the project portfolio of the LDF team of the UNCDF Regional Office for Western and Central Africa, based in Dakar, Senegal. In particular, he/she will be responsible for effective delivery of programme and operational services for the regional and countries portfolio, provides leadership in execution of programme and operational services ensuring effective and transparent utilization of financial resources and integrity of financial services and transactions in line with UNDP/UNCDF rule and regulation.

Institutional Arrangement

This position will serve under the direct supervision of Regional Advisor for the Local Development Finance (LDFP) Practice in Western and Central Africa (WCA), and in collaboration with the Regional Portfolio Manager for Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

• Support to coordination and implementation of LDF WCA programme and project activities and development of LDF WCA porfolio.
• Administration and implementation of operational and financial management of the portfolio:
• Support strategic partnerships development and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

A Bachelor degree in Economics, Administration, Public Finance or related fields

Min. years of relevant Work experience

2

Required skills

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in programme and project management for International development projects,
• Hands-on experience in monitoring portfolio of projects and financial management ;
• Technical knowledge on local economic development financing issues, project financing, SME financing and public-private partnerships with municipalities, as well as municipal finance;
• Experience in managing teams.

Desired additional skills

• Knowledge of UNCDF/UNDP Programme and Operations Policies
• Ability to use ERP tools/ATLAS
• Work experience in west Africa

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Fluency in French and work knowledge of English