Programme Management Specialist (Decent work and small business development) - INTERNAL POSITION

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-10 contracts.

Background Information - Myanmar

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as the fund manager for some of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, and the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT). UNOPS is the Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards the elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress toward malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure, and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs, and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Background Information - Job-specific

Project Information

The Livelihoods and Food Security (LIFT) Fund is a multi-donor fund established in 2009 to address food insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar. LIFT 2019-2023 is funded by eight donors – the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Norway, and New Zealand. Post 2023, LIFT plans to implement a new strategy for 2024-2028. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the Fund Manager for LIFT, administrating the funds and providing monitoring and oversight services.

The overall goal of the LIFT Fund is to achieve a sustained reduction in the number of people living in hunger and poverty in Myanmar. LIFT strengthens the resilience and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable populations through interventions to raise income, decrease vulnerability, improve nutrition, and support food security.

LIFT works with a broad range of implementing partners, including non-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies, the private sector, civil society, and academic and research institutions. The Fund is active in the four main agro-ecological zones of Myanmar. For more details visit www.lift-fund.org.

Job-Specific Information

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager - Technical coordinator, the National Decent work, skills and small business development specialist will lead on the development of a high quality strategy on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development that supports LIFT’s overall goals on resilience and livelihoods’ strengthening for the poor and vulnerable groups in Myanmar. The position is also responsible for supporting the quality of the programming implemented by partners in various geographies and for providing technical capacity building of partners that focus or include decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking and small business development-related programmatic areas.

LIFT will also engage international or national decent work, skills and small business development specialists as consultants on ad-hoc needs to provide advisory service on strategic and technical issues related to these programmatic areas. The international or national consultants and the national specialist will work closely together to progress on the strategy and goals in decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development.

Functional Responsibilities

The National Decent work and small business development specialist will address the following objectives:

• Lead on the development, implementation and monitoring of the LIFT decent work, skills and small business development strategy and partnerships approaches with various development partners, UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs, public and private service providers and any other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide technical support for a coordinated and strategic approach to decent work and small business development policy and advocacy with donors, development partners, UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs, private service providers and other stakeholders, including community organizations and ethnic service providers.
• Provide technical support to LIFT programme teams and partners for the successful and coordinated design and implementation of LIFT projects that include decent work, skills and small business-related programming.
• Operationalise and share best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

Summary of Key Functions

1. Development, implementation and review of LIFT strategy and advocacy agenda on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development
2. Quality and effectiveness of LIFT-supported programme interventions
3. Coordination

1. Development, implementation and review of LIFT strategy on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development

• Lead on the development, implementation and monitoring of the LIFT decent work, skills and small business development strategy and advocacy agenda and partnerships approaches with various development partners, UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs, public and private service providers and any other relevant stakeholders, including community organizations and ethnic service providers.

• Draft LIFT briefs and position papers related to decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development needs, programming or lessons-learned.

• Work with MEAL and knowledge management teams to ensure evidence of LIFT-supported interventions is rigorously maintained, documented, and disseminated internally and externally as appropriate to contribute to improvements in programming quality and advocacy efforts.
• Provide inputs for the preparation of LIFT’s annual and semi-annual reports as well as other reports or updates as required.
• Support LIFT-supported research (formative, operational, etc.) on decent work, small business.
• Provide inputs into the design of call for proposals and proactively and regularly communicate planned requirements for program design and implementation to others within the LIFT Programme Management Office.

2. Quality and effectiveness of LIFT-supported programme interventions

• Support LIFT’s programme team to manage the aspects related to decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking,skills and small business development of their respective portfolios and ensure that approaches are harmonized whether at community, household or individual levels.
• Contribute to the appraisal of proposals related to decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development..
• Work with LIFT implementing partners to address decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development in the preparation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation (M & E) phases of projects.
• Help identify key learning opportunities from LIFT’s portfolio of projects and organize opportunities to share key lessons liaising with MEAL and knowledge management teams.
• Managing direct initiatives and projects (training, technical assistance) aiming at supporting implementing partners in decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development programming.
• When required, prepare Terms of References for and manage the work of retainers on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development. This may apply to strategy design, learning, technical assistance or any other ad-hoc need.

3. Coordination

• Participate in relevant national and sub-national networks and build understanding of LIFT’s work in decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, small business and skills development. This will in particular include the migration or skills development coordination groups engaging various partners and donors or any other engagement platforms that may develop.

• Support communication efforts on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking and small business development-related priorities with partners and colleagues. This will entail working closely with communications and knowledge management colleagues in the LIFT Fund Management Office (FMO).

• Ensure coordination with relevant stakeholders working on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development to collaborate on joint learning, analysis, and advocacy initiatives.
• Work closely with other LIFT technical teams to design and implement programmes that are integrated, coordinated, effective and coherent.
• Ensure coordination with other UNOPS funds and/or projects working on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development and collaborate on possible joint programming, learning, analysis and advocacy initiative
• Coordinate with and inform the LIFT Fund Board on decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development issues.
• Participate in all relevant internal meetings.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Masters) in economics, social science or other relevant discipline is required.
• A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in combination with 2 additional years of progressively relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience - A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in decent work, labor mobility, anti-trafficking, skills and small business development or related fields is required. - Demonstrated knowledge and experience of programme development and implementation in the above mentioned fields in a developing context is required. - Experience working with the major stakeholders such as local and international partners, donor agencies, academic and research entities and coordination bodies is required. - Familiarity with migration, anti-trafficking, skills development coordination dynamics is an asset. - Familiarity with the implementation of various approaches towards targeting and inclusion is required. - Strong policy analysis and advocacy experience and/or experience in operational and formative research would be an asset. - Computer literacy is required. Experience with Google Suite is highly preferred.

Languages

• Fluency in both written and spoken Myanmar language and English is required.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: LICA - 10 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx