Project Cycle Support Specialist

Volunteering

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The reform of the field office network strengthens the role of field offices as key drivers for organization impact and implementation based on regional and national priorities. Within this reform, Regional Offices have received increased responsibilities and need to increase their capacity, particularly regarding portfolio management.

UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa in Yaoundé covers 10 countries, 3 national Offices (Libreville, Brazzaville and Kinshasa) and 3 Antennas (Ndjaména, Bujumbura and Luanda). The Office implements the 41 C/4 and 42 C/5 in the region and ensures alignment with UNESCO overall strategy, specific Africa Priority Program, and UN adopted frameworks in the region.

Starting in the 2nd Semester of 2024, a new generation of Extrabudgetary Projects will start implementation. Some are already confirmed, like a large Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded project in Chad (> 45 millions $ over 4 years), others are still being negotiated for a combined sum in excess of 100 millions $ in volume by the end of 2024, mostly in the education and science sectors.

This sharp increase in resource mobilization calls for enhanced capacities to manage the Regional Office’s project portfolio. Therefore, the Regional Office seeks to create a new Project Management Office (PMO) to support sector teams in their responsibility along the whole project cycle, from project design to implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The PMO will ensure the Regional Office permanent capacity and institutional knowledge of UNESCO and UN processes relating to portfolio management, as well as assist the Director to ensure strategic planning and alignment with the UNESCO strategy as well as UN regional and national frameworks. The PMO will be the Regional Office designated interface with the Bureau for Strategic Planning (BSP) at Headquarters.

As Project Cycle Support Specialist, the incumbent will support the Head of the PMO and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in providing technical expertise, leadership, and management to set up and maintain the PMO as detailed below.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

I.Set-up and management of the PMO

-Support the Head of the PMO in undertaking an inventory of the Regional Office’s portfolio, including the following: o-Identify and organize strategic objectives, business values, etc. o-Identify project and organization objectives, budgets, project attributes, and priorities o-Categorize, classify and organize projects o-Identify gating projects o-Map projects to strategic goals o-Launch the portfolio of projects -Using best practices, standards, and principles and in collaboration with project managers, the Director’s Office and the Administration, contribute to setting up a model for projects that facilitates consistent planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and closing.
-Update project schedules and contribute to planning the delivery of projects, i.e. contracts. -Support the Head of the PMO and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with other tasks as necessary.

II.Project cycle and delivery support

-Provide programming and project support as well as quality assurance to project coordinators throughout the project cycle for individual and interlinked VC projects and RP programmes, including for the following steps: o-Initiation of new projects o-Definition of project objectives and theories of change o-Project planning o-Budget creation and revision o-Implementation o-Monitoring and evaluation o-Reporting o-Project closure -Support project coordinators in delivering projects successfully and meeting targets and requirements within defined timeframes and budgets. -Provide guidance to project coordinators on procedures and next steps, increasing productivity and accelerating turn-around times.

III.Risk management

-Support the Head of the PMO in evaluating and managing external and internal risks to project delivery. -Review internal and external capacity and contribute to working with Heads of Sectors and project coordinators to ensure that projects are estimated more accurately and that the right resources are put into the right work at the right time to minimize risks.

IV.Collaborative and evidence-based decision-making

-Using the Organization’s tools and processes, contribute to stimulating a culture of collaboration and evidence-based/data-driven decision-making to strengthen collaborative relationships and promote trust within and beyond project coordination teams. -Support the Head of the PMO and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in streamlining data, providing real-time updates on project metrics, and sharing insights with the Director, Heads of Sectors and project coordination teams for proper decision-making and improved project performance.

Results/expected outputs:

In collaboration with the Head of the PMO and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the Project Cycle Support Specialist will contribute to providing professional expertise and guidance to Heads of Sectors, project coordinators and other UNESCO colleagues throughout the project cycle to ensure effective project management and delivery, the strategic alignment of programmes and projects, risk management, quality assurance, and evidence-based decision-making.

As an active UNESCO team member, the UN Volunteer provides efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support to UNESCO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions.

Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

organizational accountability, strategy, internal audit, oversight, and change management; -Knowledge of and work experience in project, programme and portfolio management; -Knowledge of management, compliance, and monitoring and evaluation is desirable; -Understanding of UNESCO governance, decentralization model, and Field Office Network is desirable; -Familiarity with United Nations policies, procedures, rules, and regulations is an asset.

Cameroon is family duty station. The country is with a tropical climate. There are two rainy seasons (April-May and September-October). The average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius. Health: UN Volunteers should be aware that they are exposed to a number of tropical diseases and should complete all medical formalities specified in the offer of assignment before travelling and bring with them sufficient and appropriate medical supplies. The following vaccinations are required and/or recommended prior to travel or upon arrival: Covid-19, yellow fever (required for travellers arriving), polio, rabies, tetanus/diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), malaria (prophylaxis is recommended for almost all of the country). UN staff has 24-hour access to a fully operational UN medical clinic, run by the UN Doctors, during office hours. There is also a selection of other health facilities available in Cameroon. Accommodation: The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. However the UNV Field Unit will provide the list of UNDSS recommended neighborhoods and put the newly recruited UN Volunteer with other UN Volunteers to facilitate his adaptation. Power and water: in most regions, including Yaounde, both electricity and water is readily available. Most hotels have secured water and generators in the event of a power failure. Food and diet: fresh food is seasonal but varied. Most staple foods are common in the supermarkets. Yaounde has a selection of reasonably priced restaurants with good health standards. Restaurants can be found in the provinces as well, but the standard, the quality of food and the level of hygiene may be limited, while availability of certain foods may be limited or seasonal as well. The usual precautions need to be taken when eating outside the home: no salads, bottled water and all meat to be thoroughly cooked. Minor stomach upsets are almost inevitable at some stage. Bank and Communication: Upon your arrival in Cameroon, your account will be opened with a foreign bank. The currency of account is normally XAF. You can purchase SIM card in Cameroon from any of the leading telephone companies for your personal use; if required (on the basis of your working requirements), you can be issued an official SIM card by the Office (upon request of your respective section). Besides the SIM card, you would also get the PIN Code from CITS to make international/local calls, which are usually cheaper than the mobile phones (and the cost of personal calls will be deducted from your monthly entitlements). Cameroon is a unique country; however, it requires more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in hazardous and harsh conditions involving physical hardship and little comfort are essential.

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Added 2 days ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: unv.org