Project Specialist, Local Development Finance, Western and Central Africa

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.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Regional Advisor for the Local Development Finance (LDF) Practice in Western and Central Africa (WCA), and in collaboration with the Regional Portfolio Manager, the Project Specialist will act as Focal Point for Blue Peace Financing Programme and will be responsible for effective implementation of the project portfolio of the LDF 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, provide leadership in the execution of the 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.

Summary of key functions:

• Contribute to the effective delivery of the Blue Peace Financing Programme activities,
• Support to Coordination and implementation of LDF WCA programme and project activities and development of LDF WCA portfolio;
• Administration and implementation of operational and financial management of LDF portfolio;
• Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy of LDF WCA.

Contribute to the effective delivery of the Blue Peace Financing Programme activities in West Africa

• Acts as a focal point for Blue Finance Programme for activities in close collaboration with the Programme Manager and the Blue Peace local Partners.
• Collaborate in supervision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and completion activities in assigned Blue Peace programs in the Region,
• Supports the organisation of events, meetings, conferences, etc.

Support to coordination and implementation of LDF WCA programme and project activities and development of LDF WCA portfolio in collaboration with the Regional Portfolio Manager;

• Support to the management of the regional team, country office activities coordination, work planning, monitoring of the implementation of work plans, monitoring of partnerships and grants; ensure the delivery of the key results on time;
• Development and management of tools for effective coordination of activities, through monitoring mechanisms, regular calls and updates, the definition of next steps and their effective delivery;
• Participate in scoping and strategic portfolio development missions and workshops as part of the implementation of projects and programme portfolio expansion;
• Ensure compliance with UNDP/UNCDF rules, regulations, and policies of activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations;
• Application of conceptual models in support of programme design, following LDFP Theory of Change and LDF WCA development strategy.

Administration and implementation of operational and financial management of LDF portfolio:

• Develop, prepare and monitor the annual and years forward budget submissions in line with LDF strategic plan, Theory of Change, and LDF WCA framework; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review;
• Timely and duly preparation of procurement plans for the LDF WCA, implementation of proper monitoring and control of procurement processes, monitor and ensure management of procurement contracts, receipts of outputs, and advised programme support staffs on procurement related issues;
• Development and follow up on Programme Portfolio Pipeline. Entry of data of new grants into Atlas in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs), monitoring of AWPs status;
• Establish and maintain an effective and efficient project monitoring system providing regular feedback on the project performance and to update regularly risk and issue logs;
• Effective and efficient use of ATLAS in line with project /programme cycles;
• Manage and lead on ATLAS project management function, entering a project into Atlas for LDF WCA projects, ensure the effective monitoring of project indicator in atlas and reporting tools;
• Perform functions of Specialist Level 1 for LDF WCA in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects;
• Regular monitoring of the global and LDF WCA country project delivery.

Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy of LDF WCA:

• Supports UNCDF's strategic positioning, in particular through support for the definition of the regional strategy of the LDF WCA, and with the development and maintenance of strategic relations with strategic partners (current or future);
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
• Support the development of the joint framework with other stakeholders who will be a partner of the LDF WCA programmes;
• Drafting of cost-sharing agreements, funding request and obtaining of clearances from HQ if necessary and facilitate the finalization of contribution agreement;
• Monitoring of cost-sharing contributions, coordinate with UNCDF HQ on the application of deposits against prepared pending items;
• Track and reporting on mobilized resources;
• Participate in the preparation of donor reporting and lead the preparation of report on financial contribution;
• Advice to Programme and Project Staff on different donor reporting requirements; monitoring of financial reports to be submitted to donors.
• Elaboration of conditions of contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.
• Support the negotiation of financing agreements and project proposals with governments, international organizations, private sector partners and the company below;

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the successful implementation of LDF WCA programmes and expansion of the LDF WCA programme portfolio. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance or Political Sciences or related field.

Required experience:

24 Months

Experience remark:

A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in programme and project management for Local Development Finance projects, International development projects, and hands-on experience in monitoring portfolio of projects and financial management is required;

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• French(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Finance, accounting and audit, Other finance, economics and administration related experience, Other development programme/project experience

Area of expertise details:

Expertise on local economic development financing issues, project financing, SME financing and public-private partnerships with municipalities, as well as municipal finance;

Previous professional experience in West and Central Africa will be considered an advantage;

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Creativity, Integrity, Judgement and Decision-making, Knowledge Sharing, Managing Performance, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Technological Awareness, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile.

Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 24 November 2020