Project Manager XB NW

With ten years into the crisis, the scale, severity, and complexity of needs across Syria remain deep and far-reaching. Over half of the country’s population have fled their homes: 5.5 million people have sought refuge in the region and beyond, and 6.1 million people are internally displaced. According to the HNO 2020, 11.1 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance. Of these, 5.6 million people face acute humanitarian needs. Millions of people have fallen into poverty, forced to resort to harmful coping strategies and faced with increasing protection risks.

With hostilities continuing in some parts of the country, COVID 19 preventive measures and impact of the financial crisis in Lebanon, humanitarian needs are expected to deepen in these areas.  In 2020 with no end to the crises in sight, humanitarian needs are expected to continue to grow in scale, severity, and complexity.  Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and the successor arrangement to the UNSF are expected to play a role in strengthening the Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding Nexus by strengthening Resilience of the affected population in Syria.  The role of Resilience is expected to grow in importance and significance due to the need to accelerate the transition from immediate Humanitarian assistance to IDPs and affected population to more sustainable and recovery-oriented support, including support to potential returns of IDPs as well as refugees.

The priorities of UNDP Syria are, as stipulated in the Country Programme Document 2016-2017 (extended till the end of 2020), to enhance the resilience and socio-economic stabilization of individuals and communities through restoring the disrupted livelihoods of the affected communities; and restoring, rehabilitating and maintaining sustainable basic services and infrastructure in damaged areas and host communities. Embedded in each priority is an institutional crisis response capacity development component for key national and local partners. Mindful of the scale of the crisis, the scaled-up, targeted, and rapidly responsive interventions of UNDP Syria would strive to mitigate displacement and movement of refugees, including forced, illegal, and unsafe migration and the trafficking of refugees, and to support potential returns of the IDPs.

The XB Syria projects are implemented in Idleb and Aleppo, north western Syria (NWS) and target IDPs and adjacent host communities’ members affected by the protracted conflict which has plagued the country for over a decade now, and the frequent annual flooding. The XB programme’s main objective is to provide for diverse ER related assistance through livelihood restoration, rehabilitation of socio-economic infra structures, promotion of social cohesion and peace building, and support to civil society organizations.

The UNDP projects in NWS routinely implement comprehensive and interlinked activities, in coordination with CCCM, WASH, Logistics, and Protection Clusters which are carried out by several NGOs/implementing partners with proven technical record in respective areas of work such as in rehabilitation and reparation of roads and associated drainage systems, as well as in the provision of vocational training and creation of livelihood opportunities, under the general management and monitoring of UNDP. As of Dec 2020, UNDP XB Syria projects have benefitted over 700,000 people from among the IDPs and host communities.

UNDP’s work regarding the rehabilitation and reparation of the access routes to IDPs camps in strict coordination with CCCM partners to ensure complementarity with the rehabilitation of roads inside the camp. The reparation and rehabilitation of flood drainage systems outside the camps and adjacent to host communities in coordination with WASH partners to ensure inside-camps works can benefit from outside work rehabilitation and is complementary to other WASH interventions at the community level. The identification of vulnerable HHs with a specific focus on severe economic vulnerability, including female-headed households and PwDs is ensured.  Another element is the provision of technical/vocational training particularly linked to the rehabilitation and reparation of roads and drainage systems, and the access to employment opportunities through cash for work activities.

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Team Leader, Strategic Policy and Planning Unit and close collaboration with programme and operations teams, the Project Manager XB is responsible for the planning, implementation and management of XB projects and management of UNDP’s area-based strategies and interventions in NW Syria.  The Project Manager XB analyzes social and economic trends and advises UNDP office accordingly on policy and programme interventions; builds strategic partnerships in the field with local authorities and development partners; and coordinates the formulation, management and monitoring of area-based strategies, plans, projects and interventions. S/He ensures achievements of results within the timeline, allocated budget and according to UNDP quality and accountability standards and rules and regulations. The Project Manager XB is also responsible for day to day management of the office and works together with programme portfolio, SPPU team for programmatic planning and implementation and relevant CO operations units for operational issues.

S/He liaises with sister UN agencies, relevant partners and stakeholders and supervises and guides office and project staff, ensuring quality reporting on implementation.

Summary of Key Functions:

1.       Effectively lead the planning and implementation of projects, teams and financial management of the projects, and measure performance and report on projects’ results and outcomes to the senior management (SM).

2.       Provide high quality and strategic policy advice to SM on early recovery needs and opportunities in NWS.

3.       Coordinate inputs and results with other humanitarian actors, local authorities and implementing partners including strengthening the capacity of the counterparts.

4.       Actively contribute to UNDP’s efforts and mobilize resources.

Promote and facilitate networking and knowledge building, sharing and management within UNDP and the ERL Sector

1.       Effectively lead the planning and implementation of projects, teams and financial management of the projects, and measure performance and report on projects results and outcomes to the Senior Management (SM)

• Ensure compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies, and internal control mechanisms
• Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training, and grants schemes to initiate activities, including drafting and reviewing terms of references and work specifications and overseeing all implementing partners’ work. Oversee effective provision of services to IPs as required;
• 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 advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the appropriate instruments;
• Develop project budgets. Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenses. Coordinate preparation of financial reports to donors, as required;
• Supervise and manage project personnel and consultants. Develop ToRs/JDs for project staff positions. Oversee recruitment processes. Establish performance objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance, and support to ensure optimum performance. Undertake performance evaluation according to UNDP´s policies and deadlines;
• Prepare procurement plans and oversee procurement and logistics for support to implementation. Produce regular narrative and financial reports to UNDP and the donors as required. Comply with security and safety requirements and regulations and ensure the same are respected by all project personnel.
• Monitor and analyze the project implementation and progress, using applicable M&E tools (e.g. monitoring plans, TPM, Atlas) and advise on timely adjustments and corrective measures as necessary;
• Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project and CO staff, IP’s and donors identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Senior Management for consideration and decision on possible actions if required. Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log;
• Provide management with top quality advice relating to strategic direction of project implementation and proper design of project activities;
• Facilitate day-to-day functioning of the Team. Manage resources (both financial and human) for achieving results in line with outputs outlined in the project document;
• As in-charge of the financial management elements of the project, approve project transactions (eRequisitions) under written delegated authority from the Senior Management;
• Solve complex project related issues and escalate sensitive matters to CO management in an efficient manner to seek a common solution;
• Prepare timely and regular progress reports for submission to CO management and external stakeholders
• Assist with implementation of audit requirements;
• Ensure security of the staff and assets belonging to the project;
• Ensure inclusion of lessons learnt and best practices to improve quality of future projects;
• Perform any other responsibilities that could be delegated by the supervisor;
• Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system;
•  Implement audit recommendations for the project. Provide inputs to audit management responses;
• Initiate operational closure of the project

2.       Provide high quality and strategic policy advice to SM on early recovery needs and opportunities in NWS.

• Provide high-quality and strategic policy advice on early recovery;
• Provide vision and policy direction to UNDP team and implementing partners;
• Identify measures for reducing bottlenecks to implementation in the target areas and ways to increase capacities linked to existing and potential opportunities for the target beneficiaries of the project;
• Support measures to promote women’s economic empowerment, through targeted interventions for enhancing their purchasing power;
• Participate at project level meetings and technical working groups, and prepare and provide talking points, briefing notes, and background papers to UNDP senior management for high-level meetings including those of Heads of Agencies;
• Advise generally on the soundness of the approach and ensure and that the project is implemented in line with applicable UNDP and UNDG rules and regulations responding to relevant UNDP and project-specific strategies;
• Participate and provide inputs to the ERL sector and other working group meetings attended by humanitarian partners, donors, multi/bi-laterals and other actors.
• Support UNDP at for resources mobilization for the programme

3.       Coordinate inputs and results with other humanitarian actors, local authorities and implementing partners including strengthening the capacity of the counterpart teams

• Attend technical meetings and provide required inputs for joints efforts by the participating agencies including inputs for planning, new ideas and results reporting;
• Strengthen the capacity of the counterpart teams to enable them to effectively perform their planning, monitoring, oversight, and coordination functions as well as their technical areas for successful implementation of the project;
• Engage with and support implementing partners and help ensure they operate in line with the agreed work plans, budgets, and legal agreements, and that all activities are implemented well, timely and effectively;
• Engage with other agencies, humanitarian partners, donors, and the private sector to ensure effective and efficient joint planning, implementation, and help ensure that sequencing and implementation of activities is coordinated with the relevant stakeholders;
• Provide talking points, briefing and background papers, and communication and publication materials.

4.       Actively contribute to UNDP’s efforts and mobilize resources;

• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, local authorities, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, financial institutions, and private sector;
• Analysis and research of information on partners, identification of opportunities for partnerships and funding, lead the overall resource mobilization for the project;
• Develop and oversee implementation of partnership agreements and ensure appropriate technical assistance with a focus on institutional development and results.
• Participate on behalf of the project, relevant working group meetings that are attended by humanitarian partners, donors, multi/bi-laterals and other development actors.
• Leading, supervising and motivating multinational staff and office management in a manner that empowers staff and stakeholders to translate vision into results and are proactive in developing strategies to accomplish project objectives.

5.       Promote and facilitate networking and knowledge building, sharing and management within UNDP and the ERL Sector, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that the project systematically builds capacities of Implementing Partners and other ERL Sector members through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to ERL implementation;
• Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the CO Programme Team;
• Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring;
• Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation;
• Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned for application in Somalia;
• Maintain documentation on events and knowledge development.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply please follow this link https://vacanciesinturkey.com/jobs

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