UNDP is Looking for Project Coordination Specialist

UNDP Ethiopia’s Innovative Finance Lab is seeking to hire experienced Project Coordinator to oversee the management and operations of the Innovative Finance Lab and a Knowledge Management Analyst (KMA).

Duty station: Addis Ababa

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provision of technical support and capacity building

• Ensure technical support is provided to the TAF Manager and Fund Manager in the identification and prioritization of applicable technical and financial support schemes to MSMEs;
• Ensure appropriate technical guidance for the operation of the lab are developed and regularly updated to capture new development in the MSME and financial ecosystem as well as emerging project priorities;
• Support lab teams in the sequencing and complementarity of activities by the technical assistance facility, catalytic debt fund and the knowledge sharing unit;
• Spread-head thematic contribution in the design and establishment of the Catalytic Debt Fund and other innovative instruments initiated/developed by the lab;
• Conduct project related assessment/studies/mapping, gender analysis, market survey, project evaluations, etc. in collaboration with UNDP technical focal persons;
• Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the lab and ensure high level technical standard are met.

2. Stakeholder Coordination and Management

• Liaise with the designated officials from the implementing partner and ensure that the lab activities are implemented according to the agreed workplan, UNDP’s rules and regulations (POPP) and reported promptly;
• Cultivate and maintain strong relations with key stakeholders including outsourced service providers, beneficiaries, government, private sector and other development actors;
• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of project outputs to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document;
• Ensure up-to-date information and provide advice to lab teams on emerging issues in relation to changes in stakeholder relationships/structures;
• Represent UNDP’s Innovative Finance Lab at relevant industry and sector specifics conferences and events;
• Ensure smooth coordination between the lab teams and other support functions within UNDP such as with finance, HR and procurement and other functions.

3. Management and Operations of the Innovative Finance Lab

• Ensure that work plans, and budgets conform with the project objectives;
• Support lab staffs in the implementation of impactful projects across the different components with additionality, scale and sustainability in mind;
• Coordinate the end-to-end process of the lab operations, including the procurement, contracting and management of service provisions across TAF, CDF and KSU portfolios;
• In consultation with the team develop integrated annual work plan for the innovative finance lab to deliver outputs and objectives against agreed targets;
• Ensure that the financial management arrangements are in line with the UNDP regulations and that all payment vouchers and payment orders are correctly authorized thereby ensuring that all expenditures are justified, within budget frames, and in line with project objectives;
• Coordinate with lab teams and undertake all required administrative operations of the lab (finance, donor relations, communications and visibility, special projects, reporting);
• Ensure compliance with UNDP’s objectives, strategies, policies and procedures;
• Identify opportunities for synergy with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the objective of the lab and grow its focus.

4. Monitoring, supervision and reporting

• Oversee the implementation of the project activities in line with the Project Implementation Plan;
• Lead the monitoring of project activities against the established indicators detailed in the project’s Results Framework;
• Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets;
• Prepare periodic monitoring reports (technical and financial) of the project for submission to the donor;
• Oversee the preparation of quarterly/annual financial reports, quarterly project status reports, and monitoring and evaluation reports;
• Submission of adhoc reports and information requests from relevant entities.

Institutional Arrangement

• Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader, Inclusive Economic Transformation Unit, the primary function of the Project Coordination Specialist is to lead, organize and oversee the day-to-day activities of the innovative finance lab and ensure effective and timely delivery of project activities as per the plan. The Project Coordination Specialist works with respective project team members at the project level; and develop and maintain viable working relationships with key partners and stakeholders including project beneficiaries, TA service providers and government authorities such as the National Bank of Ethiopia.

Competencies

Core competencies

• Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
• Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
• Learn Continuously: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
• Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
• Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
• Engage and Partner: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity. 

Functional/Technical competencies

• Priority Setting: Ability to scan and synthesize diverse sets of information to arrive at strategic priorities and positioning recommendation;
• Communication: Ability to communicate clearly through successful interactions with all levels of stakeholder groups, including senior government officials, business executives, and local people/communities;
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives;
• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize, and control the organization’s programme and projects , in line with its strategic objectives and capacity;
• Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee the organizational business process;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s level university degree in development finance, international finance, economics, development economics, (with a strong specialization in MSMEs business development and finance).

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience preferably in the private sector with demonstrated experience in managing a technical assistance/fund facility supporting the growth and development of MSMEs through technical support and access to finance;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the MSME ecosystem in Ethiopia including but not limited to access to finance, policies, regulations, and actors, including the role of the private sector;
• Experience with and understanding of development finance and the role of innovative financial instruments in addressing financing needs by MSMEs;
• Excellent understanding of the financial sector in Ethiopia, development in digital finance and fintech solutions;
• Ability to prepare quality reports;
• Ability to effectively coordinate a multi-stakeholder project including extensive experience in planning, prioritizing, sequencing, managing, problem-solving, and reporting on the implementation of projects;
• Excellent working knowledge of English and track record in producing reports in English including writing project success stories, lessons learned, and best practices;
• Excellent presentation skills, appropriate to various audiences. 

Language

• Verbal and written proficiency in English and Amharic.

Professional certificate

• Completion of Project Management training is an asset.

Apply HERE