Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 26 May 2016
Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.
With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.
A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.
Background Information - Myanmar
The UNOPS Myanmar under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office has been established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of programmes and projects in Myanmar with focus on health programmes and livelihoods and rural development. UNOPS Myanmar ensures that synergies between projects are effectively developed.
The UNOPS Myanmar portfolio currently comprises several programmes and projects, including fund management of the multi-donor Three Millennium Development Goals Fund and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund. In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grants to Myanmar. UNOPS Myanmar has also been designated as Principal Recipient of the GFATM for a Regional Malaria Grant (Regional Artemisinin Initiative) covering 5 countries- Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. UNOPS is also expanding its infrastructure and procurement services in Myanmar, including advisory services in these areas.
UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring quality services to UNOPS partners that meet stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It is also responsible for liaison with government counterparts, donors, and UN Agencies.
Background Information - Job-specific
The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund established in Myanmar in 2009 with the purpose of increasing the livelihoods' resilience and nutrition of poor people in Myanmar by focusing on interventions that increase income, food availability, utilization and stability of access to food. LIFT has received funding from 14 donors to date. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the Fund Manager (FM) to administer the funds and provide monitoring and oversight.
LIFT is active in the four main agro-ecological regions of Myanmar, including the central dry zone (Dry Zone), the Ayeyarwaddy Delta (Delta), Rakhine and the upland areas of the country (Uplands).
LIFT is expected to continue operations until at least the end of 2018. Read more about LIFT on www.lift-fund.org.
The LIFT Fund Management Office (FMO) consists of three units: a programme unit with teams responsible for LIFT’s work in each agro-ecological zone (see above for these zones), as well as teams for each of LIFT’s main cross-cutting themes (financial inclusion, private sector & inclusive value chains, and civil society strengthening); a knowledge and advocacy team; and, a support services team.
LIFT is seeking a Programme Coordinator to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme unit of the FMO. This will include significant responsibility for representing LIFT with stakeholders, including the Government of Myanmar.
Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. From the private sector, the Mitsubishi Corporation is also a donor to LIFT.
Functional Responsibilities
The main purpose of the position is to ensure the effectiveness of the programme unit of the LIFT Fund Management Office.
Under the direct supervision of the LIFT Fund Director, in close coordination with other LIFT personnel, and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks and areas of activities:
Ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the FMO’s programme unit. The main tasks include:
Arranging fair and timely assessment of proposals submitted for funding and making recommendations to the Fund Board on funding proposals that are consistent with LIFT’s strategy and operating guidelines.
Ensuring that all LIFT’s geographic and thematic programmes are consistent with LIFT’s gender strategy.
Ensuring coordination and synergies between LIFT’s thematic and geographic programmes. This will include facilitating discussions between programmes on common activities (e.g., farmer advisory services) and outcomes (e.g., nutrition).
Organizing field visits of Fund Board members or other relevant stakeholders.
Leading the preparation of LIFT’s annual and semi-annual reports as well as the monthly updates from the Fund Management Office.
Supporting the establishment of LIFT’s strategic partnerships with civil society partners and the implementation of LIFT’s beneficiary accountability framework.
Supporting geographic and thematic programme managers to develop and maintain food security and livelihoods profiles for all the major agro-ecological zones of Myanmar, using all available information including: LIFT’s baseline assessment, information from LIFT implementing partners, information from other agencies and other secondary sources.
Identifying gaps in terms of expertise within FMO and ensuring that they are filled through short and long term consultancies and partnerships, that appropriate support is mobilized for the programme unit.
Overseeing the preparation of Terms of Reference for national and international consultants as needed.
Leading the recruitment of new personnel as required.
Represent the programme unit internally within the FMO with both the knowledge and advocacy unit and the programme support unit. The main tasks include:
Ensuring that key lessons of LIFT-funded projects are identified, documented and shared appropriately. This includes leading special studies (e.g., comparative studies of approaches adopted by LIFT partners, or studies to determine the efficacy of innovative approaches), and conducting cost comparisons and value-for-money reviews where possible and relevant.
Supporting the development of LIFT briefing papers in areas related to agriculture, livelihoods and rural development.
Establishing processes to ensure that the programme unit works in a constructive and timely way with the FMO’s other units, particularly regarding M&E, communications, policy engagement, human resources, contracting and finance.
In close collaboration with the Fund Director, represent LIFT with its important stakeholders. The main tasks include:
Engaging with the government to ensure that relevant departments are appropriately involved in LIFT programme development and that programme results are feed back to relevant departments in a regular and timely manner.
Supporting LIFT’s civil society engagement activities.
Supporting the Fund Board in relation to national policies, strategies and programmes whenever they exist.
Other duties as assigned by the Fund Director.
The incumbent will be responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and those of UNOPS.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- A Master's Degree in economics, agricultural economics, agriculture, management, development economics, rural development or related field is required. Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered as equivalent.
Work Experience
- A minimum 7 years of relevant technical experience in a field related to rural development, economic and/or social policy development or livelihoods is required.
- Four years of this experience should be professional-level field experiences in developing countries.
- Significant experience in rural development programme management is essential. Ideally this will have been related to one or more sectors relevant to rural development.
- Significant professional experience in more than one country context is essential. At least one should have been a developing country.
- Significant professional experience in Southeast Asia is preferred.
- Experience working and/or cooperating with multiple development partners, including donor governments, would be an asset.
- Knowledge of the political, economic and social situation in Myanmar is desirable.
- Computer literacy in Microsoft packages (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access) is required.
Language
- Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential.
Competencies
- Professionalism– Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, analyze options and recommend solutions. Ability to work systematically, accurately and under pressure.
- Self-reliant - Ability to act independently with a minimum of supervision, including planning, organizing and coordinating multiple stakeholders according to agreed priorities and deadlines, and for those under his/her supervision.
- Result-oriented - Ability to focus on the result for the clients and respond positively to feedback.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, and with high level stakeholders. Ability to manage politically sensitive situations.
- Client orientation - Ability to identify clients' needs and appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients.
- Communication - Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationship with procurement counterparts and substantive offices. Ability to communicate technical procurement matters in a simple and clear manner to individuals not well versed in the intricacies of procurement.
- Technological awareness - Excellent computer skills and ability to use software tools to present data clearly and concisely.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: IICA 3
Contract duration: 1 year renewable, subject to performance and budget availability
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
Additional Considerations
- Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
- Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
- The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
How to apply:
DISCLAIMER: The screening of your application will be conducted based on the information in your profile. Before applying, we strongly suggest that you review your profile to ensure completeness, especially the education and experience sections.
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.