Project Manager - Garissa at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Duties and Responsibilities
Facilitate Strategic Direction of UN Programme in the ASAL Counties Focusing on Achievement of the Following Results:

• Facilitate strengthening of county capacities on the integrated planning through close collaboration and access to an array of expertise drawn from across the UN and linking it to the realization of the UNSDCF Kenya 2022-2026;
• Together with County Secretary’s office or designated County Department support coordination for the implementation of development programmes; 
• Support UN agencies to formulate and develop county specific integrated and SDG responsive workplans based on the UNSDCF;
• Work with humanitarian entities and ensure focus on the humanitarian, peace and development nexus;
• Provide administrative and substantive support at the County level for coordination of consultative and other meetings, and conferences, ensuring inclusive participation, preparing background documents, and presentations, and support logistical arrangements. 

Enhance Peace and Development Nexus in the Counties 

• In collaboration with the Peacebuilding Fund Project Management Unit and county level actors, coordinate and participate in project interventions at the county level under the Peace and Development Programme including capacity-building activities, targeted dialogue and mediation forums, participatory research, rolling out and monitoring of community livelihood projects amongst other activities;
• Establish, liaise and maintain good working relationships with the National Government counterparts at the county level, county government, Civil Society Organizations and key community actors as well as provide support to the UN and development agencies at the County to promote inclusive peace, security, human rights and governance;
• Prepare regular reports on project interventions, and progress on implementation, including the review and analysis of emerging issues and trends, policy frameworks, evaluations and/or research activities and studies related to peace, security, human rights and governance at the County;
• Provide substantive support and inputs to internal and external communication at the County and/or the HQ, presenting updates on delivered activities, liaising with external partners on the implementation of activities, as well as managing communication and information flow internally with the Peacebuilding Fund Project Management Unit.  

Assist Effective Coordination of UN programmes under the UNSDCF in the Counties

• Help the counties to map existing programme/support and identify opportunities where UN can add value under the UNSDCF;
• Support a neutral (not agency driven) One UN coordination and facilitation to assist the whole of UN Kenya at devolved level while respecting UN agencies individual mandates; 
• Facilitate coordination and information sharing among the different UN - County working groups for joint initiatives and support the inter-agency working group coordination. 

Building Strategic Partnerships and Knowledge management

• Support building of relationships for the whole of UN Kenya with the County Government, development partners and other stakeholders, thereby contributing to reducing transaction costs and duplications;
• Support effective joint communication, reporting of results and partnerships for all UN Agencies to demonstrate evidence for investments made by UN and other development partners in the ASALs;
• Enhance advocacy and visibility of UN and Development Partner’s work in the counties.

Effective monitoring of UN programmes at the counties

• Support planning and undertaking of joint UN field monitoring missions and organizing joint reviews and evaluations as applicable;
• Preparation of integrated quarterly updates and annual report to UNCT through RCO;
• Provide technical support and work closely with other UN colleagues from different agencies, funds and programmes in the formulation and implementation of joint programmes and individual activities under UNSDCF;
• Support evaluation of programmes at the end of the programming cycle.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement 

The incumbent will be based at the County Government of Garissa and will have a dual reporting line under the general supervision of the Peace and Development Advisor and partly supervised by the Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s office. 

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter agency collaboration;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross functional & technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels. 

Partnership management

• Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience coordination of development projects.

Required  skills:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. 
• Knowledge and experience of working in the Arid & Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

Desired skills:

• Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in the English and Kiswahili.