ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Location :
Conakry Guinea, GUINEA
Application Deadline :
30-May-13
Additional Category
Management
Type of Contract :
TA International
Post Level :
P-3
Languages Required :
English   French  
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
01-Jul-2013
Duration of Initial Contract :
6 months

Background
Guinea’s defense and security forces have been a source of instability for the country due to their lack of professionalism, ethnic and generational divergences, as well as records of human rights abuses on civilians. The joint ECOWAS/AU/UN (composed of UNOWA, UNDP and DPKO) Security Sector Assessment (SSA) mission requested by the international community during the transitional period (December 2008–December 2010) resulted in a comprehensive report released on 4 May 2010 to the national transitional authorities. This report constitutes a guideline for the implementation of the security sector reform in Guinea.
The swearing-in of newly elected President Alpha Condé on 21 December 2010 marked the completion of the country’s return to constitutional order. Mindful of the importance of reforming the national security and defense forces, President Condé kept the portfolio of national defense under his direct authority.  In an official letter to the SRSG for West Africa dated 6 January 2011, President Alpha Condé requested the United Nations’ assistance in implementing the security sector reform process in Guinea. In addition, on 24 January 2011, the Government of Guinea formally requested the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to support Guinea in three priority areas: 1) Youth and Women Employment Policy; 2) The promotion of national reconciliation and unity, particularly in relation to electoral tensions; 3) the Security and Defense Sector Reform. As a result, Guinea was officially placed on the agenda of the PBC on 23 February 2011 following the PBC Organizational Committee’s meeting with Ambassador Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg as Chair of the Country-specific Configuration for Guinea.
Following the UN Policy Committee meeting on Guinea on 8 February 2011, the Secretary-General decided that “UNOWA and UNDP, with the support of DPKO and other members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Security Sector Reform, will support and mobilize resources for the immediate implementation of SSR based on the recommendations of the joint ECOWAS AU/UN assessment report, and in close coordination with Guinea’s partners.”
In this context, a national seminar on SSR was organized from 28 to 31 March 2011, with the financial and technical support of UNDP, PBF, UNOWA and DPKO, to review the recommendations from the Joint ECOWAS/AU/UN SSA report and develop an inclusive roadmap for the implementation of the SSR programme. Guinea’s National SSR Steering Committee (Comité national de pilotage de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité en Guinée (CNP-RSS)) was officially launched on 21 June 2011 by presidential decree. The CNP-RSS is comprised of two Commissions (the Strategic Orientation Commission and the Technical Monitoring Commission) and five sectoral technical committees (Defence, Justice, Police and Civilian Protection, Customs, Water and Forestry).
On 5 October 2011, the President of Guinea, in an official letter to the Secretary-General, requested the UN to provide high level political support and strategic advice for the implementation of the SSR process. In response, the Secretary-General instructed the UN Secretariat to deploy a permanent UN SSR advisory team for Guinea.
A Senior SSR Advisor was deployed to Conakry in May 2012 to lead the setting-up of a strategic advisory political team on SSR in-country to (i) provide advice and assistance to national authorities in advocating globally for the SSR reform process as well as support resource mobilization exercise for the national SSR programme and priority action plans for 2012-2015; and (ii) coordinate efforts with UNDP SSR technical team, other UN partners and the international community in Conakry. The project was established for an initial six months. Start-up activities, in this first phase of the project have therefore focused, amongst others on1) building an environment of trust and positive collaboration with the national authorities; 2) reenergizing the work of the CNP-RSS; 3) refocus the work at the strategic level to provide the necessary framework for the technical work; 4) establishing a network with both international and national partners; and 5) building a coherent strategy for the UNCT on security sector reform.  In light of the delayed start of the project, much work still remains to be completed under OUPTPUT 1: Providing necessary policy and strategic advice to the national stakeholders to effectively implement the national SSR strategy; and OUTPUT 3: Supporting the resource mobilization strategy.
The Project Manager Specialist will be responsible for the management and implementation of the Strategic Advisor SSR Project.
Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior SSR Advisor, the Administrative and Project Management Specialist works in close collaboration with the CO, as well as operations and programme staff as required in order to ensure that the management and  implementation of the Project are consistent with UNDP rules and regulations and with focus on the following areas:
Implementation of this project and focusing on the following actions and achievement of the following results:

• Work with the Senior SSR Advisor and the CO in the implementation and monitoring of the Project, ensuring participation and coordination with relevant CO units.
• Ensure ongoing implementation of the Project through developing work plans, objectives, and plans for monitoring and evaluation of the process, and resolving challenges that may arise.
• Identify risks and challenges to the ongoing operations of the Project and provide advice to the Senior SSR Advisor on mitigation strategies. 
• Advise the UNDP Governance Programme Manager on progress and, where relevant, additional needs in relation to the project implementation and follow up activities.
• Manage day to day administrative matters of the Project. 

Overall management of the Project, focusing on the following actions and achievement of the following results:

• Monitor the progress and performance of the Project by ensuring proper planning, benchmarking and target setting (substantively and financially). 
•  Provision of high quality analysis and substantive inputs to the development and management of the Project. 
• Manage the accurate and timely reporting on the progress of project with a specific focus on the activities and funds utilized.
• Provide periodic (monthly, quarterly and annually) update formal and informal reports to UNDP, UNOWA and the Peacebuilding Commission on the implementation and work progress of the Project.
• Develop annual work plans, budgets, draft reports and other documents for the management and reporting of activities of the project.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor the Project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets.
• Prepare, meet the deadline, and schedule of evaluation and reporting as per UNDP contractual agreement with the donor.

Successful planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategic SSR Advisory Project in accordance with UNDP and PBF guidelines and requirement.
Effective coordination and cooperation with UNDP, UNOWA, and the PBF.
Project achievements are properly reported and communicated. Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

• Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring
• Working in Teams
• Communicating Information and Ideas
• Self-management and Emotional intelligence
• Conflict Management /Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements
• Knowledge Sharing /Continuous Learning
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making

• Able to establish goals and priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor workplans
• Able to manage several tasks simultaneously in a high-stress work environment
• Displays ability to manage formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• of development projects
• Demonstrates practical knowledge in capacity development approaches
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed, identify problems and opportunities
• Identifies clients’ needs and develops appropriate solutions
• Able to work independently and show initiative
• Displays knowledge of electoral processes and international standards in elections

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office and with stakeholders
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve goals and promotes good team spirit

• Initiates and maintains relationships with key constituents, including public, private and civil society constituents in Iraq and the region, and other national and international bodies working in the field of elections
• Exhibits ability to work collaboratively and inclusively with national counterparts
• Ensures effective coordination and cooperation with key UN partners and
• able to develop and implement joint workplans

• Demonstrates ability to mentor staff and provide guidance and support
• Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority
• Accurately judges the time and resources need to accomplish a task and matches task to skills
• Establishes and monitors progress against milestones and deadlines

Communication

• Possesses excellent communications skills, both spoken and written
• Is able to articulate information and ideas in a clear and concise manner
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Masters degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in relevant areas such as project management in an international setting.
• Demonstrated ability to administer budgets/resources/people.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within an International organization, preferably UN, working on project management issues. 
• Experience and knowledge of UN financial, human resources, procurement, management and general operations policies, is an asset.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural and/or international work environment.
• Functionally-related professional management skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritise work activities to meet organizational goals and organize and oversee work processes efficiently to achieve quality results.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and PowerPoint.
• Daily use of Project Management IT tools.
• Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral organizations and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.
• Knowledge of Prince2 and other Results Based Management methodologies would be an asset.
• Knowledge of ATLAS and PeopleSoft would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the English both written and oral
• Arabic language skills are considered a strong asset

Female candidates are encouraged to apply. UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.