Project Coordinator at UNIDO

UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PERSONNEL UNDER INDIVIDUAL SERVICE AGREEMENT (ISA)

Title:

Project Coordinator

Main Duty Station and Location:

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Mission/s to:

As required to be approved separately.

Start of Contract (EOD):

ASAP

End of Contract (COB):

31 December 2021 with possible extension

Contract Type:

Regular

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development in the next fifteen years. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business (DTA), headed by a Managing Director, coordinates and mainstreams the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in its technical cooperation, strategic, normative activities aiming at fostering the inclusive and sustainable development in the era of 4IR. The Directorate creates new and innovative technical cooperation deliverables in the areas of trade, investment, technology innovation and agro-industry and agri-business. The Directorate comprises the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTI) and the Department of Agri-Business (AGR).

The Department of Agri-Business (DTA/AGR) provides a range of technical cooperation services to assist developing countries add value to the output of their agricultural sector and generate employment opportunities in off-farm activities for rural communities, thereby contributing to increased food security and a sustainable reduction of poverty. The department provides support for the development of agri-business corridors in developing countries in collaboration with International Financial Institutions. The Department drives the Organization’s mandates of creating shared prosperity and advancing economic competitiveness. It supports initiatives to build human capital and raise total factor productivity through focused vocational training and industrial skills development activities. With its programmes, the Department addresses the root causes of migration and helps alleviate migration pressures at the origin.

The Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security Division (DTA/AGR/RJH) provides technical cooperation services to improve livelihoods in rural communities through productive activities. The focus is on business activities among socially and economically marginalized people, including in particular women and youth, in the farm and non-farm sectors including the creative industries. Both entrepreneurial and technical human capacities are strengthened and matched with opportunities to produce new and improved marketable products. Knowledge and technology introduced in the rural communities match the absorptive and innovative capabilities of the poor and vulnerable segments of the rural society.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The Project Coordinator will be recruited under the project “The Project for Promoting Youth Employment through Automotive Maintenance Skills Training” (SAP #: 200286).

Ranking 181st out of 189 countries and territories on the Human Development Index ranking, Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest countries in the world. In a country where youth constitute a third of the population, youth unemployment and underemployment stands at a staggering 70%, with approximately 800,000 youths actively searching for employment daily.

In the automotive repair and maintenance service industry in Sierra Leone, expanding vehicle registrations and increasing vehicle imports point to its potential for growth and job creation. However, the industry struggles to find workers who meet the relevant auto mechanic skills requirements.

One of the root causes for this skills mismatch is the insufficient and defective technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, which does not correspond to the economic realities outside the school system. Trainings are more theoretical than practical, the knowledge imparted is often outdated and not transferable/relevant to the real-world working environment.

The proposed 3 year-project aims to contribute to closing the skills gap in Sierra Leone’s automotive repair and maintenance service industry in order to support the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (NDP) 2019-2023 and to contribute to decent employment opportunities for youth in Sierra Leone. This will be achieved by:

· Developing and accrediting competency-based and demand-driven modern curricula for automotive technician and entrepreneurship training’

· Establishing a regional centre of excellence for automotive technician training,

· Providing vocational training, career services and business coaching to unemployed and underemployed youths

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Coordinator will work under the overall guidance of the UNIDO Project Manager (PM) /Allotment Holder (AH), based at Headquarters in Vienna. She/he will be responsible to lead the implementation of project activities in close coordination with the project team and UNIDO Sierra Leone field office, national/international partners and counterparts. The incumbent will undertake the following duties:

MAIN DUTIES

Project Coordination

· Assist in leading the execution of all activities leading to the successful implementation of the project. This will include contributing to the design, implementation, quality control and monitoring of all project activities in the field;

· Gather data, analyze information, track status, identify potential risks and provide rectifying actions related to ongoing project activities;

· Ensure provision of projects/programme implementation services ensuring that assigned inputs are delivered on time at the right level of quality and within the allocated budget;

· Assist in preparing detailed activity plan and budget for project activities;

· Attend key meetings related to the project and act as the project’s focal point among project stakeholders at the national and international level as required;

· Lead coordination efforts, provide regular updates and brief counterparts and other project stakeholders on project activities, with a view to maximizing project performance levels;

· Keep abreast of national and regional development context, any other support programmes (especially those related to TVET and the automotive sector) being launched/implemented by the donor, other multilateral/bilateral development organizations etc;

· Liaise with international donor community and government counterpart as required. Provide regular updates, troubleshoot problems as required and spearhead the formulation of new technical cooperation initiatives for Sierra Leone;

· Ensure adequate communication with the donor and other project partners in close collaboration with the PM/AH.

· Any other duties as assigned by the PM/AH

Coordinated, efficient and transparent project implementation.

Supervision and Management

· Support the PM/AH in establishing and implementing a coherent system of information, including an M&E system, covering each activity of the project, including project Key Performance Indicators.

· Assess the degree and timeliness of project activity and resource delivery, and identify risks and problems, including financial/resource deficiencies and propose/initiate corrective or alternative action;

· Prepare progress report including the activities carried out, the achievements, analysis of lessons learned and recommendations for internal and/or external audiences;

· Prepare ad-hoc project reports upon request of the PM/AH, the donor, the counterparts, and/or other project stakeholders.

· Manage knowledge generated through the project (maintain files, databases etc);

· Assist in supervising the work of the national team, experts assigned to work on the project and/or to perform ad-hoc project activities.

· Any other duties as assigned by the PM/AH

Technical Tasks

· Assist in the formulation of ToRs and recruitment of other project staff (including national and international consultants) and/or contractors;

· Coordinate the elaboration of requests/tenders for procurement and logistics (design of technical requirements, preparation of equipment specifications, evaluations, etc.);

· Design and coordinate project training activities, events and other services;

· Actively research / identify innovative technologies and make recommendations that can be applied in the project;

· Assist in leading and managing project initiatives to further enhance the success of the programme, including partnership opportunities with the private sector.

· Any other duties as assigned by the PM/AH

Miscellaneous

· Prepare mission plan for the project team and provide logistical support for missions for PM/AH, international experts and subcontractors as requested;

· Comply with UNIDO administrative rules and regulations;

· Perform other related duties and assignments as required by the PM/AH.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in engineering, development, business administration, economics, education, social science, international relations, or relevant field

Technical and Functional Experience:

· A minimum of three years working experience in project implementation in the development sector or private sector or in education sector relevant to the requirements in the TOR;**

· A minimum of two years managerial working experience in project management or private sector with P&L responsibility or in education sector relevant to the requirements in the TOR;**

· Automotive Engineers, M&E and TVET experts with teaching experience in a multicultural environment will be considered a strong advantage;**

· Proficient use of MS office and social media is a must; **

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

*Both national and international candidates are eligible to apply.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Core competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.**