Myanmar: National Program Manager

Mar 31, 2015 | UNDP
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This UNDP project aims to address climate change risks on water resources and food security in the dry zone of Myanmar. It intends to reduce the risks and effects from the increasingly recurring incidents of drought through improved water management, as well as a crop and livestock adaptation programme in five of the most vulnerable townships of Myanmar’s Dry Zone. The National Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring the direction of the Project’s activities from design through implementation, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day management of the project, reaching out to project counterparts, and ensuring knowledge building and management.

Location :            Pathein Gyi Township, Mandalay Region with regular visit to all project areas, Shwebo, Monywa, Myin Chan, Nyaung Oo, Chauk, MYANMAR

Application Deadline :  09-Apr-15

Type of Contract :            FTA Local

Post Level :         NO-B

Languages Required :    English 

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 24-Jun-2015

Duration of Initial Contract :       One year

Background

UNDP Country Programme in Myanmar (2013-15) aims to promote poverty reduction and sustainable development that are rights-based, gender-sensitive, inclusive and equitable by strengthening institutional capacity of national and local governments and non-state actors.  UNDP’s programme in Myanmar focuses on three areas: local governance, disaster resilience and environmental governance and democratic governance.

Pillar II focuses on strengthening capacities at local, regional and national level to manage and utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, and to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity to long-term climate change – including variability impacts and to reduce the associated risk of natural disasters.  One of the components of the pillar II is to develop the “capacities to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risk at the local, regional and national level”.

In this regard, UNDP formulated a project in consultation with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry and the Adaptation Fund. This project, underlying the present TOR, aims to address climate change risks on water resources and food security in the dry zone of Myanmar. It intends to reduce the risks and effects from the increasingly recurring incidents of drought through improved water management, as well as a crop and livestock adaptation programme in five of the most vulnerable townships of Myanmar’s Dry Zone. The principle objectives of this project are to:

  • Respond to the climate-induced reduction of freshwater supply;
  • Introduce climate-resilient food and livestock production systems;
  • Improve the dissemination of climate risk information.

This project will last five years and has a total available budget of 7.91 million US Dollars. The National Project Manager (N-PM) will operate in a highly complex environment requiring coordination of interventions involving five different line ministries, regional and township authorities as well as community based organizations in Sagaing, Magwey and Mandalay Regions. This project is based on principles of local empowerment and implemented by community-based organizations (CBOs) such as Village Development Committees, Water User Committees, farmer groups, communal forest user groups, and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The anticipated impact of the project is the reduction of food insecurity and losses from extreme climate events in 50,639 households.

The Project Team is composed of one Chief Technical Advisor (international), one National Project Manager, 4 Technical Specialists (national), one Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, one Project Assistant. The National Project Manager will be responsible for overall day to day management of project implementation and will report to the Chief Technical Advisor.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Pillar II Team Leader, the National Project Manager (N-PM) is Responsible for the direction of the Project’s activities from design through implementation.

Summary of key functions:

  • Ensure the direction of the Project’s activities from design through implementation;
  • Assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of the project;
  • Reach out to project counterparts;
  • Ensure knowledge building and management.

Ensure the direction of the Project’s activities from design through implementation

  • Coordinate planning, project implementation and reporting, taking into account the evolving political, social and economic situation in the country; 
  • Promote thematic and sectoral synergies and coordinate project activities with the rest of the UNDP programme;
  • lead the project team in activity formulation and networking to ensure that the project is relevant and responsive to changes in the Dry Zone and country contexts;
  • identify approaches and modalities to achieve the objectives of the project;
  • participate quarterly on behalf of the project team in Steering Committee meetings. Report more often on behalf of the project team to the Steering Committee if needed;
  • in close collaboration with the technical specialist and the Prorgamme Officer, establish a monitoring, reporting and evaluation system for optimum management of project activities that will be based on and/or compatible with the UNDP programme-wise M&E system, including Atlas requirements;
  • carry out regular monitoring of project sites for annual donor reporting, in close collaboration with the technical specialists;
  • monitor and ensure cost-effective use of project resources meeting the achievement of objectives;
  • prepare an implementation plan according to the agreed project results framework, which details inputs to project activities, timing, location, budget and partners for implementation and prepare multi-year and annual work plans, monthly and quarterly reports, budget forecasts and revisions;
  • prepare Terms of Reference for the recruitment of project staff, consultants and collaborating NGOs;
  • Identify potential critical risks for the project, and in consultation with the technical specialist, UNDP, the Government and other relevant partners, formulate a risk mitigation strategy; regularly assess risks and updates risk logs.

Assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of the project

  • By overseeing the Project, manage UNDP’s commitments within the Results and Resources Framework, ensure effective application of RBM tools, monitor unit work plans, project effectiveness and achievement of results, maintain regular contact with project and programme counterparts;
  • regularly report to Team Leader of Pillar II on the delivery of project results and financial delivery, ensuring transparent financial management vis-à-vis progress;
  • ensure the integrity of financial systems, review budget requirements and the consistent application or rules and regulations; ensure cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations. Routinely monitor financial transactions. Provide exception reports for unusual activities and investigate anomalies. Inform Pillar II team leader of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Reach out to project counterparts

  • support partnership building for UNDP;
  • advocate for UNDP with government counterparts, donor community, international financial institutions and the UN;
  • represent UNDP in inter-agency meetings and in international fora;
  • liaise and coordinate project activities with partners including NGOs and other UNDP projects working in the same or related sectors, and with relevant line departments to complement and support related initiatives in addressing watershed management and other priority concerns.

Ensure knowledge building and management

  • Advocate for UNDP with Government counterparts and ensures access to best available expertise;
  • promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organizational sharing and learning;
  • support capacity-building of national counterparts;
  • promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
  • assist in assessing immediate and future training and extension needs related to watershed management, environmental conservation and socio economic development for communities, and measures to address these needs, including organising on the job training, seminars and workshops.

Impact of Results

Impacts and results of this project determine the standing and reputation of UNDP in Myanmar.

The N-PM monitors the implementation of all activities and tasks as outlined in the project document that has been approved by UNDP and the Adaptation Fund. S/he manages, in coordination with the national counterpart, the implementation of the project. For this purpose, the N-PM also coordinates among the project’s collaborators and all stakeholders. The N-PM is also responsible for the preparation, planning of project activities, as well as their monitoring, reporting and updating risk logs.

The N-PM is responsible for necessary course correction in response to changes in the Project's context and new programme or project.When requested by the Pillar II Team Leader, the the N-PM represents UNDP in international and national fora, liaises with external clients and a broad range of constituencies and UNDP counterparts in the Government, local and international media, civil society as well as counterparts from other international organizations.

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the UNDP’s country programme. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

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

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
  • Builds knowledge in at least one practice areas, and shares;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues, in particular in the sectors of Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Risk Assessment, Water Resources Management, Food Security, and Dry Zone management;
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of development issues in the context of Myanmar;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation;
  • Ability to negotiate with partners and internal units; ability to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats to the implementation of the project;
  • Excellent drafting and presentation skills;
  • Ability to plan and organize work programme;
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision;
  • Ability to apply Resource Mobilization and partnerships building theory to the specific country context;
  • Strong IT skills.

Management and Leadership

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
  • Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
  • Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills with diverse culture and traditions;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

    The incumbent should have a postgraduate degree in natural resources management, environmental sciences, climate change adaptation,  community development, and management-related field of studies. 

Experience:

  • The incumbent should have at least 2 years of management experience in the related field of work;
  • Working experience in rural/community development initiatives;
  • Prior work in international teams will constitute an advantage;
  • Proven ability to lead and manage a large team and to plan and organize work productively with the team;
  • Prior work in the Dry Zone will be considered as preferable but is not mandatory;
  • Excellent command of MS Office suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point).

Language Requirements:

  • Good oral and written command of English and Myanmar.

Note:

Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with duly filled and signed UN-P11 form, academic qualification certificates. Applications without these document will not be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx”.

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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.