UNDP Job in Lebanon, Senior Programme Coordinator (Re-advertised), 33134

• Post Level: SC 10
• Reports to: RCO Team Leader

In view of the long term structural challenges that Lebanon is facing as well as the profound effects that the subsequent crises are having on its economy (the Syrian crisis since 2011 and more recently the monetary and economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic), there is ongoing need to support job creation and inclusive economic growth especially for the most vulnerable in the most disadvantaged areas.
 
With the aim to support gender-responsive job creation and economic opportunities in the agriculture and agro-food sectors, six UN organizations have joined efforts to develop a three-year joint programme: the Productive Sector Development Programme (PSDP). It will be jointly implemented by UNIDO, FAO, UNDP, ILO, UN WOMEN, and UNICEF.
 
The PSDP sits within the United Nations Strategic Framework’s (UNSF) Outcome 3.1, which stipulates that the Government of Lebanon shall be assisted in “strengthening Lebanon productive sectors of the economy to promote inclusive growth and local development especially in most disadvantaged areas”.
 
A Programme Coordinator at the Resident Coordinator’s Office will lead the management of the PSDP in collaboration with two Programme Technical Advisors (PTAs) from the leading agencies of the UNSF Outcome 3.1, UNIDO and FAO and focal points from the participating UN agencies (PUNOs). The Programme Coordinator will also be supported by a Gender Equality Advisor during the implementation of the programme and activities.
 
Under the Supervision of the RCO Team Leader, The Programme Coordinator (PC) will act as primus inter pares within the UN Programme team, and will be the main interface with relevant national and international stakeholders for the PSDP. The PC shall ensure the coordination and complementarities of agency work-plans and their timely execution.

The Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties:

Programme Management

• Develop and monitor quality project implementation plan including annual work plans and monitoring and evaluation framework of the overall programme;
• Ensure timely and duly management of the project and implementation of all activities as outlined in the programme document and annual work plans;
• Supervise and guide the PSDP Gender Advisor to ensure achievement of gender specific deliverables (including a Gender Equality strategy) and successful gender mainstreaming throughout the inception phase, and implementation phase;
• Ensure effective liaison, and maintain good communication with PUNOs and relevant stakeholders of the PSDP;
• Lead the preparation of annual review meetings of the work plan with support and participation of PUNOs’ focal points;
• Ensure operational and financial closure of the programme in accordance with LRF rules and regulations;
• Lead the preparation and development of communication material and strategies to promote the Programme objectives, donors, and achievements.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Monitor progress and achievement of PSDP results through management and regular updating of the PSDP M&E framework;
• Design and implement relevant M&E activities in close collaboration with PUNOs;
• Consolidate data and monitoring information from PSDP PUNOs to accurately reflect progress and challenges of implementation;
• Ensure timely submission of progress reports in accordance with LRF rules and regulations;
• Provide quality assurance including data verification on all reports and monitoring information;
• Manage and oversee the implementation of an evaluation system for the Programme according to OECD standards and UNEG guidelines;
• Synthesize successful results, and prepare reports and guidance on best practices and approaches and incentive mechanisms for wider replication and use.

Coordination

• Coordinate the work of the PSDP’s Programme Management Team to ensure successful implementation of the programme in line with the signed programme document and annual work plans;
• Organize, prepare and follow up on the Programme steering committee meetings in close coordination with the PSDP’s Programme Management Team;
• Ensure thematic and sectoral synergies and coordination within the Programme and support the RCO to promote relevant complementarities with other UN activities outside the programme;
• Liaise with the LRF Secretariat and programme steering committee with regards to project implementation, challenges and delays;
• Maintain and strengthen dialogue with PUNOs, beneficiaries, and relevant stakeholders to provide knowledge and understanding of programme objectives, implementation and progress;
• Identify additional areas of synergy and cooperation amongst UN agencies for joint implementation under the UN Strategic Framework and the Socio-Economic Response.

Leadership:

• Empower individuals and teams to act independently;
• Ensures people and teams are resourced for success;
• Plans and acts transparently;
• Creates awareness of substantive opportunities and risks;
• Enables individual growth and responsibility;
• Holds staff accountable;
• Recognizes and rewards success;
• Empowers the team to identify and solve problems;
• Rewards individuals initiatives that goes beyond expectations;
• Removes barriers or provides resources to further teams‘ progress;
• Champions a culture of coaching and empowerment.

People management:

• Motivates excellence and engagement;
• Models independent thinking and action;
• Raises standards, motivates excellence;
• Coaches team members to appropriately share knowledge across teams;
• Addresses conflicts in a timely, sensitive manner; escalates to leadership when appropriate;
• Expands team engagement;
• Works with individuals to set appropriately challenging development goals, explaining not;
• just what to do, but why to do it;
• Provides practical development support;
• Seeks to understand the retention issues of certain individuals, takes appropriate action;
• occasionally of substantive opportunities and risks;
• Enables individual growth and responsibility;
• Holds staff accountable.

Communication:

• Builds trust and creates lasting partnerships;
• Builds professional networks with institutional partners;
• Sought for advice by subordinates, peers and leaders;
• Distills strategy into concise practical messages;
• Influences decision makers;
• Resolves managerial conflict;
• Represents organization in formal settings;
• Establishes a culture of trust and integrity;
• Actively engages colleagues to make joint decisions;
• Creates and sustains a talent management culture within the entire organization;
• Continually challenges organizations’ leaders to enhance their talent management practices.

Delivery;

• Makes new ideas work;
• Critically assesses value and relevance of existing thinking and policy;
• Embraces difficult obstacles that interfere with getting work done;
• Anticipates constraints and identifies solutions;
• Strives to improve team reputation with clients;
• Expands capacity of team to deliver on time and on target;
• Accountable for project implementation and/or team deliverables;
• Makes suggestions for improvement and takes ad hoc actions;
• Combines hard data and personal insights to identify benefits and make decisions that create value above and beyond the expected.

Education:    

• A Bachelor or Masters degree in  Business administration, Economics, project management or related degrees.

Experience:    

• A minimum of overall 10 years of experience with a Bachelor degree or a minimum of overall 7 years of experience with a Masters degree or equivalent;
• Related experience in programme design, development and coordination;
• Relevant experience in economic development, research and analysis/assessments;
• Experience managing and working in inter-agency set-ups is preferable;
• Experience working for an operational UN Agency or international NGO is an advantage.

Language Requirements:    

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required;
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

UNDP strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position.

UNDP seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities, and that staff members are able to keep an appropriate balance between work and private life.

Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

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