Background
UNDPโs Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) was established through a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1978, calling upon UNDP โto improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian peopleโ. Since its establishment, UNDP/PAPP has delivered over USD 1.7 billion in development assistance to the Palestinian People.
UNDPโs Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023-2025 sets out a vision of โa world in which all Palestinians can enjoy a dignified life and fulfil their own vision of a unified, peaceful and free societyโ.ย The PPF is centred around the concept of โTransformative Resilienceโ and its three elements: a cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, and ownership and leadership. Over the next three years, UNDP/PAPP will build on its experiences and achievements to make critical contributions to the priorities defined by the Palestinian national development plans and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), through interventions in three programmatic priority areas:ย i) democratic governance and quality services; ii) inclusive economic opportunities; iii) sustainable natural resources management.ย
Against the backdrop of the war and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, UNDP/PAPP has developed an integrated emergency response and early recovery programme to address the urgent needs of the Palestinian people. Since October 2023, UNDP/PAPP has been working closely with UN, NGO, local and national partners to provide immediate support the affected population in Gaza across three priorities: 1) critical services and infrastructure, including access to clean water, solid waste management, dignified transitional shelter, and debris removal; 2) emergency employment and support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and 3) support to civil society organisations (CSOs) for multi-sectoral community services and social cohesion.ย
UNDP/PAPP is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Programme Manager, based in Gaza, to manage the Inclusive Transitional Community Neighborhoods Project (ITCN). Through an integrated area-based approach, the project aims to address basic human needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Gaza Strip. The project will pilot scalable models of transitional community neighborhoods, integrating dignified transitional housing solutions with essential services, with a focus on women-headed households and those with persons with disabilities. Through its integrated approach, the project not only provides immediate shelter but also restores access to public and social services, livelihoods as well as community mobilizing and psycho-social support initiatives. Ultimately, the project seeks to contribute toward restoring dignified living conditions and lay the foundation for communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.ย
S/he will be managing the day-to-do programme activities and ensure the integrated roll-out of the ย area-based approach, overseeing the sectoral programme teams, including ย infrastructure/housing/services/livelihoods as well as social cohesion/MHPSS.ย
Duties and Responsibilities
1.Lead project implementation and Strategic Management
Responsible for the implementation and integrated delivery of key components of the Programme outcomes, including, but not limited to: Advises the Programme Specialist in his/her function to oversee the project, with regards to challenges and opportunities arising from the project implementation, developing recommendations based on identified needs.ย Implements and manages the project on a day-to-day basis, coordinates the implementation of the respective activities based on the project document, including, supervision and guidance of other programme staff, consultants and experts with a view to achieving project results.ย Oversee and ensures coordination between the different sectoral programme teams, including infrastructure/housing, basic and social services, livelihoods, community mobilizing and psychosocial support activities under the project. Ensures the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as gender, environment and culture, across all programme activities and related work plans, budgets, reports, and research. Ensures efficient and effective implementation of the project activities, including work planning, procurement, human resources / recruitment, monitoring and evaluation and reporting functions.ย Closely monitors the delivery status and prepares updates โ both narrative and financial โ in relation to the agreed work plan and implementation strategy. Provides strategic guidance for the development of minimum standards/requirements for the implementation of (community) infrastructure activities to enhance service delivery in addition to promoting sustainable building techniques.ย Conducts regular field visits to different project sites, ensuring that the works are carried out in accordance with SOPs, mitigation measures and quality standards.ย Consults regularly with other UNDP projects and programmes on related activities, to identify and build synergies.ย
2. Ensure Financial and Operational Management
Provides financial, accounting, and administrative guidance to ensure implementation of operational and financial management strategies and budget monitoring: Ensures integrity of financial and administrative procedures as well as a consistent application of UNDP rules and procedures with regard to project implementation and operations. Provides strategic guidance for the development of the procurement strategy and tender documentation.ย Liaises with the procurement and project teams to initiate routine market surveys regarding the availability of materials and equipment in the local market, continuously updating the budget and cost estimates of key activities in coordination with the sectoral programme teams. Supervises requisitions, purchase orders and payment requests, and ensures monthly delivery updates on financial delivery performance. In close collaboration with the Risk Management Advisor, manages and monitors programmatic and operational risks arising throughout the project implementation, advising on adjustments to the risk management strategy and risk log. Conducts business process mapping and technical reviews of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in different processes connected with the implementation.ย Assumes responsibilities in line with the office of Internal Control Framework and acts as a `first authority` for Project transactions.3. Establishing effective coordination through proactive engagement with stakeholders and partners to strengthen project support, foster collaboration, and optimize project impact and shared objectives by accomplishing the following.
Build partnerships with local stakeholders, line ministries, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other relevant partners throughout the project implementation.ย Maintains regular coordination with partners and provides quality assurance of experts and partnersโ inputs and products. Supports consultations with local stakeholders and line ministries to ensure alignment with national plans and strategies and advise on proposed adjustments to the planning.ย Prepares concept notes, project progress and ad hoc reports and ensuring timely and quality submission of the reports to the board and relevant donor(s).ย
4. Facilitate knowledge development and management with a focus on achieving the following outcomes:ย
Ensures compilation and synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices throughout the project implementation.Supports the strategic sharing of relevant knowledge and information gathered throughout the project implementation and representing UNDP in different relevant forums.ย
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies Core Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย
Think Innovatively:LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย
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 demandsย
Act with Determination:LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Direction and 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 Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Business Management Resourceย Management Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with business needs and priorities and principles of accountability and integrity Business ManagementPartnership Management
ย Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies Business Management Riskย Management Abilityย toย identifyย and organizeย actionย around mitigatingย andย proactivelyย managing risks. Business Development Knowledge Generation ย Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. 2030 Agenda PeopleGender
ย Gender Equality Seal for DevelopmentRequired Skills and Experience:ย Min.ย Academicย Education
Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Development Studies, Political Science, Business Administration or Civil/Construction/Structural Engineering, or other related areas is required. Orย
A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with 2 additional years of experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant Workย experience A minimum of 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor's degree) of professional experience in areas relevant to Project Management (Development / Early Recovery and/or Infrastructure projects), Urban Planning, Business Administration or Infrastructure, especially in managing area-based multisectoral Early Recovery/Infrastructure Projects in Crisis Contexts, Implementing Construction projects or similar, with experience in programme design and management is required. Requiredย skills andย competencies Experience in project management (including results-based management, finance, HR, and procurement). Experience should include development programming, particularly managing multisectoral projects with large teams.ย Excellent use of project management software. Experience in dealing with local governments, NGOs, and bilateral and multilateral donors Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MSย Word,Excel, etc.). Experienceย inย handlingย web-basedย managementย systems. Desired additional skillsย andย competencies Previous experience in the Gaza Strip or countries in similar contexts is an advantage. Previous experience in working in complex and crisis/conflict/post-conflict environments is desired. Relevant experience in working with quality assurance instruments and results-based management models is desired.ย Experience in working with multilateral development stakeholders is desired.ย Prior experience with local / international NGOs or local NGOs on large project implementation is an asset. Familiarity and prior experience with the donorsโ requirements and procedures is considered as an asset.Requiredย Language(s)ย (at
workingย level) Fluencyย in bothย Englishย andย Arabic is required.ย Professional Certificates ย
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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