The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization’s development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization’s normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

This position is located under the Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) which builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating SME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities (i.e. standardization, metrology, and accreditation); building conformity assessment capacities (testing, inspection, certification, calibration, etc.); and supporting trade facilitation and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating SMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

As part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), the overall objective of the project is to strengthen the competitiveness of The Gambia and enhance its integration into the regional and international trading systems. To achieve the overall objective, two specific objectives were set 1) to improve the performance, growth and contribution to industry, regional trade and export of selected value chains; 2) to improve the climate for business at national and regional levels.

The project will pursue two outputs, each containing sub-outputs:

• • Output 1: Competitiveness at firm-level is improved, especially through the cluster approach.
    • Sub-Output 1.1: Increased onion value chain compliance and performance, leading to greater market access.
  • Output 2: Intermediate organizations of the onion value chain are strengthened and service delivery to MSMEs is improved.
    • Sub-Output 2.1: Technical capacity and competence of the FSQA, TGSB and the other relevant quality infrastructure institutions and coordination are strengthened.
    • Sub-Output 2.2: Selected technical capacities of the MoA and related services strengthened in respect of the implementation of food quality and safety standards at primary production.

The focus of the intervention will be on strengthening standards compliance capacity of the onion value chain to improve food safety & quality for improved regional market access and on supporting undergirding trade support institutions, including quality infrastructure (QI) institutions, that service the sector. A market-driven, flexible approach will be embedded in project interventions such that other horticultural value chains can benefit from project outputs. The targeted value chains are consistent with the priorities stated in the National Development Plan 2018 – 2021 and it will also contribute to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional industrialization priorities for agro-industries.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Senior Driver provides reliable and safe driving services ensuring high accuracy of work. The Senior Driver/Clerk demonstrates a client-oriented approach, high sense of responsibility, courtesy, tact and the ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. The Senior Driver/Clerk provides driving services to the project/programme staff, consultants and experts and UNIDO staff on mission, as well as provides administrative support throughout the project cycle as requested.

Main duties are:

• Drive project personnel and on demand, other authorized people, in a safe, secure and reliable manner;

• Respect traffic regulations and the rules of the United Nations on driving in the country of the assignment;

• Daily and regularly inspect the condition of the project vehicles. Arrange for the regular professional service maintenance and repair of the UNIDO vehicles. This includes maintaining a high-level of cleanliness and ensuring that oil, water, battery, brakes and tyres all meet the authorized safety regulations;

• Log all official travel, daily mileage, gas consumption and oil changes, in an official form;

• Search and identify the lowest cost and most reliable source of high quality spare parts and service shops, in order to facilitate the purchasing of the parts;

• Ensure the security and guard the project vehicles;

• Ensure that immediate steps, as required by rules and regulations, are taken in case of involvement in an accident;

• Deliver and collect official mail and other documents as required, ensuring that all deliveries and collections are made in a timely manner;

• Meet official personnel at the airport;

• Facilitate immigration and customs formalities;

Administrative support duties:

• Carry out clerical and administrative assignments as requested;

• Support distribution of DSA during project organized meetings;
• Maintain a high level of accuracy and confidentiality in performing clerical and logistical support services;

• Perform any other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Completed secondary education. Driver’s training with a valid driver’s license.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of work experience as a driver, is required.
• Good/safe driving record, is required.
• Knowledge of driving rules and regulations, and skills in minor vehicle repair, is required.
• Good knowledge of the area and up-to-date information on current conditions of roads and highways, is required.
• Proficiency in map reading and land navigation systems, is required.
• Willingness to travel occasionally also to remoter locations outside of duty station, is required.
• Experience with providing clerical and administrative project support is required.
• Understanding of office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable.
• Experience with driving government officials, other UN staff, or diplomatic staff, desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. The candidate should have working knowledge of the national language.

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.

Key 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.