1. Project management

• Advise the Project Manager on preparing a detailed work plan and budget, and design monitoring and evaluation tools for the project activities;
• Liaise with the project personnel on all substantial issues related to project planning and execution across all project outputs. This will include liaising closely across both divisions (IET/AGR/FSS and IET/PST/SED) to coordinate and implement activities in field;

• In full coordination with the Project Manager and the UNIDO Country Representative, maintain effective coordination and working relations with the relevant Ministries, Governorate/District authorities and other stakeholders;
• Keep abreast of national and regional development context, policy developments, and any other support programmes (especially those related to food security and food systems, sesame and its value chain, value addition in agriculture in Sudan, TVET/skills development, and youth employment) being launched/implemented;

• Coordinate the execution of all activities leading to the successful implementation of the project in the country, including implementation, quality control and monitoring of all project related activities in Gedaref, including, but not limited to the annual work plan, budget, field missions, field work, training and workshops, remote meetings, recruitment and procurement activities;
• In particular, lead the organization and preparation of workshops, conferences, seminars or other types of project-related events, including planning and follow-up on all relevant items (e.g. draft agenda, invitee list, supporting material; logistics), drafting meeting minutes and/or event reports, consolidating comments, and ensuring internal and external dissemination as required;
• Support overall planning, reporting, and management of the project in Gedaref, including development of project work plan and monitoring based on the achieved progress; drafting Terms of Reference and Technical Specifications for the purchase of goods/services, according to project needs and budget allocation;
• Organize and conduct briefings and debriefings on projects for the country, sub-regional aspects, resources and development towards maximizing project performance level;
• Ensure fair, active, and gender-sensitive participation of beneficiaries in the project implementation, in line with the project deliverables and targets;
• Lead project team related to the project activities in Gedaref and provide monthly progress reporting by gathering project data and information to UNIDO HQ;
• Facilitate the work of other Individual Service Agreement (ISA) holders and subcontractors assigned for the activities of the project in Gedaref;
• Keep track of financial procedures and payments of the project, such as request and follow-up of supplier invoices, requests for OCA, OCAFT etc. and reconciliations in coordination with the project assistant;
• Actively contribute to analysis-related activities, including by providing technical inputs, comments and feedback on experts and sub-contractors’ deliverables;
• Coordinate the preparation of technical requirements/technical specifications for procurement, including designing of technical requirements, elaboration of relevant questions from tenders, evaluations, etc. ensuring compliance with the relevant UNIDO administrative rules and policies;
• Attend key meetings (incl. internal coordination meetings as required by the PM) related to the project and act as the focal point of the project at national level, as requested by the project manager;
• Take project initiatives to enhance the success of the programme including establishing and maintaining partnerships opportunities with the private sector n Gedaref, maintaining close links with other private sector skills development initiatives to ensure a consistent and integrated approach;
• Establish a coherent system of information covering each activity of the project, including project impact indicators, and transmit the required details to the PM;
• Support the organization of the Project Steering Committee and specialized working groups/technical steering committees related to project objectives;
• Prepare mission plans and provide logistical support for missions for PM, international and national experts and subcontractors as requested by the PM;
• Supervise the day to day work of the project team, including project assistants, driver, and ad hoc consultants recruited for the project;
• Oversee correct use of assets including vehicle and any other project-supplied equipment;Daily and regularly inspect the condition of the project vehicle. Arrange for the regular professional service maintenance and repair of the UNIDO project vehicle. 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;
• Perform other ad-hoc duties as required by the PM and the two Technical Officers assigned to the project at HQ;
• Ensure compliance with all UNIDO rules and regulations.

Project activities, implemented in close collaboration with national counterparts at a high standard and with results-based approach.

Meeting invitations sent out in a timely manner to the designated audience, and minutes/reports drafted, revised and shared as required by the PM.

UNIDO PM & FO are informed of relevant developments (i.e. briefing/summary notes prepared, event invitations shared in timely manner.

National experts guided and empowered so as to produce high quality project outputs and deliverables.

Project strategy informed by intelligence generated.

Procurement approaches streamlined and according to UNIDO rules and regulations; Tender documents are of high quality and prepared in a timely manner.

Financial procedures are followed and project payments are made in a timely fashion (i.e. no complaints by vendors).

Effective partnerships developed and maintained.

UNIDO PM & FO are informed of relevant developments (i.e. briefing/summary notes prepared, event invitations shared in timely manner.

2. Monitoring, reporting and ad-hoc assignments

• Execute the administrative and financial monitoring of the project and its activities, including project outputs and outcomes at national level, the collection of required information and data, reporting on identified bottlenecks as well as proposing and implementing solutions to expedite implementation in line with the adaptive management approach, and as required by the PM;
• Represent UNIDO at the UN inter-agency meetings and Steering Committee meetings (as required by the PM);
• Ensure continuous coordination with institutional implementing partners throughout the project cycle;
• Lead the coordination and preparation of Technical Committee (TC) and Project Steering Committee meetings (PSCs) and provide relevant documentation, including reporting/meeting minutes and internal/external dissemination, drafting TORs, and if required act as Secretary of the PSC;
• Coordinate the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual reporting for the programme according to donor specifications and UNIDO requirements;
• Draft the relevant section of the progress report related to project activities in Gedaref based on the outcomes of the different activities by gathering all relevant data and draft relevant sections of the progress report developed in liaison with UNIDO HQ;
• Develop presentations, official correspondence and press releases etc. as required during the project implementation;
• Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation for the activities of the project using appropriate tools with output verifiable indicators;
• Be the project focal point for the data collection and reporting to the program M&E framework as well as the report according to UNIDO IRPF framework,
• Provide inputs for strategic advice in the elaboration of the operational planning and monitoring system for the project;

• Maintain files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work, including database of key contacts; log of contacts.

M&E IRPF indicators developed.

Project monitoring framework drafted. Project log frame revised. Project reporting templates drawn up.

Reports are prepared and submitted as agreed and planned.

Project reports shared in time with all relevant project partners.

ToRs prepared, the PSC meetings run smoothly. Meeting minutes template filled in and sent to PMs following every meeting (including phone calls or web based).

Effective liaison with government and private sector counterparts established.

3. External Relations

• Develop and nurture an active network of key contacts within relevant public sector actora, VTCs, development and financial partners, and the private sector in Sudan;
• Facilitate coordination and cooperation with national counterparts, ensure the liaison and participation between stakeholders at national level. In particular, follow-up on initiatives for and facilitate cooperation and public-private dialogue on private sector’s engagement in skills development at the national level;
• Support HQ/FO in UNIDO’s policy dialogue on industrial policy, local content policies, and related skills development strategies (e.g. identifying policy dialogue opportunities, organizing advocacy meetings with key government representatives, preparing agenda and minutes, identifying key messages, ensuring follow-up of action points, etc);
• Support the elaboration of a project communication strategy and coordinate the dissemination of project knowledge to the wider public including providing input on project-related communication items (e.g. fact sheet, newsletters, flyers, learning briefs, social media posts, press releases) in coordination with PM and HQ/divisional communications teams;
• Provide regular updates and brief counterparts and other project stakeholders on project activities, including by sharing relevant information in line with the project work plan, and coordination with media and key stakeholders to ensure good publicity/media coverage of events organized.

PM, FO, and other colleagues are briefed in a timely manner about all meeting outcomes.

National counterparts and stakeholders are aware of project activities and actively participating in relevant events (PSC etc.).

Policy dialogue opportunities identified and advocacy meetings held, and meeting minutes shared with PM and FO.

Communications strategy completed and success stories and lessons learned disseminated through identified appropriate media.

4. Project Visibility

• Liaise with the Project Manager at the HQ to support the development of the communication and visibility activities for the project;
• Coordinate input texts for promotional materials including project fact sheets, infographic, website etc. as needed;
• Assist in promoting the project via visibility platforms, events, social media, brochures and other tools, developing promotional videos/material.