JOB DESCRIPTION

Background

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Office/Unit/Project Description

The Danish Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI) has been an important element in Danish-Egyptian cooperation for 20 years. DEDI is a platform for dialogue, innovation and exchange between Denmark and Egypt. A new four-year phase of support to DEDI, financed under the Danish Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP), will start in 2025. The new phase is designed to address the challenges and opportunities of climate change, circular economy, green transition and youth innovation. DEDI’s focus will be on the following three components: i) Innovation in sustainable design by youth; ii) Green environmental literacy for youth; and iii) Youth dialogue on climate and security. DEDI will be hosted by UNDP Cairo, and Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) will be a key implementing partner. A range of Danish and Egyptian organizations and experts will be engaged as the backbone of DEDI’s dialogue and exchange activities in Egypt and Denmark. According to the agreed governance set-up for DEDI, the Coordinator refers to the DEDI Co-chairs and Advisory Board on achievements and strategic decisions. On a day-to-day basis, the Technical Expert has the overall technical responsibility for managing the implementation of DEDI’s activities in close coordination with UNDP Cairo, and for Component 3 with CCCPA within the framework of the agreed project document and annual implementation plans.

As the host institution and implementing partners for DEDI, UNDP Egypt plays a central role in facilitating the implementation of the initiative, ensuring alignment with broader development priorities and providing technical, operational and administrative support. Under the new phase of DEDI (2024-2028), UNDP is responsible for grant management, financial oversight, and technical guidance across all three components, with a specific implementation role in Components 1 and 2 in partnership with DEDI. UNDP’s involvement ensures that DEDI benefits from its extensive expertise in sustainable development, youth engagement, and climate action, as well as its established networks with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. Furthermore, UNDP will support capacity-building efforts, monitoring, and reporting in line with its Results-Based Management (RBM) standards, ensuring that DEDI”s activities contribute effectively to the Danish Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP) and Egypt’s green transition agenda.

Scope of Work

The Project Specialist for the DEDI Projects will cover the following:

Ensure strategic management of the project and provide day-to-day technical, financial, and administrative support for the delivery of the Projects’ activities focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Act as deputy Technical Expert.
• Provide quality leadership in the overall coordination and management of the DEDI Project.
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of action plans in order to identify and resolve issues on financial delivery towards the full and optimal utilization of project funds.
• Approves payments related to the work programme cleared by the Technical Expert and as described in the “Accounts and Procedures Manual for DEDI”.
• Keeps an updated archive for each project of the program.
• Lead the identification of project issues, challenges and risks, and appropriate strategies, and direct and oversee implementation of these strategies.
• Supervise the preparation of progress monitoring reports (e.g. donor reports), activity designs, briefing papers, technical reports, situation updates, M&E documents, and other documentation as may be required in project implementation.
• Supervise and oversee planning and implementation workshops, needs assessments, consultations, planning sessions, and provide technical inputs as maybe necessary.
• Review and approve communication assignments such as writing of articles, press releases, development of knowledge products and other related activities.
• Provides inputs for the reporting to the DEDI Advisory Board
• Mentor and coach team members as they perform their duties
• Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisors.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships and coordination with key counterparts to ensure the successful implementation of quality assurance of activities enlisted under the DEDI Project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Manage external partner involvement (in Egypt and Denmark)
• Oversee the coordination of external partner involvement (in Egypt and Denmark)
• Manage national and international consultants under the supervision of the Technical Expert
• Maintain dialogue with external partners relevant to project implementation
• Engages with external partners in Denmark and Egypt relevant for DEDI’s work including civil society and governmental organizations

Oversee the successful implementation of all the components of the DEDI Project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Based on the approved work plan, review and endorse approval of suitable partnership agreements and project activity designs.
• Provide guidance and supervise the implementation of partnership agreement and project activities.
• Ensure compliance to physical and financial delivery deadlines by implementing remedial measures to address bottlenecks, if needed.
• As needed, consult with or obtain approval from the Project Board on major changes to the agreed upon work plan; and
• Spearhead the conduct of spot checking and quality assurance activities to ensure that implementation of activities is within the quality standards of UNDP and remain on track.
• Follows the development within the thematic focus areas of DEDI’s components in Egypt, Denmark and internationally.

Ensure adaptive delivery of the project by providing quality input and strategic advice focusing on achievement of the following results.

• Foresee possible roadblocks, as well as opportunities, and be able to put forth and implement contingency measures.
• Oversee the interaction of the specialists, firms, NGOs, and personnel, and ensure that these collaborations contribute to the strategic goals of the project.
• Provide new and innovative ways of working to achieve the goals of the project in the most efficient and effective means possible; and
• Ensure that deliverables of specialists and firms, NGOs, and partners contribute to the strategic goal of the project and provide timely and technically sound feedback.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of credible sources of information concerning project implementation and related issues.
• Identification and synthesis of best local and international practices and lessons learned directly linked to the project.
• Effective network with development partners and government both at national level and subnational level; and
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Performs other tasks as requested by the Technical Expert on an ad hoc basis.
• Provides independent input and analysis upon request by the Technical Expert on content, strategy, and operational methods.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement : The Project Specialist will report to UNDP and the Project Technical Expert.

Competencies

Please refer to the competency framework site for the entire list of competencies and further explanations.

Core

Achieve Results

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

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 demands

Act with Determination

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

Thematic Area
Name
Definition

Business Direction & Strategy
Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.Business Direction & 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 Development
  Knowledge Facilitation

  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

  BusinessManagement
  Project Management

  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals

  Business Management
  Communication

  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels

  Partnership management
  Relationship Management

  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

  Required Skills and Experience

  Min. Academic Education: Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Project Management, Economics, Political Sciences, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related field is required, OR

  A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

  Min. years of relevant Work experience: Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in the implementation of development projects relevant to youth empowerment, social entrepreneurship, green economy sectors, and international cooperation.
  Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.

  Required skills and competencies: Proven experience of effective partnership development with national counterparts, development partners, private sector, and civil society is required.
  Demonstrated capacity in project financial management including preparation of budgets, annual work plans, and financial reporting is required

  Desired additional skills and
  competencies: Experience from previous international assignments and/or multilateral and bilateral aid organizations would be an asset.
  Familiarity with the Danish and Egyptian climate and environment ecosystem and working experience with Danish and Egyptian partners will be an asset.
  Previous experience in UN is an advantage.

  Required Language(s) (at working level): Fluency in English and Arabic (oral and written) with excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills

  Professional Certificates: Project/programme management certification is an advantage

  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.

  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.

  Right to select multiple candidates

  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.

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