Project Officer for Minorities (Funding Windows)

Background
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
 
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
 
UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights, and Local Governance (DHL) project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening federal, provincial, and local governance mechanisms against the backdrop of the 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010). The project's core objective is to ensure inclusive service delivery in all 4 provinces of Pakistan by providing capacity development support to relevant federal ministries and provincial line departments to create an enabling environment for effective local governance and rights-based development. In light of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain inter-faith harmony and prevent conflicts, the DHL project places a strong emphasis on a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders to establish a lasting environment conducive to proactive peace-building measures. Recognizing the growing trend of digital-fueled intolerance, the project advocates for a comprehensive societal strategy, especially in promoting effective advocacy efforts that nurture inter-faith understanding in regions susceptible to strife. UNDP-DHL will also collaborate with multiple stakeholders to expand services that are provided to victims of these conflicts. In this regard, conflict resolution should go beyond legal redressal and extend to other facets as well such as mental health, the restoration and development of livelihoods, and community-building.  At the same time, as highlighted above, several roadblocks hinder the effective provision of legal redressal. In this regard, UNDP-DHL will strive to capacitate local actors including the government, community members, and civil society to integrate grievance redressal mechanisms within a sustained peace-building infrastructure that prioritizes psychosocial support, legal aid, community development, and inter-faith linkages. Moreover, communities need to be sensitized to take into account the specific redressal needs of women impacted by these conflicts and their potential to become effective actors in promoting peace in these areas. 
Duties and Responsibilities

Project Officer for Minorities will report to the Chief Technical Advisor, the incumbent is expected to achieve the deliverables, working in close collaboration with all team members in the project. 

Under the overall supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor the “Project Officer – for Minorities (Funding Windows)” is expected to achieve the aforementioned deliverables, working in close collaboration with the team members in projects. He/she will be responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the Project’s interventions under the respective Funding Windows. 

Summary of Key Functions: 

• Provide Technical Assistance and Manage the implementation of the project’s interventions in Jaranwala, Sargodha and Punjab on promoting gender equality, peace and tolerance. 
• Monitoring of the ongoing project and reporting 
• Establish and maintain partnerships with government, Civil society, and Community members 
• Lead on preparing briefs, reporting, and knowledge sharing with the DHL team 

Technical Assistance and Manage the Implementation of the project:

• Provide expert technical assistance in designing and implementing project model and propose new interventions as necessary. 
• Manage the overall implementation of the peacebuilding and social cohesion project in Punjab promptly and be responsible for the quality control of project activities and inputs, in line with UNDP’s policies and practices as well as donor requirements. 
• Supervise the implementing partners, in implementing activities, including reporting, monitoring, and evaluation, and identify and implement project delivery and coordination improvements. 
• Ensure effective implementation of day-to-day operations to ensure quality-based implementation of the project and delivery of its outputs 
• Establish systems for project planning, implementation, and closeout and record and maintain documents on relevant program activities, issues, and risks. 
• Identify and provide capacity-building support and opportunities to the local partners in coordination with the subject experts. 
• Organize and lead the project-related activities including the organization of roundtables, inception workshops, training, working meetings, and other events. 

Monitoring of the ongoing projects and reporting:

• Manage the monitoring of project implementation using results-based management tools assessing program implementation and achieving maximum efficiency in program delivery through timely monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to highlight the implementation challenges and solutions. 
• Ensure implementation of the DHL-UNDP’s M&E tools for the peacebuilding and social cohesion project and ensure accurate and reliable data collection and analysis which eventually results in dissemination promptly. 
• Coordinate closely with the Punjab Human Rights Officer as well as the Human Rights Education Officer to build synergies and collaboration on areas of mutual interest. 

Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with Government stakeholders, and local partners:

• Development of partnerships with the government institutions private sector, civil society, and academia aiming at coordinating and promoting Project related activities. 
• Participate in and contribute to relevant meetings as requested; debrief senior management on critical issues. 
• Maintain the smooth flow of communication, exchange of information, and collaboration with and between partners and establish strong relationships with the project’s NGOs and national counterparts. 

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

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: ​​LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline​ 
• Think Innovatively: ​​LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements ​
• Learn Continuously: ​​LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback​ 
• Adapt with Agility: ​​LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible ​
• Act with Determination: ​​LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident​
• Engage and Partner: ​​LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships​
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: ​​LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination ​ 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management 

• Partnerships Management: Ability to 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 
• Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results 

Business Development 

• UNDP Representation: Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies 

Partnership management 

• Private sector engagement: Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector 

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Human Rights/HRBA 

Rule of Law 

• Security & Human Rights: Gender and Institutional Development 

2030 Agenda: Prosperity 

• Inclusive Growth: Job/ Employment /Decent work Promotion 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in International Relations, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Public Administration, Political Sciences, 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 

Experience:

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in project implementation, monitoring, coordination, and engagement with stakeholders. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required. 
• Strong communication (spoken and written) skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style. 
• Prior working experience with public, private, and development sectors in the areas of governance, peacebuilding, and community engagement is desired. 
• Experience and a good understanding of Government institutional and setup at national government level is desired.
• Experience in report writing, briefs, and analysis skills is desired. 
• Good analytical and writing skills is desired. 

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Urdu language is required. 
• Knowledge of Punjabi language is desired. 

Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders) 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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