Title: Technical Advisor
Requisition ID: 2322
Grade: ISA-Specialist
Country: Madagascar
Duty Station: Antananarivo
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Application Deadline: 08-Jun-2023
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.
The Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST) develops and implements an innovative service package in response to UNIDO’s mandate for fair and responsible local industrial production and trade with a particular focus on building the required skills and capacities and foster a conducive business operating environment to ensure that such production and trade are as inclusive as possible, promoting – among others – the development of human capital through vocational training and industrial skills development.
The position is located under the Skills Development and Fair Production Unit (IET/PST/SFP) supports Member States in integrating into the emerging global systems of fair and sustainable trade. To this end, it leverages partnerships with the private sector to enhance employees’ skill sets to become the sources driving the sustainable transition. The Unit also promotes learning, concepts and norms to augment the attractiveness of industrial employment for youth and women under transparent, fair and social working conditions.
The Unit also deploys foresight and planning instruments to guide member states in developing the industrial skills in future cohorts of industrial employees and respond to re- and up-skilling requirements of actors in a sustainable value chain.
PROJECT CONTEXT SAP 200317 INCUBOOST MADAGASCAR
Project “Incuboost” is part of a program that supports incubators in entrepreneurship and MSME creation in Angola, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Somalia. The project is supported and financed by the European Union (EU) within the framework of the BIC AFRICA program.
In Madagascar, the Incuboost project aims to coordinate and strengthen the incubation ecosystem to facilitate the development and financing of entrepreneurial projects, particularly for youth. Its main development objective is to contribute to the creation of employment opportunities for mainly young men and women for an inclusive economic growth in Madagascar. Project Incuboost is expected to start in April 2023 with a duration of 48 months
In order to achieve the project’s objective, the project aims at the following two outputs:
Output 1. The network of incubators in Madagascar is established and operational
Output 2. Project review system and easy access to financing are put in place
Output 1: At the outset, the implementation of a mapping and assessment of the different actors of the incubation ecosystem in Madagascar will help to determine the needs of the incubators that will be reflected in a proposed action plan. After the selection of institutional partners (incubators) through the assessment, the project will create a network in the form of a platform of dialogue in order to increase the coordination, efficiency and effectiveness within the incubators’ network.
Concurrently, dialogues and linkages will be established between the network of incubators and other actors of the incubation system including technical and financial institutions, training centers and the private sector.
The project will propose interventions for already existing incubators that are mostly in an early stage of development to improve coordination and complementarity services within the incubation ecosystem of the Big Island. It will thus allow the capitalization, acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and experiences at the national level.
Output 2: Through a partnership with the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the project aims to improve the financial instruments and services available to MSMEs in order to enable young entrepreneurs’ access to funding and the launch of businesses. In addition to support in access to funding, the project will train staff from incubators on the use and integration of new technologies and circular economy concepts into entrepreneurship projects.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM) in HQ and in close coordination with the UNIDO Representative (UR) in the field location, the TA will be responsible for providing technical advice and guidance to the project team to implement the project as per the project document, the work plan and other relevant project related documents. The TA will closely coordinate with the UR in Madagascar all activities and interactions with project stakeholders (donors, international partners including UNCDF and national partners) as well as activities of reporting to support UNIDO’s work with other UN agencies or other international partners. Specifically, the TA will perform the following duties in close coordination with the PM and the UR:
MAIN DUTIES:
Programme/project coordination
• Prepare and monitor detailed work plans and budgets of the different interventions including a time plan for fielding experts, training, sub‐contracts, equipment purchases, etc.;
• Define institutional development objectives, work targets that can be reasonably achieved within the project funding and period. Identify any pre‐conditions that need to be fulfilled by the Government to achieve these objectives;
• Provide technical advice and direction to the project implementing partners (e.g. UNCDF) and relevant stakeholders on the overall project objective.
Project implementation
• Manages the local implementation of the project, assuming full responsibility for the provision of project implementation services, ensuring that assigned inputs are delivered on time at the right level of quality and within the allocated budget;
• Brief counterparts on the objectives, the planned approach, institutional arrangements and respective responsibilities; brief them on project progress at time intervals agreed with the PM;
• In consultation with both the UNIDO PM and Representative, identify in detail the nature of international and national expertise required; in consultation with relevant national counterparts, prepare draft job descriptions; assist in the identification of suitable candidates;
• Coordinate the local work of short‐term sector‐specific national and international consultants and sub‐contractors, to ensure smooth and timely project delivery;
• Guide and supervise the work of national and international consultants to ensure smooth project delivery.
• Be responsible for the day‐to‐day operations of the Project and the disbursement of local expenditures based on standard UNIDO disbursement procedures;
• Provide inputs to the technical committee, which UNIDO will be part of together with the Donors and national counterparts.
Monitoring, reporting, evaluation
• Ensure the administrative and financial monitoring of the project and its activities;
• Prepare inputs to reports including progress reports and the quarterly and annual substantive reports for the project according to donor specifications and UNIDO requirements;
• Prepare documentation of the Project Steering Committee meetings and act as Secretary , responsible for follow-up actions;
• Assume responsibility for the annual technical reports of the project in line with the standardized template and in accordance with the requirements of the donors;
• Support the PM in coordinating mid-term and final evaluation.
External relations
• In close cooperation with the UNIDO field office (UR) and HQs (PM) establish and maintain relations and exchange of information with the local authorities, private sector institutions, enterprises, support institutions and other development partners;
• Presents the project, project progress and results to the Donor and partners to keep them updated at regular intervals; presents the project at annual steering committee meetings, liaise project activities with the Donor and partners in coordination with the PM and the UNIDO representative
• Ensures compliance of implementation of the Donor Visibility Requirements and proper implementation of the project's Communications and Visibility Plan;
• Participates in key sector coordination meetings convened by the Government or development partners relevant to the action.
Other duties
• Keep PM and UNIDO representative regularly informed of progress and perform other duties at the request of the PM and the UNIDO representative
• Prepare an End of assignment report (EOAR)
DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS TO BE ACHIEVED
Programme/project coordination
• Project work and budget plans prepared and approved.
• Counterparts aware of programme/project concept, approach and planned activities.
• Effective technical advice support and advisory services provided.
Project implementation
• Implementation maintained and goals achieved as per project document and agreed work plan.
• Regular briefings of counterparts;
• Job descriptions and experts’ profiles prepared.
• Terms of reference prepared for contracting action by UNIDO.
• Consultants clear about their assignments and perform tasks as per the JD or TORs.
• Ensured smooth run of the project activities.
• Inputs to technical committee provided
Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation
• All financial/substantive reporting accomplished in satisfactory and timely manner.
• Inputs to reports provided in line with UNIDO and donor requirements
• Project Steering Committee meetings effectively prepared and followed-up.
• Annual technical reports meet required quality standards
• Continuous monitoring according to UNIDO and donor procedures.
External relations
• Coordination of different interventions maintained.
• Project visibility enhanced.
• Project activities are clearly reported, documented, communicated through different media.
Other duties
• Other duties performed at request
• EOAR submitted
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in economics, engineering, sciences, agro-industries, environment, energy, business administration, or other relevant discipline is required.
Technical and Functional Experience:
• At least seven (7) years of progressive professional experience in the field of SME, entrepreneurship, incubation and enterprise development including experience at the international level coordinating and implementing development projects within either private sector or public sector organizations
• Experience in cluster development is desirable
• Experience/knowledge of the international development agenda, and strategic issues of economic transformation, is desirable.
• Experience in working with the UN system, international organizations or non-governmental organizations and with the donors community, is desirable.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of developing countries is desirable.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken French is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge in English is required;
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.
Managerial and Leadership Competencies
WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.
WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.
WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.
WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.
This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside.
Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.
All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.
Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org
NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.
Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org