​Requisition ID: 7162 
Grade: ISA-NOC 
Country: Gambia 
Duty Station: Banjul 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 10 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 12-Mar-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. 
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

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 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 to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

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 Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

The Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating MSME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities; building conformity assessment capacities; and supporting market access and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating MSMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The Gambia is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Sustainable development and climate resilience are therefore central to national priorities, as articulated in the National Development Plan (2018–2021) and related sectoral strategies. Climate change poses a major risk to the country’s economic base, which is highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, water resources, energy, and tourism. These sectors are already experiencing declining rainfall, rising temperatures, increased frequency of droughts and floods, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion.

The Gambia’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC, November 2016) sets ambitious mitigation targets, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44.4% by 2025 and 45.4% by 2030 compared to a 2010 baseline. Achieving these commitments requires substantial investment, particularly from international climate finance mechanisms. To date, however, the Gambia has received limited international climate finance, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen national capacity to access, manage, and deploy such resources effectively.

At present, the Gambia does not have a Direct Access Entity (DAE) accredited to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). GAMWORKS, as a public works agency with a mandate to support government policies and national development strategies, is well positioned to play a leading role in mobilizing and channeling international climate finance for adaptation and mitigation projects. A preliminary internal assessment of GAMWORKS against the GCF accreditation checklist has identified significant gaps related to basic fiduciary criteria, specialized fiduciary criteria, environmental and social safeguards, gender mainstreaming, and institutional capacity. This Readiness intervention aims to address these gaps and strengthen GAMWORKS’ capacity to meet and maintain GCF accreditation standards and to develop and implement a pipeline of high-quality climate projects.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall guidance of the Project Manager and in close coordination with GAMWORKS and relevant national stakeholders, the National Fiduciary Accreditation Expert will provide technical expertise to strengthen institutional systems, policies, procedures, and capacities required for compliance with GCF accreditation standards. The assignment will contribute to institutional readiness, quality assurance of technical outputs, and effective capacity building, ensuring that GAMWORKS is positioned to access, manage, and implement international climate finance in a transparent, accountable, and sustainable manner. 

Main duties

• Facilitate kickoff meetings and bilateral interviews with directors and key staff for basic fiduciary capacities, collect information, and document existing administrative, financial, transparency and accountability practices.
• Localize and draft basic fiduciary manuals.
• Facilitate kickoff meetings and bilateral interviews with directors for specialized fiduciary capacities.
• Localize and draft specialized fiduciary manuals.
• Pilot and operationalize approved policies, manuals, procedures, and tools, providing practical feedback on usability and alignment with GAMWORKS’ organizational structures and operational workflows.
• Support the delivery and logistics of training sessions, ensuring all GAMWORKS professionals are trained to effectively apply the new/enhanced policies, procedures, and tools, and collect feedback for continuous improvement.
• Deliver responsive ad-hoc operational and administrative support to advance project objectives and address emerging priorities.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: 

Advanced university degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, engineering, public administration, or other relevant discipline.

Experience, technical and functional expertise

• Minimum of 5 years expertise in providing technical assistance services related to the basic fiduciary criteria (in particular with regard to procurement, code of ethics and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing policies);
• Expertise in providing technical assistance services related to grant management;
• Expertise in providing technical assistance services related to the project management;
• Experience with public and/or private institutions in West Africa

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of local languages (e.g. Wolof, Mandinka) is desirable.

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.

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