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Date:  National Quality Infrastructure Expert

​Requisition ID: 4611 
Grade: SB4 - Local Professional (Junior & Mid Level) 
Country: Nepal 
Duty Station: Kathmandu 
Category: Project Personnel 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 10-Oct-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

 

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.
 

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 Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

 

The position is located under the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS). Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. 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 position is specifically located under the Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME). Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, 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

 

Global Market Access Programme Nepal (“GMAP Nepal”; project ID 210186)

 

The Global Market Access Programme (GMAP, project ID 180025) aims to strengthen the quality and standards compliance capacity for selected Norad priority countries (i.e. Colombia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nepal) to facilitate market access for SMEs by working in emblematic sectors per country.

 

The project in Nepal will follow the overall structure of the programmatic framework of the Global Market Access Programme:

 

  • Overall objective (impact): Improved livelihood opportunities for small-scale beekeepers, MSMEs and honey processors in selected districts of Nepal through the sale of high-quality honeys.
  • Specific objective: Enhanced market access for Nepalese honeys to the domestic as well as regional and international markets.

 

In response to needs identified in the specific country context, the GMAP Nepal pursues three complimentary technical outcomes:

  • Outcome 1: Enhanced technical competence and sustainability of the National Quality Infrastructure System. Institutional strengthening of key institutions and relevant public-private support institutions through capacity building (use of best practices, skills development, implementation of management systems, testing laboratories upgrading and equipment procurement) to ensure quality and international recognition of their services.
  • Outcome 2: Enhanced MSMEs’ compliance with standards and technical regulations. Improvement of quality and compliance capacities through capacity building (including specialized training and advice) and preparation for certification, and strengthening of collaboration among value chain (VC) actors.
  • Outcome 3: Strengthened culture for quality. Advocacy, upscaling of knowledge dissemination and awareness activities in the honey value chain, and support for any relevant policy development/informed policy decisions on standards compliance, as applicable.

 

 

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Reporting to the Project Manager and under the direct supervision of the National Technical Coordinator and in close cooperation with the project teams in the HQ and field locations, the Expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:

 

MAIN DUTIES

 

Project implementation (preparatory work)

Onboarding and organizational socialization:

 

  • Complete the relevant UNIDO e-trainings, including for specific SAP modules (e.g., financial reporting, travel, Open Text, etc.); partake in customized virtual training sessions;
  • Attend local UNDSS-led induction security briefing session;
  • Familiarization with GMAP Nepal project document and value chain analytical report as well as key UNIDO documents and publications, incl. relevant chapters of the UNIDO Field Handbook;
  • Under the guidance of UNIDO HQ project team, familiarize with UNIDO in terms of in-house project support services, contact points, processes and procedures as well as relevant 
  • administrative and financial instructions and rules and regulations; adherence to the same at all times;
  • Ensure adherence to UNIDO corporate guidelines for publications, visual identity and messaging;
  • Act as official custodian of petty cash to be used for project implementation; spend funds and document expenditures in line with rules and regulations; ensure timely closure and renewal;
  • Familiarization with GMAP visual identity and templates.
 
National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) strengthening for honey testing

Honey legislations, technical regulations and standards:

 

  • Lead the review of legislations and technical regulations relevant to the honey value chain in Nepal, including the identification/ mapping and assessment of alignment with regional/international best practices;
  • Examine the need for a legislation covering locally consumed honey with mandatory testing in collaboration with the Govt. authorities and NQI institutions, such as NBSM, DFTQC and CAL;
  • In close consultation with the key Government institutions and the national standards body, NBSM, and jointly with other experts, review national standards for honey, beehives, honey packaging materials, etc., as applicable, and make recommendations, if needed, for the revision of relevant national standards; assess the need for the development/adoption/harmonization of a tropical standard for Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels in honey for tropical honey production;
  • In close consultation with the key Government institutions, and jointly with other experts, compile recommendations for the development of standards specific to honey from hunted sources as well as from hive sources, including honey from Apis cerana and Apis mellifera honeybees.

 

Conformity assessment – testing laboratories:

 

  • Lead the review/ analysis of honey testing capacities and organizational structures of NBSM, DFTQC, CAL and other relevant institutions, identifying potential overlap in honey testing mandates for resource efficiency. Based on the above analysis, in close consultation with the Govt. authorities and stakeholder institutions, and jointly with other PMU experts, select and agree on the target laboratory/ies for project support;
  • Jointly with other experts, identify testing equipment, certified reference materials, accessories, gases, etc., needed in the target laboratory/ies in support of accreditation by the end of the project, and prepare a procurement plan, paying due consideration to the project budget, target institution(s) absorption capacities, and delivery timelines;
  • At an early stage of the project, identify the honey testing parameters to be potentially accredited in each laboratory for ISO/IEC 17025 by the end of the project and agree with the key institutions on those parameters and obtain their full commitment with human resources;
  • Develop a human resources development plan for the testing laboratory/ies in close consultation with the target laboratories, PMU and other national/international experts;
  • Develop a preliminary laboratory accreditation plan for the honey testing parameters in each laboratory.

 

Conformity assessment – certification:

 

  • Evaluate the current voluntary honey certification scheme of NBSM and recommend ways and means to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing certification scheme to improve local honey trade;
  • In close consultation with the Govt. authorities, NBSM, DFTQC, CAL and other relevant authorized institutions, initiate the development of a Nepal Honey Quality Mark;
  • Identify the honey processors and exporters for food safety management system certification assistance (GMP, GHP, HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000);
  • Examine the opportunities for and feasibility of organic honey certification in the target provinces of the project.

 

Capacity building of value chain actors:

 

  • Working jointly with the National Value Chain Development Expert, advise beneficiaries on food safety regulations, hygiene, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and other relevant food safety frameworks, to ensure quality and inspection requirements compliance in honey production;
  • Working jointly with the National Value Chain Development Expert, develop and deliver capacity-building initiatives to honey producers, processors, and other stakeholders to improve quality control measures and food safety practices throughout the value chain.

 

Promotion of quality culture:

 

  • Lead the development of training and awareness raising materials to promote understanding of the National Quality Infrastructure System, relevant quality certification schemes for trade and income generation, food quality and safety issues for different audiences;
  • Develop a communication strategy for promoting quality and local products.

 

Miscellaneous:

 

  • Work under the direct supervision of the National Technical Coordinator, providing regular updates and seeking guidance as needed;
  • Assist in the preparation of project leaflets, newsletters, project reports, presentations, and other communication materials for internal and external audiences, including for Project Steering Committee meetings;
  • Facilitate communication between the UNIDO project team and UNIDO international experts with Nepali-speaking stakeholders;
  • Support informal translation from Nepali to English and vice versa of relevant documents, official communication, etc.
  • Prepare a final report on the consultancy following established templates.

 

Work plan:

 

  • Based on the findings of the analyses to be conducted during this consultancy, jointly with the National Technical Coordinator and National Value Chain Development Expert, provide inputs for QI-related activities and develop a project work plan, detailing time frames, milestones, and indicating the responsible local institutions/partners.

 

Coordination with GMAP Ethiopia project:

 

  • Under the guidance of the GMAP Nepal Project Manager and the HQ project team, discuss with the Project Manager of the GMAP Ethiopia project to explore and establish synergies between the two honey value chain projects;
  • Establish networking with the Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise and Ethiopian Standards Institute on honey testing and honey standards development experience sharing.

 

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, engineering, sciences, agro-industries, environment, business administration, or other relevant discipline with specialization in quality control, regulatory affairs/compliance, food safety, and/or international trade is required.

 

Technical and functional experience:

 

  • At least three (3) years of professional experience in the implementation of technical cooperation/ development projects at national level, is required.
  • Experience in standardization (review, development) and conformity assessment is required.
  • Knowledge of the quality infrastructure system in Nepal is required.
  • Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of the country or similar country in the regions is desirable.
  • Experience in working with government and development agencies including the United Nations agencies in the country or similar country in the region, is desirable.

 

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in Nepali is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Hindi 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

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