Title:  Project Coordinator

​​Requisition ID: 2350 
Grade: ISA-Specialist 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: One year
Application Deadline: 14-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 Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

This position is located under the Division of Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS), which promotes digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) associated technologies (including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial Internet of things, additive manufacturing, big data, blockchain, e-commerce, and others) as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secured cyber-physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division's services, the productive transformation will be key, integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, in less developed countries will have the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Project number: 140261 - Support the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) to be sustained, effective and internationally recognized as key driving force for regional trade integration

The current project has been extended to finish in 2023, while outcomes and outputs has been revised and expanded to provide technical support to Abs, CABs, and SMEs.

The objective of the project is strengthening regional accreditation in order to contribute to facilitation of social, economic & environmental benefits on a societal scale.

To achieve this goal the project has set two outcomes:

Outcome 1

ARAC is sustainable, internationally recognized and strengthened as a key pillar to regional trade integration.

Under this outcome, two outputs will be implemented:

Output 1.1 ARAC, as a regional cooperation body, is legally incorporated, technically & financially viable

Output 1.2 ARAC members capacitated towards reaching ARAC MLA signatory status / extending the recognized scopes

Outcome 2:

SMEs access available & enhanced conformity assessment services via supported CABs

Under which three outputs will be implemented:

Output 2.1 Up to 100 CABs (out of which at least 30% women) from ARAC country members supported in obtaining accreditation/ expanding scope of services.

Output 2.2 150 SMEs from food sector (out of which at least 30% women- led/owned/working) supported to enhance their performance in terms of quality, via the use of ARAC accredited CABs

Output 2.3 Public-private stakeholders in two selected ARAC Member States supported to recognize third-party food safety certificates and track the performance of inspection services

In this extension phase, the project will continue to work in two separates but complementing tracks – outcomes. Outcome 1 builds on ARAC achievement to optimize regional accreditation operations and ensure ownership and sustainability (last mile support), whereas outcome 2 introduces direct support to the main users/beneficiaries of the program to proof target group utilization of ARAC trade infrastructure (upholding attribution and additionality principles of this intervention). This is in line with Sidas’s goals for economic development delineated within its regional MENA strategy 2021-2025. The later outcome is a result of UNIDO assessment as well, recommendations from evaluators and feedback from regional counterparts.

- First outcome: ARAC will continue to support the expected results mentioned above. Reducing trade barriers, ensuring the adoption of trade facilitation best practice, and making trade infrastructure accessible and operationally efficient and effective. Ultimately, contributing to sustainable economic growth in economic, social, and environmental dimensions as well as to reduce inequality (both income and gender). Institutionalization and technical sustainability of the regional accreditation system and harmonized accreditation bodies. Furthermore, its focus will be on the digitalization of ARAC’s back office and front office processes and services to gain efficiency and effectiveness and to mitigate risks (i.e. pandemics) that could interfere with operations. In parallel to ICT and digitalization support, the establishment of national performance monitoring system for relevant governmental entities for certification of product and services will be a priority.

- Second outcome: the project will seek to work directly with the end user of accreditation services – target group. Both Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are greatly influenced by accreditation services. On one hand CABs need accreditation to ensure the quality and competence of their services, and on the other SMEs benefit from the services provided by the latter to overcome/reduce technical barrier to trade. However, within the original ARAC project, it was difficult to monitor that link and to assess the causality between CABs and SMEs and its subsequent impact. Understanding this dynamic will allow ARAC and its members to receive evidence-based insights for improving, not only accreditation processes and services, but contributing to broader analysis and decision making for broader trade facilitation policy and regulations as well. The extension of ARAC includes new outputs that are designed to directly intervene on the meso and micro level (CABs and SMEs) with the aim of raising their capacities to better use the benefit from accreditation services within the QI system. Ultimately, contributing to sustainable economic growth in economic, social, and environmental dimensions as well as to reduce inequality (both income and gender). Besides improving for example food safety inspection services, the project will be able to measure the impact generated by improved conformity assessment services from an economic perspective. Namely, monitoring increased (i.e. revenue) due to increased trade (i.e. export) and support governmental bodies adopt best practices for good governance, quality control and trade. In addition, best practices in food safety inspection backed by data generated by voluntary third-party assurance (vTPA) programs shall contribute to improved risk-based inspection practices by prioritizing areas through improved risk profiling of predominant hazards. Ultimately, having improved and better-targeted inspection function, including measuring the performance of existing practices, will translate to enhanced food safety practices as one of the main bottlenecks for economic growth and enhanced trade.

Both outcomes complement each other by targeting the different three level with relevant stakeholders/counterparts (ARAC: regulatory/institutional, CABs: Service providers, SMEs: end-users/target group). Going forward, project’s focus will be on the SMEs with most potential to trade/export within the MENA region by means of facilitating their access to accreditation and other complementary trade facilitation services within the ARAC and country members. Also, the project will assess the needs of SMEs in terms of accreditation (trade facilitation) services and focus on supporting those that could have the highest impact on business growth and employment. These activities will among others, directly support SMEs negatively impacted by Covid 19, by providing technical assistance aimed at enhancing the quality of their services and products . Furthermore, technical assistance shall be made available for SMEs willing to enhance their capacity to ensure their products and services comply with regulations and standards through testing, inspection, calibration, and certification services provided by the ARAC AB accredited CABs. SMEs should become more competitive and be able to expand into new markets, including those overseas. Also, that kind of technical assistance will lead to reduction in rejections, product failings and recalls (waste). Similarly, the project will support CABs to address the needs of SMEs willing to export, by providing CABs with the tools and best practices for performing their operation, as well as expanding their scope of services based on needs and priorities of the SMEs. ). Another example, is when a CAB in county Y expands its scope to provide a new certificate or test for a product intended for export, it contributes to the reduction of the overall production cost for the enterprise in that country, since the CAB is making this new scope/service available domestically it eliminates the need to undertake or repeat this test in the export market. Input from end users SMEs and CABs will be key for further development and improvement of trade facilitation policy at the Macro-level.

In parallel, the project will continue to develop capacity and infrastructure to identify risks and mitigate and adapt accordingly to avoid supply chains interruption and food safety hazards resulting from different kind of catastrophic events such as pandemics (i.e. Covid-19). ARAC current coordination and collaboration with medical laboratories could be strengthened providing the needed trainings and tools for the CABs to test for biohazards. Also, relevant authorities should have access data and analysis to assess risk and develop appropriate measures (protocols).

Specific focus will be given to reducing gender inequality, as the proposed extension is targeting at least 30% of women of total CABs and SMEs. In addition, the proposal will initiate a gender related certificate that is aimed at enhancing gender equality with establishment working in the private sector.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, assists in appraising, adjusting and presenting project proposals, and monitoring programme execution, identifying problems and utilizing information as an input to corrective actions to promote effective project management, develops and administers technical cooperation projects. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.

• Locate and analyze specific economic and social data and distilling and synthesizing information relevant to proposed projects;

• Identify, describe and justify project possibilities related to a particular project and consistent with approved technical cooperation programmes and ongoing activities;

• Appraise, review and adjust project proposals to ensure consistency with national, sub regional, regional and sectoral priorities and programmes, and with available resources; formulate and present such proposals on the basis of technical and substantive inputs in accordance with required format for final review and approval;

• Develop schedules, arrangements and methods for the management of the execution of individual project/s, in consultation with project personnel, technical, substantive and administrative service units;

• Exchange information required for project formulation and execution with government officials in planning, finance, donor input coordination and sectoral functions, as well as with representatives of multilateral and bilateral donor agencies;

• Monitor and expedite project execution systematically through discussions and correspondence with technical, substantive and project staff, field visits, analysis of periodic project progress reports, participation in tripartite reviews and mid-term project evaluations; utilize information obtained as an input to corrective decision-making and revisions;

• Organize and conduct briefings and debriefings on projects with special regard for the country, sub regional and regional aspects, resources and development characteristics, with a view to maximizing project performance levels.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in communication and public relation, is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in technical cooperation project management or portfolio project management including some exposure at the international level, is required. Ability to research and analyse information independently and recommend solutions is required. Ability to write in a clear and concise manner is required. Ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams is desirable. Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.
• A minimum of five (5) years of work experience in communication, marketing or public relations.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, would be considered as advantage.

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