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Date: National Project Coordinator

Requisition ID: 5293
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
Duty Station: ZAI - Other cities
Category: Project Personnel
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration:
Application Deadline: 18-Mar-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
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.

DIRECTORATE OF SDG INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION (IET)

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all organizational entities within UNIDO, in particular the Office of Change Management (ODG/CHM), the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance (ODG/LEG), the Strategic Planning and UN Engagement Division (ODG/SPU), and the Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO), 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-relevant or 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 Directorate houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).

Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST)

Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, 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.

In collaboration with IET/IFI, IET/PPP, TCS/SME, TCS/CPA, and GLO/MSR, the Division will conceptualize and negotiate such services and raise funds from Member States, development partners, IFIs, and the private sector to coordinate their effective implementation and devise ways in which their implementation can be brought to scale.

This will include cross-cutting and sector-specific initiatives for sustainable supply/value chain and skills development in industrial sectors where UNIDO has, over the years, accumulated expertise, such as agro-industries, fisheries, textiles, leather, light manufacturing, health, mining, automotive and pharma and others. It will do so through close engagement with Member States, private sector associations, industrial enterprises, international quality, standards and trade-related governing bodies, other UN Agencies (e.g. ILO), development partners, NGOs and consumer associations, as appropriate, ensuring solid and operational partnerships.

Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Fair Production Unit (IET/PST/SEF)

The Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Fair Production Unit supports Member States in integrating into the emerging global systems of fair and sustainable trade and supply chains. It aims 62 to increase employability, strengthen access to decent employment, augment job retention, and increase access to qualified workforce by the industry, through modern technical and vocational education and training (TVET), professional education and entrepreneurship systems essential for driving sustainable transition. Central to its mandate is the commitment to provide the skills required to enabling sustainable supply chain practices, ensuring resilience, particularly at the firm level, and addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from new due diligence regulations. To this end, it provides specialized and country-tailored assistance to Member States to skill, upskill, and/or reskill their labour force and enhance their entrepreneurship capacity, it implements demand driven educational approaches, leverages partnerships with the private sector and strengthens institutional and firm-level capacities that fortify sustainable supply chains, with emphasis on the most vulnerable. It places importance on mitigating unintended consequences stemming from due diligence regulations, ensuring that all actors, especially at firm-level, are equipped to navigate through these changes. The Unit promotes innovation in learning, concepts and norms to augment the quality, relevance, attractiveness and accessibility of TVET for sustainable industrial employment and self-employment for the most vulnerable. The Unit also deploys foresight and planning instruments to guide Member States in developing industrial skills of future employees and respond to re-skilling and up-skilling requirements tailored for sustainable supply chains.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Uni.e.s pour l'Education et l'Emploi (UEE) : SAP ID : 240055

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grapples with a complex humanitarian crisis, deep socio-economic and governance issues. The economy, driven by mining and agriculture, grew by 7.8% in 2023, yet poverty is widespread, with 62% living on less than $2.15 a day and 80% employed in the informal sector. Despite its extraordinary natural wealth and recent economic growth, the country ranks low in human capital (135th out of 157) and faces sharp gender inequality, with significant barriers for women in several sectors and high rates of gender violence.

The DRC struggles with generating sustainable and decent jobs, particularly for youth. A significant skills mismatch between training programs and labor market demands contributes to high unemployment rates among trained youth. Meanwhile, the country faces an important shortage of skilled labor.

The DRC hosts about 35,615 training centers. Most training centers are outdated and in poor condition, with training programs that often lack practical and soft skills components. There is a critical shortage of qualified trainers. The involvement of the private sector in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector is minimal, further widening the gap between skill supply and demand. Funding for the TVET sub-sector is declining and heavily reliant on international aid, raising concerns about its sustainability.

Enabel and UNIDO have joined forces to address some of the aforementioned challenges and improve young women's and men's access to decent jobs in the DRC. The Uni.e.s pour l’Education et l’Emploi (UEE) project (SAP ID: 240055) is funded by the European Union and aims to contribute to the professional integration of women and youth in sectors with a high potential for decent jobs creation in the provinces of Kinshasa, Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. UEE builds on Enabel and UNIDO’s past and on-going TVET initiatives in the country, including UNIDO’s 210117 project (Projects in Democratic Republic of the Congo 210117).

UNIDO will concentrate its activities in the Lualaba province and will focus on improving training quality to enhance youth and women’s access to jobs in high-potential employment sectors. UNIDO will implement the following outputs in partnership with Enabel:

Women's and youth’s access to vocational training programs based on real job opportunities in the target sectors is improved through the promotion of a protective and egalitarian environment
The quality of the short-term vocational training offer is in line with the needs of prospected companies and fully integrates the gender-transformative approach
Professional integration of women and young people is increased in the target sectors through salaried work and entrepreneurship.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Coordinator will work under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager (PM) at UNIDO HQ. He/she shall lead the implementation of project activities in the Lualaba province in close coordination with Enabel and other project stakeholders.

The incumbent will undertake the following duties:

Main duties	Concrete/ measurable outputs to be achieved	Expected duration	Location
Project coordination and implementation Assume 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 This will include preparing job descriptions, terms of reference and technical specifications, and supporting the completion of project-related human resources and procurement procedures (evaluation of bids, contracts management), ensuring compliance with the relevant UNIDO administrative rules and policies Coordinate the implementation of project activities, including execution and quality control Draft annual work plans and spending plans, monitor project expenditures, and suggest/support budget revisions as needed Supervise effectively the team assigned to work on the project as well as UNIDO contractors Ensure effective and continuous coordination with project stakeholders, starting with Enabel and the European Union Delegation Support the preparation of the meetings of the project technical/steering committees, including provision of relevant documentation to project partners.	Quality project implementation maintained and project outcomes monitored and achieved in line with agreed timeline and budget Procurement and human resources procedures completed in accordance with UNIDO rules and regulations and in a timely manner Experts and support personnel guided so as to provide high quality support Efficient coordination with project partners	60%	Kolwezi, DRC
Technical advisory services Provide technical advisory services on vocational training to counterparts Support the implementation of training activities, including training of trainers (ToT) and beneficiaries (ToB), and the provision of career support services.	Compliance with highest technical standards throughout the implementation life cycle	10%
Project external relations Liaise with project counterparts to provide regular project updates, ensure their contribution to and ownership of the project, and troubleshot problems as required Support the establishment of partnerships and the identification of synergies with government institutions, private sector and other international organizations As per EU guidelines and in coordination with Enabel, support the production of relevant communication contents.	Effective relationships maintained with project stakeholders, including government counterparts Project visibility enhanced	15%
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting Coordinate the implementation of monitoring and evaluation operations at field level, in collaboration with relevant Enabel and UNIDO team members and using appropriate tools Support the collection and analysis of information and data relevant to project results, share inputs with project partners as needed and upload relevant data into the UNIDO reporting platform Prepare monthly progress reports describing the activities carried out, the achievements obtained, and providing lessons learned and recommendations Prepare UNIDO-relevant sections of the annual reports as per donor’s requirements and ad-hoc project reports upon request of the project donor and/or counterparts.	Monitoring of the performance of technical outputs facilitated Reports are prepared and submitted as agreed and planned	10%
Perform other ad-hoc duties as required by the project implementation.	As required	5%

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international development, engineering, business administration, economics, education sciences, or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience and skills

A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in supporting the implementation of development/technical cooperation programs in the DRC is required; prior experience in the Lualaba province is desirable.
Demonstrated project management expertise, including within complex institutional environments is required.
Experience and knowledge in developing and executing vocational training and/or career support activities is required.
Demonstrated capacity to liaise with businesses and (local and central) governments is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken French is required; fluency in written and spoken English 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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