In response to the devastating floods that hit Mozambique from January to February 2013, UNDP Mozambique is launching a one year project in support of disaster risk resilient livelihoods recovery of flood-affected communities in Gaza province focusing on Chibutu, Chokwe, Guija districts and Xai-Xai City.
The project is in close partnership with INGC at national, provincial and district levels, local government institutions, affected communities and where possible the private sector. The project seeks to restore enabling environment for flood-affected communities in the province to recover from the impact of the floods and “build back better” through three interlinked outputs:
- Disaster resilient livelihoods and economic opportunities for the flood-affected people in Gaza Province restored and improved
- Capacity of local authorities and communities’ livelihoods recovery strengthened
- Coordination of livelihoods recovery by Early Recovery Cluster strengthened
Toward this end, UNDP will apply a community-based approach in the Gaza province through restoring and developing capacity of local authorities and communities to lead the disaster risk resilient livelihoods recovery process. This will form part of the ongoing support that UNDP is providing to the government through INGC for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
To effectively respond to the needs of the affected communities, UNDP Mozambique is seeking for a technically qualified, experienced and skilled Assistant Project Officer to support the process of implementing a livelihoods and recovery project in the Gaza Province. Under the supervision of INGC Delegate in Gaza Province, and in liaison with a UNV, the Provincial DRR/CCA Advisor in Gaza and the entire Project Management Unit INGC/UNDP, the Assistance Project Officer will work toward achieving the following:
- Restoring and improving the livelihoods and economic resilient opportunities for the flood-affected people in Gaza Province
- Strengthening the capacity of local authorities and communities’ livelihoods recovery
- Strengthening the coordination of the livelihoods recovery by the Early Recovery Cluster
Duties
Supporting the project
- Supporting the realization of project outputs through activities according to the approved project work-plan
- With the support of the project team, advise and define priority activities for roll out
- Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures)
- Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project
- Provide direction and guidance to project team(s)/ responsible party(ies)
- Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports
- Manage and monitor the project risks as initially identified in the project document, submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risks Log
- Manage the transfer of project deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials
Planning and implementation of the project activities
- Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria
- In identifying the needs, ensures that the most vulnerable groups, especially women/female-headed households, HIV/AIDS infected, children and the elderly, will be given priority
- Liaise with stakeholders and the local risk management committees in selecting the beneficiaries
- Monitor events as determined in the Monitoring & Communication Plan, and update the plan as required
- Prepare the Project Progress Report, Quarterly Review and Final Review (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures) and submit the report to the Unit Head, Project Board and Project Assurance team
- Prepare reports on each training programme, highlighting the feedback of participants on the quality of training materials and training skills of resource persons
- Identify follow-on actions and submit them for consideration to the Project Board
- Develop a resource mobilization strategy for sustaining the livelihoods and recovery interventions initiated
- Map the livelihoods activities and actors responsible for livelihoods and DRR in Gaza
Strengthening the coordination among stakeholders and the Early Recovery cluster in the Gaza Province
- Strengthen coordination between existing local risk management committees and the local authorities to ensure the community’s ownership in the recovery process (support to monitoring, selection of both projects and beneficiaries, and help in communication amongst others)
- Strengthen coordination of the Early Recovery Cluster in the province
- Document best practices and lessons learned from the project activities
- Organize exchange experiences and knowledge sharing among beneficiaries
Requisites
Corporate Competencies
- Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standard
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skill
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
- Excellent knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting
- Excellent knowledge of results Management Guide and Toolkit
- Excellent IT skills
- Ability to implement new systems and effect staff behavioral/attitudinal change
Management and Leadership
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Demonstrates good oral written skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage financial complexities
- Familiarity with UN system, World Bank, EU, donor agencies and International and National NGOs and coordination
Education
- First degree or equivalent in Economics, Sociology, Agriculture, Environment, Disaster Management or other fields directly related to livelihoods
Experience
- At least 3 years of experience in livelihoods related research, advisory work on project formulation and/or community development project implementation
- Strong and proven skills on designing and conducting surveys, assessments, and evaluations that require quantitative analysis
- Experience in developing training materials and conducting trainings for local communities
- At least 3 years of work experience in Mozambique context is required
- Experience in Gaza Province is preferred
- Experience in working with local communities on livelihoods programmes
- Strong and proven experiences in offering advice to local government on livelihoods and DRR issues
- Proven ability to mobilize resources for development projects
- Experience and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures and experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral banks and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset
Language Requirements
- Fluency in Portuguese both written and spoken
- Working knowledge of English would be an asset
Notes
- This vacancy is open for Mozambique nationals only
- UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture
- Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply
- All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence