UNOPS Cluster Coordinator Job Vacancy in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN
system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and
development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the
world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy
partners with management services that
meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost
effectiveness . By assisting UN organizations, international
financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes
significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground. UNOPS employs
more than 6000 personnel and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more
work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen,
Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and
project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries. UNOPS
Switzerland Operations Centre (SWOC) is managing the Trust Fund of the Enhanced
Integrated Framework (EIF) for Least Developed countries: the SECO Trust Fund
is an EIF Tier 2 bi-lateral project funded by Government of Switzerland and
targeted to specific LDCs chosen by the donor. The proposed programme
(Tanzania) is based on the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) Action
Matrix developed jointly with all relevant national stakeholders within the EIF
process. The project will be implemented by the UN Cluster on Trade (currently
ILO,ITC, UNCTAD and UNIDO) and for a smaller segment by the national
counterpart in the country. The services to be provided by UNOPS are to manage
the TF on behalf of SECO. The current project for Tanzania is the second one of
a series of similar country projects funded by SECO to be implemented through
the same modalities. The global UN Trade Cluster Programme will ultimately
include up to five selected countries of the Swiss Development Cooperation (ie.
Mozambique, Lao PDR, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Mali and Bangladesh). Total
funding to be allocated by SECO to LDCs through this Trust Fund mechanism
amounts to US$18.5 million. The discussions held within the Doha Development
Round have increasingly stressed the link between trade liberalisations and the
need for more and better “Aid for Trade” for LDCs. With the approach
of the UN Interagency Cluster on Trade and Productive Capacity Trade (hereafter
UN Trade Cluster) presented in this proposal, SSECO responds to the political
relevance of “Aid for Trade” for LDCs as part of the WTO Doha Round. (In
2007, the UN established a thematic Interagency Cluster on Trade and Productive
Capacity to ensure that issues related to trade and productive sectors are
adequately taken into account in the pursuit of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and in the strengthening of the “Delivering as One”
UN-wide reform process. This cluster also aimed at strengthening the UN’s
response to the global Aid for Trade (AfT) initiative). The approach integrates
the various core competencies of SECO’s trade related technical assistance,
which have been developed in cooperation with strategic multilateral partners
of the UN system, i.e. with ITC in the area of export promotion and trade efficiency , with UNIDO in the area of
standards and environmentally sound production, with ILO concerning the improvement
of working conditions and with UNCTAD in the various trade policy related
areas. In each country the cluster follows a sector logic, i.e. it jointly
defines with the governments two or three – ideally intertwined – target
sectors on the basis of the DTISD Action Matrix. In Tanzania, the sector logic
refers to: (1) the development of internationally competitive and sustainable
tourism (first sector playing the role of driving force) and (2) the
strengthening of backward linkages to the tourism industry complying with
increased quality and quantity requirements (in organic/horticulture products)
in order to provide the basis for further exports to mainly emerging markets in the regional and in the
middle and far east. At the operational level, the programme is an integral
part of the Tanzanian Trade Integration Strategy (TTIS) 2009-2013 which has
been signed by all relevant developing partners including Switzerland. Based on
the findings of the former UNIDO programme in Tanzania, the cluster programme
in Tanzania will have a nationally executed part creating stronger local
ownership. The national anchor of this programme will be the Tanzanian Ministry
of Industry, Trade and Marketing (MITM) and its TTIS Coordination Unit. A
Cluster Coordinator placed at the UN Resident Coordinator Office will manage
the programme supporting the TTIS Coordination Unit in charge of the overall
coordination of the TTIS implementation. The four UN agencies are responsible
for the backstopping in their respective field of competencies. UNOPS will act
as Fund Manger with both multilateral agencies and with national entities. The
existing Management Board (already established for LAO PDR) at the Global level
representatives from the donor, all the agencies involved and the beneficiary
LDC(s) will formally approve the annual reports, corrective measures as needed
and new country programme beneficiaries. It relates to the national Project
Coordinators. It also instructs the TFM to disburse funds and approves
additional funding if any for projects. The Board meetings are chaired by
UNCTAD, UNOPS acts as Secretariat. The Management Board gives the overall
policy direction for the programme. The incumbent is responsible to abide by
security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Functional Responsibilities

The incumbent will report to the Head, UNCTAD – SECO Trust Fund Management
Board for substantive and Director SWOC for administration, and be responsible
for: I. Overall program design, implementation, coordination and
management:

Be responsible for managing and coordinating
all stages of the Cluster Program (i.e. design, implementation and
monitoring) in Tanzania and ensure its overall quality and coherence;
Work in close cooperation and coordination
with the National Project Coordinator of the TTIS Coordination Unit and
the Program Management Support Unit, as well as relevant ministries and
national stakeholders, as appropriate, and in consultation with the MIT;
appraise their potential requests and ensure their views are fully taken
into account in the implementation of the Project;
Provide the Government authorities the
technical and administrative support they may require in the context of
the present program and, as appropriate and consistent with the objectives
of this program, in the overall coordination of trade-related technical
assistance;
Coordinate inputs from the agencies of the
Cluster, work in close cooperation and maintain regular contacts with
them, and facilitate the work of the agencies and their technical experts
in the country;
Prepare the annual work plans for the Program
in collaboration with the Cluster agencies and the relevant Government
units and adjust and evaluate the content of the Project components in
relation with the country needs;
Ensure the Programme’s progress and
implementation plan is updated and reflected in the UNDAP in Tanzania and
provide advice to participating cluster agencies on this;
Liaise with relevant coordination/working
groups in the country in areas relevant to the programme (e.g. UNDAP Economic Growth Working Group, and DPG
PSD/Trade Donor Group).
Perform other related duties as required. II.
Project monitoring and reporting :
Develop, together with relevant Program
stakeholders, appropriate performance indicators and monitoring system
including collection of baseline data;
Closely monitor the implementation of the
activities, identify problems and deficiencies, and initiate and propose
corrective actions when necessary;
Carry out missions to selected provinces in
the context of the implementation of the Program;
Participate in the Program’s Steering
Committee meetings, prepare relevant inputs as required and ensure
appropriate follow-up to relevant decisions;
Prepare annual and final reports for the
Global Management Board and the Trade Integration National Steering Committee.
III. Knowledge Management :
Develop an overall framework that guides
knowledge management for this Program;
Develop a webpage for the Program to
facilitate sharing and exchange of information;
Collect relevant data that is useful for the
Project’s stakeholders. IV. Perform any other related duties as directed
by supervisors.

Competencies

In addition to UN/UNOPS core
values/competencies, diligence, attention to detail, keen sense of work
priorities and resourcefulness in obtaining and researching important
information;
Coordination – ability to maintain effective
working relations as a team member and coordinator; building
alliances/partnerships skills;
Planning & Organizing – ability to think
strategically, organize, plan and implement work assignments, able to work
under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines and manage competing
priorities;
Substantive knowledge of economic development issues of the region of
operation
Judgement – demonstrated ability to apply good
judgement in the context of assignments given, capacity for problem
solving and identifying acceptable/applicable solutions;
Teamwork – strong interpersonal skills and
ability to build alliances, to establish and maintain partnerships and
working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and
respect for diversity;
Communications – strong communications (spoken
and written) skills, including the ability to advise and train and
effectively prepare reports and documentation in a clear, concise style;
Commitment to Continuous Learning –
willingness to keep abreast of new developments, seeks and applies
knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UNOPS;
Capacity to promote knowledge sharing and
familiar with results based management;
Professionalism – demonstrated professional
and personal ethics, transparency and openness;
Capacity for persuasive communication and
capability of obtaining commitments from clients/partners
Keen sense of ethics and integrity in dealing
with clients and service providers;
Strong leadership and management skills;

Education

Master’s degree or post graduate university degree in economics, management,
business administration or related fields with speciality in project planning
and management, economic and trade policy.

Experience

A minimum of five years progressively relevant experience in project/program
planning, programming, implementation and evaluation in combination with
master’s degree.

Extensive experience in the field of programme/project
management and coordination in the international economic or trade sector; Experience
with international development organizations; Experience working in
Tanzania/East Africa and good knowledge of the Region is preferred; Good
understanding of the UN reform and mechanisms of joint implementation of
programmes from the UN

Languages

Fluency in English and good understanding of Kiswahili (both oral and
written) is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment

Contract level: P-3 Contract
duration: 1 year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding
availability. For more details about United Nations staff contracts,
please follow this link: http://www.unops.org/english/whoweneed/contract-types/Pages/United-Nations-staff-contracts.aspx

Additional Considerations

Please note that the closing date is midnight
Copenhagen time (CET)
Applications received after the closing date
will not be considered.
Only those candidates that are short-listed
for interviews will be notified.
Qualified female candidates are strongly
encouraged to apply.
UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a
candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post