Position: Project Manager

Application Deadline: September, 01/2023

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing the representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

Ethiopia’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) has set a target that 80% of Ethiopians should live within 5 KM of a financial access point. However, only 41% of Ethiopians live within that distance threshold. While almost 90% of urban adults live within 5 KM, only 19% of adults in rural areas live within that threshold (CSA 2019). Further, usage of digital financial services is still limited and, CICO network strategies remain unviable and are riddled with inefficiencies. The information on CICO networks is not well analyzed and preserved and digital solutions that link service providers and policymakers are believed to provide adequate insights for data analytics and futuristic planning by both parties.

The project is expected to deliver on the following objectives:

• Strengthened CICO networks of providers in Ethiopia: Increased provider capacity: By the end of the project, selected providers would have improved capacity and strategic direction to effectively strengthen, expand and manage their distribution network for mass market finance. 

• Policymakers in the country use the data collection and analysis tool to monitor progress and gaps and define actionable items for financial inclusion in the country.

• Utilization of data collection and analysis tool: relevant policymakers and their staff will have the capacity to use the data collection and analysis tool to conduct trend analysis on basic metrics.

• By the end of the project, providers utilize digital tools to report accurate and complete data to the respective government office.

Duties and Responsibilities

The PSA Holder will contribute to the achievement of these goals as a Project Manager responsible for the overall implementation of an improved and viable CICO network by developing capacity and implementation of digital solutions for financial service providers (FSPs) and policymakers in Ethiopia. The position holder is expected to provide strong leadership on project management and implementation and operational and technical matters. The PSA holder must have strong experience in stakeholder management, hands-on project implementation, in the delivery of building training through boot camps, and incubation accelerator centers, digital dashboard solutions to measure the performance of CICO networks for both FSPs and policymakers. The PSA Holder’s responsibilities will cover the following broad functional areas:

Project Management: 

• Day-to-day management and implementation to ensure the achievement of project objectives and outputs & activities.

• Directly responsible for the implementation and management of the respective activities of the project implementation.

• Develop comprehensive/detailed project work plans that include all project activities and roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders and setting-out corresponding milestones, which will also entail:

• Preparation and submission of the annual work plan with annual outputs and activities, result-based indicators, and targets with a budget breakdown;

• Development of terms of reference for technical services, consultants/experts, and others as may be required;

• Preparation and submission of reports as may be required;

• Ensure that all UNCDF policies and regulations are adhered to in the delivery of the project.

• Identification and sourcing of necessary technical expertise and support from UNCDF Country Office, local and international, and overseeing the recruitment of experts and service providers in relation to the project needs;

• Planning and organization of events and capacity-building activities such as conferences, workshops, training, consultations, and meetings of the National/Project Steering Committee, Technical Working Committee, and others as needed in collaboration with the communications team.

Partnership and Stakeholder Management: 

• Management of stakeholders and partners within the project;

• Identification of stakeholders and implementation partners for the undertaking of various outputs and activities;

• Liaise and collaborate with the finance sector players, mainly service providers and regulators for the delivery of the project outputs;

• Liaison with other relevant government and relevant partners/stakeholders, UNCDF-supported project colleagues, regarding the project, including sharing information about trends, issues, and results in the thematic area, to coordinate and utilize resources effectively and efficiently.

Technical Support: 

• Provision of technical support services in the development of outputs/knowledge products, and design of project activities including monitoring and evaluation;

• Fully responsible for all outputs and deliverables produced under the project directly or through implementing partners and service providers;

• Provide technical support to the implementation of the project for the selected financial institutions and policymakers;

• Review and ensure technical soundness and cost-effectiveness of project activities;

• Development of knowledge products with UNCDF, implementing partners, and consultants/experts;

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Initiation of tailored research(es) in search of practical alternatives and innovative approaches for CICO measurement and tools in the country;

• Lead the development of governance knowledge and information management systems: promoting platforms for sharing of best practices, and data and for integrating analysis for access by partners and stakeholders;

• Coordinate with the DFS working group of the finance sector that is supported by UNCDF for knowledge sharing, peer learning, and information dissemination;

• Establish partnerships with think tanks and academic institutions to promote, knowledge sharing, evidence-based programming and policy development in Ethiopia;

• Support the drafting and development of internal and external communications materials such as briefing notes, blog posts, and videos to share relevant information and insights;

• Monitor evidence-related emerging trends in digital economy enablers that may complement the work being implemented in Ethiopia. 

Monitoring and evaluation:

• Monitoring the progress of implementation of project activities and key event schedules observing the work plans and set deadlines including monitoring of implementation organizations and service providers;

• Preparing project progress reports (progress against planned activities, an update on risks issues, …) and ensuring timely submission of the reports;       

Institutional Arrangement

The Project manager will join the UNCDF IDE Ethiopia Country team to lead the CICO X Ethiopia project to work closely with the country team, and country partners as needed, and report to the UNCDF Ethiopia IDE Country Lead. 

The contract is initially for 12 months with the possibility of renewal based on programmatic needs, funds availability and satisfactory performance.

Competencies  

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have a lasting impact 

• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 

• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 

• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate the complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Cross-Functional – Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNCDFs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNCDF

Business Management – Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management – Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through a skillful grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Business Management – Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Digital & Innovation – Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

Digital & Innovation – Innovation management: Being able to create the strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organizational level. Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity is able to manage projects based on principles of adaptation and emergence; Ability to shape demand for innovation services, navigate political constraints and make the case for allocation of resources to innovation, connect the appropriate innovation approaches based on business needs and make the case for innovation to be integrated at the planning level within their context. Having in-depth theoretical and experiential knowledge of innovation processes, methods, and capabilities.

Partnership management – Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• MA degree or first university degree in Economics, Project Management, Management, Banking and Finance, Data Analytics, or a similar field is required.

Experience:

• 5 years of experience Masters and 7 years of experience with a Bachelor's or equivalent of relevant professional experience in the areas of financial services, distribution, supply chain management, and business administration.

Language 

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of the local language is desirable.

How to Apply

Register using THIS LINK