Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID19) was officially declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 as it affected more than 110 countries and territories. Its rapid spread is causing negative impacts on health systems and economies around the world. As of 5 July 2020, there have been more than 31,000 active cases of COVID19 individuals in the Philippines.

COVID19 has already shown its socio-economic impacts as the weeks under ECQ progressed, with the lockdown restricting movement, productivity, and trade. The vulnerable and marginalized sectors have suffered the most, as without a daily income for subsistence, must now rely on the social amelioration package prepared by government. While the government has taken a hard-lined stance to instill law and order, its policy decisions and response strategies will need to be supported with evidence. There is already a need to prepare for the recovery phase, which must balance the need to restart economic activity with the need to contain the rate of infection. The issue, however, is the fact that critical sources of data are still fragmented across technical solutions, databases, public and private organizations. There is no central platform that is able to capture the critical sources of data to give a holistic picture of the situation - taking into account not just health but also socioeconomic considerations - for the IATF and local governments.

With this, the UNDP Philippines aims to establish a Command Centre platform for the COVID response, through convening of a COVID-19 Kedu Lab, that will provide real time data driven policy recommendations to national and local governments. Specifically, the Kedu Lab will provide a data warehouse that will combine data sources from multiple systems, process available data, and conduct advanced qualitative and quantitative analysis to provide real time information and a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to decision-makers.

The initial phase of the COVID 19 Kedu Lab project is set to commence this year to kickstart its preparatory activities and set its foundations. In this regard, UNDP is looking for a Project Coordinator for COVID 19 Kedu Lab that will provide technical and management support to the implementation of project activities, responsible for day-to-day operational management and support on resource utilization enabling timely and high-impact delivery contributing to the success of the Kedu Lab.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Summary of Functions:

• Provides day-to-day operational management for the project.
• Support effective resource utilization and partner and supplier management to enable timely and high-impact delivery.
• Maximize partnerships and advocacy.
• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Provides day-to-day operational management for the project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support coordination and facilitate exploratory, consultation and technical meetings with the Lab’s partners and data scientists;
• Ensure delivery of activities and contribution to outputs and outcomes through an effective implementation plan, change management, and close coordination with UNDP management, technical teams and government partners;
• Collaborate with the project team in preparing the project’s annual work plan, procurement plan, and M&E plan;
• Collaborate with the project team for regular monitoring and reporting of physical and financial progress; and,
• Provide quality and timely annual and quarterly performance and financial reports, as per UNDP financial rules and regulations and Government requirements.

Support effective resource utilization and partner and supplier management to enable timely and high-impact delivery focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identify and collaborate with new potential partners of the project, and maintain productive relationships with existing partners, to ensure high-impact delivery. This includes day-to-day management of rosters and directories of project consultants/ service providers, responsible parties, and other partners;
• Draft terms of references (TORs), technical specifications, and/or programs of work, and collaborate with the UNDP Procurement and Operations Teams in undertaking the procurement and contract management of the project consultants and suppliers;
• Coordinate closely with project consultants, contractors, and suppliers and oversee their timely and quality delivery of outputs, address issues hampering their performance, and manage and mitigate risks; and,
• Effectively apply UNDP financial oversight through the Atlas enterprise management system, including processing of requisitions, receipts, and payments.

Maximize partnerships and advocacy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Engage, develop, and maintain partnerships and linkages with government and non-government organizations—including civil society organizations, industry associations, and academic institutions—whose participation in the project will be critical to success.

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

• Identification of sources of information related to programme implementation related issues. Identification and synthesis of good practices and lessons learned directly linked to the project;
• Support in maintaining an effective network with development partners and Government at national level and subnational level; and,
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

• Competencies and Selection Criteria: Description of Competency at Level Required

Core:

• Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work
• Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully
• Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow
• Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others
• People Management-Ability to improve performance & satisfaction
• Level 4: Models independent thinking and action
• Communication-Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
• Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis
• Delivery- Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
• Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional

Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Knowledge of methodologies, assessment tools, systems & apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating & reporting.
• Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Sustainable Development Goals

• Knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical solutions
• Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge
• Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Collaboration and Partnership

• Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
• Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Report Writing

• Ability to prepare quality reports
• Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, statistics, sustainable development, social sciences, information management, education or related area.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in providing strategic and coordination support to research and data analysis, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. Relevant work experiences related to information communication and technology (ICT) would be an advantage;
• At least one (1) year of work experience in data analytics or business data analyst work experience;
• Relevant work experience with local government units and agencies;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required and in other applications of programming, statistical analysis, design, and/or project management is desirable.
• Previous working experience with International organization is advantageous.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Filipino required.
• Proficiency in spoken and written of local dialect is preferred.

Disclaimer

UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staffs and encourages. Further, UNDP is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNDP staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside.

Source:https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=31906&HRS_JO_PST_SEQ=1&hrs_site_id=2