Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the National Registration Identification System (NRIS) Project is supporting the National Registration Bureau (NRB) which is the authority mandated to maintain a continuous, permanent and effective civil registration system. After the successful completion of mass registration of Malawian adult citizens and distribution of approx. 10 million of IDs, the current project is in take-off phase where it’s digital dividends are harvested in the form of establishing critical linkages of National ID with public and private sector. In parallel, extensive capacity development drive is conducted to sustain operations of National Registration Bureau (NRB). One of the most important linkage of NRIS project is the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) System, that aims at registration of births, deaths, divorces and marriages in Malawi. Malawi has registered only 600,000 births and less than 150,000 birth certificates have been distributed among public. The NRIS needs to be extended to reduce the gap in child registration in pursuit of SDG 16 target 9 of United Nations.

To ensure effective support to the NRB to establish national ID linkages with key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as private sector (Banks and credit companies for KYC) and to build capacity of NRB for sustainable operations, the Project Manager will work hand-in-hand with Senior Technical ID Consultant to complete outputs of NRIS project with respective activities. The Project Manager will prepare all the project documents, plans and artifacts in collaboration with team and NRB management for execution of mass children registration aimed at reducing the gap in child registration. UNDP is seeking the services of a highly qualified Project Manager, ideally with professional expertise and technical knowledge across the area of digital identity and civil registration.

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative -Programs, the Project Manager will be required to provide technical guidance, to facilitate the timely resourcing of activities that meet the agreed priorities and to complete remaining NRIS Project activities (especially in lieu of linkages with MDAs and Capacity Building) and prepare and manage the mass registration of children aged below 16 years old. The Project Manager will lead his team, the project and the Project Management Unit (PMU) within Country Office Malawi.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensuring effective project management by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the project progress
• Managing and coordinating the implementation of the activities of the national identification and registration project and mass children registration based on the project document, including, supervision and guidance of other project staff, consultants and experts with a view to achieving project results;
• Monitoring the progress of implementation of project activities and key event schedules
• Mobilizing goods and services to support project activities, including drafting TORs and works/product requirements and specifications;
• Managing and monitoring project risks initially identified, submitting information on the new risks and possible mitigating measures to the Technical Committee for consideration and updating the status of these risks by maintaining a Project Risk Log;
• Ensuring adherence of project activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations and, at the same time, observing the project timelines;
• Preparing project progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks issues, expenditures…) and ensuring timely submission of the reports to the relevant instances, such as the project boards and relevant donors;
• Managing project tracking in ATLAS in accordance with UNDP procedures;
• Managing the transfer of project deliverables to national beneficiaries and other project stakeholders.
• Coordination: Maintaining collaborative working relationships among key project partners and projects’ donors, through effective communication, consultation and reporting
• Maintaining strong relationships with the implementing partners, NRB and other relevant partners and donors;
• Maintaining regular coordination and quality assurance of expert inputs and deliverables as well as among project partners to ensure coherence and complementarity of project activities;
• Identifying opportunities for deepening the cooperation and recommending adequate approaches to dealing with different stakeholders based on information on all relevant stakeholders gathered during projects’ implementation;
• Submitting reports to UNDP, partners and donors in a quality and timely manner

Aligning the project with UN values:

• Ensure the principles of gender equality, democratic governance, social inclusion are effectively reflected in all project activities;
• Communicate project goals and activities clearly to both stakeholders and the wider public
• Elaborate and submit periodic reports on the progress of the Project to the UNDP DRR and RR;
• Sustainability, teamwork and partnership:
• Strong emphasis will be placed on the Project Managers’ ability to ensure that NRB will fulfil its mandate to effectively implement civil registration system in line with legal obligations;
• Strengthen the capacity of NRB to cooperate and coordinate with other concerned government institutions, non-governmental and other non-state actors, and other development partners with a contributory role to the project.

Impact of Results:

The key results are to provide an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UNDP and development partners' interventions and activities in achieving the country's development and the SDGs. The expected impact of this position will be indicated through:

• Execute and complete 2019 Annual Work Plan of NRIS project
• Ensure that the results expected from NRIS Output 2 (NRIS is transitioned to a permanent and continuous registration system) address the necessary support to NRB and key partners to sustain the NRIS
• Ensure NRIS Output 3 (Government MDAs are assisted to adopt the use of the NRIS) are oriented toward facilitating Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt and use the NRIS. Policy advisory services, analytical support and inter-institutional agreements are foreseen to assist MDAs in developing interfaces for the use of the NRIS. This approach must result in assisting MDAs in assessing the benefits and most suitable method for their specific needs. The expected result is that the Whole of Government adoption of the system will be facilitated through this Output and allow for expert advice and custom solutions to be developed for MDAs where necessary
• Project is efficiently managed, staffed and coordinated, and is implemented with national ownership. To ensure that the Project progress is monitored and guided by an appropriate Governance structure and engenders national ownership, that the Project is properly managed, staffed and capacitated to fulfil the Outputs, and that it is evaluated and audited in accordance with UNDP’s rules and regulations.
• The NRIS Project results will necessitate the development of custom software systems (databases), training manuals, legal and policy frameworks that will serve as knowledge products of potential use in other countries initiating or considering similar processes. Equally, in terms of analysis and research, pre-benchmarks on macro-economic and social indicators will also enable a case study on the impact of fulfilling the Right to Identity.
• Financially, the NRIS platform results in offering a range of revenue generating possibilities to sustain the system, such as, fee-based transactions with both public and private institutional users. Illustratively, the PM must demonstrate that the pervasiveness of the National ID card will enable business models using high volume-low cost profiles that have been unachievable in the past due to the high-level of financial exclusion.
• Approximately 9 million children registered and in possession of a birth certificate;
• Improved trust in NRB by the Public as an Entity Possessing the Capacity to Administer and Manage NRIS and a Civil Register in accordance with National, Regional and International Standards.

Core Competencies:

Values:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Management, leadership and operational skills:

• Analyses complex problems systematically and efficiently. Focuses on critical details while managing a broad perspective. Draws accurate conclusions and makes sound decisions;
• Uses initiative to deliver required outputs and planned results on deadline and on budget;
• Demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Demonstrates strong conflict-resolution skills;
• Handles confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Innovation - ability to make new and useful ideas work

Adapts deliverables to meet client needs

• Interprets policy within context and applies with judgment
• Anticipates obstacles and applies practical solutions
• Embraces new methods
• Continually seeks improvement
• Collaborates to improve methods and delivery
• Delivery - ability to get things done

Makes new ideas work

• Critically assesses value and relevance of existing thinking and policy
• Embraces difficult obstacles that interfere with getting work done
• Anticipates constraints and identifies solutions
• Strives to improve team reputation with clients
• Expands capacity of team to deliver on time and on target
• Accountable for project implementation and/or team deliverables
• Communication - ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
• Has strong interpersonal, negotiation and networking skills;
• Able to listen to others;
• Respects difference of opinion;
• Finds common ground to solve problems;
• Gains trust of peers, partners and clients; and
• Able to present complex, conceptual ideas in simple, persuasive terms

Job knowledge and technical expertise:

• Has strong knowledge of implementing large scale complex Identity Systems and Civil Registration Systems in under-developed, least developed countries
• Has sound knowledge of project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work and assignments.
• Has strong knowledge of project area (environment and/or nature protection) and keeps abreast with new developments in areas of professional discipline and seeks to develop herself/himself professionally;
• Has experience with application of innovative methods and tools;
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to local politics and culture as well as community issues;
• Builds strong relationships with staff, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills to deal with a wide range of national and international stakeholders.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills

Team Work:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrate cohesion within the team and development partners
• Engage government towards positive contribution in the project
• Builds capacity of NRB to sustain its long-term operation

Required Skills and Experience:

• Minimum requirement is a master’s degree in Development Studies, Economics, Computer Science, Project Management, MBA, Public Administration. PMP Certification is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant, practical working experience within both public and private sector preferably in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
• Experience in project management, programme/project coordination, provision of advisory services;
• Demonstrated experience in liaising and co-operating with government officials, private sector, academic institutions, NGOs and academia;
• Excellent communications, report writing and analytical skills.
• Experience working in African countries and on Civil Registration and Vital Statics (CRVS) and/or Identity Systems will be will be preferred;
• Willingness and ability to work effectively with people of different races, creeds, cultural and religions.
• Ability to work effectively in a team;
• Fluency in oral and written English is essential;
• Knowledge of local languages is considered an advantage.

Source:https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=25026&hrs_jo_pst_seq=1&hrs_site_id=2