Project Coordinator - Police Project

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy.

UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The focus is on the development of a horizontal network of practitioners across UNDP and the broader development community and working closely with UNDP Regional Hubs.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery and its Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights (ROLSHR) Team manages UNDP’s Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development which provides programmatic, policy and financial support to national partners in over 50 contexts, including on policing, combatting Gender-Based Violence, and digitalization of the justice and security sectors.

As an important member of the GPN, UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) shares the Republic of Korea’s tested-and-proven policy tools with other countries through its flagship SDG Partnerships programme. SDG Partnerships provide a combination of support, including partnership development with Korean institutions, seed funding, technical assistance, and policy advisory services. It utilizes UNDP’s global network of country offices and the policy expertise and know-how of partner organizations.

The UNDP Gender Team of the Global Policy Network is the anchor of the global work to advance gender equality at the organization. The team oversees the implementation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025. The Global Team is based in New York with Regional Advisors based in UNDP’s Regional Hubs in Panama, Addis Ababa, Amman, Bangkok, and Istanbul.

UNDP’s partnership with the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) started in 2017 and has been strengthened over the years. In particular, USPC facilitated the sharing of Korean police’s experience and expertise in combatting gender-based violence (GBV) via its SDG partnerships programme. In late 2022, UNDP and KNPA jointly launched SDG Partnerships and provided technical and advisory support to address GBV in the digital sphere in a more effective manner. Following the successful collaboration, the ‘Police Capacity Building Support Programme for Combatting GBV in the Digital Sphere’ launched in late 2023. The Project was implemented in seven countries across different regions, strengthening their national police capacities to combat technology-facilitated GBV (TF GBV) with direct support from the KNPA and assisting CSOs in supporting victims, raising awareness of the general public, and strengthening the monitoring and reporting of TF GBV. 

As a follow-up in November 2024, KNPA and UNDP have launched the ‘Police Support for Effective Prevention and Response to Cybercrimes and Gender-based Violence and Harassment’ project based on the achievements and lessons learned from the previous initiatives and programmes. The new project adopts a comprehensive, people-centred and systemic strategy aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and law enforcement capabilities, particularly in addressing TF-GBV and fostering collaboration, leverages existing resources, and ensures alignment with both national and international frameworks.

The project revolves around three main outputs:

• Law enforcement personnel have strengthened inclusive and survivor-centred capacities to address cybersecurity threats and gender-based violence, including targeted responses to TF-GBV;
• An enhanced whole-of-society approach is promoted to address cybersecurity challenges and TF-GBV, building broad coalitions that complement police, including cross-sector collaboration to generate data and better understand TF-GBV in partner countries;
• A supportive policy, legal, and institutional framework is promoted to prevent cybercrimes and TF-GBV, ensuring accountability and reinforcing inclusive and protective security measures for those affected by TF-GBV.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for providing managerial leadership to the project, managing and supporting the day-to-day activities and resources of the project, with special emphasis on coordination and networking, management, and mobilization of resources.

Under the supervision of the UNDP Global Advisor on Community Security Specialist, and in close coordination with the rule of law, justice and security team, the Gender Team and USPC, the Project Coordinator will:

1.Ensure effective management of the project by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the project’s progress through monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Managing and coordinating the implementation of the respective activities based on the relevant project documents, including, as needed, consultants and experts to achieve project results;
• Developing comprehensive/detailed project work-plans that include all project activities and roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders and setting-out corresponding milestones;
• Monitoring the progress of implementation of project activities and key event schedules observing the work-plans and setting deadlines including monitoring of the financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
• 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 Project Board 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 Quantum in accordance with UNDP procedures;
• Ensure the sustainability of the project deliverables by promoting ownership among the national beneficiaries and stakeholders and encouraging systemic changes of the supported institutions.

2. Maintaining collaborative working relationships among key project partners and projects’ donors, through effective communication, consultation and reporting and support resource mobilization

• Maintaining strong relationships with the implementing partners, KNPA, USPC and other relevant partners and donors;
• Maintaining regular coordination and quality assurance of expert inputs and products 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, including the Global Partnership on TF-GBV in partnership with UNDP’s Gender Team, and other initiatives led by UNFPA, UN Women and UNODC;
• Maintaining regular communication on relevant project issues with the local and international counterparties, consultants and experts and ensuring quality and timely delivery of all agreed outputs;
• Maintaining effective linkages with KNPA and other potential donors;
• Submitting reports to UNDP, partners and donors in a quality and timely manner;
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

3. Aligning the project with UN values and UNDP priorities:

• Ensure the principles of gender equality, democratic governance, social inclusion and human rights are effectively reflected in all project activities;
• Ensure that gender equality is pursued in all project activities and reflected in work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
• Ensure that accessibility for persons with disabilities is reflected in all project activities;
• Consult regularly with other UNDP projects and programs on related activities where synergies are possible;
• Strive to engage groups and communities in project activities that affect them;
• Communicate project goals and activities clearly to both stakeholders and the wider public.

4. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas:

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia;
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application;
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Coordinator will report to the Global Advisor on Community Security in Nairobi, under the overall guidance of the Senior Advisor on Justice and Security of the Rule of Law and Security Team.

Competencies

CORE

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have 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 complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross Functional & Technical Competencies 

2030 Agenda: Peace: Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights              

• Rule of Law / Human Rights

2030 Agenda: Peace: Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights              

• Community Security and Armed Violence Reduction 

2030 Agenda: Peace: Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights               

• Police reform

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking          

• Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking             

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management: Project Management  

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management: Results-based Management  

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, Criminology, Law, Social Sciences, Human Rights, Gender Studies or relevant field of study is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience on policy and programme development in a related field, including peace and security, law enforcement, rule of law, human rights, gender, and governance, is required.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of at least 2 years of experience in managing projects focused on addressing gender-based violence, supporting law enforcement or related areas; 
• Proven experience in working with a wide range of partners on security, law enforcement, gender-based violence and rule of law.

Desired Skills:

• Proven track record and experience in the UN System related to working on security sector, rule of law and gender-based violence in crisis and/or developments contexts is highly desirable;
• Experience in law enforcement or government institutions on gender-based violence is desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources or support from a wide range of partners (government, public, private, academic, civil society, and business community leaders) is an asset; 
• Experience in managing and monitoring project risks is desired; 
• Experience in preparing project progress reports is desired; 
• Previous experience in working on accessibility for persons with disabilities is an asset. 

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required; 
• Fluency in Korean is highly desirable;
• Working knowledge of one or more UN Official language(s) would be an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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