National Project Coordinator

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

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. 

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. 

“Integrity for Public Goods & Services (‘Integra Initiative’)”

UNDP is implementing a project Integrity for Public Goods & Services (‘Integra Initiative’) in Angola, Madagascar, Mongolia and Zimbabwe for the Inclusive and Future Smart Public Goods and Services for All Flagship Initiative for the period from December 2024 – May 2026. Funds for the project are provided from the UNDP Funding Window for Governance, Peacebuilding, Crisis and Resilience. 

This multi-country initiative is built on the premise that the advancement of an integrity agenda is not only critical to rebuild trust in public institutions, but also essential to enhance the efficacy and efficiency in public sector delivery. The ‘Integrity for Public Goods & Services’ (‘Integra  Initiative’ in short) seeks to explore innovative pathways for addressing integrity issues that prevent greater efficacy in the delivery and accessibility of two critical public goods, i.e. public health and the sustainable management of natural resources (with a particular focus on mineral resources), collecting evidence on what works and what does not work.

The initiative seeks, first and foremost, to address country-driven priorities – leveraging a national integrity agenda as a means to contribute to improved delivery in key sectors. In Angola and Zimbabwe, the focus will be to contribute to more efficient and effective delivery in the health sector; in Madagascar and Mongolia, the initiative will seek to enhance (social and environmental) sustainability the management of natural resources – particularly in the mining sector. 

The ‘Integra’ initiative is also strategically positioned: the intent is to leverage the experience to be gained across four different country contexts to help inform a broader agenda. A series of demonstration initiatives will be rolled to showcase the viability and benefits of (i) multi-stakeholder engagements to ‘unpack’ integrity risks with the rigour that is required to inform potentially transformative measures; and (ii) support key stakeholders in the implementation of key priority mitigation measures on the ground – including for the purposes of ‘testing’ the viability of innovative interventions to help inform future potential replication and scale-up – in the Africa and Asia-regions, and beyond.

The initiative streamlines, across all its outputs, gender equality principles and, at the same time, incorporates one key output that is fully dedicated to the promotion of gender equality in target sectors; interventions at country level will be guided by consultations with UNDP’s Gender team on how to capitalize opportunities, and address challenges, to advance a gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) agenda across the participating programming countries. 

The proposal falls under UNDP’s governance, rule of law and peacebuilding (GRP) portfolio, but it is by definition a ‘connector initiative’ –throughout its implementation, it will leverage the technical insights and expertise from multi-disciplinary teams: public sector transformation, anti-corruption and business and human rights within the GRP Hub as well as teams (across various Bureaux) specialized in health and development; environment and natural resource management; gender; inclusive growth, the extractives sector; crisis prevention.

‘Integra’ is also seeking to show how interventions that directly contribute to improved governance can act as ‘accelerators’ that help advance progress towards broader development objectives. The mainstreaming of governance across all of UNDP’s signature solutions (including on Poverty and Inequality, Environment and Gender Equality) is indeed a major objective of the Governance for People and Planet  (G4PP) Global Programme – and this initiative aims to contribute to such efforts.

South-South exchanges and learning are also at the core of the ‘Integra’ initiative: opportunities to ‘cross-fertilize’ the experience of participating programme countries will be leveraged throughout implementation. The proposal will also help to strengthen the positioning of UNDP vis-à-vis key strategic partners for technical assistance, resource mobilization and knowledge exchange– including with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Environmental Facility (GEF); the Green Climate Fund (GCF); the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU) and a number of bilateral partners. Opportunities for joint, mutually reinforcing, interventions that leverage resources across various sources (such as the Global Fund, GEF or GCF) as well as government co-financing will be explored as part of this initiative.

“Promoting Participation Pathways for Human Development – 3P4D”

The project entitled “Promoting Participation Pathways for Human Development – 3P4D” under the Civic Space Flagship of the GPCR Funding Window will support five COs – Kenya, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia – in promoting structural reforms aimed at creating an enabling environment for people's participation in public life. These reforms will focus on an appropriate combination of the following elements: 

• Regulatory frameworks for civic space. Legal and administrative provisions regulating the exercise of the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as the protection of human rights defenders.
• Citizen participation infrastructure. The concrete mechanisms and processes that allow for people's participation in different aspects of public life, such as procedures enabling citizen input into policymaking. 
• Civil society strengthening infrastructure. Mechanisms to support civil society organizations, either through public investment (e.g. via social innovation funds) or private capital (via innovative financing solutions). 

To promote the meaningful and equal participation of all members of society without discrimination, the project will adopt a strong gender equality lens with a focus on women empowerment. The initiative streamlines, across all its outputs, gender equality principles – and it comprises one key output that is fully dedicated to the promotion of gender equality. 

In addition, the project will systematically address the issue of young people’s inclusion in public life – including where applicable the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda – with at least one result per country specifically contributing to advancing young people’s leadership and participation.

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of Programme Analyst for the Governance portfolio and collaborates closely with the Implementing Partner and Country Office personnel. NPC will supervise Administrative and Finance Associate, Technical Analyst, and other personnel of the Project Implementation Unit. 

The task of the National Project Coordinator is to provide overall management of the above-mentioned two projects implementation in Mongolia, specifically: 

Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation.

• Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans.
• Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
• Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met.
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
• Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization.
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus. 

Develop strategic partnerships

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners. 
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting. 
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management. 
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
• Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions. 
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities. 
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

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.

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy           

• Strategic Thinking - Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s 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 UNDP.
• 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 Development          

• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Management           

• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
• 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

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