National Project Coordinator

​Requisition ID: 3397 
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior) 
Country: Egypt 
Duty Station: Cairo 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 13-Feb-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The Division of SME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of SMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among SMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of SME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

The Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP) is responsible for delivering the Organization's learning and capacity development and statistics programme on industrial development. It also is responsible for supporting industrial policy-making efforts in Member States. It is further responsible for the compilation, storage and dissemination of worldwide industrial statistics and reporting on the industrial statistics indicators of SDG9. Finally, it is responsible for analyzing trends in industrial development and trade. 

The Division of Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS) promotes digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) associated technologies (including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial Internet of things, additive manufacturing, big data, blockchain, e-commerce, and others) as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States.

The position is located in Cairo and the NPC would be coordinating the different components of the project.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The Tigara project supports the Egyptian government's efforts to strengthen cooperation among SMEs and the private sector's capacity to comply with trade and domestic market regulations. The program aims to increase competitiveness and market transparency by developing an industrial policy framework that enhances the productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Egypt, modernizing the National Quality Infrastructure, promoting cluster development and supporting digitilization to lead to sustained economic growth and job creation.

The overall objective is to contribute to the increased competitiveness and efficiency of the Egyptian private sector, which will lead to higher sustained economic growth and decent job creation.

It will focus on two main axes, targeting on the one hand the Egyptian ecosystem, through inclusive industrial and quality infrastructure policies development and capacity building of public institutions and business development services, and on the other hand providing support to targeted value chains and clusters to sustain the country’s economic growth and fully benefit of the available trade opportunities.

The Component 1 of the Project (Improve the capacity and efficiency of the Egyptian ecosystem for enterprise development and trade) builds on the outputs from the EU’s TDMEP activity (previous EU Trade Flagship project in Egypt). It, therefore aims at strengthening stakeholder involvement and reducing fragmentation and creating a conducive and coordinated environment for industrial development and Quality Infrastructure.

This component will focus on:

● Supporting the development of an industrial policy framework to enhance productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector;

● Strengthening national capacity to implement, facilitate and take advantage of the industrial policy and negotiated trade agreements;

● Ensuring a more coordinated and efficient Quality Infrastructure System in the country.

The Component 2 of the Project (Increased participation of Egyptian SMEs in selected industry value chains) will build on the technical support provided to selected value chains and clusters to demonstrate the benefit of a conducive National Quality Infrastructure and local collaboration among SMEs and their support institutions, in view of promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development as well as increasing access to trade and promoting economic green growth.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In the framework of the TIGARA project in Egypt and under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and in coordination with the Senior Technical Output Leads in the different Divisions in UNIDO HQ in Vienna (TCS/SME. TCS/CAP and TCS/DAS), and the UNIDO Regional Office Hub in Cario (GLO/RFO/FLD/ARB/EGY), the National Project Coordinator (NPC) is expected to perform the following main duties:

Main duties

TECHNICAL ADVICE

- Provide specialist technical advice to the Project manager on issues related to the project, ensuring that all activities are technically sound and properly planned;

- Develop Terms of Reference (ToR) and Job descriptions for the implementation of project activities;

- Provide technical guidance on the procurement of goods and services related to the project and in compliance with EU rules and regulations, UNIDO procurement rules and relevant local and international guidelines. This includes:

• Formulation of specifications for the intended goods and services;
• Formulation of appropriate procurement documents, including bids and contracts;
• Evaluation of procurement documents submitted by prospective suppliers;
• Assessment of compliance of delivered goods and services against specified requirements and international standards.

- Ensure the technical preparation of technical meetings, workshops, seminars or trainings as required;

- Provide, at national level, technical advice and identify needs for training in the following areas: policy, QI, trade and digitalization;

- Analyze relevant national or international consultants’ reports and follow-up implementation of recommendations at national level;

- Identify linkages that each project component should establish with other interventions (donors) together with the other project experts;

- Follow up delivery, installation and commissioning of technical equipment for laboratories and other technical structures;

- Undertake any other tasks related to the project objectives, as specified by the project managers;

PROJECT COORDINATION and VISIBILITY

- Ensure the coordination of the national technical and administrative activities of the project (including outside Cairo) with proper implication of the private sector, ministries and relevant institutions, as well as proper linkages with other UNIDO national and regional activities;

- Coordinate and facilitate, at national level, the missions of international and national experts and sub-contractors;

- Ensure, in close cooperation with the project manager in HQ and with the UNIDO Regional Office Hub in Cairo for the local procedures to be followed, the administrative and financial implementation of the activities at the national level;

- Ensure the secretariat of the Project Steering (PSC) Committee and related Technical Committees (TC) established locally and coordinates with the project Manager, EUD and national counterparts for their meetings;

- Ensure, in close cooperation with the Project Manager and the UNIDO Regional Office Hub regular communication and information with the European Union Delegation (EUD) and Ministry of Trade and Industry, on the project and potential issues related to its implementation;

- Ensure project visibility and contribute to the communication and promotion of project’s results in national events, seminars and press;

- Ensure at national level synergy with relevant projects, initiatives, organizations and institutions in the area of industry, trade, quality infrastructure, clusters and digitalization;

- Prepare national work plans (monthly, semi-annual and annual) and budget proposals and ensure their implementation and follow-up;

- Prepare periodical technical reports (monthly, semi-annual and annual) on implementation of activities of the project.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: advanced university degree in science, business administration, economics, or any other relevant discipline, with a specialization in trade, value chain and SMEs support or project management. 

Technical and Functional Experience:

Good general knowledge of issues related to trade, quality, SMEs competitiveness, industrial development, industrial policy and networks and cluster development with expertise in at least two of aforementioned technical areas.

At least 7 years’ in the practical implementation of projects and programmes in at least two of above-mentioned areas within a national or international structure. The candidate should also have:

• Good knowledge of trade related agreements and WTO Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)
• Good capacity to ensure synergies among beneficiaries of the project at national level
• Good knowledge of project management cycle is necessary
• Good coordination and communication skills
• Good computer skills.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Core competencies:

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies (as applicable)

WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.

WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org