Project Portfolio Specialist, WCA and LAC, IPSA10, UNCDF [Open to internal and external applicants]

The Project Portfolio Specialist will report to the Regional Team Lead matrix to the two Regional Investment Specialist for West and Central Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and have monthly progress update meetings with the region and project team to discuss and align delivery.

The role is based in Dakar, Senegal and may require some travel to the countries where projects are implemented with costs borne by UNCDF.

Under the guidance of UNCDF's Regional Team Lead/Regional Investment Specialists for WCA and LAC, the overall responsibility of the Project Portfolio Specialist will be to act as liaison for all project stakeholders, providing technical assistance and ensuring proper implementation of the projects under implementation.

S/he will conduct the following tasks:

a) Lead the planning, coordination and implementation of project launch activities:

Lead launch and kick-off meeting for projects across WCA and LAC

Develop detailed workplan and timelines for all project activities, ensuring alignment with the overall project objectives and national strategies, and oversee effective execution

Coordinate and ensure operational readiness: project team recruitments, procurement, logistics, office arrangements when relevant and as required by project setups

Support establishment of governance structures (steering committees/technical groups), related to the implementation of the project, including ensuring regular communication and collaboration with donors and possible partners for successful programme implementation

Lead the overall management and timely implementation of the project outputs and activities

Provide strategic guidance and management oversight to ensure project implementation is on track to ensure achievement of the planned results

b) Ensure the proper monitoring and reporting of the project portfolio:

Organize regular coordination meetings and draft regular progress reports as agreed in the project documents, including regular briefing to donors and other relevant partners

Ensure the guidelines, frameworks and requirements of the possible donors are followed throughout project implementation

Updating the Oracle Cloud ERP (Quantum and Quantum+) tools as required and monitor changes in the external environment and promptly propose to the UNCDF management of necessary solutions/actions

Overall responsibility to monitor project progress, Environmental & Social Safeguards, and risks, ensuring that changes are controlled and problems addressed

Monitor the utilization of programme resources and budget to ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency

Participate in the mobilization of additional resources to ensure implementation of projects, as relevant

Travel to the projects' target countries as needed for on-site verification of results

Build partnerships with relevant stakeholders and undertake advocacy activities

Coordinate dialogue, engagement and partnerships with the respective Government authorities and lead advocacy activities with other relevant stakeholders at both project and country level, including with bilateral, multilateral and private sector actors

Ensure alignment of the projects with relevant UN initiatives in the countries/region

Advise on the contribution of the project to the countries national priorities, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UNCDF's Strategic Framework

Lead preparation of reviews and evaluations as defined in the project document

c) Facilitate implementation of knowledge management activities:

Ensure implementation of knowledge management activities

Participate in training events, communities of practice, codifying and sharing knowledge on sustainable practices

Facilitate development of success stories and other communication materials

d) Support broader UNCDF programme:

Actively advocate for practices that support the objectives of UNCDF, leveraging profes...