Project Officer

Mission and objectives

In support of the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has embarked on the implementation of a five-year Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022-2026. UNDP focuses on areas that have a multiplier effect through a targeted build-up of capacities, policies, the creation of dialogue space, and scalable downstream interventions. Proposed downstream interventions will seek to provide platforms for citizen engagement in democratic processes and facilitate access to skills, knowledge and new technologies for increased income generation. In so doing, UNDP Zimbabwe renders its support through the following three programmatic areas: 1. Democratic Governance 2. Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Livelihoods 3. Climate Change and Resilience Building

Context

In support of the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022–2026, which prioritizes interventions with a multiplier effect through capacity development, support to policy implementation, dialogue facilitation, and scalable downstream actions. Within this framework, the Government of Zimbabwe, with support from UNDP and development partners, is implementing resilience recovery interventions that aim to enhance community resilience and support affected communities in recovering from and adapting to the impacts of recurring shocks while also strengthening institutional capacities to anticipate, prevent, and respond to these shocks and stresses, thereby building their resilience. In this regard, the UNDP Country Office (CO) requires the services of a Project Officer (UNV) to support the operationalisation and timely delivery of above-mentioned project activities.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the ZRBF Project Coordinator the UNV Project Officer will perform the following: a) Project Planning and Coordination • Support the development and regular updating of the CRRF project implementation plan, activity schedule and budget. • Assist in coordinating project activities across target districts to ensure coherence, timeliness, and alignment with approved plans. • Support the organisation of project meetings, field missions, and stakeholder consultations. b) Field Implementation • Effective implementation of field activities according to the CRRF project workplan. • Provide on the ground technical and operational support to stakeholders and community structures. • Conduct regular field visits to monitor activity implementation, verify results, and identify emerging risks and challenges. • Plan, organise and deliver training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives for target communities. c) Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships • Support coordination with government counterparts, implementing partners and other key stakeholders. • Assist in maintaining effective communication and information sharing among project stakeholders. • Representation of the project in relevant district-level coordination platforms. d) Procurement and Contract Management Support • Support procurement planning, requisitioning, and documentation in line with UNDP policies and procedures. • Assist in the monitoring of contractor performance and delivery of services and works. • Support verification of deliverables prior to payments and closure of contracts. e) Monitoring and Reporting • Prepare high-quality and timely project reports (monthly, quarterly, and annual) in line with UNDP and donor reporting requirements. • Conduct progress monitoring of project activities against established targets and timelines. • Document key achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices derived from implementation. • Contribute to the development of case studies, briefs, and other knowledge products. • Provide inputs for donor briefings, strategic planning documents, and UNDP reporting requirements. f) Other Duties • Perform any other related duties as required or assigned by the supervisor.

Eligibility criteria

Age; 18 - 80

Required experience - No experience required

Nationality - Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

1 year

Languages

Shona, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable Sindebele, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Technical/vocational diploma in Agriculture Economics, Development Studies, Project Management, Agriculture and Natural Resources management.

Competencies and values

- Accountability - Adaptability and Flexibility - Building Trust - Commitment to Continuous Learning - Ethics and Values - Integrity - Judgement and Decision-making - Planning and Organizing - Professionalism - Self-Management

Skills and experience

- At least 1 year experience in project implementation, coordination and field-based programming. - Demonstrated experience supporting community-based projects, particularly in resilience building, livelihoods, climate adaptation, or recovery programming. - Strong Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement Skills. - Knowledge Management and Analytical Skills. - Project Management and Organizational Skills. - Communication and Reporting Skills.

Area(s) of expertise

Agriculture, Development programmes, Procurement and contracting

Driving license

-

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

Zimbabwe is in Southern Africa and has three seasons, cool and dry from May-Aug, hot and dry from Sep-Nov, warm and wet from Dec-Apr. The capital Harare lies at an altitude of 1450m above sea level. The middle plateau is Malaria free, and prophylaxis is highly recommended in low lying and hot areas. The currency in use is the Zimbabwe dollar and the United States dollar in some places. Foreign exchange bureaus are available, and all basic food and accessories are available. There are public and private health facilities as well as many social amenities available in Harare. Harare is a cosmopolitan town full of culture and history. It has over a million residents and a large UN agency presence. The Security Level in Harare is classified as Low (Level 2) as per the UN security management system in Zimbabwe. There are no major security challenges to UN operations in Harare. However, individuals must be on the alert as crime, mainly robberies, house break-ins and smash & grab thefts from motor vehicles at traffic lights and road accidents are some of the increasing risks to the UN in Zimbabwe. Different types of long-term accommodation are available in Harare. House rentals and prices differ depending on size, location, and furnishings. You are advised to check with the UNDSS Security Advisor on recommended areas. Ensure that the property has good access to water with a prolific borehole with a water tank in place. There are a few reliable online platforms available to enable one to find accommodation more smoothly once they are within the country. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. https://www.unv.org/ You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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