Overview
The SWEDD Project Director reports to the UNFPA WCA Regional Director and oversees all project activities under UNFPA’s responsibility, serving as the focal point for interface with regional and continental governing bodies and key partners. The incumbent manages and oversees UNFPA’s Technical Assistance to member countries and regional/continental partners.
Tasks Summary
- Provide and ensure substantive coordination, policy coherence, intellectual leadership, and integration across technical teams.
- Ensure effective coordination among all parties involved in project implementation.
- Provide substantive inputs and guidance to build and maintain effective partnerships.
- Provide substantive leadership to ensure initiatives are on track and project achieves delivery targets.
- Develop annual work plans and budgets for UNFPA-managed regional activities.
- Coordinate the implementation, monitoring and reporting of regional activities.
- Prepare annual progress reports for UNFPA-managed regional activities.
- Substantively review annual reports prepared by participating countries.
- Ensure effective overall support to the work of coordination bodies and convene meetings.
- Inform Governing bodies of relevant project implementation issues.
- Coordinate the development, integration, implementation and monitoring of SWEDD and Spotlight annual work plans.
- Keep the WCARO Director and donors informed of relevant Project issues.
- Represent the project in regional and international fora.
- Design and execute comprehensive resource mobilization strategies.
- Strengthen and expand strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
- Spearhead the creation of high-impact funding proposals and concept notes.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing donors.
- Facilitate collaborative initiatives and joint programming.
- Develop working mechanisms for team/integrated approach.
- Coordinate inputs to the implementation of Spotlight and SWEDD’s regional-level strategies and activities.
- Work closely with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure top quality technical assistance.
- Provide and/or coordinate guidance and support to project implementing partners and UNFPA country offices.
- Participate in and contribute to regional capacity building initiatives.
- Formulate new policies and guidelines/guidance notes.
- Attract, manage, nurture, and keep a highly motivated team.
- Lead and supervise the Programme Implementation Unit staff.
- Coach PIU staff and actively promote teamwork.
- Ensure smooth functioning of PIU.
- Perform fiduciary oversight over all resources provided under the project.
- Ensure that the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan is effectively implemented.
- Ensure prudent management and utilization of project funds.
- Facilitate project audit exercise.
- Ensure the maintenance, updating and safe keeping of all technical materials and M&E systems.
- Supervise consultants and sub-contractors.
- Coordinate and integrate the process through which lessons learned are captured.
- Coordinate with regional technical institutions and establish a regional knowledge network.
- Provide state-of-the-art technical advice on synthesizing project results, best practices and lessons learnt.
Experience Requirements
- A minimum of 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the management of complex, donor-funded and multi-partner programmes including 10 years at the international level.
- Demonstrated success in developing and implementing resource mobilization strategies.
- Proven experience in cultivating and managing high-level strategic partnerships.
- Strong understanding of the international donor landscape.
- Experience in the public policy sector is desirable.
- Work experience in a developing country context in Africa.
- Evidence of political acumen and partnership building.
- A track record of extensive national/international working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development area, preferably with experience in gender, eVAWG and/or SRHR programming.
- Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.
- Experience in leading/managing communications product development and dissemination.
- Experience of working closely with the AU/AUC, the Word Bank Group is preferred.
- Strong track record of leadership and management.
- Ability to build and motivate / lead cross-cutting teams.
Qualification Requirements
Advanced university degree in international development management, public policy or administration, Political Science, economics, sociology, demography, public health, or equivalent development management areas.
