Overview
Project Officer to support the implementation of the Mayors Challenge in Cape Town, focusing on reducing illegal dumping in informal settlements through a co-governed waste management model.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate assigned project activities in Cape Town, supporting coordination and implementation within city governance structures.
- Support strategic project planning, including risk management and facilitate project execution and review.
- Support tracking project progress against key milestones and ensure follow-up on actions across teams.
- Support the implementation of community co-design processes in selected informal settlements.
- Support alignment between project activities, procurement processes, and implementation timelines.
- Support the preparation of Terms of Reference for procurement processes.
- Support the coordination and oversight of service providers, consultants and/or private entities.
- Conduct performance reviews in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures.
- Certify to the UNDP that the services acquired have been delivered on terms satisfactory to the municipality.
- Assist in analyzing information for procurement plans and monitoring its implementation.
- Organize meetings and maintain agendas, orientate visits from clients and users.
- Elaborate a calendar of activities with dates for specific deliverables.
- Supervise budget implementation, request budget revisions and monitor project financial status.
- Monitor project operations, including administrative tasks, supporting personnel, and ensuring effective coordination.
- Maintain budget information and accounting records on activities.
- Monitor project outputs and performance, analyzing data and insights to inform delivery.
- Support the preparation of operational reports on project activities and their impact on beneficiaries.
- Prepare reports on project progress for the City of Cape Town governance structures.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination between UNDP, the City of Cape Town, project partners and local communities.
- Document the methodology and technologies used during the implementation of the project.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in relevant professional experience local governments in South Africa.
- Demonstrated experience working on complex, multi-stakeholder projects, particularly within or alongside government systems.
- Experience working on projects related to municipal innovation.
- Experience in waste management, environmental services, or urban service delivery.
- Experience supporting institutional or operational change within government systems (e.g. procurement, contracting, service delivery models) is desired.
- Demonstrated ability to engage effectively across technical teams, leadership, and community stakeholders is desired.
- Proven ability to coordinate across multiple actors, including government departments, service providers, consultants, community stakeholders and partners is desired.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Project Management, Urban Studies, Environmental Management, and International Development is required.
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree.
