TERMS OF REFERENCE –INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

 

 

Assignment Title
Monitoring and Operations Officer
Category/Grade
UNOPS – LICA 9
Requesting Division / Section
Division of Country Programmes (DCP)/Office for Africa (OA)
Duty station
Banjul, The Gambia
Duration
1 year, with possibility of extension
Application period
September 25 to October 10

 

BACKGROUND 
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, focusing in particular on developing the export capabilities of small and medium-sized businesses in developing and transition economies. ITC is 100% "Aid for Trade", supporting trade that delivers inclusive and sustainable development results. ITC’s mandate covers all developing countries and transition economies with special emphasis on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDs) Fragile States and Sub-Saharan Africa. ITC Headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. ITC projects and programmes contribute to the global efforts to achieve UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Aid for Trade agenda. ITC works at three levels:
  • Strengthening the integration of the business sector of developing countries and economies in transition into the global economy,
  • Improving the performance of trade and investment support institutions for the benefit of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), and enhancing the abilities of trade support institutions to better support them,
  • Improving the international competitiveness of SMEs.
The “Jobs, Skills and Finance (JSF) for Women and Youth in The Gambia” Programme funded by the European Union supports social inclusion and employment of the youth and women, with a specific emphasis on promoting gender equality and addressing climate change. The overall intervention logic for the project includes three complimentary result areas:
green and climate resilient local investments through “cash-for-work” and procurement to local MSMEs (under the LoCAL mechanism - ER 1.1)
skills development programmes (ER1.2).
improved access to finance (ER 2.1).
JSF implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in collaboration with ITC. The scope of ITC’s support focuses on improving the relevance, effectiveness and accessibility of vocational and technical training to improve employability and job creation (ER 1.2). The target beneficiaries are youth and women in the rural Gambia (North Bank Region, Lower River Region and Central River Region). The project has an overarching focus on promoting a green economy which will guide the identification and selection of economic sectors of opportunities such as renewable energy, sustainable construction and eco-tourism, soil and water management, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, agro-processing and agro-marketing, in line with the menu of investments of the local investments (LoCAL) mechanism. The project will also support the government in providing strategic direction and coordination at national and regional level for a market-oriented TVET system, strengthen the capacity of training providers and effectiveness of their services, and support the roll-out of training opportunities for youth and women. The TVET component of JSF covers the following areas:
Development of a National TVET Roadmap and skill gap assessment for priority sectors: the project will support the government in providing strategic direction and coordination at national and regional level by facilitating the development of a National TVET Roadmap. In keeping with The Gambia’s National Development Pan and building on existing assessments and strategies, the National TVET Roadmap will help create consensus for action among public and private stakeholders on key strategic decisions. It will help define priorities for TVET investments and upgrading of training offers; facilitate coordination and coherence of initiatives in support of TVET development at the national and regional level (including guidance for decentralization of training offerings in rural Gambia); support the creation of knowledge platforms; and identify capacity building needs. The TVET Roadmap will be complemented by the establishment of a coordination framework to create a demand-driven TVET system responsive to labour market needs and related capacity building support.
Increased value proposition (quality, affordability and accessibility) of training offerings to youths and women in target regions: the project will facilitate the expansion of training services to rural communities with a focus on sectors conducive to building a greener and more resilient local economy such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, eco-construction or sustainable tourism.  A competitive, results-based approach will be applied in disbursing funds to training providers to ensure that training programmes address the needs of Gambian youth and women in rural communities and target employment and/or self-employment outcomes. The project will also strengthen the capacity of existing training institutions and provide support in reviewing, updating their curriculum, teaching material, and acquiring equipment. The revision of the curriculum will be done jointly with sector stakeholders, including representatives from the educational public sector (MoHERST and NAQAA) and the private sector.
Improved quality of informal skills training and apprenticeship programmes. The project will support the “recognition of prior learning” and facilitate the placement of graduates in Gambian companies through internship, traineeship and apprenticeship programmes as an important avenue for skills development and job creation. Synergies will be drawn with cash for work programme to enhance on-the-job learning opportunities available to youth and women.
The scope and priorities of the technical and vocational education and trainings will be informed by the menu of investments for performance-based climate resilience grants (PBCRG) provided by the JSF project under result 1.1 as well as the sector of economic opportunities. The latter will be captured by the TVET roadmap designed and validated with partners. The selection of the sectors of economic opportunities are guided by the findings from previous assessments such as the Youth and Trade Roadmaps that identified gaps and priorities in the tourism, agribusiness and ICT related sectors as well as other relevant assessment and development plans by the government such as the MSME cluster development strategy. The sectors of economic opportunities pursued by JSF will balance the strategic priorities and plans for economic decentralization at national level with tangible opportunities in the priority regions.
The position will be based in the ITC office in the Gambia which is responsible for the efficient and effective implementation of the project component. The Monitoring and Operations Officer will work under the overall supervision of the ITC Programme Manager and in close collaboration with the whole JSF team including the JSF Programme Manager, technical staff responsible for the implementation of other project components as well as field officers stationed in priority regions.  

 

FUNCTIONS
Under the direct supervision of the ITC Programme Officer and in close collaboration with the ITC team in The Gambia, the Monitoring and Operations Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
  • Supports organization of events, trainings and workshops including preparation of budgets, booking of meeting facilities and other services;
  • Provides administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, and events including proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposed participants, preparation of background documents and presentations, handling logistics and other related functions;
  • Supports procurement of materials, equipment and services: requests for quotations, preparation of procurement documents, budgets, reception of goods; 
  • Carries out operations in UN-wide the enterprise management system, UMOJA;
  • Prepares grant MOU documents and manage agreement and signature processes;
  • Facilitates other partnership agreements under the project;
  • Provide inputs for project newsletter and other communication materials;
  • Keep records of project commitments including Grant MOUs, procurement, imprest account, car maintenance;
  • Keeps and manage project files;
  • Manages services and material required by the project office; maintain inventories;
  • Supports the development of appropriate project monitoring tools and systems;
  • Collects results data and updates regularly the project’s performance measurement database;
  • Monitors and analyzes project implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports;
  • Identifies problems and issues to be addressed and recommends corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions;
  • Carries out basic research on selected aspects of the JSF programme, including collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources;
  • Provides substantive support for policy coordination and evaluation functions, including the review and analysis of emerging issues and trends, participation in evaluations or research activities and studies;
  • Develops monitoring and reporting templates and tools for project staff and implementing partners;
  • Monitors the implementation of activities under grant MOU with implementing partners including results monitoring and expenditure tracking against results and budget categories;;
  • Participates in survey initiatives; assists with design of data collection tools; issues data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares preliminary conclusions.  
  • Undertakes outreach activities; participates in the development of training workshops, seminars and participates in and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities:
  • Organizes and participates in field missions and monitoring visits, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection, etc.
  • Provide substantive inputs for project reports;
  • Provide training and capacity building on monitoring in support of implementing partners;
  • Identifies good practices and lessons for dissemination and continuous learning;
  • Identifies project related risks and identifies mitigation strategy, keeps an updated risks log:
  • Works with key partners to facilitate the implementation and evaluation of the JSF project activities;
  • Undertakes other tasks assigned by the supervisor in support of efficient implementation of the project.

 

KEY DELIVERABLE AND MONITORING / PROGRESS CONTROLS
  • Achievement of delivery targets and results as outlined in the project work plans
  • Timely availability of inputs and resources for project interventions
  • Effective project monitoring framework and tools
  • Up to date project results database
  • Timely submission of reports by implementing partners  
  • Timely, pertinent and comprehensive project reports
  • Increased capacity of implementing partners for effective progress monitoring and timely submission of reports

RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum education and qualifications (level and field of study)
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, business administration, project management or a related field.
 
Note: A first-level university degree in economics, business administration or a related field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 
Minimum experience (nature, length and field of experience) 
A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in project management, business administration, research, education or related areas.
Desirable experience
 
Experience in result-based management, monitoring, conducting assessments, evaluation and research.
Previous work experience on private sector developed is an asset.
 
Minimum language requirement 
 
Advanced knowledge of English. Understanding of French is an asset.
 
Mandatory skills and knowledge
 
Demonstrated knowledge of challenges to economic development and youth employment in The Gambia
  • Very good understanding of result-based management 
Understanding of M&E frameworks and related tools
Computer literacy
 
Critical job-specific competencies
Planning and Organizing
Communication
Teamwork
 

 

Interested candidates should send a CV and a short letter of motivation to hnyang@intracen.org

Deadline for application: 10 october 2019. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.