Project Manager – MSD at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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Project Manager – MSD

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Employer: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

Posted date: 19 hours ago

Deadline: August, 03/2025 (8 days left)

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Job Description

Background

The " Sustainable private sector engagement in developing inclusive forest products markets in Ethiopia." project aims to create a vibrant and inclusive forestry sector in Ethiopia. This sector will actively engage the private sector to significantly increase its contribution to the national economy, create green jobs, and reduce poverty while enhancing biodiversity conservation and the flow of environmental goods and services. The project seeks to achieve systemic change in the market systems of the forestry sector, thereby improving livelihoods and providing decent work opportunities for at least 70,000 rural and peri-urban poor, primarily women and youth.

The proposed project is in line with and contributes to Ethiopia’s National Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, which aims to enhance the socio-economic development of the nation while also making the economy carbon neutral. Additionally, the Project aligns with the 10-year development plan, contributing to all five National Forest Sector Development Plan pillars:

1. Enabling environment and institutional capacity for sustainable use of natural resources.
2. Sustainable forest production and value chains for food security and resilience building.
3. Enhanced role of forest for rural livelihoods to create jobs and reduce outmigration.
4. Enhanced biodiversity conservation and environmental services provision.
5. Integrating gender and other cross-cutting issues.

The proposed project is also in line with Sweden’s Development Cooperation Strategy for Ethiopia (2022-2026), which emphasizes sustainable development, poverty reduction, and gender equality. Specifically, the project aligns with:

Result Area 2: Environment, climate, and sustainable use of natural resources, which aims to strengthen the conditions for sustainable management and use of natural resources and ecosystems, including biodiversity.

Result Area 3: Inclusive economic development, which focuses on improving conditions for productive employment, decent work, and access to improved social security.

By enhancing private sector engagement in the forestry sector and developing inclusive forest product markets, the project contributes to these strategic areas by fostering sustainable management of natural resources, promoting economic opportunities, and enhancing resilience to climate change. The Project will employ a hybrid approach combining Market Systems Development (MSD) and direct support to achieve its objectives. This approach includes:

Market Systems Development (MSD):

• Focus on private sector engagement and the development of pro-poor forest products markets and inclusive value chains.
• Identify and address key constraints within the market systems, leveraging the Adopt-Adapt- Expand -Respond (AAER) framework to ensure sustainability and scalability.

Direct Support:

• Enhance the enabling environment for private sector engagement through policy and institutional reforms.
• Build the capacity of state and non-state institutions involved in the forestry sector to support market development.

The hybrid approach ensures that while immediate needs and gaps in the market system are addressed through direct support, the long-term sustainability/resilience and scalability of the interventions are secured through systemic market changes facilitated by MSD. This will all be underpinned by ensuring that women, youth, and local communities’ groups are direct beneficiaries with increased economic opportunities through an energized private sector.

Scope of work

The Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of the project, including all project administrative matters and substantive outputs. All work of the Project Manager will be carried out in line with the Country Programme Action Plan and in full compliance with UNDP Rules and Regulations. The management and coordination process will be pursued through undertaking appropriate actions in project formulation, implementation and evaluation. Strong emphasis will be placed on ensuring cohesion with other UNDP initiatives.

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Planning and implementation of Sustainable private sector engagement in developing inclusive forest products markets in Ethiopia) project.
2. Programme management, monitoring and oversight.
3. Building strategic partnerships and alliances.
4. Building knowledge and capacity.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the project planning and implementation of Ethiopian Sustainable private sector engagement in developing inclusive forest products markets in Ethiopia

• Lead the participatory project implementation processes at all levels, having analyzed the social, economic and environmental trends in the localities, regions and country as a whole, and establish the implementation plans for the project, having taken into consideration the grassroots aspects.
• Track financial delivery trends and ensure that the planned activities are implemented on a timely basis to ensure results.
• Plan and manage the project reviewing exercise, as well as solve emerging problems and manage implementation risks.
• Manage the preparation of Programme Steering Committees and other meetings and follow up on all decisions taken to ensure implementation and/or timely action.
• Submit required and other project reports (progress, finance, procurement, etc.) for management information, oversight and action.

Lead Project management, monitoring and oversight.

• Coordinate the project activities with relevant activities and initiatives of EFD and other Government institutions
• Develop and /or revise the project Annual Work Plans (AWPs), setting out in precise detail activities, targets, budgets, standards for measuring progress and results and determining the processes, tools and methodologies to be used to ensure effective and efficient project implementation and operations.
• Manage project implementation in accordance with objectives, schedule and planned budget.
• Review proposals and their budgets submitted by the implementing regions, for funding and implementation.
• Facilitate payments to the Implementing Partners, following the UNDP and Programmes / Project Implementation Manuals (PIM) rules and regulations.
• Ensure that the funds received by the IP and Responsible Partners (SLU; CIFOR and iDE ) are spent effectively and efficiently, in line with the approved plans.
• Track project resources and results regularly.
• Review the financial and substantive reports received from the IP and Responsible Partners and liquidate the advances accordingly.
• Manage all project activities, staff and consultants for timely implementation of requirements on Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Coordinate awareness creation on all project activities.
• Ensure timely preparation of annual project reports, work plans and other relevant project documents.
• Oversee financial and administrative performance (financial plan, allocation and transfer of funds, oversee finance and administration officer);
• Prepare Terms of Reference for consultants to be recruited and participate in the recruitment process and oversee their performance and ensure their optimal performance.
• Lead monitoring and evaluation of project outputs.
• Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution.
• Participate in the project asset procurement processes and oversee the use of the assets.
• Participate in the audit exercises and follow up on the recommendations and issues.
• Ensure complementarity and learning across the project and related initiatives

Building strategic partnerships and alliances.

• Ensure cooperation among the IP and Responsible Partners ( SLU ; CIFOR and iDE)
• Maintain dialogue with IP and Responsible Partners and other stakeholders to advocate, promote and advance organizational issues, priorities, interests and competencies for successful project delivery.
• Facilitate institutional linkages with the related initiatives, and participate in the meetings, inter-agencies missions and working group consultation processes.
• Coordinate and communicate with selected project districts for the implementation of Sustainable private sector engagement in developing inclusive forest products markets in Ethiopia project

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building

• Contribute substantially to knowledge-building initiatives at national, regional and local levels.
• Through day-to-day interactions, develop a network of knowledge-sharing on Results Based Management (RBM);
• Contribute to the UNDP website, newsletter, booklets, etc.
• Contribute knowledge and experience to the corporate and CO knowledge sharing networks and platforms.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

Under the direct supervision of the CRES Unit Team Leader or his/her designate, the Project Manager will work in close collaboration with the programme, operations, and project teams to ensure successful implementation of the project.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Functional/Technical competencies

Business Development and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements co exist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas.
• Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Climate: Climate change adaptation policy and planning: National Adaptation Plans.

Partnership management

• Private sector engagement: Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Management

• Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in project management, private sector engagement, market systems, business administration, business/management, marketing management, development economics, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) progressive strategic level experience in project development, management and coordination, including results-based management, monitoring and evaluation related to private sector engagement.

Required skills:

• Demonstrated experience in successful interactions with all levels of stakeholder groups, including senior government officials, business executives and local people/communities is required;
• Proven track records of strong writing, presentation and reporting skills are required;
• Experience in the use of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.); and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.

Desired additional skills:

• Demonstrate technical expertise and knowledge in Market System Development approach for timber and non-timber forest products value chains;
• Proven experience of effective and strategic partnership building with national counterparts, development partners; private sector and others as deemed necessary;
• Proven hands-on experience and knowledge of the Ethiopia’s institutional framework and policies on forest development and market systems;
• Ability to administer budgets, lead a team, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels, and interact effectively with all teams involved in the project is required;
• Strong working experience with the private sector through MSD approach;
• Proven hands-on experience and knowledge of the Ethiopia’s institutional framework and policies on forest development and market systems.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Amharic (oral and written) is required.

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