UNIDO Job Vacancy For National Project Officer

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development in the next fifteen years. UNIDOs mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organizations programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDOs four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Programme Development and Technical Cooperation (PTC) of UNIDO is responsible for providing technical cooperation services on technological and economic issues and is organized in the following departments: Department of Partnerships and Results Monitoring, Department of Agri-Business Development, Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation, Department of Energy and Department of Environment. Furthermore, PTC has a close cooperation with other field based Centers and Offices, such as the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices, forming the extended field network of UNIDO.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The overall Project objective is strengthening the export competitiveness of the Ghanaian economy through enhanced value-added, low carbon, sustainable production and processing and an increased access to regional and international markets. As a means, the Project aims to improve the performance and growth of the following value chains: (i) Cassava, (ii) Fruits (mango and pineapple) and (iii) Cosmetics and personal care products, by improving the quality of their products, exports and its integration into regional and global value chains. These sectors are in line with the priorities of the Ghanaian Government, and have a high potential for industrialisation and job creation.
The programme is in line with the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Accompanying Measures Strategies and the Government priorities. Furthermore, it aims to: develop value chains, improve competitiveness of MSMEs, strengthen the supporting intermediate organisations and create better linkages among the selected value chain actors.
It will build on past support of the European Union towards competitiveness related issues; capitalize on lessons learnt and complement ongoing EU or development partners interventions. In order to achieve the WACP objectives for Ghana: (i) Strategic diagnostic, coaching and upgrading of value chains clustered MSMEs over the whole production and marketing.

Duty Station: Accra, Ghana
Approximate Duration: 1 year

Main Functions

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In the framework of the West Africa Competitiveness Project (WACP) project Ghana and under the overall guidance of its programme manager at the Division of Standardization and Quality Infrastructure (PTC/TII/SQI), UNIDO HQ in Vienna, the National Project Officer (NPO) is expected to perform but not limited to the following main duties:

1.Provide specialist technical advice to the project manager on issues related to the project, ensuring that all activities are technically sound and properly planned.
2. Develop Terms of Reference (ToR) and Job descriptions for the implementation of national and international activities.
3. Provide technical guidance on the procurement of goods (conformity assessment equipment and other facilities)
and services related to the project and in accordance with relevant local and international guidelines in consultation
with the National Coordinator, through:
– Formulate specifications for the intended goods and services;
– Formulate appropriate procurement documents, including bids and contracts;
– Evaluate procurement documents submitted by prospective suppliers;
– Assess the compliance of delivered goods and services against specified requirements and international standards.

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4. Ensure the technical preparation of technical meetings, workshops, seminars or trainings as required.
5. Provide, at national level, technical advice and identify needs for training in the following areas: accreditation, metrology, conformity assessment (testing and calibration, inspection and certification), standardization, and quality promotion to the specific value chains.
6. Assure, at the national level, the implementation of the technical activities of the Programme.
7. Analyze relevant national or international consultants reports and follow-up implementation of recommendations at national level.
8. Ensure the technical supervision of the missions of national and international technical experts. Conduct regular meetings with counterparts (including outside Accra).
9. Identify linkages that each component should establish with other interventions (donors) together with the other project experts.
10. Propose capacity building programmes in areas relevant to the Programme.
11. Follow up delivery, installation and commissioning of technical equipment for laboratories and other technical structures.
12. Undertake any other tasks related to the Programme as specified by the project manager.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

1.Ensure the coordination of the national technical and administrative activities of the Programme with proper implication the private sector, ministries and relevant institutions, as well as proper linkages with regional activities.
2. Coordinate and facilitate, at national level, the missions of international and national experts and sub-contractors and ensure synergies at regional level.
3. Ensure, at the national level, the administrative and financial management of the Programme, in liaison with the national UNIDO representative or UNDP office.
4. Ensure meetings of the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) and the Value Chain Strategic Committees (VCSCs), and manage its Secretariat.
5. Ensure at national level synergy of actions among relevant organizations and institutions in the area of accreditation, metrology, standardization, conformity assessment (testing and calibration, inspection and certification) and the promotion of quality, as well as other activities related to TBT and SPS.
6. Prepare national work plans (monthly, semi-annual and annual) and ensure their implementation and follow-up.
7. Prepare national budgets proposals and TORs for subcontractors for the implementation of national activities.
8. Prepare periodical technical reports (semi-monthly, semiannual and annual) on implementation of activities of the Programme at national level.
9. Prepare the semi-annual and annual report of the Programme.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree in science, business administration, economics or any other relevant discipline with a specialization in trade, project management.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. The candidate should have working knowledge of the national language.

Field of Expertise

Good general knowledge of issues related to standardization, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment (testing and calibration, inspection and certification) and quality promotion. More specifically, the candidate should master at least two of aforementioned technical areas.

At least 7 years  experience in the practical implementation of activities in at least two of above mentioned areas within a national structure. As well as:

- Good knowledge of WTO Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and on Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary measures (SPS),
- Good capacity to mobilise synergies among beneficiaries of the Programme at national level.
- Good knowledge of the organization and project management is necessary.
- Good computer skills