Project Manager

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network. Its mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. UNDP advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves and promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations through provision of expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries for long term benefits.

The Somali Women Media Project (SWoMP) is an unprecedented approach to supporting women journalists and media quality in Somalia. It has established, for the first time in Somalia’s history, a media unit staffed and run by women journalists within an existing media house based in Mogadishu.

In contrast to traditional ad-hoc interventions, the SWoMP provides long-term training to this select group, and mentoring from some of the most well-respected international and Somali journalists working today. Over the course of two year, it is creating a centre of excellence that shows not just how women journalists can equal their male peers but how they can provide a paradigm of high-quality, ethical journalism for other media houses to emulate, fostering demand for accurate, engaging reporting and improving the prospects for media businesses more generally and the oversight functions of the 4th estate.

Bilan’s key achievements to date:

• Press Freedom Award: In 2024, Bilan received the prestigious One World Media Press Freedom Award, recognizing their courage in tackling new issues and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.
• Global Recognition: Bilan’s chief editor was named one of BBC’s 100 Inspiring and Influential Women for 2024.
• Impactful Storytelling: Bilan has produced 99 compelling stories and reports, published by renowned international media outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, El Pais, and TRT, and broadcasted by Somalia’s largest TV and radio stations.
• Groundbreaking Talk Show: Bilan launched Somalia’s first talk show managed and hosted entirely by women, garnering approximately 500,000 views per episode on social media. The show has tackled critical topics, including menstrual education in schools and the crisis of female teacher recruitment.
• Trailblazing in Journalism: Bilan is transforming Somalia’s media landscape by empowering women with real editorial authority for the first time. They are addressing stories other media outlets avoid, fostering public debate, and challenging entrenched gender biases, paving the way for women in journalism.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative for Programme and reporting to the Economic Recovery and Institutional Development Portfolio Manager, UNDP Somalia seeks a Project Manager to play a role in all aspects of project direction, including management of project operations, financial resources, procurement, and logistics. The Project Manager will also support advocacy efforts, programming, monitoring and evaluation, and act as the primary coordinator for both internal project alignment within UNDP and external communication with stakeholders and donors

The Project Manager will undertake her/his duties and responsibilities, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative – Programme and the direct supervision of the UNDP Economic Recovery and Institutional Development Portfolio Manager to whom she/he reports.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Setting the strategic agenda for (SWoMP) , identifying new opportunities and partnerships and overseeing the day-today operations of the project and work of local partners
• Identifying and managing political risks arising from such a high-profile gender-related project inside Somalia, including strategic analysis and relationship management with key decision makers and partners
• Managing coordination of project goals and results with UNDP’s corporate priorities and ensuring the project’s work is fully integrated into corporate and CO-level reporting, engagement with outside partners and relevant public-facing events.
• Guide with implementation of audit requirements.
• Ensure security of the staff and assets belonging to the project.
• Ensure inclusion of lessons learnt and best practices to improve quality of future projects.
• Perform any other responsibilities that could be delegated by the supervisor.
• Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system.
• Maintain documentation on events and update UNDP knowledge Hub.
• Implement audit recommendations for the project. Provide inputs to audit management responses.
• Initiate operational closure of the project.

• Develop  and implement a multi-year project communication plan (annual communication plan) in line with UNDP CO communications strategy and in close coordination with Portfolio Manager and UNDP Head of Communications.
• Creation of a strategic media and donor plan to maximise positive coverage of Bilan and to keep issues related to women journalists in the public eye and on the agenda of decision makers in Somalia.
• Identifying strategic opportunities to locate SWoMP) within the international news agenda, pitching SWoMP) to international media, dealing with media inquiries and requests, and identifying opportunities to place SWoMP)content in top-tier media, particularly in donor countries.
• Developing new strategies for publicity inside donor countries, including through partnerships with think tanks or other local entities and high-profile media figures, and identifying new funding and partnership opportunities.
• Overseeing production of communications products and donor-facing materials, including the creation of photo and video assets for use by regional and HQ partners.
• Coordinating with the CO communications unit to ensure strong internal communications within UNDP and the UN system, and to promote positive local coverage of Bilan and wider distribution of SWoMP) reports.
• Ensure project’s archive is up-to date  at the UNDP Knowledge Hub, with well-organized folders and digital assets, reports, and evidences
• Prepare capacity framework in consultation with the project team to capacitate  staff and provide  technical leadership.
• Oversee and coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication, and risk management plans for the Project. Coordinate and ensure timely updates of all planning instruments in close collaboration with relevant CO units.
• Ensure implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement, and HR plans. Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions. Regularly meet with IPs and other project counterparts.
• Assess project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results.
• Manage the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Board and donors. Ensure that donor and UNDP reports are prepared according to UNDP’s SOPs, quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to project donors. Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines.
• Coordinate and prepare thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs as and when required for UNDP.
• Implement project communications activities in close collaboration with the CO Communications Team.
• Organize and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP. Share information on technical project-related issues with donors, other partners, and stakeholders.
• Implement project governance arrangements. Ensure organization of Project Board meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes as per CO SOPs.
• Immediately escalate issues with potential to impact UNDP´s effectiveness, financial soundness or reputation to the Programme Team and CO senior management. Ensure that UNDP´s corporate interest and rules are always guarded, and that appropriate action is taken to immediately address problems and challenges.
• Setting up and maintaining partnerships with local media houses to ensure widespread distribution of Bilan Media’s reporting.
• Setting up and maintaining partnerships with top-tier international media houses, including content and distribution partnerships
• Identifying new opportunities for collaboration on reporting with top-tier media and household name journalists, including joint by-line stories.
• Establishing new partnerships with media houses at the Federal Member State level to distribute Bilan’s content and work on joint stories.

• Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.
• Coordinate and ensure integrated support in development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Support policy advisory services that contribute to independent journalism and take risks and opportunities into account.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organize and deliver training and awareness sessions for the operations/projects staff on programme related matters.

• Creating a platform for women journalists in Somalia to share ideas and experiences, provide mutual support and work together on joint reporting, including cross-border stories.
• Setting up mechanisms for  SWoMP)journalists to transfer skills and collaborate with women journalists at the Federal Member State level.
• Supporting the creation of a charter for women journalists with specific demands for fairer treatment and policies.
• Running national-level communications and advocacy campaigns to influence private sector companies (including social media platforms) and government decision makers on issues related to the treatment of women journalists and harassment online.

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

• 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.

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

• Cross Functional and  Technical Competencies:

• Fluent in English is required.
• Fluency in another UN language is an advantage.

UNDP participates in the Scheme for the disclosure of safeguarding-related misconduct in recruitment processes within the humanitarian and development sector (Misconduct Disclosure Scheme).

In line with this Scheme, UNDP will contact previous employers of job applicants to request information about any investigations or findings of misconduct concerning allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment (sexual misconduct) against the applicant, during or after their employment.

By submitting a job application, the applicant confirms to have understood and consented to UNDP contacting the applicant’s prior employers, during UNDP’s recruitment process, to request any such information on sexual misconduct.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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