District Project Associate – UNDP India

Apply Before 11/15/2022, 10:29 AM

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from democratic governance to poverty eradication, to sustainable energy and environmental management. UNDP’s programmes are aligned with national priorities and are reviewed and adjusted annually.

Job Schedule Full time
Agency UNDP
Grade NB3
Vacancy Type National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area Inclusive Growth
Contract Duration 11 months
Education & Work Experience Bachelor’s Degree – 3 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 6 year(s) experience
Required Languages Fluency in English and Kannada– spoken, read and write for all official communication is essential.
Vacancy Timeline 2 Weeks

Job Description
With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s current Country Programme, 2018-2022, is in its final year of implementation. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to
provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

3. Office/Unit/Project Description:

Taking forward UNDP’s work on skilling and entrepreneurship as well as on the cross-cutting theme of women’s economic empowerment, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Govt. of India and UNDP have partnered on a new programme ‘Promoting Inclusive Growth through Enhanced Access to Local Livelihood Opportunity, Education to Work Transition and Social Protection Schemes (PROGRESS)’ with the overall goal to secure local livelihoods, increased incomes, and improved quality of life for marginalized sections of the society, specifically youth, women, and migrants.

Similarly, PROGRESS plans to support robust outreach and implementation of national programmes at the district/sub-district level through strengthening of the capacity of State Skill Missions/District Skill Committees, and capacity building of human resources.

• The key planned outcomes of PROGRESS are
• Effective implementation of national flagship policies and programmes with a focus on inclusion
• Youth and women make informed and aspirational vocational choices and transition into gainful employment and productive economic activities.
• Integrated model of sustainable local livelihoods promotion and resilience building

Under Progress, Project Code Unnati: Empowering Youth and Women for Future Employability Skills and Entrepreneurship is a partnership project between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV), and SAP Labs India Private Limited (“SAP”). The project aims to improve access to entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth and women, while also empowering them to make informed decisions. Across the two proposed target groups (youth and women), the interventions are working towards increased awareness, enhancing 21-century skills, employability, business skills capacity, facilitation of linkages to Internship/apprenticeship/job opportunities, mentorship support and nurturing the innovation potential of youth and women of rural and urban areas.

The project activities are being implemented across 3 districts in the state of Karnataka viz. Bangalore Rural, Dakshin Kannada and Raichur. The project builds on UNDP’s experiences on youth and women empowerment globally and specifically in India, its deep engagement with the state government of Karnataka and leverages United Nations Volunteers (UNV)’s strong on-the-ground presence present across the country. It also incorporates the essence of SAP Labs India initiatives to make a meaningful contribution to communities, emphasizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The key objectives and outcomes of Project Unnati are:
(i)    Increase the income of women through the promotion of micro-enterprises.
(ii)    Enhance employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.
(iii)    Improvement of institutional ecosystem.

The Project is being implemented in collaboration with a range of district level stakeholders. Considering the project has a marked emphasis on entrepreneurship development and mentorship for rural based women-owned microenterprises through engagement and initiatives at the community level and engaging youth and students at the district and sub-district levels for enhancing their employability, it is pivotal to engage the implementation team for each of the identified district. The District Project Associate will play a key role in building relationships with rural communities to ensure effective and sustainable project interventions for supporting women-microentrepreneurs and students. They would ensure the identification and mobilizations of SHG groups, prospective Unnati Sakhis, aspiring/ existing women microentrepreneurs for training and mentorship programs, and also facilitate in identifying locations, logistical support and local institutional linkages to conduct the programs.

Thus, Project is seeking the services of District Project Associate, Bangalore Rural to implement the above- mentioned initiatives.

4.  Job Purpose and Scope of Work:

A.  Main Purpose:
The District Project Associate will report to the State Project Head and will play a key role in building relationships with rural communities to ensure effective and sustainable project interventions for supporting women-microentrepreneurs and students. They would ensure the identification and mobilizations of SHG groups, prospective Unnati Sakhis, aspiring/ existing women microentrepreneurs for training and mentorship programs, and also facilitate in identifying locations, logistical support and local institutional linkages to conduct the programs.

B. Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the State Project Head, UNDP the District Project Associate will undertake the following:

Support the Project Team in coordination and documentation of the following:

• Coordinate and guide all the project team and implementing partners/team for effective implementation of the project.
• Liasion with relevant government departments and other stakeholders to get support for project implementation.
•  Coordinate with educational and vocational institutions for the implementation of Career Guidance, 21st Century Skills, youth entrepreneurship program etc.
• Facilitate to conduct Entrepreneurship Awareness Program (EAP) to women.
• Facilitate to provide Business Support services for continued support and mentorship to women microentrepreneurs and youth entrepreneurs.
• Build institutional linkages at district level with banks, incubator/accelerator programs, retail stores, e-commerce platforms etc. for financial and marketing linkages to women- owned microenterprises.
• Facilitate to conduct training of the faculty to conduct career guidance and counselling, 21st century skills, employability skills, entrepreneurship programs.
• Facilitate the trained candidates for internship/apprenticeship/placement opportunities.
• Coordinate with government departments and development organizations including Karnataka livelihood missions, Skill development missions, district administration, NGOs, employers etc,
• Support in Monitoring & Evaluation of the project as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) defined for each intervention and validating the same.
• Closely work with the district skill missions and facilitate to organize stakeholders consultation, NAPS promotion workshop, industry engagement, facilitate to prepare DSDP etc
• Coordination and implementation of district workshops, programs and initiatives including policy advocacy workshops, Youth networking summits, innovation challenges, design thinking workshops, Digital skills championships, scholarships etc.
• Facilitate corporate volunteering and industry connect for enhance career guidance and training.
• Facilitate and support in conducting Stakeholder mapping, potential dropout mapping and M&E activities including Midline and end-of-project assessments.
• Facilitating and ensuring Knowledge Management, documentation, and communication of ongoing interventions in the field.

5. Institutional Arrangement:

Direct Reporting To1: State Project Head, Karnataka, Poverty, UNDP India, NPSA 9 Overall Reporting To2: Head – Poverty, UNDP India, NOC

Reportees to this position (if applicable): NA

Core
Achieve Results:    LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attentionto details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:    LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously:    LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:    LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination:    LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:    LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Business Management Competencies    

Results- based Management  : Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Risk Management   : Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Working with Evidence and Data  : Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision- making.

Monitoring  :  Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual  activities and programme performance and results
Evaluation   : Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks
, Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns

Digital & Innovation    

Data analysis 

• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making
  Data collection
• Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data,
  satellite data, sensor data).

Min. Education requirements    

Essential: High School Degree

Bachelor’s degree in social science, management or related fields would be given due consideration.
Min. years of relevant work experience

• At least 6 years’ experience for candidates who have completed High School (3 years of experience for candidates who have completed Bachelor’s Degree) in skill training, youth/women enterprise training, documentation, and coordination in development sector- based projects/ initiatives.
• Should also have experience in handling partners, Government stakeholders and private sector.

Required skills

• A Self-starter and a target-oriented person.
• Willing to travel extensively in the field and stay in villages.
• Integrity and professionalism.
• Commitment to continuous learning.
• Planning and organizing.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently.
• Genuine commitment towards the principles and commitment towards the UN core values

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section    

• Experience in rural community development activities and initiatives with multiple stakeholders and partners.
• Proficiency in Computer operations.
• Good team player with strong ability to work in teams and with people with no direct reporting relationships.

Strong in communication skills

Required Language(s)    Fluency in English and Kannada– spoken, read and write for all official communication is essential.

Remuneration starting at INR 8,84,894 (Annual) / INR 73,742 (Monthly) as per the salary scale depending on qualifications and experiences. The remuneration is excluding 8.33% pension amount paid over and above the salary.