Background

• Georgia’s economic activities are concentrated in a few geographic areas, causing very high levels of urban-rural inequality. Low rate of economic growth, low-productive agricultural sector, weak entrepreneurial skills, insufficient economic diversification, limited access to financial resources, modern energy-efficient technologies, insufficient development of infrastructure, present the potential risks for sustainable rural development.
• UNDP as part of its main program activities actively implements projects to support rural development through developing skills of farmers, support in the application of modern technologies, knowledge, and skills in non-farm sectors, as well as supporting in access to services, resources, and developing access to markets. UNDP works in close collaboration with the Georgian Government that has declared as a high priority the development of vocational education

The project will contribute to the development of such a system in 3 areas:

• Selected VET colleges and Information Consultancy Centers will be assisted in the development and delivery of innovative, relevant, and effective training programs and advisory services.
• Systems to produce qualified human resources (multipliers) that can offer various types of training and services to farmers and capacitate them with knowledge and practical skill will be set up in collaboration with national partners and other SDC projects.
• Setting up a public-private cooperation and partnership model for coordination and provision of VET and extension services in agriculture. Public and private stakeholders’ capacities will be strengthened and cooperate under a national-level platform.
• UNDP looks for suitable candidates for the position of Project Manager for the project implemented with the support of the Swiss Cooperation Office South Caucasus (SCO). The project started in 2013 and aims to contribute to the development of a system of high-quality vocational education/training and extension services to improve the livelihoods of the rural population.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The selected candidate will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Supervise implementation of project activities as per the Project Document, its Log-Frame, Project Board decisions, and approved annual work plans.
•  Support to development of the national level policy dialogue with the Ministries of Agriculture and Education and Science, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and other stakeholders for joint implementation of systems for developing of VET, Extension, rural development, green and sustainable development-related skills;
•  Prepare project progress reports, external communications, and other documentation related to the project implementation, provide monitoring reports/year based on the result-based monitoring system of the project, implement the annual (bi-annual) work plan with budgets and ensure their revisions as needed; Serve as a secretary on the Project Board meetings;
• Plan, organize and participate in the assessment of the procurement processes and draft contracts and agreements as per UNDP rules and regulations and monitor their implementation;
• Initiate, plan and support UNDP and SDC communications team in implementing visibility and communication plan.
• Organize and participate in the development of new concepts, strategic plans, and provide a substantive contribution to fund-raising activities.
• Performs any other duties and responsibilities required within the project.
• The Project Manager will be guided by the National Strategic policy documents, such as Vocational Education and Training system development, Extension system development, National Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy, other policy documents related to entrepreneurship, youth and women empowerment. At the same time Project Manager should pay due consideration municipal and regional development strategies.
• The Project Manager should follow UNDP’s good practice of institutional capacity assessments and capacity development basing them on capacity development plans.
• The Project Manager should actively implement an international exchange of expertise, awareness, and knowledge-raising activities by planning and managing the development of knowledge products (analytical reports, working papers, strategies/concepts, surveys, studies, mapping exercises, and others) within the project.
• The Project Manager will report to UNDP Economic Development Team Leader, serve as secretary of Project Board meetings. More information about the project management structure is provided in the Annex – Project Organigram.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Min. years of relevant Work experience
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience either in education, economic development, local development, or development policy-related work
• Minimum of 5 years experience of management or formulation of development projects

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Understanding of UNDP and the UN system, including thorough knowledge of its practices and procedures will be a strong asset;
• Knowledge and experience of development of public-private-partnership schemes related to VET, extension in agriculture, income generation, or business development services is an asset;
• Familiarity with the CIS/Southern Caucasus region regarding Vocational Education and Training and/or agriculture; previous working experience in the region is an asset.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating of projects is an asset.