The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.
Background information – Job-specific
The “EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia” project aims to enhance the participation and engagement of Central Asian CSOs in regional dialogues with each other, as well as the EU. This will include capacity development to CSOs to improve their competencies, including helping ensure that they have the abilities to deliver their work in line with the respective legislation, including regarding reporting and audit management capabilities.
Additionally, the project focuses on engaging young leaders, building on the momentum of the Young Voices of Central Asia Forum held in Samarkand in 2022. This will be done by enhancing the capacities of young leaders through dedicated training and knowledge exchange sessions, with focus on topics that are critical for sustainable development, including environment and digitalization.
Overall, the specifics of grants methodology and selection approach will be designed under UNOPS’ rules in consultation with the EU and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).
The project is carried out in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). UNOPS is responsible for the overall project management of the project, including monitoring and reporting to the EUD, and coordinating project activities under a dedicated project team with other implementing partners and relevant stakeholders.
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Senior Project Manager the incumbent provides operational support in relation to all grants management processes for the entire duration of the project determination of specifications, launch of Expressions of Interest and Request for Proposals, evaluation of bids and selection from UNOPS side as well as monitoring and evaluation of bidders' performance, especially in activities listed below
Draft specifications and launch Calls for applications.
Shortlisting (including technical evaluation, feasibility evaluation, assessment of ToC, underlying assumptions, extended outcomes, capacity of Grantees to deliver).
Preparation of necessary documentation related to shortlisted proposals.
Evaluate the bids and select from UNOPS side.
Monitor and evaluate the bidders' performance.
Support Senior Project Manager in reviewing Grantees narrative reports.
Support preparation of other narrative reports related to the small grant component.
Provide support to PMT during review of Grants budget and financial reports.
Provide support on financial monitoring of the Project, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions
Provide support to PMT on budget reallocation requests from Delivery Partners or analysis of financial reports.
Provide Support in planning, budgeting and monitoring of the project, tracking the use of financial resources.
Provide support to PMT in coordination of audit reports and Grantee’s Financial Capacity Assessments (Due Diligences).
Assist in the active assessment of portfolio performance with a view to assure quality assurance, support the quarterly quality assurance process.
Develop and maintain the M&E framework and tools including field monitoring checklists and reporting templates for small grants.
Ensure monthly, midterm and end term progress reviews of small grants, and contribute to produce reports to UNOPS and EU.
Compile the results of small grants to be presented in quarterly and annual reports, project dashboards, project websites and other wider communications across the partner countries and regions.
Ensure regular update to the Grant Management System reflecting management status and results of small grants.
Working in close collaboration with PMT teams and build collaborative team spirit.
Support/Assist the Senior Project Manager and PMT to respond to relevant queries; extract and analyze information accordingly.
Draft inputs such as talking points, slide decks, blog entries and other type of informational/operational demands in coordination with other team members.
Identify Risk, Lessons Learned and Issues.
Perform other responsibilities as required.
The effective and successful achievement of results by the Grant Management Officer directly affects the overall efficiency of the project implementation and improves the lives of the communities the grant will be implemented in. Timely and accountable delivery of services ensures client satisfaction and promotes the image and credibility of the team and office as an effective service provider in project services and management. This enhances UNOPS’ competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country/region served.