Terms of Reference
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a consultancy within the Senior Management Team in our Regional Representation for West Africa.
On 11th of January 2019, the UNHCR High Commissioner unveiled a transformative agenda, which would culminate in UNHCR moving decision-making closer to the theatres of operation, which are the country offices. This move would among other things lead to the break-up of the bureau structure as currently constituted by the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) into three separate Bureaux (East and Horn of Africa, West and Central Africa and Southern Africa).
Consistent with this transformative agenda, the Office of the UNHCR Regional Representation for West Africa (“RRWA”) will be replaced by the UNHCR Regional Bureau for the West and Central Africa (“RBWCA”). This will climax with the closure of the RRWA office and operations during the Fourth Quarter of 2019 and the simultaneous opening of the UNHCR Regional Bureau for the West and Central Africa Region on 01 January 2020.
UNHCR is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
Title: Office Transition Project Manager
Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal
Duration: 3 months initially
Contract Type: International Consultant
Closing date: 14 June 2019
Start date: 1st July 2019
Organisational context
Under the technical supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative of the UNHCR Regional Representation, the incumbent will assist in implementing the transition plan involving the closure of the RRWA and the opening of the RBWCA. He/she will provide technical guidance to the Transition Task Force and ensure a smooth transition involving the closure of one office and the opening of another.
The position
Internally, the incumbent will liaise directly with the Transition Task Force and other Service Delivery Teams in both the RRWA as well as the region on a daily basis and will be required to clarify, analyze and resolve issues related to the changes associated with the transformative agenda. The Project Manager may also may also liaise with external service providers, as required, to resolve escalated infrastructure issues.
Duties and responsibilities
Accountability
The Project Manager, under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative, and in close collaboration with the Transition Task Force also in consultation with all the Section heads of the Regional Representation of West Africa (RRWA) will be required to perform the following tasks:
Ensure a smooth closure of the office of the UNHCR Regional Representation for West Africa in accordance with the time and regulatory specifications laid down by the High Commissioner’s instructions of 11th January 2019, the recommendations of the Geneva based change management team and the RRWA Transition Task Force.
Ensure the smooth opening of the UNHCR Regional Bureau for West Africa in accordance with the time and regulatory specifications laid down by the High Commissioner’s instructions of 11th January 2019, the recommendations of the Geneva based change management team and the RRWA Transition Task Force.
In keeping with space specifications as laid out in UNHCR administrative guidelines and in consultations with the Deputy Regional Representative and the Transition Task Force, delineate an office plan that takes into account the specific space requirements of outgoing RRWA staff as well as incoming RBWCA staff.
Ensure a clear and coherent comprehensive transition strategy, which incorporates a thorough analysis of requirements for closure of the RRWA and opening of the RBWCA and reflects the Organization’s global, regional and country level priorities.
Ensure the participation of all stakeholders through continuous assessment, evaluation and consultations using meetings and other forms of communication
Responsibility
Support the RRWA, in sequencing, and coordinating multiple sets of actions that will constitute the building blocks of the final roadmap for implementation of the RO drawdown and the setting up of the new Regional Bureau.
Ensure that those sets of actions adhere to output quality and standards and that problems/issues are addressed or elevated for decision making as necessary.
In this regard, co-ordinate with heads of units the archiving and overall management of documents and consolidate all information pertaining to archiving and management of documents, including document retrieval, for the RRWA.
In the context of the draw-down of the RRWA, provide support for the co-ordination of management of UNHCR assets at the RRWA, including disposal, in line with existing guidance.
Provide support for the review of all contracts and agreements reached by Regional Representation in Dakar and determine relevant course of action (extension, revision, termination) within the terms of the agreements.
Provide support for the mapping out of immediate physical office space requirements for the advance/core team for the new Bureau and eventually for the whole bureau.
Provide similar support for the mapping out of physical office space requirements for the UNHCR Representation for Senegal (also referred to as the multi-country office) —-
Assist the incoming Director of the Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa in outlining the actual “hand-over” activities from Regional Representation for West Africa to Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, including timelines and prepare the necessary guidance to country operations in the region;
Create, coordinate and regularly update the project plan for the delivery of the roadmap for the implementation of the RRWA drawdown and the set-up of the RBWCA.
Development of a change communication plan related to the development of the roadmap and subsequent implementation;
Advice on any potential gaps or overlaps in the design and implementation plans.
Produce a bi-weekly analytical progress reports on the draw down process for Deputy Regional Representative to be presented at the SMT, identifying opportunities and challenges including a clear analysis and interpretation of data to unearth weaknesses and problems, and provide solutions.
Conduct a systematic evaluation of the plan regularly to ensure that any foreseen deviations are resolved before they occur and that any emergent deviations are resolved while to the extent possible maintaining the integrity of the plan.
Configure the final roadmap format and ensure that outputs are compatible
Organize and execute other related projects assigned to the incumbent.
Authority
Prepare a transition strategy to be approved the Deputy Representative of the RRWA. This will include the above mentioned aspects of the closure of the RRWA and the opening of the RBWCA.
Provide technical support to the Transition Task Force.
On the direction of the Regional Representative and the Deputy Regional Representative issue statements to staff on both foregone and upcoming changes that are likely to affect the discharge of their responsibilities, through forums agreed upon with the UNHCR RRWA Senior Management Team.
Required Competencies
Professionalism:
Strong Ability to take initiative and work independently.
Strong analytical, qualitative, quantitative and problem-solving skills.
Ability to provide clear messages on complex information.
Ability to seek and synthesize information from a variety of sources and draw solid conclusion based on in depth analysis.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Good communication skills, including the ability to write high quality reports, conduct studies and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style.
Excellent interpersonal skills, teamwork and adept at working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
An understanding of and ability to abide by the core values of the United Nations. Planning & Organizing Capacity:
Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships.
Plans, coordinates and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines.
Demonstrates ability to quickly shift from one task to another to meet multiple support needs.
Demonstrable Teamwork:
Works collaboratively with partners to achieve organizational goals.
Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise.
Facilitates the development of individual and multi-cultural/team competencies.
Ability to provide substantive training and mentoring, and manage teams.
Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required
The ideal candidate will possess:
• a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, Business Administration, Political Sciences, Law, or International Development
• At least 7 years’ experience in the field of development, implementation of reform development projects, organizational/change management.
• Proven experience in development of strategies and/or other policy documents, memoranda.
• Experience of working with senior management and providing advice.
• Experience working within an international organization and/or UN agency is desirable.
• Familiarity with Sub Saharan African Region.
• Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication (English/French)
• Language: Fluency in both written and spoken English and French.
Location
The successful candidate will be based with the team at the Regional Representation for West Africa in Dakar, Senegal.
Conditions
The consultancy is for three months and the start date is in July 2019. It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.00 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should submit their letter of motivation, Personal History Form (PHF) and CV to [email protected] quoting “RRWA Office Transition Project Manager” in the subject of the email. Application deadline is 14 June 2019.
Personal History Forms are available at PHF Form / Supplementary Sheet.
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
More Information
- Job City Dakar