National Project Specialist (Open to Internal & External Applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

1. Description

Yemen continues to face a severe humanitarian and development crisis driven by prolonged conflict, economic decline, and institutional fragility. These challenges have weakened governance systems, disrupted economic activity, and increased poverty, food insecurity, and vulnerability across the country.

While humanitarian assistance remains essential, sustainable recovery requires longer-term investments in livelihoods, economic resilience, local governance, institutional strengthening, and climate-resilient agriculture.

UNDP is implementing a portfolio of complementary projects to address these interconnected challenges. This includes the Resilient Economies and Sustainable Livelihoods for Empowerment in Yemen (RESOLVE) project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) ; the Local Governance for Area-based Development (LoGABD) project funded by the European Union (EU) ; and the Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Job Opportunities in Yemen (SANABEL) project, also funded by the EU. These projects are designed with a synergistic, area-based approach to maximize impact and efficiency.

RESOLVE (SDC) focuses on strengthening the resilience and economic empowerment of vulnerable communities in Marib and Hadramout governorates by promoting sustainable livelihoods through agribusiness development, agricultural value chain strengthening, improved access to finance, and enhanced local economic governance.

LoGABD (EU) aims to strengthen the capacity of local authorities across seven governorates (Aden, Hadramout, Lahj, Marib, Taiz, Al Mahrah, Socotra) to effectively plan, budget, finance, and deliver public services, manage IDP populations, and foster climate resilience. It focuses on institutionalizing training hubs, improving public financial management, completing community-prioritized public works, and operationalizing Local Economic Development Councils and Local Development Funds.

SANABEL (EU) is a joint FAO-UNDP project focused on climate-resilient agriculture and job creation. It aims to increase crop and livestock productivity through Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and ecosystem-based adaptation (led by FAO) and strengthen climate-resilient agricultural value chains to generate decent jobs, formalized businesses, and inclusive economic growth (led by UNDP).

By combining these three projects under one management umbrella, this position will ensure coherent and integrated implementation, maximize synergies, and leverage UNDP's expertise in governance, economic recovery, and resilience building. This portfolio approach aligns with the Area-Based Development (ABD) framework, ensuring that local priorities, as articulated in Governorate Economic and Social Development Plans, are effectively addressed. The incumbent will report to the UNDP Team Leader -Governance & Peacebuilding Portfolio and will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management to the combined project team.

The role requires exceptional leadership, strategic coordination, and stakeholder management skills, with a particular emphasis on governance and institutional strengthening, and the ability to deliver results across multiple complex and fragile environments.

2. Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National Project Specialist will play a critical leadership role in the successful implementation of the integrated project portfolio. The incumbent will provide strategic coordination and management support, ensuring that project activities are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards, aligned with UNDP rules and regulations and the donors’ operational requirements for this high-risk, Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) context.

The primary objective of the position is to support the Project Manager in overseeing the day-to-day implementation and coordination of the three projects, with a particular focus on the governance and institutional strengthening components of the LoGABD project, with a particular focus on stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and ensuring the achievement of project outcomes.

3. Overall roles and responsibilities

1. Advise and support Project Management, Implementation and Coordination

• Advise and support the development of the Project’s work plan, activities, targets, budget, standards for measuring progress and results and determine the processes, tools and methodologies to be used to ensure effective and efficient project implementation and operations
• Ensure the achievement of the Project’s outputs in line with the approved Annual Work Plan through the day-to-day planning, management and implementation of activities;
• Oversee the coordination of project activities with government institutions at national and sub-national levels, with particular emphasis on the Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA), Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC), and governorate-level authorities under the LoGABD project.
• Ensure full coordination, liaison, and communication between the contracted Responsible Parties for the Project’s component for coherent design and complementary execution of projects at the local level.
• Facilitate the operationalization of Local Economic Development Councils (LEDCs) and Local Development Funds (LDFs) as key platforms for public-private dialogue and resource mobilization under the LoGABD project.
• Support the institutionalization of governorate-level Training Departments as permanent capacitydevelopment hubs, including the formal transfer of curricula and training-of-trainers (ToT) activities.

2.Ensure Financial Management and Reporting

• Ensure accountability for and efficient use of relevant project funds;
• Manage and monitor requests for financial resources and ensure accuracy and reliability of relevant financial reports;
• Approve requisitions requests, and ensure continuous delivery updates to the Project Manager on financial delivery performance;
• Liaise with the Responsible Parties and other UNDP project staff on financial management of the project activities, including monitoring project financial expenditures and transactions;
• Ensure the integrity of financial system and support the Project Manager in overseeing the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the project activities;
• Support the smooth audit of national partner institutions.

3. Build Strategic Partnerships and Resources Mobilization

• Contribute to a constructive dialogue with partners in Yemen, the European Union, SDC and other stakeholders, especially to maximize consistency and synergy between the various project’s components, as informed by the priorities of the project document;
• Maintain dialogue with national and sub-national government officials (particularly MoLA, MoPIC, Governor Offices, and District authorities), civil society, partners and communities to provide knowledge and understanding while ensuring clear understanding of the project objectives;
• Support the establishment and strengthening of multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms, including Local Economic Councils, to foster collaboration between government institutions, private sector, and civil society under the LoGABD project.
• Facilitate the presentation of Area-Based Development Plans (ABDPs) to donors and private investors to mobilize resources for locally-prioritized development initiatives.
• Support the creation of tools and communications materials to promote project objectives, establish contact as a focal person for project in support of the PM and UNDP CO cooperation with the donors.

4. Advise and support Results based management, monitoring and evaluation and reporting

• Provide advice to the project team and the Responsible Parties on the achievement of project’s results as per the Annual Work Plan;
• Advise and significantly contribute to the coordination and production of concept notes, project proposals, work plans, regular donor progress and impact reports for the project;
• Participate in relevant internal and external (coordination) meetings representing the project when requested by the PM;
• Manage and monitor identified relevant project risks and issues and update the status of these risks and issues according to UNDP’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) policy;
• Plan and prioritize work activities to meet organizational goals, and organize and oversee work processes efficiently to achieve quality results;
• In collaboration with the M&E Reporting Officer, ensure proper monitoring and evaluation procedures are instituted in relevant project activities and proper monitoring of project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets;
• Ensure robust monitoring and reporting on governance-related outcomes, including improved public financial management, procurement transparency, service delivery performance, and institutional capacity development.
• Undertake any other duties as may be required by the PM.

5. Advise and support Governance and Institutional Strengthening Support

• Support the implementation of governance and institutional strengthening activities under the LoGABD project, including public financial management reform, public procurement reform, and revenue modernization initiatives.
• Facilitate capacity development activities for local authorities on core governance functions, genderresponsive planning, recovery management, and human resource management (organograms, job descriptions, right-sizing).
• Support the digital transformation of revenue management and the introduction of integrated platforms for property tax and other revenue streams.
• Assist in developing standardized procurement manuals and providing technical training on modern procurement standards and internal oversight mechanisms.
• Coordinate with the MPISY project (UNDP-World Bank) to ensure alignment and complementarity in public financial management and human resource management reforms.

6. Lead Knowledge building and management

• Capture and disseminate lessons learned and best practices to contribute to learning on the projects; with particular focus on governance, institutional resilience, and area-based development approaches.
• Document good practices and lessons learned from the operationalization of LEDCs, LDFs, Training Hubs, and PFM reforms for replication and scaling.
• Participate in international knowledge networks and other fora to draw on best practice and lessons learned in other similar contexts to apply to Yemen
• Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy

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

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National Project Specialist contributes to the effective and efficient implementation of the integrated RESOLVE, LoGABD, and SANABEL projects. The incumbent will apply and promote the principles of results-based management (RBM) and a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The National Project Specialist will have a particular focus on the governance and institutional strengthening components of the LoGABD project, while ensuring coherence and synergy across all three projects. S/He will work in close collaboration with the project team, the UNDP Country Office (CO), key IRG institutions, and the donors to ensure effective achievement of results. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP and donors programming, financial, procurement, and administrative rules and regulations.

4. Competencies

Core

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business

Management

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals

Risk Management

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

External Relations & Advocacy

Partnerships

Management

Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

External Relations & Advocacy

Communication

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience

Finance

Public Finance Management

Knowledge and experience in PFM, including budget preparation, execution, and reporting, as well as experience with financial management information systems.

Governance

Decentralization and Local Governance

Knowledge of local governance systems, decentralization frameworks, institutional capacity development, and public administration reform in fragile contexts

5.Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Public

Administration, Public Policy, Development Studies, Conflict Management, Economics, Business Administration,, or related field is required, OR

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant work experience

Minimum 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressive work experience in project development and management in a (post-) conflict setting, withemphasis on (local) governance, core government functions, basic service delivery and community engagement or related fields.

Required skills

• Proven experience in governance and institutional strengthening programming, including areas such as public financial management, public procurement reform, human resource management, and capacity development for local authorities.
• Experience in supporting decentralization and local governance reform, preferably in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database applications.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Proven Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a complex and fast-changing environment.
• Sound understanding of developmental strategies - particularly of community empowerment, participation, and area-based development approaches.
• Experience with (or understanding of) peace support operations, particularly large scale and the ability to manage the safety and security of staff in diverse security environments.
• Knowledge of UN/UNDP policies, programming frameworks and procedures.
• Experience in financial management, budget oversight, procurement planning, and donor reporting, preferably with experience in EU and SDC reporting requirements.
• Discretion and sound reasoning in dealing with sensitive matters; ability to independently solve complex and challenging problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with government counterparts at national and sub-national levels, particularly with Ministry of Local Administration, Governor Offices, and District authorities.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and coordination with multiple partners, including government institutions, international donors (EU, SDC), UN agencies, civil society, and private sector.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Fluency in English and Arabic (spoken and written) is required.

6. The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.