Project Coordinator (Open to 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.

1. Office/Unit/Project Description

Morocco has been actively promoting green growth and green jobs through various initiatives and partnerships, with a specific emphasis on engaging youth and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The government has set ambitious targets for renewable energy and implemented policies to support sustainable development, such as the National Energy Transition Strategy which aims to increase the share of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable transportation.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Morocco is playing a crucial role in supporting the country's green transition. The UNDP is working closely with SMEs and youth-led solutions to provide them with the necessary financial and technical support to participate in the green economy. These efforts are aimed at accelerating Morocco's progress in promoting sustainable development, creating green jobs, and supporting the growth of SMEs, while also addressing the challenges of climate change and empowering young people to take an active role in the green growth process.

The Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator (GGJA) is one out of three projects under the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme’s (DAPP) which is funded and managed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The GGJA is part of DAPP’s programme for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship. UNDP has been implementing the GGJA which sits regionally as part of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States’ Regional Youth Project Portfolio.

GGJA is implemented in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia building on UNDP’s work and experience with implementing the SDG Accelerator for SMEs methodology which directly supports sustainable business development and commercial green growth in SMEs. The SDG Accelerator is a part of UNDP’s service offer UNDP Impact Venture Accelerators (IVA). The IVA is a practical approach to help businesses focus on delivering products/services, business models and business plans which contribute to the SDGs.

The objective of the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator is to support established entrepreneurs and SMEs, of which a proportion will be youth-led, to accelerate green growth in their businesses and through this, support the local transition to a green and sustainable economy, and enable green jobs for youth.

Each year, in each of the four countries in mention, two 5-months Accelerators are implemented, and each Accelerator includes a cohort of up to 25 carefully recruited SMEs. Each company in the Accelerator develops one or more business plans for green growth also integrating relevant ways for the company to create jobs for youth, either as a result of the implementation of the business plan, as means to realize the business plan, or preferably both.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator in Morocco as part of its efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive development. The Accelerator offers the opportunity to small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate sustainability into their business models, thereby advancing green growth, job creation, and innovation in line with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.

By the end of 2027, the programme is expected to engage up to two hundred Moroccan enterprises, providing targeted support through coaching, digital training, and facilitated access to investment opportunities. The initiative aims to generate one thousand direct jobs and an additional two thousand five hundred indirect jobs, with a particular emphasis on supporting youth-led businesses and enhancing the participation of women in green economic growth.

By focusing on strategic sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, circular economy, and digital innovation, the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator seek to contribute to the Morocco’s transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. The initiative aims to strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of enterprises, expanding opportunities for decent work, and positioning Morocco as a regional leader in green and inclusive development.

Under the overall management and guidance of the UNDP Morocco Country Office, and in coordination with the UNDP Arab States Bureau’s Regional Youth Project Portfolio, the Accelerators will be implemented at the country level. The Morocco Country Office will provide strategic oversight, ensuring coherence with national priorities and alignment with UNDP’s global and regional frameworks.

Implementation will draw on the longstanding networks of the participating Country Offices, engaging relevant stakeholders across sectors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Activities will be carried out in close collaboration with a regional management consulting firm, which supports the implementation process and provides strategic business development consulting on green growth and sustainable business instruments. This consultation includes, for example, advisory services on the development of business plans for new environmentally friendly products and services, the introduction of greener production or operational processes, and the integration of selected standards that can enable enterprises to access new markets.

Under the direct supervision of Democratic Governance Team Leader in the Moroccan Country office, the GGJA Project Coordinator is expected to perform the following responsibilities and duties:

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the overall management of the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator at the country level, ensuring effective delivery, strong private sector engagement, and alignment with national and regional priorities.

2. Scope of Work

1- Coordinate effective project planning and implementation.

• Follow up the implementation of activities and financial management of the project, including the monitoring of SME cohorts and, where relevant, visits to enterprise premises to assess progress and results.
• Coordinate the work of the implementing partner, ensuring that contractual outputs are delivered on time, at high quality, and with a tangible contribution to SME growth and green innovation.
• Support engagement with the private sector stakeholders involved in project implementation.
• Maintain operational dialogue with business associations, accelerators, innovation hubs, and financial actors relevant to SME support activities.
• Maintain regular dialogue with public institutions at both local and national levels, as well as with academia and research networks, to ensure that enterprise support is connected to relevant policy frameworks and institutional ecosystems.
• Ensure day to day coordination among partners and stakeholders, harmonizing approaches and securing synergies with other DAPP initiatives in the country and region, under the guidance of UNDP Morocco Country Office and the Regional Bureau for Arab States’ Regional Youth Portfolio.
• Ensure structured technical reporting and documentation of activities, including collecting data, monitoring results, and capturing innovations emerging from SME engagement.
• Contribute to the preparation of cases and success stories for communication purposes, highlighting the impact of the project for both local and regional audiences.

2- Ensure effective implementation of SMEs Accelerators

• Ensure implementation of two five -month Accelerators per year in in close collaboration with the implementing partners.
• Support recruitment of SMEs to accelerators through own channels and partners networks, with guidance from UNDP.
• Take part in in all meetings related to the project and coordination meetings with Regional Bureau for Arab States and the implementing partners.
• Participate in fortnightly learning sessions focusing on SME progress, methodology/tools application and other items relevant to the project.
• Support delivery of joint sessions for SMEs including Joint Kick-off workshop, Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) workshop and Showcase.
• Ensure systematic capture of SME results in line with results framework.
• Support coordination with youth that are part of Youth4Sustainability and their engagement in the accelerators and support to SMEs, with the support of the Youth Development Delegate .

3- Ensure effective implementation of SME Finance outcome

• Conduct mapping of sustainable finance and risk finance providers relevant to participating SMEs.
• Support matchmaking SMEs with potential investors or finance providers.
• Document progress of dialogues between SMEs and finance actors, in collaboration with the implementing partner.

4- Ensure effective implementation of Learning Modality

• Support integration of learning materials into relevant stakeholder channels and platforms. Participate in technical design sessions and provide input relevant to the local context.
• Facilitate coordination with business schools, universities, innovation hubs, accelerators, and incubators for outreach and dissemination of learning materials. Support onboarding of SME alumni to the Green Growth Community. Support use of the Regional Youth Project Platform (NextGen Youth Platform) for knowledge sharing, asset upload, and SME–youth connections.

5- Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.

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

3. Institutional Arrangement

In this context, the Project Manager (PM) will work under the guidance and supervision of the Democratic Governance Programme Analyst and in close collaboration with team members.

4. Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to 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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition Partnership management Emerging partnerships Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships. Business Direction and Strategy Effective Decision Making Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications. Business Direction and Strategy Systems 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 Digital Digital business analysis Ability to support digital business processes across a range of digital projects, programmes and activities. 2030 Agenda: Partnerships SDG Finance SDG Impact Management and Finance Tracking Partnership management Private sector engagement Ability to identify and conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector

5- Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements Advanced university degrees (master's degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Business Development, Investment Management, Business Administration, Systems management or related fields is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, 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 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience, preferably in the design and/or implementation of projects related to SME business support, acceleration programmes, social entrepreneurship, the green economy, green technologies, SDG impact. Experience, Knowledge, and skills Demonstrated experience in sustainable finance and investment Demonstrated experience working in the private sector or engaging with the private sector (working with businesses or entrepreneurship, and or translating private sector dynamics into impactful development outcomes). Proven experience in collaborating with a broad range of actors, such as international and national experts, institutions, and stakeholders. Strong understanding of key economic sectors, regulatory frameworks, and institutions, with the ability to effectively engage and build partnerships with the private sector. Proven track record of solid knowledge of results-based management (RBM) and project implementation. Strong expertise in multi-stakeholder engagement, coordination, and partnership building. Proficiency in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), with working knowledge of spreadsheets, database applications, and web-based management systems. Desirable Criteria Excellent analytical and writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and documents Experience interacting or partnering with financial institutions Experience with the UN and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations. Proven experience in designing or implementing SME acceleration or incubation programmes, particularly those promoting innovation, sustainability, or green technologies. Knowledge of sustainable finance instruments, such as green bonds, ESG frameworks, or blended finance mechanisms. Experience in developing partnerships between the private sector, government entities, and development organizations to promote sustainable growth. Required Language(s)

Fluency in French is required

Fluency in Arabic required.

Working knowledge of English communication is desired. Professional Certificates N/A

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.
3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experiences, 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.

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