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At (UN) requires strategic analysis of land governance issues, communication management, and experience in peacebuilding and governance. Local-only recruitment, onsite work required.
Last checked: 2 hours ago
Closing date: Friday, 14 August 2026
Country: Sri Lanka
Duty station: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Contract type: National PSA- Regular
Grade: Not specified
Applicant eligibility: Local / national only
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Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
This position serves as the Project Manager for the LANTERN project led by UNDP and implemented together with IOM.
UNDP Sri Lanka’s Inclusive Governance portfolio takes a combined approach to governance by bringing together Rights & justice, voice and representation, institutional strengthening, and social cohesion to promote accountable governance and support the progress of SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Within the wider UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the UNDP Country Programme, the Inclusive Governance team assists national and sub-national institutions in tackling the structural causes of governance challenges and conflict, building trust between the state and citizens, and fostering inclusive, rights-based development processes.
Established in 1951, IOM is a related organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to the government and migrants. IOM has extensive experience in implementing peacebuilding and reintegration initiatives in Sri Lanka. Within the broader United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), IOM delivers peacebuilding and reintegration programming that works with national and sub-national actors and communities to mitigate underlying drivers of conflict, reinforce community resilience and trust between institutions and populations, and advance inclusive, equitable, and rights-based development pathways
In the post-conflict context of Sri Lanka—particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces—land-related grievances, resettlement challenges, and reintegration gaps remain critical challenges to sustainable peace and development. These challenges are deeply linked to historical displacement and weakened institutional capacities due to the protracted civil war, and persistent communication gaps between communities and the state. Emerging climate-related pressures and socio-economic vulnerabilities further exacerbate these tensions, disproportionately affecting women, youth, and other marginalized groups.
Against this backdrop, in support of the national priorities led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, UNDP Sri Lanka, jointly with IOM and in partnership with other UN, international and national stakeholders, is implementing the “Land and Trust-building Engagement in the Regions of the North & East (LANTERN)” project. The project aims to reduce tensions between the state and citizens by promoting equitable, transparent, and efficient land governance systems that support durable solutions for resettlement and reintegration.
LANTERN focuses on three interrelated pillars: (i) strengthening evidence-based and gender-responsive land governance through improved data systems and analysis; (ii) enhancing institutional capacities and multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate land release and dispute resolution processes; and (iii) fostering an enabling environment for inclusive dialogue, trust-building, and community engagement to address grievances and support sustainable reintegration. The project places a strong emphasis on human rights, gender equality, and youth participation, while leveraging digital innovation, data-driven decision-making, and partnerships across government, civil society, and communities.
The project builds on UNDP’s and partners’ longstanding engagement in durable solutions, reconciliation, and governance in Sri Lanka, including previous initiatives under the Peacebuilding Priority Plan, Joint Programme for Peace, and the UN SDG Fund. It also aligns with current government priorities, including land reform efforts, the ‘Himikama’ land release programme, and the proposed establishment of a Land Commission.
Within this context, UNDP Sri Lanka seeks to recruit a Project Manager – LANTERN, who will be responsible for the overall management, coordination, and implementation of the project. The Project Manager will ensure timely and high-quality delivery of results as outlined in the Project Document, provide strategic and technical guidance to partners, strengthen stakeholder coordination, and contribute to advancing UNDP’s peacebuilding and inclusive governance agenda in Sri Lanka.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall delivery and quality assurance of technical and operational outputs of the LANTERN project, in line with UNDP and IOM rules and regulations. The role requires strong technical expertise, strategic leadership, and continuous engagement with government, UN, civil society, and community stakeholders to ensure coherent, conflict-sensitive, and evidence-based implementation of project activities.
S/He will be in charge of:
1) Providing Strategic and Technical Leadership:
• Lead policy analysis, high-level technical guidance, and interpretation related to land governance, durable solutions, trust building and reconciliation, risks and conflict sensitivity to inform project positioning and ensure alignment with national priorities, ongoing reform processes, and evolving political dynamics.
• Lead strategic analysis of emerging political, institutional, and socio-economic developments affecting land governance and state-citizen relations and recommend adaptive measures to senior management and project partners.
•Ensure evidence-based decision-making through the effective use of research, analytics, monitoring findings, evaluations, and lessons learned to shape programmatic direction and adaptive management.
• Drive high-level stakeholder coordination for the project, engagement and represent the project in strategic forums, maintaining credible and constructive engagement with senior government counterparts, development partners, and other stakeholders in politically sensitive environments.
•Provide strategic advice to UNDP, IOM, the Resident Coordinator's Office, and implementing partners on project implementation, risks, opportunities, and emerging priorities.
2) Ensuring Effective Programme Management:
• Lead and manage the LANTERN project, including recruitment processes, and overseeing external consultants, while maintaining strong working relationships with key government, UN, and civil society partners.
• Ensure the project is implemented in line with the approved Project Document, Results Framework, and Multi-year/Annual Work Plans targeted at reducing state-citizen land-related tensions, with enhanced land release and access, followed by effective reintegration of communities
• Ensure, in consultation with the Pillar Coordinator- Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion, that activities of the intervention are implemented in a coordinated manner considering other peacebuilding projects and contributing to the broader peacebuilding agenda under the social cohesion pillar of UNDP
• Provide overall guidance and supervision to assigned personnel to ensure effective programme management and delivery.
• Lead the preparation and revision of annual, quarterly, and multi-year work plans and budgets in consultation with UNDP, IOM, and other relevant stakeholders, ensuring alignment with project outputs, UNDP and IOM financial rules and regulations, value for money principles, project indicators, and targets.
• Manage personnel, procurement processes, goods and services, training activities, grants, and consultancy contracts, including drafting Terms of Reference, technical specifications, and overseeing contractors' performance.
• Monitor implementation progress against approved plans, identify deviations, and initiate corrective actions within agreed tolerances to ensure delivery of project results.
• Ensure effective project risk management through maintaining risk logs, conducting regular horizon scanning, implementing mitigation measures, and escalating critical risks to the Project Board where required.
• Ensure that project changes are appropriately managed, documented, and approved in accordance with established governance arrangements.
• Support audits, spot checks, and other assurance activities undertaken by UNDP, IOM, or external entities and ensure timely implementation of recommendations.
3) Ensuring Strong and Robust Interagency Coordination and Governance:
• Anchor the LANTERN project within UNDP's Inclusive Governance and SDG 16 portfolio, in consultation with the Team Lead - Inclusive Governance and Pillar Coordinator - Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding, ensuring synergies with related initiatives.
• Work closely with IOM, relevant UN agencies, and the Resident Coordinator's Office to ensure coordinated delivery of project activities, visibility products, and knowledge outputs.
• Ensure effective coordination between UNDP and IOM teams as well as UN Habitat team to facilitate integrated planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and resource utilization under the joint programme framework.
• Work closely with communications teams from UNDP, IOM, relevant UN agencies, and the Resident Coordinator's Office to deliver LANTERN-related visibility and communications products.
• Serve as Secretary to the Project Board/Steering Committee and ensure timely preparation of agendas, progress reports, risk updates, decision notes, and follow-up on actions agreed by the Board.
• Prepare annual review reports and other governance-related documentation for submission to the Project Board and relevant oversight bodies.
4) Developing and Effectively Managing Stakeholders and Partnerships:
• Actively engage donors and development partners in close consultation with UNDP and IOM senior management by showcasing project progress, facilitating field visits, and communicating achievements and lessons learned.
• Actively engage with key government counterparts such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Land Commissioner General's Department, Survey Department, Provincial Councils, District and Divisional Secretariats, and other relevant stakeholders to effectively deliver project objectives.
• Facilitate inclusive coordination among civil society organizations, community-based organizations, women and youth networks, and affected communities to strengthen participatory approaches and trust-building efforts.
5) Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Knowledge Management:
• Provide guidance to the Monitoring and Reporting Officers of UNDP and IOM in line with the project Results Framework.
• Ensure effective monitoring of the Project Results Framework, risk matrix, and quality assurance mechanisms to track progress on land governance, institutional capacity, and trust-building outcomes.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of high-quality narrative and financial reports to UNDP, IOM, donors, and governance mechanisms.
• Lead the development and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans, ensuring the evaluability of project interventions and effective use of evaluation findings.
• Support independent evaluations by facilitating access to data, documentation, stakeholders, and field locations while safeguarding the independence and credibility of evaluation processes.
• Develop and implement management responses to evaluation recommendations and monitor their implementation.
• Capture, document, and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and innovations emerging from project implementation to inform adaptive management and future programming.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Institutional Arrangement:
Under the direct guidance of the Resident Representative-UNDP, the Project Manager – LANTERN will work under the supervision of the Team Lead- Inclusive Governance Team-UNDP, with Matrix reporting to the Protection Unit Lead-IOM. S/he will also work close cooperation with the Pillar Coordinator- Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding-UNDP.
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 Management Partnership Management Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide network of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals. 2030 Agenda: Peace Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion 2030 Agenda: Peace Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions Land, Natural Resources and Conflict (inc. Environmental Peacebuilding) Business Management Results-based Management Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results Business Management 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.
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Direction & 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
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Experience:
Required Skills:
Desirable Skills:
Required Language(s):
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
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