Vacancy in Ministry of Social Family Development

Project Coordinator (Contract)

IULAAN NUMBER: (IUL)459-HR/1/2024/156

1. A.       Objectives and Purpose of Assignment

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MoSFD) is seeking to hire an individual specialist Project Coordinator to assist its Project Management Unit’s technical team in coordinating, managing, and administering the Asian Development Bank Project on Strengthening Gender Inclusive Initiatives (SGII) in the Maldives.

The SGII Project is a five-year stand-alone gender project approved in 2022. SGII addresses gender inequality through multisectoral and interconnected approaches across government and non-governmental stakeholders including local councils, Women Development Committees, and civil society organisations. This integrated package of interventions aims to:

• Strengthen the enabling policy environment for gender equality through the improved availability, quality, dissemination and use of gender statistics and sex, age, and disability disaggregated data.
• Support the translation of policy commitments into sustained and improved government funding of gender equality through gender responsive budgeting.
• Strengthen the social service systems that support women to access services for domestic and gender-based violence (DV/GBV) and services that reduce women’s burden of caring for children and the elderly and so enable women to invest more time in education, economic and social activities.
• Strengthen partnerships of government, local councils, Women Development Committees, DV/GBV service providers and civil society organisations to prevent DV/GBV and support survivors access social protection services.
• Establish new DV/GBV shelters and an aged community centre.

The MoSFD is the lead implementing agency of SGII. Other implementing agencies are Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS), Family Protection Authority (FPA), Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure (MoCI).

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the overall project management of the SGII project, who will ensure timely coordination across agencies, quality implementation and delivery of outputs, and proactively resolve issues. In addition, the Project Coordinator will bring project management best practices to the assignment and ensure the timely completion of all outstanding preparatory work and the establishment of robust implementation arrangements and coordination to enable effective and successful project delivery.

B. Scope of Work

The Project Coordinator will lead the Project Management Unit (PMU) and coordinate the project internally in MoSFD and externally with all other implementing partners. Project Coordinator will provide technical support and guidance to staff in the Project Management Unit. The Project Coordinator will report to the Project Director of the MoSFD.

C. Overall Responsibility

The Project Coordinator’s task will include the following tasks, among others:

Coordination and Management

                          i.            Administer all activities under the component as per the directions of the Programme Director or his/her designate and in accordance with the financing agreements, project documents and operations manuals.

                        ii.            Ensure systematic completion are in line with the government policies and donor requirements of all preparatory work to complete the design of the project.

                      iii.            Manage project implementation. Track all outputs and deliverables and take management decisions to ensure the project deliver results.

                      iv.            Ensure effective communication and coordination across all implementing agencies and focal persons to keep abreast of key project activities and challenges.

                        v.            Manage PMU staff. Identify staff capacity gaps and provide project management capacity building and mentoring of staff.

                      vi.            Ensure effective coordination of PMU staff, MoSFD and other implementing agencies to achieve quality and timely implementation and progress of project outputs.

                    vii.            Proactively manage project risks and ensure project issues are resolved in a timely manner.

                  viii.            Forge and maintain trusted working relationships with all external stakeholders including City and Island Councils, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Local Government Authority, civil society organisations and private sector suppliers.

                      ix.            Organize and facilitate stakeholder consultations, Project Steering and Technical Committees and project review meetings as required and ensure meeting minutes are recorded and approved.

                        x.            Provide project information, monthly progress reports and other documentation requested by the Programme Director for review and/or for presentation to Project /Technical meetings, donor review missions or by other relevant authorities of the Government in a timely manner.

Reporting and ADB relationship management

                          i.         Maintain transparent and constructive working relationship with ADB and participate in and maintain regular and open communication with ADB.

                        ii.         Lead and manage preparation of all project reporting requirements from all implementing agencies in an efficient and timely way.

                      iii.         Ensure all relevant information, documents, financial and technical reports are made available for review during review missions, for independent reviewers and/or review by other relevant stakeholders of GOM.

                      iv.         Attend all missions and in country meetings as required.

                        v.         Preparation of consolidated, periodic reports on the Project activities, including semi-annual and annual reports to the Bank, reflecting: (i) the status of implementation progress, problems encountered, corrective actions needed, rationale for actions; and (ii) current costs of each Project component and estimated costs of completion. Prepare documentation as requested in a timely manner.

                      vi.         Ensure and supervise the reporting and monitoring system of the project.

Field visits

                          i.            Undertake regular field visits and consultations to monitor project implementation at all project sites and with all relevant stakeholders.

                        ii.         Work collaboratively and in coordination with the Project Implementation Unit of Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure on sites inspections and quality assurance.

Procurement

                          i.            Oversight of SGII procurement of goods, works and services under ADB guidelines while ensuring compliance of all procurements with ADB rules and procedures and in line with the Financing Agreements.

                        ii.            Assist the Procurement Unit of the PMU in the preparation of Terms of Reference, Tender documents and Evaluations of Bids and Proposals.

                      iii.            Participate in document review, evaluation and other relevant committees that may be formed under the Projects as required.

                      iv.            Assist in concept level design of infrastructure projects and preparation of necessary documents required for bid documents, contract documents and technical reports.

Project finance

                          i.            Managing project resources for implementation purposes as specified in Legal Agreement.

                        ii.            Review monthly project budget reports, track spending, and manage funds for efficiency.

                      iii.            Review consultant firm progress reports, appraise performance and approve invoices.

                      iv.            Review and approve sub-contractor funding requests.

D. Qualification and Experience

                       i.            Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies, Project Management, Social Sciences or in a related field with experience of 7-10 years.

                     ii.            Should have excellent command over English with proven communication and, presentation and negotiation skills.

                   iii.            Should be capable of providing leadership, motivation and training to the staff and stakeholders. The consultant will have proven project management experience involving diverse stakeholders and strong experience and success in high level program coordination. They will have cross-sectoral skills and ability to work with team members and stakeholders from different technical backgrounds at the highest level.

                   iv.            Should have strong leadership, management, and communication skills in presenting, discussing and resolving difficult issues and have ability to work efficiently and effectively with a multidisciplinary team.

                     v.            Familiarization with ADB Projects and Guidelines will be an added advantage.

                   vi.            Knowledge and understanding of technical, commercial, and legal aspects of procurement of donor - financed projects would be an added advantage.

                 vii.            Experience in managing construction contracts will be an added advantage.

               viii.            Sound understanding of principles underlying good procurement practices and international agencies’ procurement guidelines will be an added advantage.

The successful individual must be willing to work for extended periods without direct supervision and travel routinely to islands within the catchment.

In addition, the individual’s reputation of integrity and impartiality routed in independent from third parties shall be considered.

The short-listed candidate will be requested to participate in personal interviews and submit the names and contact details of personal referees who can attest to their ability.

The successful candidate must understand the objectives and delivery mechanisms of the project portfolio. He/she must be willing to work in a team, be flexible to emerging or changing conditions, and undertake initiative in his/her broad field of actions.

E.  Reporting Requirement

                       i.            Report directly to the Project Director, on all aspects of Project Management throughout the duration of the contract unless otherwise advised by the MoSFD.

                     ii.            The Project Coordinator (PC) shall ensure that all the required reports for the project are prepared on time, in accordance with the requirements of MoSFD and respective donor agencies and other and respective stakeholder.

                   iii.            The Project Coordinator should report to work as per government working hours and based on the requirement of the project.

1. F.     Schedule for the Assignment

Successful candidates will be contracted for a period of 1 (one) year, with potential renewal of contract based on performance and organizational needs up to the total duration of the project. The successful candidate is expected commence the services in July 2024.

1. G.       Remuneration

Successful candidate will be paid an all-inclusive monthly fee in the range of MVR 30,240.00 - 34,740.00 depending on their qualifications and experience. In addition, any fees payable to the individual for duty travel assignments, Ramadan allowance shall be compensated at the government prevailing rates. Fixed monthly fee shall be subject to deduction for pension and any other statutory requirement as may be applicable.

1. H.       Performance Evaluation and Termination

                       i.            Performance of the Project Coordinator will be evaluated on a quarterly basis.

                     ii.            Contract will be renewed based on performance.

                   iii.            Termination based on performance will be done with a notice period of one month.

                   iv.            Immediate termination will be enforced based on severe misconduct and poor performance.

1. I.       Services and Facilities to be provided by the Employer.

                       i.            Office space and other facilities such as computers will be provided as required.

                     ii.            Local transport for official travel between Male’, inter-Atolls and inter-islands and allowances to cover food and accommodation for the trips will be provided from the projects.

                   iii.            Leave Entitlement:

1. Annual Leave: The Project coordinator may take up to thirty (30) working days leave per calendar year.
2. Sick Leave: The Project coordinator may take Thirty (30) days of paid sick leave.

                                                                             i.      The Project Coordinator is allowed to take 15 days sick leave with medical certificate specifying the nature of the illness and recommended duration of sick leave by a licensed medical practitioner is to be submitted on the first day back at work.

                                                                           ii.      Notwithstanding the above, Project Coordinator is allowed to take 15 days sick leave without medical certificate and can be taken for two consecutive days.

1. Family Responsibility Leave: The Project coordinator may take Ten (10) days of paid leave in a year to attend important obligations such as attending family members during illness.
2. Unpaid Leave: The Project coordinator will not be paid for leave(s) that exceed the maximum allowed and the MoSFD may terminate the contract if the unpaid leave exceeds more than Fifteen (15) working days.

1. J.  Application Instructions

Ministry of Social and Family Development now invites interested individuals qualified for the assignments to submit Expression of Interest inclusive of the following documentation to demonstrate your eligibility for the assignment.

                                   i.            Cover Letter for Expression of Interest

                                 ii.            Copy of National Identification Card

                               iii.            CV including information that demonstrates that the candidate is qualified to undertake the scope of work.

                               iv.            Work experience documentation. (Description of similar assignments, and experiences in similar field of work).

                                 v.            Copies of attested academic qualifications.

                               vi.            Reference letters from current and/or previous employers.

Candidates interested in applying, please email your CV along with other relevant documents to [email protected]    before 04th July 2024 13:00. For more information, please call +960 3027551