Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)  
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts 
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

Since 2017, Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique has endured escalating violence by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs), rooted in deep socio-economic exclusion compounded by recent natural resource discoveries. The conflict has severely disrupted service delivery, intensified already high illiteracy levels (60% vs 40% nationally), and worsened extreme youth unemployment (two to three times higher than adults). Women and girls remain disproportionately vulnerable due to entrenched gender inequalities, limited education, and high rates of gender-based violence. Local institutions, meanwhile, struggle with limited capacity to provide basic services amidst insecurity and displacement.

To address these challenges, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is financing the Resilient Investment for Socio-Economic Empowerment, Peace and Security (RISE-PS) project, implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique and executed through the Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN). The project aims to restore livelihoods, expand economic opportunities, and enhance access to gender-sensitive social services as a pathway to peacebuilding and resilience in Cabo Delgado.

The RISE-PS project is structured around four interlinked components:

1. Access to Social Infrastructure – Rehabilitation of 150 community facilities (schools, youth centers, rural markets, health posts, water systems, culverts, etc.) through community-driven, labor-intensive approaches, creating ~4,500 short-term jobs for vulnerable youth and women, impacting nearly 20,000 people.
2. Skills and Entrepreneurship Development – Delivery of vocational training (TVET) and start-up support to over 2,200 youth, women, and people with disabilities; provision of conditional grants to restore 2,000 micro-enterprises; and establishment of Business Development Services (BDS) centers in Palma, Pemba, and Ancuabe, leveraging private sector partners such as MozUp and MozParks.
3. Private Sector Growth and Market Access – Construction of an SME Village within the Afungi Agro-Industrial Hub (50,000 m² with warehouses, workshops, logistics hubs, energy/water/sanitation services, and incubation facilities) to host up to 100 SMEs, half women-owned. The project will also facilitate business linkages, formalization of 500 MSMEs, and market access for local producers.
4. Institutional Support and Project Management – Strengthening ADIN’s capacity to lead conflict-sensitive development, coordinate peace-positive investments, manage data systems, and engage communities through transparent beneficiary selection frameworks validated by Inter-peace.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor/Project Manager, the Project Analyst – SME Development will work under the direct supervision of the Project specialist – Economic Recovery and Livelihoods based in the PMU. S/he will be based in the PMU will be responsible for designing and implementing interventions that restore, formalize, and scale youth- and women-led enterprises. The Analyst provides technical assistance and mentoring to entrepreneurs, manages grant schemes, and supports the establishment and effective operation of Business Development Services centers as one-stop-shops for enterprise support. Core responsibilities include facilitating business registration, strengthening financial management and marketing capacities, and promoting linkages to value chains in key growth sectors such as agribusiness, WASH, and nutrition. The Analyst also supports incubation, advisory, and networking services to enhance SME competitiveness, while promoting women-led and inclusive business practices. By embedding resilience, inclusivity, and peacebuilding principles into SME programming, the Analyst ensures that enterprise development contributes to durable livelihoods, sustainable economic recovery, and social cohesion in fragile communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Based upon the above background, UNDP is planning to recruit a Project Analyst – SME Development for the RISE-PS project. The incumbent will have the following roles and responsibilities:

1. Actively support restoration, formalization, and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises;
2. Oversee establishment and effective operation of business development service centers;
3. Provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs in business planning, financial management, and market access;
4. Facilitate linkages between SMEs, larger firms, and value chains in key sectors;
5. Promote inclusive business practices with a focus on women- and youth-led enterprises;
6. Actively support mentoring, incubation, and advisory services to strengthen enterprise competitiveness;
7. Monitor SME development outcomes and provide technical inputs to policy dialogue.

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

Institutional Arrangements

The Project Analyst - SME Development will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Stabilization Advisor/Head of Pemba Sub-Office.

Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build and/or /maintain coalitions/partnership.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross Functional/Technical competencies

Business Management

• Partnership 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. 
• Working with Evidence and Data
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. 
• Result Based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnership Management

• Strategic Engagement
  • Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives. 

2030 Agenda Partnership

• SDG Finance
  • SME Development

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Education Requirement

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration/Management, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Development Studies, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Project Management or related fields 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.

Minimum years of relevant work experience

• Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience;
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in coordinating or implementing development programmes and projects.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section

• Demonstrated experience in conceptualizing, designing or implementing programs or projects related to business development, social entrepreneurship, small & medium enterprises or private sector investment;
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with stakeholders from national and local governments, private sector, civil society organizations, development organizations;
• Proficiency in use of basic office applications, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Google Office (Docs, Sheets, Slides);
• Relevant technical experience in working with transport, private sector and technology industries, at company and association levels;
• Prior experience with UN/UNDP or other multilateral, bilateral or non-government development organizations.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Portuguese is required.

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.

Scam alert

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