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

UNDP provides integrated programmatic, policy and financing solutions to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, UNDP has created a Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) are the two anchor Bureaux of the GPN.

In this context, the newly established Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (GRP) Hub, a joint endeavour with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), provides leadership and advisory services to enhance UNDP’s impact on governance and peacebuilding, ensuring the integration of democratic governance and human rights into crisis response and recovery. The Hub aims to build an integrated portfolio collaboratively between the CB and BPPS and establish partnerships with various stakeholders including the UN System, IFIs, civil society, and the private sector. 

Through Local Action, the GRP Hub seeks to contribute to peace and development, achieving a visible impact on communities and improving lives by delivering integrated solutions that harness global expertise and partnerships. The Local Action Unit works closely with local and regional governments as key development players, highlighting their role as public service implementers, as drivers of innovation and the closest institution to people. 

Local and regional governments are already responsible of over 65% of the SDG targets, most of them linked to basic service provision from water, sanitation, mobility, climate action, health or education. Cities and territories are playing a big part on the implementation of SDGs, that are becoming a new tool for strategic planning and budgeting in the mid to long-term. Since 2015, local governments and their associations have been increasingly active in promoting the SDGs through advocacy, working with their local population and partners in transposing the spirit of Agenda 2030 in cities and territories. Local Governments have also started to use SDGs as a strategic framework to deliver better and more innovative public services linked to SDG targets and indicators. As part of the SDG Local Action project, UNDP is one of the implementing partners of the Mayors Challenge, a global initiative to reimagine the most essential services that cities deliver to residents.

Within this context, the SDG Local Action project is seeking to recruit a Project Manager to support the implementation of the Mayors Challenge in the City of Kanifing, in the Gambia, one of the winners of the 2025 Mayors Challenge. The winning project aims to forming a new youth-led waste collection program that uses small vehicles to reach up to 60% of hard-to-access homes—creating jobs and keeping historically under-served areas clean. Kanifing’s idea reimagines waste management as a youth-driven circular economy that simultaneously tackles waste dumping and youth unemployment.

In the present time, waste collection trucks cannot reach 60% of households in Kanifing because of poor roads, forcing residents to burn or dump waste. At the same time, youth face limited job opportunities and often migrate irregularly in search of better prospects. Through this project, Kanifing will expand waste collection to 2,500 under-served households through ward-level youth cooperatives operating tricycles that can navigate narrow and unpaved roads. Households will receive bins and sensitization on waste sorting. Plastic waste will be sold to local recyclers, organic waste converted into compost, and general waste going into the landfill will be minimized through higher collection fees and continuous sensitization. Residents will also be able to use a mobile app to request pickups or report dumping and burning.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will perform the following functions:

A. Lead project implementation in the municipality of Kanifing

• Provide strategic lead and decision making related to the implementation of the Mayors Challenge project in the municipality of Kanifing;
• Liaise and seek consensus with the city’s focal point and team to obtain the Mayor’s buy in and make sure that the project contributes to the creation of local capacities and ensures future sustainability;
• Lead in strategic planning, decision-making, execution and review to deliver the target metrics, output and outcome of the project;
• Approves and supervises Terms of References for procurement processes to achieve the project activities and objectives;
• Elaborate on the contract strategy, sourcing strategy, quality management, supplier selection, and improvement of all procurement processes;
• Check on providers deliveries and approve payment processes, certifying the quality of the deliverables for each purchase order;
• Supervise the work of the service providers, consultancies and/or private entities that will implement the project, and conduct performance reviews in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures; 
• Elaborate the analysis of information required in the preparation of procurement plans and monitoring of its implementation;
• Coordinate project staff, evaluate performance of member teams, provide guidance and create local capacities for the team;
• Elaborate proposals to improve the project effectiveness, including strategies to improve the project overall impact;
• Identify project sustainability alternatives to prepare an exit strategy when the external funding is exhausted. Work closely with the municipality to locate internal resources for the project outputs to be assumed by the municipality at the end of activities;
• Submit proposals for budget revisions to the donor. 

B.  Track progress, document updates, and present/showcase results effectively 

• Oversee the project monitoring framework for the status, results, milestones for the project activities;
• Communicates project outputs, identify data linked to the SDG targets and indicators and liaise with the UNDP communications team to promote the project results;
• Approve operational reports on the activities of the project and its impact in the beneficiaries; 
• Liaise with SDG Local Action global team to approve public information on the project results through the project webpage and other UNDP communication tools;
• Ensure effective communication about project activities with UNDP, the municipality of Kanifing and project beneficiaries and the local communities.

C. Sharing lessons learnt at global level

• Participate in public webinars to present the project achievements and challenges to other global cities to inspire others;
• Oversee the elaboration knowledge products about how the project is contributing to SDGs by innovating public service delivery;
• Elaborate policy briefs and easy communicable knowledge materials on the lessons learnt by the project;
• Participate in the global exchange of experiences amongst local governments on how the project is contributing to implement the SDGs at local level.

D. Build and maintain UNDP’s strategic partnerships

• Substantively contributes to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners;
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of key objectives,and to promote inclusive project implementation.

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

Institutional Arrangements

Under the overall guidance of the City Mayor and city project focal point, the Project Manager will directly report to the UNDP Advisor on cities and local governments based in New York (USA).

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration or Business Management is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) professional experience in international development, communications or political and social issues, with at least one (1) year of experience working with urban related issues. 

Required skills:

• Demonstrated competence in leadership and project management is required;
• Competence in computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) is required.

Desired additional skills:

• Proven experience in working with local governments and their associations is an asset;  
• Experience working on municipal taxation is an asset;
• Experience working on projects related to waste collection, community generated livelihoods, circular economy or local climate action initiatives will be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the English language both oral and written, is required.
• Knowledge of Wolof is an advantage.

Professional Certificates:

• Prince2 Practitioner certificate is an advantage. 

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

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