Project Coordinator - Ghaziabad, India [Open to internal and 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.

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. 

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. 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 Coordinator (NPSA8) to support the implementation of the Mayors Challenge initiative in the City of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN) the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, has been selected among the winners of the 2025 Mayors Challenge for its innovative circular economy initiative, which converts unmanaged cow dung into eco-friendly cooling rooftop organic paint through women-led Self Help Groups. Led by the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, and supported by UNDP, the initiative addresses urban heat stress, unmanaged organic waste and methane emissions, while also supporting women’s livelihood generation and advancing local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Advisor on cities and local governments and in coordination with the Institutional Representative of the Municipality, the Project Coordinator will perform the following functions:

The Project Coordinator will perform the following functions: 

Support project implementation and provide technical support

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the Mayors Challenge initiative in Ghaziabad, ensuring that project activities are delivered in accordance with approved workplans, timelines, budgets, partnership agreements and UNDP procedures.
• Develop and regularly update detailed implementation plans, activity schedules and coordination mechanisms for decentralized paint production facilities, women-led Self-Help Groups, community engagement, institutional adoption, procurement processes and monitoring of project results.
• Provide substantive and technical inputs to ensure the effective integration of the project’s circular economy, waste management, women’s economic empowerment, urban heat mitigation and municipal service-delivery components.
• Analyse implementation progress, identify interdependencies among project components and recommend adjustments to activity sequencing, resource allocation and implementation arrangements.
• Coordinate closely with Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN), UNDP India, the GNN Project Management Unit and implementing partners to establish priorities, resolve implementation bottlenecks and ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs.
• Provide technical and coordination support for the operationalization and scaling of decentralized paint plants, including linkages with raw-material supply systems, women-led production groups, quality assurance arrangements, institutional buyers and municipal service-delivery mechanisms.
• Advise the supervisor and relevant project counterparts on emerging implementation issues, operational requirements and opportunities to strengthen the sustainability and scalability of the initiative.

Manage coordination with project partners and service providers

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and coordination mechanisms with municipal departments, technical partners, vendors, consultants, service providers, women-led self-help groups, resident welfare associations, institutional buyers and other stakeholders involved in project implementation.
• Convene and facilitate technical and operational coordination meetings, document decisions and ensure systematic follow-up on agreed actions, responsibilities, deliverables and timelines.
• Review partner and service-provider deliverables for completeness, technical consistency and alignment with contractual requirements, and provide recommendations to the supervisor regarding required follow-up or corrective action.
• Coordinate inputs from technical and institutional stakeholders and support consensus-building on implementation approaches, technical standards and operational arrangements.
• Prepare and provide substantive inputs to Terms of Reference, technical specifications, procurement documentation, evaluation criteria, partnership agreements and other documents required for project implementation.
• Coordinate procurement-related technical inputs and monitor progress against procurement plans, flagging delays or risks that could affect project delivery.
• Support engagement with institutional buyers and relevant public and private entities to promote the adoption, replication and sustained use of project products and approaches.

Monitoring, reporting and quality assurance

• Develop and maintain practical systems and tools for monitoring project activities, outputs, indicators, risks and milestones against approved results frameworks and annual workplans.
• Monitor implementation progress and assess the quality and timeliness of project outputs, identifying deviations and recommending corrective measures to maintain delivery against agreed objectives.
• Coordinate the collection, verification, analysis and consolidation of quantitative and qualitative project data, including data on waste diversion, utilization of unmanaged cow dung, paint production and application, participation and income generation of women-led Self-Help Groups, institutional adoption, urban heat mitigation and relevant Sustainable Development Goal indicators.
• Ensure that project data and supporting evidence are complete, consistent, disaggregated where appropriate and suitable for corporate, donor and municipal reporting requirements.
• Maintain and regularly update project risk, issue and action logs, analyse operational and implementation risks and recommend appropriate mitigation and follow-up measures.
• Conduct monitoring visits and consultations with project partners, beneficiaries and service providers to verify progress, assess implementation quality and document results and challenges.
• Prepare high-quality analytical inputs and drafts for progress reports, donor reports, presentations, management updates, project briefs, communication products and decision-making documents.
• Support quality assurance of project documents, technical products and partner submissions to ensure consistency with project objectives, UNDP standards and agreed technical requirements.
• Contribute to project reviews, evaluations, audits and assurance exercises by coordinating documentation, evidence and follow-up actions.

Facilitate knowledge management and knowledge sharing

• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners to be shared globally through the UNDP global networks.

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 Commissioner and city project focal point for the project, the Project Coordinator will directly report the UNDP Advisor on cities and local governments based in New York (USA). 

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Management, or a related field is required. 
• 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.

Experience:

• Applicants with a 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 in project coordination, project implementation, urban development, public service innovation or a related area.

Desired additional skills:

• Experience in project coordination and implementation.
• Experience working with the United Nations System, development organizations or other multilateral agencies.
• Experience working with circular economy, waste management, climate resilience,
• Experience working with women’s livelihoods creation or gender issues.
• Experience working with the public sector, including government at all levels.
• Experience in supporting monitoring, evaluation, learning, data collection, and results reporting.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the English and Hindi 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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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