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Project Coordinator [Open to internal and external applicants]
Better Than Cash
Administration
Islamabad, Pakistan
Posted on May 26, 2026
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 is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. In Pakistan, UNDP is working with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, national partners, and the people of Pakistan to help find solutions to persistent development challenges. Its work derives from and contributes to four outcome areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) which include: governance; sustainable, inclusive and green economic transformation; climate change resilience and environment; and gender equality and women’s empowerment. Supported by enablers, UNDP uses a portfolio approach in Pakistan, triangulating structural transformation, leaving no one behind, and building resilience.
UNDP's country programme document for Pakistan envisions that all Pakistani people are educated and healthy, their well-being promoted and protected through economic opportunities, jobs and a climate-resilient future in a country where women and girls are safe and able to exercise their rights and to put their trust in and benefit from improved governance.
Pakistan has great potential for economic growth and progressive social transformation if it takes meaningful steps to address structural challenges like poverty and underdevelopment. Poverty extends beyond the economic domain, causing hunger, restricting access to health, education, and social services, and perpetuating social exclusion. Both overall and multidimensional poverty remains high in Pakistan with women, youth, persons with disabilities, and ethnic, religious, and gender minorities facing immense challenges in accessing opportunities for meaningful social inclusion and economic empowerment. Furthermore, the incidence and scale of poverty in Pakistan varies geographically and is influenced by a host of intersectional factors like gender, exposure to man-made and natural disasters, and access to basic services like health, education, and training opportunities (among others).
The Poverty Reduction through Inclusive Development Program (PRIDP) builds on and diversifies the economic empowerment portfolios of the UNDP’s past interventions on economic empowerment through a rights-based approach that gives primacy to expanding the scale and scope of opportunities available to vulnerable groups and populations living in poverty, empowering them to transition to economic wellbeing. The program will apply a gender-transformative approach that not only increases women’s access to economic resources but also addresses underlying structural barriers, such as unequal care burdens, restricted mobility, and limited decision-making power, that perpetuate poverty across generations. In this regard, the key outputs of the PRIIDP are i) Structural determinants of economic and social marginalization addressed through improved access to basic services ii) Vulnerable groups are capacitated to make informed and empowered choices to transition from poverty through provision of market informed livelihoods skills, job placements, and access to finance and social protection and iii) Key institutions are provided with evidentiary and technical support to adopt and devise sustainable, innovative, and inclusive solutions for poverty reduction.
The program is aligned with the priorities in the Government of Pakistan’s Uraan Pakistan Framework, UNDP’s Country Program Document (CPD), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) (2023-2027) along with key provincial frameworks on poverty reduction and social inclusion. Currently, PRIDP is being implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with possible expansion expected in Balochistan and Sindh, including in the 20 poorest districts.
Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Coordinator will work under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Assistant Resident Representative PRIU. The incumbent will also oversee the work of the Project Engineer, South-South Cooperation Specialist, Project Assistant, and Admin/Finance Associate.
Ensure effective management, implementation, monitoring, and coordination of PRIDP:
- Support the preparation, approval and any revision to the annual workplan(s)
- Support the planning and implementation of the activities in the specified portfolio in line with the signed workplan
- Prepare all necessary documentation for implementation of activities (TOR, Request for proposals etc.
- Support the procurement process for sub granting of work in line with the UNDP corporate policies
- Regularly, liaise and coordinate with partners to appraise and consult them for feedback on project activities
- Review/verify payment requests from downstream implementing partners and submit them to the unit chief for final verification
- Ensure implementation of activities and the corresponding payments and inform supervisor in a timely manner for any delay in disbursement and/or project implementation
- Review progress reports to ensure they are of acceptable quality and explain the results chain appropriately
- Ensure that the M&E plan is appropriately implemented (and the gender disaggregated data is readily available) and follow-up actions identified during monitoring are appropriately implemented
- Ensure periodic stocktaking, lesson learned and course correction
- Supervise the work of the project staff members reporting to him/her
Ensure resource mobilization and partnership development with Government, civil society, and private sector counterparts, in coordination with PRIU:
- Identify opportunities and potential partnership for mobilizing resources from various donors/government
- Inform UNDP Country Office’s support to the government of creation of strategic partnership and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy
- Work directly with the relevant counterparts at the federal and provincial level to provide technical assistance and advice for the rollout of PRIDP interventions.
- Conduct regular meetings with key stakeholders (government, civil society, and private sector partners) to ensure relevance, coordination, and alignment with comparative advantages; monitor performance, track engagement, and identify emerging programming and partnership opportunities, including private sector engagement for skills and employment.
Actively support research, communications, and advocacy initiatives on poverty reduction, inclusive and sustainable development, and related areas
- Remain informed of, track and internally share new research, programmatic and advocacy initiatives in innovation, tourism and other related fields, and share programmatic applications of them with the project team on a regular basis
- Identify priority areas for project research and advocacy and develop terms of reference and methodologies as required
- Devise and implement an effective communications and advocacy strategy to ensure constant and effective advocacy, public communications and campaigning on key project related issues.
Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy
- Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders
- Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
- Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
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
Business Management
- Results based management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
- Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
- Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Partnership management
- Relationship management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
- Resource mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Economics, Statistics, Sociology, Anthropology, or any other related field is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience of managing and monitoring projects on livelihoods, inclusive economic empowerment, and access to services.
Required Skills:
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
- Experience in managing and coordinating large-value projects and assets is required.
- Previous work experience in the development sector or UN System is an advantage.
- Knowledge of systems for gender mainstreaming and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations is desired.
- Strong project management experience and clear track record of managing teams will be an asset.
Required Language(s):
- Fluency in English and Urdu 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
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.
Duties and Responsibilities