Project Manager - EW4ALL Project [Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]

Better Than Cash
Better Than Cash

Operations

Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Posted on Aug 11, 2026
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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- Office/Unit/Project Description

Ethiopia is one of the African countries most vulnerable to climate-related hazards, including droughts, floods, landslides, heatwaves, and wildfires. These hazards significantly affect agriculture, infrastructure, health, and livelihoods. Vulnerability is heightened by poverty, gender inequality, rapid population growth, and displacement due to conflict or environmental shocks. The lack of timely, reliable, and integrated early warning information has historically hindered effective disaster preparedness and response, particularly at the sub-national and community levels.

The GCF Early Warning for All (EW4All) project aims to establish a Multi-Hazard Impact-Based Early Warning and Early Action System (MH-IB-EWEAS) in Ethiopia. The project aligns with the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy, national disaster risk management policies, and Ethiopia’s commitment to global climate adaptation priorities. It seeks to improve national and sub-national capacities in disaster risk knowledge, hydro-meteorological observation, impact-based forecasting, and anticipatory action, ensuring that early warning information leads to timely and coordinated responses.

The project operates through a national Project Management Unit (PMU) within UNDP Ethiopia Country Office, supported by Responsible Parties (EDRMC, EMI, ENA, ECA, ERCS, ITU, IFRC), sub-national agencies, and community-level stakeholders. It is guided by a national EW4All Coordination Platform, chaired by EDRMC, which integrates the input of technical working groups, provincial focal points, and capacity-building programs.

Project Outputs: - Output 1: Strengthened disaster risk knowledge and data management, including a national Digital Risk Data Hub and Woreda-level risk profiling. - Output 2: Improved hydro-meteorological observation and impact-based forecasting capacities at national and sub-national levels. - Output 3: Enhanced disaster risk communication, anticipatory action, and preparedness for national, sub-national, and community stakeholders.

The project’s goal is to reduce vulnerability, increase resilience, and ensure that Ethiopia’s early warning and early action systems are robust, inclusive, and sustainable.

The Project Manager (PM) will oversee the overall planning, procurement, execution, and management of all activities related to Risk Knowledge; monitoring and forecasting; risk communication and dissemination; and disaster preparedness and response capabilities. S/he will directly work with the Responsible Parties and Stakeholders and ensures that project pillar leads are delivering their commitments.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager is responsible for:

Project Leadership and Oversight

  • Ensure successful delivery of project outputs and results, in line with GCF and UNDP standards.
  • Lead the national PMU and ensure alignment with project objectives, timelines, and budgets. Supervise and guide PMU staff, including Administrative & Finance Associate and M&E Specialist. Establish performance objectives and standards, and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance and support.
  • Draft and review terms of references and work specifications for all contractors’ work; monitor the work of consultants for local contractual management in coordination with the Procurement Office and Admin/Finance Officer.

Project Coordination

  • Coordinate with Responsible Parties (RPs), Pillar Leads, the National EW4All Steering Committee, government agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure proper and timely implementation of activities and reporting.
  • Maintain regular communications with RPs and national partners and about progress, future plans and issues of the Project. Prepare ad hoc communication materials to inform the progress of the Project, organize formal or informal briefing sessions, to inform relevant stakeholders of progress or changes in the implementation plan, emerging risks, needs for adaptive management.
  • Provide inputs from the EW4All GCF initiative to relevant UN, government and multi-stakeholders coordination platforms (relevant to Climate Adaptation, Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Anticipatory-Action, and humanitarian action), participate in meetings, as requested.

Project Planning and Management

  • Organize and support regular Project Board meetings, ensuring timely preparation of agendas, reports, and minutes.
  • Monitor project risks and technical, financial, political, operational and management situations on the ground, identify implementation bottlenecks, identify risk mitigation measures and solutions in consultation with the UNDP CO and Project Board.
  • Ensure adherence to the Environmental and Social Management Plan, the Gender Action Plan, and Safeguards in project implementation.
  • Develop and implement Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and monitor progress against targets.
  • Oversee project budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with UNDP and GCF procedures.

Technical Guidance and Knowledge Management

  • Seek guidance from the Project Support team, and ensure technical quality of outputs and provide strategic guidance to PMU staff and implementing partners.
  • Support knowledge sharing, capacity building, and national and international visibility of project outcomes.
  • Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation. Support the development of communication materials and knowledge products for national and international audiences, in close collaboration with the UNDP Communications Specialist.
  • Ensure that the Project systematically builds capacities of the Government through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation.
  • Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Adaptive Management

  • Oversee project monitoring and evaluation procedures and systems throughout project activities in close collaboration with the PMU and implementing partners, ensuring accurate, timely, and high-quality outputs.
  • Oversee annual progress reporting in line with UNDP and GCF requirements.
  • Coordinate and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs;
  • Coordinate the collection and analysis of project data and ensure integration of lessons learned into project adaptation.
  • Provide inputs to audit management responses; implement audit recommendations for the project.

Community Engagement and Communication

  • Facilitate engagement with local communities to ensure participatory planning and implementation. Act as a window for any environmental or social grievances from local communities.
  • Serve as the primary liaison for communicating project progress, emerging risks, and adaptive measures.

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

Concrete Output

The Project Manager will be responsible for the timely delivery of the following concrete outputs:

  • Annual Work Plans and Reports:
    • Develop, submit, and ensure implementation of the Annual Work Plan, including objectives, activities, and budgets.
    • Prepare and submit semi-annual and annual progress reports to UNDP CO and the Project Board.
  • Project Board Support:
    • Organize at least 1-2 Project Board meetings annually; prepare agenda, background documents, presentations, and minutes.
    • Ensure follow-up on Board decisions and action items.
  • Safeguards and Compliance:
    • Ensure compliance with UNDP Social and Environmental Standards, Gender Action Plans, and other safeguard measures.
    • Provide inputs to audit management responses and implement recommendations for corrective actions.
  • Financial and Administrative Deliverables:
    • Oversee the preparation of quarterly financial reports, expenditure tracking, and ensure compliance with UNDP and GCF procedures.
    • Ensure proper contractual management and timely disbursement to Responsible Parties.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation:
    • Ensure effective implementation of the project M&E plan, including tracking of indicators in the Results Framework.
    • Support mid-term, terminal evaluations, and audits, ensuring quality data collection and participation of national and community stakeholders.
  • Technical Outputs and Knowledge Products:
    • Ensure quality delivery of all technical outputs under project Outputs 1–3, including development of the Digital Risk Data Hub, improved hydro-meteorological observation systems, and impact-based forecasts.
    • Facilitate production of technical briefs, case studies, and lessons learned for national and international dissemination.
  • Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing:
    • Organize at least 10 national-level workshops and technical trainings to build technical capacities across the four EW4All pillars.
    • Support the annual inter-pillar national GCF EW4All Conference to review progress and share lessons learned.
  • Community Engagement:
    • Ensure integration of community feedback into project implementation and adaptive management processes.
    • Act as the focal point for grievances or social/environmental issues arising during project implementation.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the supervision of the UNDP Country Office and the Project Board, and under the overall guidance of the Team Leader for the Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Unit, with direct reporting responsibility to the DRM Programme Specialist, and in close collaboration with the project's Responsible Parties (EDRMC, EMI, ENA, ECA, ERCS, ITU, and IFRC) and the National EW4All Steering Committee, while receiving technical advisory support from the Project Support Team, the National Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management, coordination, and implementation of the GCF EW4All Project in Ethiopia.

The Project Manager will work closely with the Programme Management Unit, comprising an Administrative and Finance Associate and a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist. S/he will oversee the day-to-day implementation of the project, provide strategic and operational direction to ensure the timely delivery of project activities, and achieve planned outputs, targets, and results. S/he will also liaise closely with the UNDP Country Office Programme and Operations Teams and maintain effective working relationships with project donors, government.

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 Development

  • Knowledge Facilitation
    • Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Direction & Strategy

  • System 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

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

Business Management

  • Project Management
    • Ability to plan, organize, priority and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • Communication
    • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
      Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
  • Resource Management
    • Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity
  • 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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in disaster risk management, climate science, development studies, environmental management, meteorology or related field. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields 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 relevant experience at the national or international level in project development, management and coordination, including results-based management, monitoring and evaluation related to early warnings, climate change, disaster risk reduction, meteorology, atmospheric science, or related fields at national and international level is required.

Required skills and competencies

  • 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.

Desired additional skills

  • Demonstrate technical expertise and knowledge in early warning systems, risk knowledge, preparedness, and/or weather forecasting and monitoring is required.
  • Proven working experience in managing complex multi-stakeholder projects.
  • Ability to administer budgets, lead a team, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels, and interact effectively with all teams involved in the project is required.
  • Strong knowledge and familiarity with the national road map for multi-hazard early warning and early action.
  • Strong writing, presentation and reporting skills is required.
  • Familiarity with GCF or similar donor-funded projects.
  • Experience working with UN agencies, international NGOs, or donor-funded projects.
  • Proven experience in procurement, logistics, contract management, and stakeholder coordination in the context of project management.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

  • Fluency in English as well as in Amharic or Tingrinia) of the duty station 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

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