Project Coordinator - Fez, Morocco (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 solutions in programming, policy, and financing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, UNDP has established a Global Policy Network (GPN), a global and field-based technical expertise network covering a wide range of knowledge areas and supporting signature solutions and organizational capabilities outlined in the Strategic Plan. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) are the two anchoring bureaus of the GPN.

In this framework, the new Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding (GRP) Hub, a joint initiative with BPPS, provides leadership and advisory services to strengthen 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 CB and BPPS and to 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, achieve visible impact on communities, and improve lives by delivering integrated solutions that leverage global expertise and partnerships. The Local Action unit works closely with local and regional governments as key development actors, emphasizing their role as service delivery leaders, drivers of innovation, and the level of government closest to people.

Local and regional governments are already responsible for more than 65% of SDG targets, most of which relate to the delivery of basic services such as water, sanitation, mobility, climate action, health, and education. Cities and territories play an important role in implementing the SDGs, which are increasingly used as a strategic medium- and long-term planning and budgeting tool. Since 2015, local governments and their associations have become increasingly active in promoting the SDGs through advocacy, working with local populations and partners to translate the spirit of Agenda 2030 into cities and territories. Local governments have also begun using the SDGs as a strategic framework to deliver better and more innovative public services aligned with SDG targets and indicators.

Within the SDG Local Action project, UNDP is one of the implementing partners of the Mayors’ Challenge, a global initiative aimed at rethinking the most essential services cities provide to residents.

In this context, the SDG Local Action project is launching a call for applications to recruit a Project Supervisor to support the implementation of the Mayors’ Challenge in the city of Fez, Morocco, one of the winning cities of the 2025 edition.

The project “Smart Management of the Cleanliness Sector, Integration of Waste Pickers into Cooperatives, and Promotion of the Circular Economy” aims to address challenges related to informal waste recovery activities. These activities, carried out by waste pickers operating outside the formal system, are often conducted in precarious and unsanitary conditions, contributing to the spread of illegal dumping sites across the city, affecting living conditions, urban attractiveness, and public health.

Through an inclusive and structured approach, the project foresees the integration of waste pickers into formal cooperatives, ensuring respect for their dignity, access to stable income, social protection, and training programs that support their long-term inclusion and future prospects.

The innovative nature of this initiative lies in its ability to professionalize the sector while placing waste pickers at the center of the operational system. By becoming managers of collection and sorting points, they are recognized as strategic partners in urban cleanliness and recycling, actively contributing to citizen awareness and the promotion of waste sorting at source.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Coordinator will perform the following functions:

A. Support implementation of the project in the city of Fez

• Coordinate all project activities with the focal point and city team, and contribute to strengthening local capacities in project management, planning, budgeting, and procurement of goods and services for project implementation;
• Lead strategic planning, decision-making, execution, and review to achieve project targets, indicators, and results;
• Prepare terms of reference for procurement processes to achieve project activities and objectives;
• Facilitate the development and implementation of contracting strategy, procurement strategy, quality management, supplier selection, and improvement of procurement processes;
• Supervise the work of service providers, consultants, and/or private entities implementing the project, and conduct performance evaluations in line with UNDP rules; regulations, and procedures. Certify to UNDP that services procured for project implementation have been delivered satisfactorily to the municipality;
• Facilitate analysis of information required for procurement planning and monitor implementation;
• Coordinate project staff, assess team performance, provide guidance, and build local capacity within the team;
• Organize meetings, maintain agendas, and guide client and user visits. Develop an activity schedule with deadlines for specific deliverables;
• Develop proposals to improve project efficiency, including strategies to enhance overall project impact;
• Identify sustainability alternatives for the project and prepare an exit strategy once external funding is exhausted. Work closely with the municipality to identify internal resources needed to sustain project results after completion;
• Monitor project operations, including administrative tasks, staff management, inventory tracking of office supplies, correspondence, and ensure proper implementation of all procedures;
• Maintain budget information and accounting records of project activities.

B. Project monitoring and reporting

• Prepare a monitoring framework for project status, results, and milestones;
• Monitor project results, identify data related to SDG targets and indicators, and liaise with the communications team to provide data for infographics and other communication materials;
• Prepare operational reports on project activities and their impact on beneficiaries;
• Liaise with the global SDG Local Action team to keep the project webpage updated and contribute stories to communicate project results;
• Ensure effective communication on project activities with UNDP, the municipality of Fez, project beneficiaries, and local communities;
• Document the methodology and technologies used during project implementation.

C. Sharing lessons learned globally

• Develop knowledge products on how the project contributes to SDGs through innovation in public service delivery; 
• Develop policy briefs and easily transferable knowledge materials on lessons learned from the project; 
• Participate in global exchanges among local governments on how the project contributes to SDG implementation at the local level. 

The incumbent will perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the proper functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

Under the overall supervision of the Mayor of the city and the city project focal point, the Project Coordinator will report directly to the UNDP Advisor on Cities and Local Governments based in New York (USA).

Competencies

Core 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/maintain coalitions/partnerships;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Functional/Technical competencies

Business management

• Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific objectives. 

Business strategy

• Effective decision-making: Ability to make timely and effective decisions within authority, expertise, and resources.

Business management

• Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in written and verbal form; adapt messages and methods to audience; manage internal and external communications.

Business management

• Working with evidence and data: Ability to inspect, clean, transform and model data to uncover useful information for decision-making.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

• Inclusive growth: Urban development design, risk mitigation, inclusive design, resilience and sustainability.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and effectiveness

• SDG integration: Role of science, technology and innovation for SDGs. 

Business strategy

• Strategic and creative thinking: Ability to approach issues in a new way through intentional and rational thinking focused on critical analysis of factors affecting long-term success.  

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environment, circular economy, waste management and recycling, or sustainable development is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in the above fields, combined with two additional years of relevant experience, will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• Candidates with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) are not required to have professional experience.
• Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) must have at least two (2) years of relevant professional experience in environmental project management, with strong knowledge of the Moroccan regulatory context. 

Required skills:

• Proven leadership and project management skills;
• Computer literacy and proficiency in office software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.);
• Strong understanding of local realities related to waste pickers’ activities. 

Desired skills:

• Experience working with local governments and associations;
• Expertise in waste management and valorization;
• Professional experience in waste management, circular economy, sustainable development, recycling technologies, as well as communication and mediation.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.
• Fluency in Arabic and Moroccan dialect is required.
• Knowledge of Amazigh dialect is an asset. 

Professional Certificates

• Project management certification is an asset. 

 

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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