Job description

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's Country Programme in Morocco (2023–2027) is fully aligned with the New Development Model, the Government Programme, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the UNDP Strategic Plan, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It emphasizes a human rights-based approach, gender equity, and the principle of leaving no one behind. The Country Programme builds on previous development results and leverages UNDP country, regional and global institutional capacities, including South-South and triangular cooperation. 

UNDP Country Office in Morocco works in close partnership with the Government and the international community to advance the New Development Model's objectives of structural transformation toward a more inclusive, empowered, sustainable and resilient economy and society, contributing to broader African prosperity. The UNDP Resident Representative (RR) leads and oversees the work of the Country Office, seconded by the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR Programme & Operations). The Country Office comprises approximately 50 staff and personnel and delivers around USD 25 million in programmatic support to Morocco annually. 

The Country Office characterised by multiple thematic portfolios, a diverse donor base, and a mix of Direct and National Implementation Modalities requires a dedicated Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) to provide support to quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, audit coordination, risk management, and corporate compliance support across the full programme cycle. The PMSU Coordinator leads this function and acts as a strategic advisor to senior management on the integrity, performance and accountability of the UNDP Morocco programme portfolio. 

Duties and responsibilities 

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme & Operations), the PMSU Coordinator supports the effective management and monitoring of the UNDP programme portfolio, including substantive and financial monitoring, planning and target setting, the development and oversight of standard procedures, and the implementation of partnership and donor agreements based on agreed annual work plans.  

The PMSU Coordinator acts as a quality assurance advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of the programme and provides advice to the DRR and to programme units on strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, audit, risk management, the Internal Control Framework, Results-Based Management, and financial management of the programming portfolio. The PMSU Coordinator also works closely with Operations and the Service Centre, acting as a bridge between programme and operations functions and enhancing information sharing across units.  

Key functions 

In particular, the PMSU Coordinator will: 

1. Advise the DRR on and coordinate programme strategic planning and corporate reporting 

• Provide catalytic support on programme strategic planning in relation to the CPD, UNSDCF, UNDP Strategic Plan, and coordinate annual programme planning exercises across portfolios. 

• Coordinate the preparation of the Integrated Work Plan (IWP), the Results-Oriented Annual Report (ROAR), and other corporate planning and results-reporting exercises. 

• Support the Senior Management Team (SMT) in business process mapping and the establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures for results management and workflow control across programme units. 

• Contribute to regular assessments of the country strategic plans and implementation plans, identifying lessons learned and areas of emphasis to underpin consistently improved programming. 

• Introduce innovation and best practices to enhance programme performance.  

2. Support the DRR in providing quality assurance, financial oversight and policy advice across the programme cycle 

• Support strategic oversight of programme planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring across the Country Office, tracking the use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. 

• Strengthen internal control systems and maintain compliance standards across the Country Office, in close coordination with the Operations Unit. 

• Foster collaboration between programme units, project teams, HQ and the RBAS Regional Hub, ensuring sound financial performance through programme resource analysis (including DPC/DES) and effective resource planning. 

• Advise on implementation modalities (DIM, NIM, etc.) based on UNDP rules and regulations and advise project staff and implementing partners on control systems and operational compliance. 

• Assess work processes and procedures with Team Leaders and Project Managers to ensure tasks are carried out with maximum efficiency. 

• Monitor Country Office delivery, resource mobilization, TRAC allocation, revenue management and cost recovery, and support periodic monitoring of corporate dashboards and exceptions, identifying remedial actions. 

• Provide quality assurance for legal and partnership instruments, including Letters of Agreement (LoAs), Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Micro-Capital Grants (MCGs), and Cost-Sharing Agreements, ensuring compliance with UNDP rules and regulations. 

• Provide quality assurance for CO HACT payments, as a complement to programme and operations assurances, highlighting issues which require additional due diligence or complementary documentation, and advising on continuous quality improvements for effective, transparent and swift processes in support to implementation. 

• Ensure effective application of Results-Based Management (RBM) tools, establishment of management targets, compliance with corporate requirements, and rigorous use of Quantum and other UNDP corporate platforms. 

• Oversee adherence to procurement plans and ensure the efficient use of resources in accordance with UNDP rules and policies. 

3. Lead the design and implementation of the Country Office monitoring and evaluation system 

• Provide technical advice on M&E for projects within the Country Office portfolio, including the design of M&E frameworks with defined indicators and theories of change to facilitate evaluation at later stages. 

• Promote evaluation standards, quality assurance and capacity development within the programme. 

• Facilitate quarterly, mid-year and annual reviews of project indicators and targets to assess progress, identify constraints and gaps, and provide recommendations for course correction. 

• Ensure that evaluation findings feed into policy, programme and project design, and oversee the timely preparation of management responses to all evaluations. 

• Provide methodological support to project units during the formulation, approval and implementation of M&E procedures and instruments, and select appropriate RBM tools, particularly for monitoring. 

• Carry out programme analysis at outcome and sub-outcome level, in collaboration with programme and operations teams, to capture lessons learned and ensure that risks are properly monitored and mitigated. 

• Undertake regular field visits to ensure compliance and timely execution of monitoring and evaluation activities by project units. 

• Support the conduct of project and outcome-level evaluations in collaboration with the RR/DRR, programme teams, and the Independent Evaluation Office, including evaluations measuring the impact of the Country Office programme. 

4. Coordinate audit, risk management and assurance exercises 

• Assess risk areas and work with project personnel to minimize risk exposure, in consultation with relevant project and operations teams and under the oversight of the Country Office Management Team. 

• Coordinate periodic Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) exercises and other assurance activities. 

• Prepare audit plans for projects and the Country Office, and coordinate audit exercises with senior management, project teams, implementing partners and external auditors. 

• Monitor the implementation of previous audit recommendations and report status to the Country Office Management Team at regular intervals. 

• Actively participate in project audits, internal controls and follow-up actions, and ensure compliance with audit quality standards and timeframes. 

• Maintain and update the Country Office risk register, escalating significant risks to senior management as appropriate. 

5. Manage the PMSU team and foster knowledge management across the Country Office 

1. Supervise the PMSU staff (M&E Associate, Finance Analyst, and any other PMSU personnel) in all staffing, financial, planning, administrative and monitoring matters, including performance management. 

1. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing on quality programme management within the Country Office and with HQ and Regional Hub colleagues. 

1. Promote close cooperation and coordination between projects in the monitoring of both processes and impact of UNDP Morocco interventions. 

1. Disseminate good practices and advocate UNDP's successful experiences and substantive areas of expertise through global knowledge networks. 

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

Institutional arrangements 

The PMSU Coordinator reports directly to the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme & Operations). The incumbent supervises the PMSU team (M&E Associate NPSA 6 and Finance Assistant NPSA 5) and also works in collaboration with the Resident Representative, Programme Analysts and Project Coordinators across all thematic portfolios, the Operations Unit, the Service Centre, and Country Office Gender and Communications focal points. 

Externally and across the wider UNDP system, the PMSU Coordinator engages with the RBAS Regional Hub (Bureau for Arab States), UNDP Headquarters teams (Bureau for Programme and Policy Support, Bureau for Management Services, Independent Evaluation Office, Office of Audit and Investigations), implementing partners, donors, and external auditors. The incumbent contributes to United Nations Country Team M&E and audit processes as relevant. 

 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 ​ 

People Management  

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)  

Thematic Area 

Name 

Definition 

Business Direction and 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 

Business Management  

Risk Management  

Identify and organize act