Project Analyst - Skills Development, Youth Employment and Engagement (Open to Tier 1, 2 & 3 applicants)

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)  
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts 
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

Since 2017, Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique has endured escalating violence by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs), rooted in deep socio-economic exclusion compounded by recent natural resource discoveries. The conflict has severely disrupted service delivery, intensified already high illiteracy levels (60% vs 40% nationally), and worsened extreme youth unemployment (two to three times higher than adults). Women and girls remain disproportionately vulnerable due to entrenched gender inequalities, limited education, and high rates of gender-based violence. Local institutions, meanwhile, struggle with limited capacity to provide basic services amidst insecurity and displacement.

To address these challenges, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is financing the Resilient Investment for Socio-Economic Empowerment, Peace and Security (RISE-PS) project, implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique and executed through the Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN). The project aims to restore livelihoods, expand economic opportunities, and enhance access to gender-sensitive social services as a pathway to peacebuilding and resilience in Cabo Delgado.

The RISE-PS project is structured around four interlinked components:

1. Access to Social Infrastructure – Rehabilitation of 150 community facilities (schools, youth centers, rural markets, health posts, water systems, culverts, etc.) through community-driven, labor-intensive approaches, creating ~4,500 short-term jobs for vulnerable youth and women, impacting nearly 20,000 people.
2. Skills and Entrepreneurship Development – Delivery of vocational training (TVET) and start-up support to over 2,200 youth, women, and people with disabilities; provision of conditional grants to restore 2,000 micro-enterprises; and establishment of Business Development Services (BDS) centers in Palma, Pemba, and Ancuabe, leveraging private sector partners such as MozUp and MozParks.
3. Private Sector Growth and Market Access – Construction of an SME Village within the Afungi Agro-Industrial Hub (50,000 m² with warehouses, workshops, logistics hubs, energy/water/sanitation services, and incubation facilities) to host up to 100 SMEs, half women-owned. The project will also facilitate business linkages, formalization of 500 MSMEs, and market access for local producers.
4. Institutional Support and Project Management – Strengthening ADIN’s capacity to lead conflict-sensitive development, coordinate peace-positive investments, manage data systems, and engage communities through transparent beneficiary selection frameworks validated by Interpeace.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor/Project Manager, the Project Analyst – Skills Development, Youth Employment & Engagement will work under the direct supervision of the Project Specialist – Economic Recovery and Livelihoods based in the PMU. S/he will lead the design, coordination, and implementation of training and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the employability and resilience of vulnerable youth and women. The Analyst oversees vocational training programmes, start-up support, and youth internship schemes, ensuring that interventions are gender-responsive, industry-linked, and aligned with labour market demands. Responsibilities include assessing skills gaps, collaborating with training providers, private sector employers, and youth networks to strengthen pathways into decent work; facilitating mentorship and soft skills development; supporting entrepreneurship and leadership among young people and monitoring the impact of skills development initiatives. The Analyst ensures that skills development initiatives are integrated with enterprise support and livelihoods restoration, thereby promoting long-term employment and income opportunities. By empowering youth as active contributors to economic recovery, the Analyst supports peacebuilding, stability, and inclusive growth in conflict-affected communities.

Scope Of Work

Based upon the above background, UNDP is planning to recruit a Project Analyst - Skills Development, Youth Employment & Engagement for the RISE-PS project. The incumbent will have the following roles and responsibilities:

Coordinate effective project planning and implementation

• Coordinate design and delivery of skills training, internships, and employment support initiatives;
• Ensure all training and employment programmes are gender-responsive and industry-relevant;
• Coordinate / manage the day-to-day activities of the assigned project and the overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring in order to optimize the use of resources and to ensure the successful achievement of project objectives and results specified in project document. Provide subject matter technical advice and support and ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget and specified constraints, and to high-quality standards.

Establish partnerships and facilitate capacity buidling.

• Build partnerships with training providers, private firms, and youth networks to create sustainable pathways to work;
• Facilitate mentoring, soft skills development, and career readiness support for young people;
• Support reintegration of displaced youth into economic activities and livelihoods.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• Review the results framework and update the indicators, baselines, and targets of the assigned portfolio;
• Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification,and information sharing and reporting;
• Ensure alignment of youth employment interventions with entrepreneurship and enterprise support services;
• Monitor programme results and report on youth engagement and employment outcomes;
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets in accordance with the established quality criteria and UNDP rules, regulations, and standards. Identify, analyze, and take adequate measures to manage emerging issues, problems, and risks. Conduct field visits to project location sites.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to theassigned thematic area(s).

• Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs,donors, and/or academia;
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Analyst – Skills Development, Youth Employment & Engagement will work under direct supervision of the Stabilization & Recovery Advisor/Head of Pemba Sub-Office.

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

• Collective Intelligence Design
• Ability to bring together diverse groups of people,data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services.
• Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

• Inclusive Growth
• Skills development (skilling, upskilling and reskilling)
• Social Protection

Business Management

• Project Management
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management

• Partnerships Management
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Development

• 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.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

Min. Education Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent)  in Development Studies, Business Administration, Social Innovation, Social Sciences, Education, Management, Arts and Humanities, or any other relevant field is required. 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above,  in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work 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 designing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and/or evaluating development programmes and projects with a multilateral international organization, I/NGOs, civil society organizations, and/or government agencies.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing youth projects ongoing or completed projects related to Youth or Community Engagement;
• Proven experience of effective collaboration and partnership development with national counterparts, youth organizations, government agencies, international organizations, private sector, civil society and/or other development partners;
• Experience and sound understanding of youth empowerment work and innovation methodologies;
• Experience with Ministries/agencies with an in-depth understanding of Mozambique’s development context.

Required Language(S)

Fluency in English and Portuguese 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.

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.