Project Adviser (BOOST) LICA-11

The Project Adviser will support the implementation of the BOOST project in Lao PDR, focusing on strengthening public-private sector coordination, capacity building for companies to meet EU and international standards, and addressing gaps in trade regulations. The role involves project management, monitoring, reporting, partner coordination, and supporting project governance within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Vientiane.

Responsibilities

• Organize the project activities: training programmes, workshops, including identifying participants/trainees with relevant expertise/needs to ensure maximum impact and coverage; contribute to the design and quality assurance of project interventions including activity feedback forms.
• Provide technical and logistical support to the roll-out of project activities to ensure a timely delivery; provide guidance for capacity building, ensure needs driven interventions, and the effective coordination of gender mainstreaming activities.
• Maintain the project workplan and schedule; develop, review and finalize annual project workplans with ITC project team, technical experts and the project counterparts, for approval by project governance bodies; prepare agendas, minutes and activity trackers.
• Provide on-the-ground support and technical guidance to partners and beneficiaries; coordinate communication among stakeholders.
• Advise on synergies between and across project activities, outputs and stakeholders; ensure that joint planning, information sharing and, where appropriate, joint activities are effectively organized.
• Lead the result monitoring and analysis of project activities, prepare and provide updates on status and progress to ITC HQ, and as required to project stakeholders and partners; organize the data collection; collect, compile, and analyze data to support evidence-based reporting, lessons learned, evaluation, and learning; lead on initiatives to share lessons learned and best practices within the extended project team for improving performance and learning.
• Participate in the development, review and improvement of project monitoring mechanisms, tools and templates to collect, record and track quantitative and qualitative data to feed into the project logical framework, progress reporting and communication materials.
• Advise and guide project experts with adapting the monitoring tools vis-à-vis their respective project outputs and activities in alignment with the monitoring strategy and requirements.
• Conduct regular quantitative and qualitative data collection on project activities using the developed monitoring tools (incl. questionnaires, evaluation forms, follow-up surveys, beneficiaries’ interviews, etc.), in liaison and coordination with project team members, beneficiaries and partners.
• Support the project monitoring missions or evaluations, including project site visits and support to independent evaluation teams if required.
• Based on project evidence, data and testimonies, prepare impact stories and other materials that showcase beneficiaries and partners’ engagement, as well as the sustainability of project results.
• Contribute to the identification of risks to project implementation and the discussions on mitigation strategies; ensure that the mitigation measures are endorsed and implemented.
• Consolidate result-based project progress reports; produce and submit regular reports to ITC HQ.
• Serve as a focal point for communication and coordination with project partners at the technical level, for the smooth implementation and delivery of project activities.
• Keep detailed track of interactions with project partners and beneficiaries; maintain internal files with evidence / minutes of meetings and consultations.
• Contribute to the organization of meetings of project governance bodies, including Project Review Committee (PRC) meetings and other meetings as relevant (incl. planning the meetings with project partners, devising meeting contents, preparing agendas and notice of meetings, preparing and undertaking presentations).
• Make the necessary follow-ups on the adoption/implementation of the recommendations/inputs provided by project governance bodies, in liaison with the project team in ITC HQ, including transposing agreed decisions in work plans.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in International Trade, Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, or related field.
• A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in result-based project/programme management monitoring or evaluation, administration or related area is required.
• Experience in Lao PDR is required.
• Experience in trade-related technical assistance, business support or related field is required.
• Experience working with the Government of Lao PDR and especially the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is desirable.
• Experience of implementing European Union (EU) projects is desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of trade-related technical assistance, including projects fostering institutional and private sector effective participation in trade.
• Knowledge of emerging issues in trade, particularly trade policy and facilitation, digital trade, sustainable value chains, inclusive trade in Lao PDR and in ASEAN.
• Solid understanding of trade-related technical assistance environment and related initiatives, results-based management or coordination of development projects.
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
• Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.
• Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.
• Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the duty station where the position is located.
• Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station.

Skills

• Project Management
• Programme Monitoring
• Project Evaluation
• Trade Related Technical Assistance
• Business Support
• Government Relations
• European Union Project Implementation
• Trade Policy Analysis
• Trade Facilitation
• Digital Trade Development
• Sustainable Value Chains
• Inclusive Trade
• Result-Based Management
• Data Collection
• Research and Analysis
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Report Writing
• Capacity Building
• Client Relationship Management