National Project Associate, Manila, Philippines

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation; Manila; On-site; PHP 480,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Manila, Philippines seeks a National Project Associate to support the green industrial policy and capacity development efforts under Project 250516. The role focuses on coordinating day-to-day project operations and ensuring timely delivery of outputs with strong coordination across partners.

The ideal candidate has at least one year in industrial policy and talented analytical writing and communication skills, with a solid grasp of

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience in industrial structure diagnostics; industrial policy formulation and advisory services; industrial process improvement; and value chain development; preferably with international development experience.
• Environmental and climate policies knowledge is an asset.
• Experience in project management; working with international partners and public/private sectors is required.
• Good analytical writing and communication skills are required.
• Good working knowledge of MS Office, e-mail and Internet is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist to prepare annual work plans and coordinate day-to-day operations of the project, including administration, accounting and reporting.
• Consult regularly with project execution partners of all Outputs listed in the project document.
• Support the preparation of Project Steering Committee meetings, including organizing meetings, preparing agendas and background documents.
• Act as secretary for project implementation by convening regular meetings to report progress.
• Document and record minutes and results of all project meetings.
• Coordinate activities of project execution partners, consultants and subcontractors, including contract management and supervision of field operations.
• Monitor activities against milestones and take corrective actions when needed.
• Organize and deliver training and workshops as per project frameworks.

Skills

Analytical writing

Communication skills

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s) in economics or related field

Master’s level degree in industrial economics or related field (desirable)

First level university degree with additional relevant experience

Tools

MS Office

Email/Internet

Job description

Vacancy Announcement

TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9 , which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium‑term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross‑cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality‑related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub‑regional Offices and Country Offices.

Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in‑house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC) is responsible for delivering the Organization's advice, learning and knowledge on industrial policy and attendant policy‑making process to Member States. The Division contributes to maintaining and enhancing the Organization's technical, policy and normative knowledge base to support sustainable industrial development in Member States. It further responds to the need of developing countries to build the capacities to formulate and implement industrial policies and strategies to pursue industrial development with the greatest potential for attaining the SDGs in the 2030 Agenda. In this context, the Division supports Member States in identifying, designing, implementing and evaluating policies and strategies that aim to expand and diversify their manufacturing capacity, and advocates for sustainable industrialization strategies at the global, regional and national levels. By collaborating with other organizational entities, the Division ensures that capacities built, and policy advice provided are integrated into UNIDO TC programmes and projects. The outputs of the Division are disseminated and promoted in the form of inputs to global fora, policy brief and other publications to Member States and the wider industrial development community, complying as such with the Organization’s normative function with regard to building and enhancing a knowledge base for industrial development.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The overall objective of Project 250516, “Supporting the green structural transformation of industries in the Philippines and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic through policy advice and capacity development,” is to support the green structural transformation of industrial sectors in the Philippines and Lao PDR by strengthening policy frameworks and institutional capacities for sustainable and climate‑resilient industrial development. The specific objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of national government institutions to design, implement, and monitor evidence‑based, low‑carbon, and inclusive industrial policies that foster green transformation and industrial competitiveness.

To achieve this objective, the project is structured around two interlinked components. First, it will conduct comprehensive diagnostics of industrial structures, policy frameworks, and institutional readiness for green transformation, covering either the industrial sector as a whole or selected priority industries identified in consultation with national counterparts. These diagnostics will provide an evidence base to identify priority sectors, policy gaps, and institutional constraints, and will inform the design of targeted policy interventions. Second, the project will deliver policy advice and capacity development support to national counterparts, including the formulation of concrete policy recommendations, advisory support on regulatory alignment, and the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for green industrial policies.

Through these activities, the project aims to improve policy coherence and institutional capacity for green industrial transformation at the national level. The expected results include strengthened government capacity to formulate and coordinate green industrial policies, clearer strategic frameworks to guide low‑carbon and climate‑resilient industrial development, and improved readiness to promote the adoption of green technologies and practices across industrial sectors. Knowledge exchange and policy learning, including collaboration with the Republic of Korea, will support institutional learning and the application of international good practices adapted to national contexts.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the National Project Associate will be responsible for the following main tasks:

Outputs to be achieved

Location

Contribute to the overall implementation of the project in a timely manner

• Assist to prepare annual work plans and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the project, including administration, accounting, and reporting.
• Consult regularly with project execution partners of all Outputs listed in the project document.
• Support the preparation of Project Steering Committee Meetings for project, including organizing meetings/briefings, preparing draft agenda, background documents/information.
• Act as secretary for the project implementation by convening regular meetings to report and review project implementation progress.
• Document and record minutes and results of all project meetings.
• In close consultation with project execution partners, assist to prepare detailed annual working plans with human resource and budget requirements.
• Monitor project activities execution against the working plan’s milestones and outputs and take prompt corrective actions whenever needed.
• Assist in the preparation of subcontractors’ terms of reference; identification of national bidders and preparation of cost estimates and time schedules for providing services as required by the project.
• Coordinate activities of project execution partners, consultants and subcontractors including contract management, supervision of field operations, logistical support, review of technical outputs/ reports, assessment of project achievements and cost control.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other national project coordinator for other partner countries within the project, under the direction of the PM, as required.
• Attend and evaluate capacity building programme and training organized by contractors.
• Coordinate and assist in the organization and delivery of training and workshops as mentioned in the project frameworks.
• Assist in organizing meetings in duty station and missions to carious project-related sites.
• Provide technical and commercial input to project in the country and countries in the region as and when required.
• Assist in activities to publicize the project and its activities.

Effective management, sound coordination and timely implementation of project activities in line with UNIDO regulations.

Project Components successfully implemented.

Coordination and synergies of project activities and overall project impact maximized.

Manila, the Philippines

Contribute to the timely preparation of project reports and related documentation

In line with UNIDO requirements and templates, to prepare the following reports and documents:

• Monitor continuously project activities’ execution, performance and track progress towards milestones as indicated in the M&E plan of the Project Document and provide information on monitoring as required by the PM.
• Submit 1 page evaluation for experts/contractors recruited and service providers working for the project in consultation with the PM.

Time and quality reporting of project progress and performance vis‑to‑vis planned activities, outputs and set outcomes and indicators.

Quality of Project expertise and services ensured.

Additional Project Support

• Carry out ad-hoc activities that might become needed during project implementation.
• Carry out other activities related to the project as desired by the Regional Office and the PM.

Effective management, sound coordination and timely implementation of project activities.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, public administration, business administration, political science, international relations, engineering, or other relevant field, with a specialization in industrial policy is required. A Master’s Level Degree in industrial economics or related field is desirable. Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 1 year of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

Technical and functional experience :

• At least one (1) year of experience in the field of industrial structure diagnostics; industrial policy formulation and advisory services; industrial process improvement; and value chain development , preferably with some years in the field of international development technical cooperation is required;
• Demonstrated understanding of, or experience in, environmental and climate policies is considered an asset;
• Experience in project management; working with international partners and public, private sectors is required;
• Good analytical writing, communication skillsis required;
• Good working knowledge of MS Office, e-mail and Internet is required.

Languages : Fluency in written and spoken English and local language are required . Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

CORE VALUES AND BEHAVIORS

Core Values

EXCELLENCE – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance.

INTEGRITY – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly.

INCLUSION – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness.

HUMILITY – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions.

HUMANITY – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.

Core Behaviors

CONNECT & COLLABORATE – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity.

ANALYSE & PLAN – Use data and evidence to inform decision‑making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively.

DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO’s mission and objectives.

LEARN AND DEVELOP – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others.

ADAPT AND INNOVATE – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.