Since 2015, Yemen has been experiencing one of the world's worst protracted humanitarian and development crises. GDP per capita declined from USD1,557.6 in 2014 to USD 650.3 in 2022 (World Bank). The war has caused government fragmentation, severe economic decline, f
der its Governance for Peacebuilding Portfolio, UNDP is focusing on rehabilitation of main critical infrastructure in Yemen to enhance confidence building measures and support the government in restoring basic services for all Yemenis. This includes rehabilitation of main ports, hospitals, , schools, and other critical infrastructure serving large numbers of families in all areas in Yemen.
The Port of Aden, under the Yemen Gulf of Aden Ports Corporation (YGAPC) is an essential maritime facility and a major entry point for commercial, humanitarian and recovery activities in Yemen. The port serves as the main gateway for cargo entering Yemen. 90 per cent of food are imported through Yemen’s ports. In 2023, the Ministry of Transport of the Internationally Recognized Government of Yemen (IRGY) announced that the inspection of commercial ships destined to the ports under the direct control of the IRG would be conducted at the Port of Aden instead of the Port of Jeddah, as previously was the case.
However, the Port of Aden has been severely affected by the protracted conflict and lack of maintenance. Due to the absence of investment, spare parts, maintenance, and outdated systems for port operations, the Port of Aden has limited operational capacity to handle incoming vessels. This results in long waiting periods for incoming ships (anchorage), long berthing time, and higher fees. Furthermore, a limited number of functioning tug and mooring boats, coupled with a lack of spare parts for these boats, means that any damage to these boats will further exacerbate already long waiting times.
The UNDP-commissioned Damage and Capacity Assessment of the Ports of Aden and Mukalla report identified priorities and gave recommendations for maintaining and upgrading the current Port operations to pre-conflict levels. Of these, UNDP and YGAPC have already implemented a Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS)—including radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), and VHF transceivers—that significantly improved the safety and efficiency of shipping traffic in the Port. UNDP has also supported initiatives such as the development of Aden Port Development Master Plan and Main Slipway Assessment. From 2022-2024, with the support of the Government of Japan, UNDP implemented the Improving the Efficiency of the Port of: Phase 1 project.
The Improving the Efficiency of the Port of Aden: Phase 2 project is a continuation of UNDP’s support to the Port of Aden, with the continued support of the Government of Japan based on the Damage and Capacity Assessment of the Ports of Aden and Mukalla report and the Aden Port Development Master Plan. Phase 2 of the Project will focus on enhancing the maintenance capacity and the provision of mooring services to incoming ships with the reconstruction of the immovable maintenance workshop and the introduction of two moveable maintenance workshops, and the introduction of a new, modern mooring boat.
The Project Manager will be responsible for overall management and leadership of the project, playing a lead role in all aspects of project delivery, strategic planning, resource mobilization and provision of technical assistance to its different components and aiming to reach planned targets and expected results with high quality and in a timely manner. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.
The project manager can be tasked to support other infrastructure projects under the governance portfolio as needed and upon agreement with the governance portfolio team leader.
The Project Manager will undertake her/his duties and responsibilities, under the direct supervision of the UNDP Governance & Peacebuilding Portfolio Team Leader, and overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative – Programme.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.) Lead the Project Team (PT) ensuring project implementation and administration are aligned with UNDP policies and guidelines.
• Ensure that the project is in full compliance of operations with UNDP rules, regulations and policies.
• Ensure implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Successfully manage project operational support by provision of advice on strategies, policies and plans affecting project operations based on business principles.
• Provide strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the project.
• Prepare, review and adapt project Annual Work Plans, including human resources and procurement plans, in line with Project’s Activity Matrix and Results Framework and compliant with UNDP’s Rules and Regulations.
• Manage partnership and contract arrangements with counterparts and responsible/implementing partners for project implementation.
• Ensure quality and timely preparation of results-focused and accountability reports (quarterly, bi-annually, annually and final, as required) and ad-hoc updates if and when requested and Quantum updates in line with donor agreement and UNDP programme and project management guidelines and ensure timely submission.
• Manage risks and issues, and continually finds ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all project operations.
• Ensure quality and timely planning, conduct of and follow up on project oversight and governance initiatives and recommendations – project reviews, audits, monitoring missions, evaluations and project board meetings.
• Ensure implementation of adaptive management approaches, conflict and gender sensitivity in the project.
• Ensure knowledge sharing with regards to management and operations within the project and integrate it into CO learning plans; ensuring coordination with HR for operations trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Ensure the application of the CO internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Administrative services and Results Management.
• Set and monitor targets for Project operational efficiency and ensures the constant monitoring and analysis of the Project operating environment.
• Ensure projects knowledge-building based on the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning programming or the project documents.
• Develop and enforce a construction management plan, ensuring alignment with UNDP standards and project goals.
• Oversee the establishment of site-specific safety and quality control protocols, tailored to the unique challenges of the Aden Port project.
• Coordinate with engineering consultants to validate technical designs and ensure they are fit for the construction environment.
2.) Ensure effective implementation of project activities through management of project financial resources and timely management of procurement, administrative and logistical processes:
• Supervise and provides guidance to project team members working in the areas of finance, procurement, administration, logistics and community initiatives management.
• Contribute to the design and formulation of Annual Work Plan (AWP) activities and interventions, as per goals, outcomes and outputs as defined in the project document, on the basis of lessons learned and with the input of innovative approaches.
• Proper project planning, expenditures tracking, reporting and audit of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Performance as Project Manager (as delegated) in Quantum for financial transactions approvals.
• Ensure accountability for, and management of financial resources of the Project.
• Analyze and ensure alignment of project budget with Activity Matrix and Results Framework.
• Manage and monitor requests for financial resources and ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Oversee the financial aspects of the project, including budget preparation, expenditure monitoring, and financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with financial guidelines and regulations set by the funding agency.
• Conduct regular audits to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of project funds.
• Approve requisitions requests in Quantum and ensure continues delivery updates to the Project Manager on financial delivery performance.
• Ensure the integrity of financial system and overseeing the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the project activities.
• Work in coordination with Country Office Program & Management Support Unit (PMSU) to ensure proper management and accounting for contributions to the Facility ensuring that the money due to the project is properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received.
• Provide technical and managerial advice on the development of systems, processes and mechanism to support discretionary fund distribution, monitoring and accountability.
• Monitor achievement of the financial targets, monitor budget execution rates and provide continuous feedback and advice to Portfolio Team Lead and Country Office on rate of financial delivery. Ensure that financial plans are in place and regularly updated.
• Oversight of timely accounting and reconciliation of all project transactions.
• Ensure the financial integrity of the project through appropriate controls and reporting structures, work in coordination with Country Office PMSU for efficient and effective DIM project audit exercises.
• Ensure the effective application of cost-recovery (including DPC) systems for the services provided by the Country Office to the project.
• All financial transactions are identified, recorded and verified in compliance with rules as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.
• Lead the preparation of the annual human resources and procurement plans, as part of the AWP, and ensure the timely procurement of goods and services.
• Lead and ensure timely organization and implementation of audits according to agreed schedule and monitor the follow-up and implementation of audit recommendations.
• Project adherence with UNDP rules and regulations for its submissions to the Country Office to ensure quality management of the project procurement processes for the supply of goods, works and services.
• Management of project assets ensuring full compliance with corporate rules in the accounting for procurement, utilization and disposal of the project assets.
• Manage contractors’ performance by reviewing work plans and ensuring that construction phases are completed within the set timeline without compromising quality.
• Identify additional funding or technical support needed for specialized construction activities (e.g., heavy equipment, skilled labor).
• Ensure construction progress aligns with donor expectations and highlight any technical adjustments that may impact project scope or cost.
3.) Contribute to support the mobilization of resources and reporting to the Project Board/Steering Committee:
• Guide and support the drafting of donor agreements where applicable.
• Monitor and ensure project compliance with donor agreements and their reporting requirements.
• Contribute to the preparation of progress updates and presentations to the Project Board/Steering Committee.
• Ensure timely reporting, including financial reporting, from project partners and sub-contractors.
• Participate in meetings of the Project Board/Steering Committee.
• Provide construction-specific updates to the Steering Committee, including site progress reports, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.
4.) Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing with project partners:
• Support inter-team coordination and knowledge sharing.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices from the project to feed in to project contribution to ROAR, Annual Reports, and other documents as required.
• Organize trainings on UNDP processes for project team members, implementing partners and potential contractors.
• Organize training on UNDP processes for counterparts at national and local levels.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge products in line with the approved project document.
5.) Ensure Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
• Supporting gender mainstreaming throughout the project life cycle including design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation
• Ensure coordination and partnership with national gender mechanisms, women-led organizations, academies, networks, forums, etc;
• Support the institutional and technical capacity of the project team and stakeholders on gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as social safeguards aspects.
• Support the implementation and reporting of gender-responsive actions and allocating the required resources.
• Contribute to the country office communication, and knowledge management system on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Aden Port 2 Project Team
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Education
• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Development, Business Administration, Economics, (Harbour) Management, Engineering, or other relevant fields is required.
Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) specifically in Civil Engineering, or other relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Required Experience:
• A minimum of five years (with a master’s degree) or seven years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressive experience in development and project management in challenging environments with a focus on planning, monitoring, reporting, and stakehold