Individual Consultant (Local) : Project Coordinator -Social Empowerment of Women Self Help Groups of Mission Shakti, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Odisha - Bhubaneswar

Purpose of consultancy:

To support the UNFPA Odisha Office in effective coordination, implementation support, M&E, documentation, and expansion of the project “Social Empowerment of Women Self Help Groups of Mission Shakti”, with direct engagement with implementing partners, vendors, and Mission Shakti Department stakeholders. The consultant will also play a key role in managing incentive disbursement data and knowledge products and identifying expansion opportunities for the programme.

The consultant, under the guidance of the Head of Office (HoO), will play a central role in maintaining momentum, building partnerships, and ensuring smooth coordination for implementation of the project.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

1. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
   • Serve as the primary coordination focal point between UNFPA, Mission Shakti Department, implementing partners, vendors, and other relevant stakeholders.
   • Lead coordination meetings, joint planning exercises, and structured follow-ups with stakeholders.
   • Ensure regular communication, planning, and troubleshooting across all implementing geographies.
   • Facilitate the execution of TORs, contracts, and procurement processes involving vendors and partners.
   • Prepare and share project briefs, and updates with Government counterparts and UNFPA.
   • Organize and support review meetings, field visits, and consultations with partners and stakeholders.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation
   • Design and implement project monitoring tools and frameworks to track progress against key indicators.
   • Conduct routine field visits and virtual check-ins with implementing partners to monitor activity implementation, outputs, and data flow.
   • Review M&E reports from partners and flag risks or inconsistencies to the HoO.
   • Support third-party evaluations, surveys, and impact assessments as required.

III. Documentation and Knowledge Management 

• Compile progress reports capturing activities, outcomes, challenges, and recommendations.
• Draft policy notes, case studies, human-interest stories and from the field.
• Maintain and regularly update a centralized knowledge repository including MIS, photo documentation, tools, and training resources.
• Contribute to the development of presentations, publications, and knowledge dissemination materials for internal and external use.

Iv. Implementation Support and Incentive Data Management

• Provide regular technical support to implementing partners in planning and executing project deliverables.
• Assist in managing the incentive structure under the programme including tracking disbursements, verifying data, and addressing anomalies.
• Maintain oversight of incentive claim processing, validation, and reporting with Mission Shakti and UNFPA finance teams.

Iv. Expansion and Scale-up Support

• Identify promising areas & interventions and scalable practices emerging from implementation.
• Liaise with state-level departments and partners to explore and facilitate replication across new geographies or program areas.
• Provide analytical inputs and briefs to inform scale-up discussions and planning.

Iv. Carry out any other related duties as may be requested by UNFPA

Duration and working schedule:

11 months from signing of the contract

Place where services are to be delivered:

Bhubaneswar, Odisha with travel to project sites

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Submission of monthly report highlighting the work done in the month

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Monitoring by State HoO on a regular basis Performance appraisals

Progress Report by the last day of every month

Supervisory arrangements:

The Consultant will be supervised by Head of Office, UNFPA Odisha

Expected travel:

Based on project needs. Expected 3 days in a month

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Post graduation Degree or equivalent in any of the following areas: Management, Rural Development, Public Policy, Social Sciences or any related area.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum three years of experience of programmes/projects of similar nature. Work experience with Government and/or UN agencies is desirable
• Knowledge of the ICPD and UNFPA mandate issues
• Prior experience in M&E, Documentation and knowledge management is preferred.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of Odia language will be an advantage.

Required Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, ∙  Leveraging the resources of national governments
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and partners/ building strategic alliances and and the UN system, partnerships
• ^{Embracing cultural diversity, ∙  Delivering results-based programmes}
• Embracing change ∙  Internal and external communication

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

Working space will be provided at the state office

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