Portfolio Coordinator

Position: Portfolio Coordinator
Assignment country: Nepal
Duty stations: Pokhara
Work location: On UN premises
Expected start date: 03/08/2026
Expected end date: 31/05/2027
Sustainable Development Goal: 11. Sustainable cities and communities
Host entity: UNDP
Modality: Onsite
Type: National
Volunteer category: Expert UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule: Full-time
Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP in Nepal

VISION STATEMENT

UNDP Nepal works with the people and Government of Nepal, and other development partners to pursue equitable and sustainable human development goals through eradication of poverty, increase in livelihood opportunities, improvement in community resilience against conflict, disasters and impact of climate change, while laying down strong foundations for a society based on rule of law with an inclusive and participatory democracy.

Context

Pokhara, Nepal’s tourism capital, faces complex, interconnected challenges including youth out-migration, a fragmented informal economy, environmental degradation, and siloed public services. To address these systemic issues, UNDP Nepal and Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) have initiated the Pokhara Green Digital Portfolio, an adaptive framework designed to catalyze long-term, sustainable urban transformation.

The portfolio is structured around three core transformation shifts ( Outputs):

•  Resilient and Digital Governance as a steering mechanism for the green transition.
•  Youth-led Entrepreneurship Ecosystem to diversify the local economy.
• Green Tourism ( Regenerative and circular) to create a sustainable, value-adding economic model.To drive this agenda, UNDP is seeking a dedicated, dynamic expert to be based on the ground in Pokhara. This role is critical for managing day-to-day portfolio implementation, fostering a multi-stakeholder coalition, and translating the strategic vision into tangible, on-the-ground actions. The UN Volunteer will also support user research and coordination for the Service Blueprint and Youth Entrepreneur Persona Study for Business Registration in Pokhara”.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager and the close guidance of the Head of the Field Office (Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces), the Portfolio Coordinator will carry out responsibilities across four key pillars:

3.1 Portfolio Coordination and Dynamic Management

•  Support the day-to-day coordination and dynamic management of the Green Digital Portfolio and its three strategic shifts by coordinating activities, tracking progress, risks, decisions and follow up actions.
•  Facilitate the development and regular updating of the Green Digital Portfolio workplan.
•  Support portfolio monitoring, learning, and adaptation by documenting implementation updates, emerging insights, and evidence for Funding Window dynamic management and reporting.
• Support regular portfolio review and reflection processes to inform workplan adjustments, partners coordination, and resource mobilization.

3.2 Stakeholder Coordination and Platform Building

• Act as the primary focal point for building and maintaining strong working relationships with Pokhara Metropolitan City, private sector actors, academic institutions, youth organizations, civil society, and relevant partners.
•  Support the finalization and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNDP and Pokhara Metropolitan City.
•  Help co-design and operationalize a practical joint-management mechanism for the portfolio
•  Facilitate the implementation of the activities assigned to PMC, as part of the joint work plan of the Portfolio.
•  Arrange, facilitate, and document regular multi-stakeholder meetings, workshops, and coordination sessions to ensure collaborative progress.

3.3 Support to Research and Strategic Development

•  Coordinate and support the user research for The Service Blueprint and Youth Entrepreneur Persona Study for Business Registration in Pokhara, including coordination with users, municipal counterparts, and technical experts.
• Support research team for organizing interviews, consultations, user mapping, documentation, and validation activities with youth entrepreneurs and business service actors.
• Support the research team in synthesizing user needs and pain points into practical inputs for the design of targeted interventions that support young entrepreneurs (e.g., incubation, access to finance, market linkages).

3.4 Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI)

•  Ensure GESI principles are systematically mainstreamed across all portfolio’s co-design and decision-making processes.
•  Support and actively work to ensure the inclusion of women, youth, marginalized groups, and less represented enterprise actors in consultation, user research and all portfolio activities.
•  Support the creation of a safe and respectful working environment for all partners and participants.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 – 80

Required experience: 7 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience: 7 years

Languages

Nepalese, Level: Fluent, Required
English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level: Master’s degree in any discipline

Competencies and values

Accountability | Adaptability and Flexibility | Creativity | Judgement and Decision-Making | Planning and Organising | Professionalism | Self-Management

Skills and experience

• At least 7 years of professional experience in project management, local development and partnership building, or multi-stakeholder programme implementation.
•  At least 3 years of hands-on experience in enterprise development
•  Demonstrated experience working with municipal governments, private sector entities, and civil society organizations in Nepal.
•  Research & Design: Experience in user research, service design, business process mapping, and digitization is highly desirable.
•  Familiarity with system thinking, portfolio approaches /integrated approaches, and learning-oriented implementation is an advantage.
•  Interpersonal Skills: Culturally and socially sensitive, with the ability to work inclusively with a range of partners.

Area(s) of expertise

Project management, programme development, strategy, Partnerships, resource mobilisation, Governance, elections

Driving license
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Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

This assignment will be based in Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki Province. Pokhara is a major urban center with excellent living conditions, including access to modern housing, amenities, and reliable transportation. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. The role requires extensive engagement within Pokhara and may involve frequent local travel. The security situation is stable, but the volunteer is expected to strictly adhere to all UN security guidelines.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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