About the opportunity
The Project Manager for Elections will oversee the implementation and management of UNDP’s electoral assistance project in Lesotho. Based in Maseru, the incumbent leads annual work planning, budget formulation, procurement, technical team supervision, and partner engagement with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), government bodies, and civil society. The role involves managing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, risk mitigation, and institutional capacity building to strengthen democratic processes and peacebuilding initiatives.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive remuneration under the UNDP National Personnel Service Agreement (NPSA-10 level).
- Initial 1-year contract duration.
- Professional development and leadership experience within the United Nations System.
Who can apply?
- Must qualify as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 internal applicant within UNDP, UNCDF, or UNV.
- Tier 1: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) or fixed-term (FTA) appointments.
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), regular PSA contracts, or Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers.
- Master's degree in Governance, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field with at least 5 years of relevant experience in electoral assistance advisory or democratic governance; OR Bachelor's degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated professional experience in project management.
- Fluency in both English and Sesotho is required.
Required documents
- Completed online candidate profile via the UNDP portal.
- Updated Personal History Form (P11) or professional CV.
When to apply
- Position posted: October 12, 2026.
- Application deadline: October 20, 2026 at 03:59 UTC.
How to apply
- Access the UNDP Candidate Experience job portal for Requisition ID 37414.
- Verify your eligibility under Tier 1 or Tier 2 candidate categories.
- Fill out all required online sections including education, work experience, and languages.
- Submit your completed application prior to October 20, 2026.
Additional information
- Duty station: Maseru, Lesotho (no international mobility required).
- Contract type: National Personnel Service Agreement (NPSA-10), 1 Year.
- UNDP does not charge any application or recruitment fees.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- You are a current UNDP, UNCDF, or UNV personnel meeting Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicant criteria.
- You have 5 to 7+ years of experience leading electoral assistance or democratic governance projects in Lesotho or Southern Africa.
- You are fully fluent in both Sesotho and English.
What should you think carefully about?
- Application is restricted to Tier 1 and Tier 2 personnel; external candidates (Tier 3) are not eligible.
- Requires full-time on-site presence in Maseru, Lesotho.
- Position is offered on a 1-year National Personnel Service Agreement contract.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This position offers experienced UN personnel in electoral governance an excellent leadership role to direct complex multi-stakeholder initiatives. It provides a platform to manage institutional capacity strengthening, collaborate with national bodies like the IEC, and drive peacebuilding and electoral reform in Lesotho.
Our take
Eligible Tier 1 and Tier 2 UN personnel with deep experience in democratic governance and fluency in Sesotho should apply before October 20, 2026. External applicants should monitor UNDP job listings for open Tier 3 positions.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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