UN-REDD Secretariat Programme Officer (UNOPS)

Environment and energy are essential for sustainable development. UNDP’s role is to strengthen national capacity to manage the environment in a sustainable manner while ensuring adequate protection of the poor. In particular, UNDP seeks to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into national development strategies and frameworks. UNDP activities focus on helping developing countries assess and develop policy options, strengthen implementation capacities and mobilize finance. These activities support the efforts of these countries to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and meet obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is based in UNDP’s Bureau for Development Policy and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support for the delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Its main focus is on helping countries develop the capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability into development at national and local, but also global and regional, levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy.

The UN-REDD Programme is a collaborative partnership between FAO, UNDP and UNEP. The objective is to support efforts to include incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation in a post-Kyoto regime by assisting a number of pilot countries establish national REDD strategies and frameworks. A UNDP-administered Multi-Donor Trust Fund has been established for the UN-REDD Programme and Norway has committed funds for the initial phase: www.un-redd.net.  A UN-REDD Programme Secretariat has been established in Geneva, Switzerland. Support will be provided to pilot countries by way of National Joint Programmes (NJPs) between FAO, UNDP and UNEP, under the Resident Coordinator.
The UN-REDD Secretariat is defined in the Programme Framework Document of 20 June 2008:

• The UN-REDD Secretariat serves the Policy Board, using the capacities of the participating UN organizations, research institutions and recognized experts. It ensures policies and strategies decided by the Policy Board are implemented and adhered to. The Secretariat will manage the national joint programme review process. It will also manage the UN-REDD’s overall monitoring and evaluation function which includes inter alia monitoring allocations to and delivery by the international support functions and country joint programmes, and tracking Programme-wide progress and ensuring that monitoring mechanisms are applied. It will include mechanisms for independent third party verification/evaluation of emission reductions, an on-line review and comment process, and an ombudsman system for complaints. 

In addition, the Secretariat is the practical manifestation of the UN-REDD Programme – the entity with which other relevant initiatives and organisations can interact and work with.

The Secretariat’s main roles can be summarised as follows:
1) Policy Board support
2) Partner and external relations
3) Quality assurance of national joint programmes
4) Quality assurance of the International Support Functions described in the Global Joint Programme
5) Monitoring and knowledge management

With its technical focus, UNDP’s Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is organized into substantive technical teams with a Principal or Senior Technical Advisor (PTA/STA) being the team leader within each area. Each team leader supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs). The UN-REDD Secretariat Officer will join the UNDP REDD technical team and be directly supervised by the UNDP STA, REDD. As well as being a member of the UNDP technical team, the Officer is also a member of the UN-REDD Secretariat team which consists of a Head of Secretariat (UNEP contract) and a Senior Officer for Global Programme (FAO contract). The Secretariat team will work together under the guidance of the Head of Secretariat.

The key results expected from the UN-REDD Officer are:

1. Management and Coordination of FAO, UNDP and UNEP inputs to National Joint Programmes (20%)
   Strategic management and coordination of the UN-REDD National Joint Programmes. This includes the provision of strategic direction, support and coordination of UN Agencies’ inputs into the NJPs.
2. Quality Assurance of National Joint Programmes (20%)
   Monitor the implementation of national programmes against agreed performance metrics, including both environmental and social aspects. Receive and review progress reports from national programmes. Verify that each national programme has undergone appropriate stakeholder consultation processes
3. Strategic Partnership Development, Dialogue and Advocacy (20%)
   Facilitate integration of national activities with other relevant initiatives, particularly the FCPF
   This includes consultation with key players and the development of strategic partnerships to strengthen the delivery of NJP results. Dialogue and advocacy to effect change.
4. Knowledge, Lessons and Tools Development (20%)
   Gather lessons and experiences from the NJPs to inform the global joint programme and other REDD processes. Facilitate knowledge sharing between REDD countries – both within the UN-REDD Programme and within other initiatives, such as the FCPF, the GEF and Australia’s International Forest Carbon Initiative. Analysis and synthesis of data, information, results and knowledge into papers, lessons, guidelines, methodologies, programming kits, and other tools and codified new knowledge products.
5. Programme Development and Resource Mobilization (20%)
   The identification and development of new business opportunities. Development of NJP strategic plan for UN-REDD country-level support beyond the “Quick Start” phase. Identification of funding sources, negotiation of funding, implementation and oversight of programmes and projects, and the recording of results and impacts.

Given the highly complex technical and political nature of REDD and the unique collaborative nature of the UN-REDD Programme between three UN Agencies, the position of UN-REDD Officer for National Programmes requires a very specific combination of advanced technical, economic, policy, advocacy, communication and networking skills combined with strong coordination and team management skills. The Officer must also have experience working in multidisciplinary multicultural global teams, and a good understanding of programming and project management in developing countries.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
• Independent judgment and discretion in arriving at complex and delicate decisions;
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to persuade and influence others to reach agreement on complex issues;
• Ability to apply technical knowledge relating to GHG emissions reductions in forests, with a solid understanding of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, the cost drivers of abatement actions, and the social fundamentals necessary for success;
• Capacity to work with multiple stakeholders and across a wide range of disciplines.

Leadership & Management:

• Strong managerial/leadership and decision-making skills;
• Proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling environment, including the ability to effectively operate in a matrixed environment, and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills;
• Demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis of complex programme issues in an international, multi-cultural setting;
• Good judgment and decision-making skills.

Planning and Organizing:

• Proven ability to plan and organize work in a complex team and institutional environment;

Judgment/Decision-Making:

• Mature judgment and initiative;
• Proven ability to provide strategic direction and ensure an effective work structure to maximize productivity and achieve goals.

Communication:

• Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written; ability to defend and explain difficult and complex issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of legislative and oversight bodies.
• Excellent presentation skills.

Client Orientation:

• Ability to identify needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts, including representatives of Member States and the public.

Integrity:

• Demonstrated integrity, ability to stand by the decisions that are in the Organization’s interest and resist undue pressure in decision-making;

Commitment to Continuous Learning:

• Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the relevant technical field and to develop own managerial and leadership skills.

Human Resources Management:

• Ability to coach, mentor, motivate and develop staff and encourage excellent performance;
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor the work of others;
• Ability to make timely decisions;
• Ability to create an enabling work environment and consider work/life issues.

Building Trust:

• Reputation for dealing honestly and openly with issues;
• Recognized and highly respected by peers, clients and staff.

Education:

• Advanced university degree in natural resource management, environmental economics, development studies, geography or related field.

Experience:

• 7 years practical working experience in developing countries with environment issues
• extensive experience with strategic natural resource sector-wide programme analysis, especially in tropical forest developing countries;
• experience in the policy development processes associated with forest carbon and sustainable development issues in the natural resource sectors;
• Ability to carry out sound economic and financial analysis of complex national programmes
• an understanding of the REDD agenda in the context of UNFCCC negotiations, the challenges and opportunities;
• Thorough understanding of forest conservation issues\environment policies and governance systems in REDD countries;
• demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in substantive area;
• demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
• demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills;
• demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
• full computer literacy;
• previous experience having multi-country responsibilities in a multilateral international organization required; and
• Knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices is a distinct advantage. Working experience with FAO, UNEP or multilateral development bank is preferred.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential; working level proficiency in Spanish and/or French is highly desirable.
• Special note will be taken of working level proficiency in other national languages of the 9 UN-REDD pilot countries.

Submission of Applications

Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest, complete Curriculum Vitae and an updated United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) (available on our website), via email to dgvas@unops.org, Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.

Additional Considerations

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.

* The terms and conditions of the contract will be subject to the new UN Staff Regulations and Rules to come in effect as of 1 July 2009.