Biodiversity Project Coordinator

1. Ensures implementation of project strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support conducting thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation/trends in the country and provide inputs to intended outputs, targets and indicators specified in the Biodiversity project.
• Assist to identify strategic areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned aimed at providing sustainable livelihood support, reducing poverty and contributing to MDGs.
• Contribute to Government and UNDP country office business processes mapping and implementation.
• Follow global conventions, Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), conferences and events related with Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management and track on emerging opportunities for Zimbabwe.

2. Participates in effective management of the Biodiversity project focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the project achieving the following results:

• Ensure that project Objective, Outcomes, Outputs and Activities are achieved in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Ensure that the inception meeting results in a clear roadmap on the scope of services and project tasks to be accomplished under the guidance of the NBSAP Advisors, key national implementing partners and the UNDP technical staff.
• Submit in a timely manner, annual and quarterly work plans and budgets to the Steering Committee and to the UNDP Country Office for approval, as well as Financial Reports as required.
• Ensure that implementation adheres to the approved work plans and that it reaches the desired results.
  Play a pivotal role in developing the substantive and budgetary part of the project’s work plan and coordinating the input and outputs of all consultants, as well as overseeing the technical quality of deliverables.
• Ensure active participation in audit of the project and timely follow up on audit.
• Prepare the project’s monitoring reports, more precisely annual and quarterly progress reports, project implementation report (PIR) Terminal Report and the Lessons learned report.
• Provide timely reporting of project status as required by the Project Board and the UNDP.
• Maintain records of Project Board meetings, decisions, actions etc.
• Execute any other duties assigned by the Project Board that have direct relevance to the project.
  Serve as team leader for consultants involved in the NBSAP and be overall responsible for the timely drafting of the document for submission to UNDP, the GEF and the CBD Secretariat; strictly adhering to the deadlines agreed to; and ensuring quality control.
• Develop TORs for Consultants for technical services, consultants, experts, and specifications of materials as required by the project, in consultation with the Project Director/UNDP.
• Facilitate, guide and monitor the work of consultants, and approve their deliverables in association with the Project Committee.
• Submit draft and revised versions of all studies and reports of the NBSAP activities to International NBSAP Advisor, key national implementing partners and consultants/service providers and to UNDP technical staff for review and support in finalization.
• Ensure that gender and social inclusion are mainstreamed in the project.

3. Supports creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Establish and maintain linkages with UN Agencies, global and regional facilities and funds, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society, academia and persons which/who can be of assistance to the objectives of the Project.
• Identify implementation partners for the undertaking of the various activities and develop an overall implementation plan.
  Analyse and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
• Update on and engage with Biodiversity related initiatives undertaken by other partners, and the government and participate in key discussions.
• Coordinate with other initiatives and programs whose outcomes and outputs are relevant to this project’s objectives.

4. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Play a leading role in keeping the Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) up-to-date.
• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme project objectives.
• Sound contributions to global and national knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Professional growth through active learning.
• Development of knowledge products based on project results. 
• Follow up Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) negotiations, in particular relating to the UN Convention on
• Biodiversity (UNCBD) and identify strategic areas of national engagement.
• Assist to identify capacity gaps in mainstreaming landscape approach of conservation, ecosystem based adaptation and risk management approaches to bring financial sustainability of Zimbabwe’s biodiversity conservation efforts. 

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts    to recommend a strategic approach
  Identifies and compiles lessons learned
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
  Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level 

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking

N.B. UNDP Zimbabwe reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP Zimbabwe at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and education requirements.

QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.