Background

UNDP is looking for a Project National Technical Coordinator to assist in the implementation of the GEF-funded project that is designed to enhance the management effectiveness, biogeographically coverage and connectivity of Protected Areas of the Achara Autonomous Region of Georgia in order to better conserve the globally unique Colchic Forests[1](temperate rainforest). The area is of biodiversity importance because of the humid Pliocene flora refugium, high proportion of narrow-ranged (local endemic) plants, high percentage of endemic, as a well-known bottle-neck for migratory birds.

The project will support the government to bring about the functionally operation of the recently gazetted Machakhela National Park which will form the last link in a chain of 4 protected areas established to conserve the Colchic forests of the region (i.e. Kintrishi, Mtirala and Machakhela in Georgia and Jamili in Turkey). Additionally, the project will help to build management effectiveness and sustainability of all the protected areas in this chain in Achara and help establish transboundary links with the Jamili Biosphere Reserve in Turkey.

It will further support the Georgian Agency for Protected Areas (APA) and the target PA Administrations to improve financial planning, better integrate local communities into protected areas management and build capacity for applying, adaptable and participatory approaches most likely to achieve long term conservation and sustainable local rural livelihoods.


[1] The Colchic Forests are found around the southeast corner of the Black Sea in Turkey and Georgia. The forests are mixed, with deciduous Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Hornbeam (Carpinus betulas and C. orientalis), Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis) and Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), together with evergreen Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana), Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

The Project National Technical Coordinator will be locally recruited based on an open competitive process. He/She will be responsible for the overall technical implementation of the project. Under direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the Chief Technical Adviser, the National Technical Coordinator will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Technical Coordinator of the Project will be responsible for overseeing on a day to day basis the sound and timely implementation of all technical tasks of the project. S/he will have technical competence in the project thematic area, provide advisory services to project team, UNDP and partners. Specific responsibilities will include:

Work planning and Reporting:

The NTC will provide support to the PM in the preparation of all required work planning and reporting in terms of their technical content including project Inception Report, AWP, Project Implementation Report (PIR), Quarterly reports, Terminal Project report, etc.

Recruitment and supervision of technical consultants:

  • TOR drafting: the NTC will have primary responsibility for defining the technical responsibilities and deliverables expected from national and international consultants and service providers recruited by the project and to elaborate them in comprehensive Terms of Reference;
  • Selection process: The NTC will play a key role in the selection of individuals or service providers to fulfill TOR’s;
  • Supervision: the NTC will have responsibility for ensuring technical consultants prepare adequate work-plans, will monitor progress, and provide technical guidance as required;
  • The NTC will ensure effective management of work towards defined project results by consultants recruited by the project through periodic technical staff management meetings.
Technical Reports Oversight and finalization:
  • The NTC will be responsible for reviewing, following up and finalization of all technical reports, best practices, lessons learned, publications, etc. prepared by the project.

Technical Coordination Group and Liaison with Project Technical Partners:

  • The NTC will chair the Project Technical coordination Group and will ensure that it effectively achieves its objectives (i.e. to achieve technical coordination and information exchange in the field between various project partners to ensure complementarity and collaboration).

Liaison and Support to Chief Technical Adviser (CTA):

  • The NTC will liaise and consult closely with the part-time CTA in order to ensure that the technical direction of the project implementation remains on course;
  • The NTC will directly support and work closely with the CTA while in-country and in particular during the project Inception phase in order to facilitate effectiveness of results and reach clear understanding of technical tasks to be achieved during the project duration.
Monitoring and evaluation:
  • The NTC will take direct responsibility for ensuring the practical tasks required to effectively implement the M&E plan are performed and that an appropriate database is established to enter, process and generate materials required to measure project progress towards indicators;
  • The NTC will play a central role in supporting the process of undertaking the mid and terminal Independent Evaluations;
  • Perform any other task, as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
  • Ability to effectively coordinate and interact effectively with a wide range on national, provincial and local actors;
  • Ability to effectively plan work and apply adaptive problem solving skills in order to achieve desired results;
  • Ability to work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
  • Ability to formulate and manage budgets;
  • Good ICT skills;
  • Oral, communications and presentation skills and competence in handling project’s external relations at all levels;
  • Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills.
Management and Leadership
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree from accredited Universities/colleges in a relevant academic area (Biodiversity or Environmental Management, etc.); 
Experience:
  • At least 7 years of experience in natural resource planning and management (preferably in the context of protected area planning and management);
  • Proven record of work experience in provision of technical services related to Protected Areas, biodiversity conservation and/or technical evaluations;
  • Preferably experience working within the context of international donor projects, ideally with UNDP;
  • Working experience with the project national stakeholder institutions and agencies is desired;
  • Strong computer skills.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Georgian languages.