Project Management Specialist for COMDEKS and EU-NGOs Projects

The Community Resilience and Sustainability cluster of UNDP-GEF has obtained funding for two initiatives: the “Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative” project (COMDEKS) and the “Strengthening Environmental Governance by Building the Capacities of NGOs in EU Neighborhood Countries” project (EU-NGOs). These projects are implemented by UNDP, and will be delivered through the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme in two different sets of countries totaling 33 altogether (20 countries for COMDEKS and 13 countries for EU-NGOs).

The Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the United Nations University-Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed to support a project titled "Community Development and Knowledge Management for the  Satoyama Initiative" (COMDEKS) as the flagship of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI). The Satoyama Initiative is a global initiative to promote sustainable use and management of natural resources in socio-ecological production landscapes with the aim of maintaining, rebuilding and revitalizing them. The project will provide small-scale project financing to local community organizations in selected developing countries through UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). The project will be implemented by UNDP under the Direct Implementation Modality, with UNOPS serving as the Responsible Party for the delivery of community-based grants, using established modalities of the SGP. The project will also review, analyze, and codify results arising from implementation of the community projects supported to distill and disseminate lessons which can be communicated to policy makers for coherent policy development and replication in other parts of the world.

The European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed to support a project titled Strengthening Environmental Governance by Building the Capacities of NGOs in European Neighborhood countries. The project will provide small-scale project financing to NGOs through the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). The project will be implemented by UNDP under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) with the Bratislava Regional Center serving as Responsible Party for the delivery of grants, and UNOPS serving as Responsible Party for the execution of payments for the operational expenses associated with in-country implementation of the project.

UNDP is seeking a Project Management Specialist who will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of the two UNDP implemented projects splitting his/her time between the two initiatives (COMDEKS: 60% - EU-NGOs: 40%). S/he will work under the overall supervision of the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) for Community Resilience and Sustainability (CRS) for programme oversight and technical and substantive guidance. Communication with SGP National Coordinators will be closely coordinated with the SGP Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) for the global GEF-SGP Country Programmes, and with the UNDP-GEF CRS RTA for all upgraded SGP Country Programme full size projects

The Project Manager will be initially based in New York, USA, however, this position may be redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different global centre as needed.

Summary of key functions:

• Project Coordination (30%);
• Development and initiation of the COMDEKS and EU-NGOs Results Based Management (RBM) system for efficient delivery (35%);
• Knowledge management, including development and distribution of project case studies, and any other knowledge products (35%).

Project Coordination (30%)

• Prepare the projects’ annual budgets and work plans under the overall supervision of the Communities RTA;
• Monitor implementation of the annual project work plans, budgets, time tables and risks, ensuring that efficient and effective proper financial management of the projects is achieved, in close coordination with SGP CPMT, Country Programmes, Bratislava Regional Center, and UNOPS as Responsible Parties for the projects;
• Work collaboratively with SGP Country Programmes to monitor projects to ensure activities comply with donor agreements;
• Prepare annual reports and other documents for reporting by UNDP/GEF to donor;
• Keep UNDP-GEF abreast of all critical management issues for review and guidance;
• Compile information and materials required by UNDP-GEF for participation in IPSI and its Steering Committee and for other donor relations activities in securing partnerships;
• Advise the Communities RTA on potential future project development and resource mobilization potential based on the COMDEKS pilot experience;
• Coordinate closely with CPMT as well as other units in UNDP to maximize synergy and collaboration, such as Equator Initiative, UNDP-GEF focal area teams, and EEG’s Local Pillar;
• Organize and support project management meetings and prepare documentation, as required;
• Assist the Communities RTA to organize the final evaluation;
• Undertake all project closure activities at the global level;
• Other activities as required.

Development and initiation of the COMDEKS and EU-NGOs Results Based Management (RBM) systems for efficient delivery (35%)

• Work closely with SGP Country Programmes to provide adequate background and technical information and other resources on the two projects and other issues relevant to the goals, objectives, outcomes and implementation of the projects;
• Design and initiate the projects’ overall RBM systems, including their strategic frameworks with goals, outcomes, outputs and indicators, targets and means of verification; and lead implementation of the strategy;
• Design an overall project M&E plan, integrating COMDEKS and EU-NGOs information management with UNDP/GEF, as well as, SGP systems in close cooperation with CPMT;
• Support SGP National Coordinators, assisting them in producing relevant Country Programme Strategies identifying objectives and results, M&E, knowledge management;
• Organize, contribute to, or lead on-line seminars, workshops or other events to build the capacities of Country Programmes and other national and local stakeholders.

Knowledge management, development and distribution of project case studies, comparative studies and other knowledge products and management of digital media and outreach sites (35%)

• Provide advice and guidance to each Country Programme in order to identify and develop a knowledge management strategy for his/her individual Country Programme and support him/her in the design and production of case studies and other knowledge products;
• Lead COMDEKS case study development with inputs from Country Programmes; guide Country Programmes in identifying and collecting necessary information for case study development;
• Oversee production and quality assurance of knowledge products, including UNDP web pages, videos, publications;
• Create and maintain a webpage specific to COMDEKS to communicate project progress and results and maintain it populated and up-to-date;
• Coordinate with SGP on the management of data related to COMDEKS in the SGP database; Ensure widespread targeted distribution of knowledge products, based on the Knowledge Management strategy.

Impact of Results

Successful implementation of the projects and production of project results will assist in fulfillment of the UNDP-GEF’s Business Plan objectives to increase the volume and diversity of non-GEF financing for support to community initiatives.

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;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Technical Competencies

• Expertise and knowledge of results based management, knowledge management and project and programme analysis, formulation and implementation;
• Excellent conceptual, writing, and presentation skills for diverse audiences;
• Strong analytical, organizational, reporting and writing abilities.

Functional Competencies

Results orientation

• Uses initiative to achieve planned results within time and budget targets;
• Applies sound judgment in solving problems and negotiation process;
• Communicates convincingly UNDP’s position with sensitivity.

Efficiency and Time Management

• Capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time;
• Employs best practices and is innovative in the design of systems that support programme delivery;
• Demonstrates commitment to cost effectiveness and simplification;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• A strong client orientation attitude to both local and international partners.

Team Work and Communication skills

• Ability to work in, and manage, teams;
• Excellent time management, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Education

• Master’s degree in development policy, social and/or environmental sciences, or other closely related field.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the broad areas of results based management, monitoring and evaluation, and/or project and programme analysis and management at the global level;
• A good understanding of the policy dimensions of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss as well as rural landscape and smallholding management for resiliency, food security and economic production;
• Experience with the GEF and other Small Grants Programmes desirable.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in oral and written English required;
• Knowledge or fluency in another official UN language is is an asset.

UNDP Personal History form (P11 required of all applicants at time of application):

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.