Technical Specialist (Environment & Climate Change)

Samoa has one of the largest UNDP environment/climate change portfolios in the world, and it is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years. Financial oversight and effective strategic planning will be critical to ensure its successful implementation, as well as to further develop the portfolio. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Resident Representative, the Technical Specialist (Environment & Climate Change) will provide a leadership role to the Environment/Climate Change Unit. As over 90% of the MCO portfolio is Environment/Climate Change, his/her role will contribute significantly to the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the MCO’s resources management, corporate reporting, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy and quality assurance in programme delivery and results. 

• Financial analysis of programme funds including proper planning, expenditure tracking, accurate accounting for all resources including corporate reporting on budgets and delivery, audit of financial resources.
• Work in close collaboration with other teams in the office including Programmes and Operations, as well as Implementing Partners (UN Agencies, Government, etc), multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society to identify and resolve project implementation issues  
• Oversight of cost recovery from projects and ensuring that the Cost Recovery Policy is applied fully to Programme resources; making recommendations on strategic allocation of resources based on analysis and review of results and resources.  
• Supervision of programme support services by the programme support staff  
• Focal Point for Project Management on Atlas and coordination of resolving all issues with projects accounting requirements on Atlas, including exception reports and management of general ledger entries in consultation with CO Finance  
• Coordinate CO support to CPAP and follow up implementation with CO staff
• Identify needs, provide training and support, establish systems to support implementation, respond to queries, assist in troubleshooting, and generally ensure that the Implementing Partners have the knowledge and support required to effectively and efficiently implement projects financed through GEF, Adaptation Fund, bilateral and other sources .  
• Identifying new strategic programming opportunities and partnerships  
• Supporting management and the regional team to maintain an understanding of substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact with and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;  
• Managing correspondence and communications with the Regional Team, COs and partners on trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area;  
• Participating in cross-substantive area technical dialogue, common strategic visioning, mainstreaming, programming, and other collaboration with the regional team;

Effective Management and Delivery of Environment/Climate Change portfolio 

• Financial oversight of energy/environment portfolio, and full compliance of programme with UNDP rules, regulations and policies, as well as corporate requirements on requesting and utilization of programme funds, and appropriate templates for documentation of programme documents  
• Day-to-day management of the climate change portfolio, including management of specific programmes; coordinate various components of the projects providing overall guidance and innovative solutions  
• Provide management with advice relating to strategic direction of project implementation and proper design of project activities; making recommendations on strategic allocation of resources based on analysis and review of results and resources.  
• Tracking programme results and delivery, and providing regular analysis to management of substantive results achieved relative to country programme objectives and resources utilization
• Monitor current year and cumulative expenditure status and key financial milestones such as budget revisions, financial closure, and the like.  Identify any exceptions or irregularities and act to rectify these immediately.  Identify any recurrent problems or trends and identify and put in place remedies and solutions such as training, guidelines, etc.  
• Ensure that the activities of the project staff are in line with the project plan and budget  
• Ensure inclusion of lessons learnt and best practices to improve quality of future projects

• Coordination and ensuring the successful implementation of the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy, and follow up on progress with partners in consultation with relevant CO staff  
• Liaising with potential co-financing agencies and institutions and securing commitments  
• Coordinate the analysis and review of information on donors and preparation of donors’ profiles  
• Coordinate tracking and reporting of mobilized resources and review contributions agreements for compliance and managing contributions on Atlas.  
• Coordinate and follow up reporting requirements to donors and all related clients in close collaboration with CO and headquarters staff.  
• Assisting with the provision of timely quality information and technical advice on policies of SOFs and activities to partners to enable the preparation of projects;  
• Draft, revise, finalize and help editing concepts and project documents for submission to donors;
• Support the liaison with potential co-financing agencies and institutions;

Coordination of Environment/Climate Change donor and Corporate Reporting requirements, inclusive of the: Multi-year Funding Framework (MYFF), Balanced Scorecard (BSC), Audits for the CO Management and NEX Projects, and other corporate reports as required

• Ensure donor reporting consistent with donor requirements 
• Ensuring effective application of RBM tools, and develop training for CO staff  
• Analysis and Coordination of the Balanced Scorecard reporting and following up progress on management targets with relevant staff 
• Coordination of Management and NEX projects audits for the CO, analysis of responses to audit findings, consultation with projects counterparts / relevant CO staff, ensuring follow up on progress and consultation with audit office on reporting requirements.  
• Coordination and consultation with headquarters and CO staff on the MYFF, analysis of results, follow up of progress and ensuring compliance with corporate requirements on reporting.  
• Coordinate CO responses to all corporate surveys and other reporting requirements on programmes.  
• Ensuring implementation of all audit requirements (Management and NEX projects) with CO and Headquarters staff, follow up of action plans and their implementation, as well as updating audit results on the CARDS website.

Knowledge Management and Self Development 

• Analysis and synthesis of data, information, results and knowledge into guidelines, methodologies, training, and other new tools and knowledge products.  
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in programme.  
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice and providing feedback to CO staff on best practices.  
• Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan (5%).

• Ability to efficiently oversee the implementation of GEF and AF projects  
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines 
  

• 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  

Functional Competencies

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example  
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills  
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting  
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations  
• Ability to monitor formulation, implementation and evaluation of management and development projects
• Solid knowledge in financial resources, information and communication technology, general administration  
• Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

•  Master's degree in social sciences, development, political sciences, management or other relevant science

• A minimum of 7 years experience with project development, implementation and/or management especially of UNDP/GEF projects 
• A minimum of 7 years experience in financial monitoring and analysis; extensive experience with UNDP ATLAS-based monitoring of project implementation with demonstrated ability related to financial monitoring and analysis 
• Familiarity with GEF and UNDP project implementation modalities, regulations and rules
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; commitment to team work and to working across disciplines 
• Skills in facilitation and coordination, entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner 
• Strong analytical, writing, communication and advocacy skills 
• IT literacy, familiarity with e-presentation techniques and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications
• Excellent drafting ability and presentation  and communication skills, both oral and written; ability to explain complex issues to UNDP staff and external partners

• Fluency in both spoken and written English is desirable.