Job Opportunity at UNDP, National Coordinator (GEF-SGP)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is implemented by UNDP’s Local Action Cluster of the Nature, Climate and Energy unit of BPPS on behalf of the GEF Partnership. It is executed by UNOPS. The SGP forms a central part of the UNDP Local Action Cluster of NCE.

SGP grantmaking supports community-based innovation in addressing global environmental issues and improved, more sustainable livelihoods through initiatives led by civil society and community organizations, with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, youth and persons with disabilities. SGP has supported over 25,000 community-based projects in over 125 countries aimed at biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable land management, protection of international waters, and sound chemicals and waste management. Over the years, SGP has developed extensive partnerships at global, national and local levels. See http://sgp.undp.org for further background information.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Managerial Functions (20%)

• Supervise the SGP Country Programme team members and provide necessary guidance and coaching;
• Promote and maintain effective teamwork within the SGP Country Programme team, the National Steering Committee members, and with the UNDP CO team;
• Prepare and implement annual workplan, including strategic and/or innovative initiatives, with set delivery and co-financing targets; draft annual SGP Country Office administrative and project operational budget proposal
• Set annual performance parameters and learning objectives for the SGP Country Programme team, assess their performance and provide feedback;

2. Programme/Portfolio Development and Management (40%)

• Keep abreast of national environmental concerns and priorities as well as the socio-economic conditions and trends as they relate to the SGP, and assess their impact on SGP’s work and programme.
• Ensure formulation and implementation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS), and its periodic review and update;
• Manage the SGP grant allocations and country operating budget, maintain the financial integrity of the programme by ensuring adherence to SGP Standard Operating Procedures as well as UNOPS rules and regulations, and ensure timely and effective use of SGP resources;
• Exercise quality control over the development of a portfolio of project ideas and concepts, and closely monitor the programme implementation progress and results;
• Organize periodic stakeholder workshops and project development sessions for civil society organizations (CSOs) and local communities, and potential applicants and other stakeholders to inform about SGP and its Strategic Initiatives;
• Work closely with CSOs and CBOs in preparation of project concepts and proposals to ensure that projects fit with the SGP Strategic Initiatives, Country Programme Strategy, and technical guidance notes;
• Authorize and manage project planning grants as required.
• Oversee ongoing SGP grant projects, and conduct periodic project monitoring field visits and provide technical and operational support and guidance to SGP grantees as required;
• Plan and serve as secretary to the National Steering Committee meetings. Support and closely coordinate with the National Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Group where relevant, in the process of project proposal review, selection and approval, especially the initial appraisal of proposals and assessment of eligibility.
• Foster programme, project, and policy linkages between the SGP and the full or medium-sized GEF projects, planned or underway in the country, as well as those of other government, donors and development partners.
• Report periodically to CPMT on programme implementation status, including annual monitoring reporting, financial reporting, audit, and update the relevant UNOPS and SGP databases.
• Undertake monitoring and evaluation of SGP Country Programme and projects, and grantmaker+ initiatives, in coordination with NSC and CPMT
• Perform and coordinate administrative tasks (i.e. procurement, travel) adhering to SGP SOPs procurement rules and regulation; as required for programme implementation

3. Resource Mobilization and Partnerships (20%)

• Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders as well as promote the value, comparative advantages, and ensure visibility of the SGP.
• Assess interest and priorities of key donors and other development partners, and develop/update and implement the resource mobilization and partnership strategy to mobilize resources from and develop partnerships with the government, donors and other partners to best leverage SGP resources and develop programme level partnerships.
• Support SGP grantees in securing co-financing and project level partnerships, and assist in identifying opportunities and resources for sustaining and scaling up projects.

4. Knowledge Management (20%)

• Document programme/project stories, lessons learned, and best practices in SGP programme/project development, implementation, and oversight;
• Access SGP and other global and regional knowledge, distill best practices and facilitate their dissemination and incorporation within SGP Country Programme and projects, UNDP CO, and to counterparts and partners;
• Support capacity building and networking of grantees to facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote uptake through Knowledge platforms, Knowledge fairs etc.

Institutional Arrangement

Identify the direct supervisor (s) the Contractor and attach a general overview (or Organigram) in an Annex to show the position of this function within the office and unit structure (without indicating names of individuals).

Competencies

• Innovation
• Ability to make new and useful ideas work
• Level 3: Adapts deliverables to meet client needs
• Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 3: Proactively seeks and recognizes contributions of others

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
• Level 3: Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 3: Expresses information and views with adaptive reasoning and appreciation for complexity and variation

Delivery

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
• Level 3: Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations and delivering core value

Required Skills and Experience

• Min. Academic Education
• Masters degree in environment or natural resource management, Environmental Economics, Development, Business Administration or similar field.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in environment and development work, which should include programme management, preferably with an extended specialized experience in any of the GEF-SGP thematic areas at the national level.

Required skills and competencies

• Excellent teamwork, people management and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Desired additional skills and competencies
• Proficiency in standard computer software (word-processing, excel, presentations, databases and internet)
• Required Language(s) (at working level)
• Fluency in the official national language and English is required.
• Knowledge of other UN languages is considered asset.

Travel:

Position may require a lot of travelling within and outside the country.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP 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 at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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The deadline for submitting the application is 27 September 2021.

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