UNDP Jobs

UNDP is looking for a suitably qualified Malaysian to fill the position of Project Technical Advisor for the project.  Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
This is a readvertisement; those who have appiled previously need not reapply.

Application Instructions:
• Please click on the "Apply now" button.
• Input your information in the appropriate Sections : personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in, or paste your Resume into the last box.
• Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page.• On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed (if possible) UNDP Personal History Form (P-11) which can be downloaded at http://www.undp.org.my/page.php?pid=159&menu=sub2&title=Vacancy_Notices. When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors. Without the completed and signed P11, your application will not be considered.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.
• Only applications received on the website with the completed P-11 will be considered for this position.

Whilst we appreciate the individual effort put into your application, only short listed candidates will be notified within 2 weeks after the closing date.

Background
Sabah is one of the thirteen states of Malaysia and is located in the northern part of the island of Borneo. Under a mild climate and supported by a diversity of soils, the biodiversity of Sabah is exceptionally high, helping to earn Malaysia its status as one of 17 mega-diversity countries. Among Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia’s biodiversity in terms of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians is ranked fourth after Indonesia, China and Papua New Guinea. Most of Sabah’s biodiversity is found in the forest reserves, which occupy about half of its total landmass of 7.34 million hectares. Sabah’s forest reserves are an integral part of the 20 million hectares of equatorial rainforests demarcated under the ‘Heart of Borneo’ tri-government (Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam) initiative aiming at conserving and managing the tropical forest biodiversity sustainably.

Over the last 30 years, Sabah has experienced rapid economic growth relying heavily on its forest resources to finance its socio-economic development programmes. There had been an acceleration of forest conversion, particularly outside the forest reserves, as well as forest degradation within the forest reserves associated with overharvesting of resources. These trends have resulted in the progressive loss and degradation of much of the biodiversity in the forest landscape. Protected areas are becoming increasingly isolated, thus decreasing prospects for viability of species.

The proposed 261,264 ha project landscape represents one such landscape, which forms an important connecting landmass to three renowned protected areas in Sabah; the Maliau Basin Conservation Area (58,840 ha) to the West, the Danum Valley Conservation Areas (43,800 ha) to the East, and the Imbak Canyon Conservation Areas (16,750 ha) to the North. The project landscape constitutes a connecting landscape that is utilized for timber production (69% of total area), industrial tree plantation (16%), rehabilitated forests by enrichment planting (6%) and conservation purposes (6%). This landuse mix is an emerging trend in the forest reserves of Sabah driven by: (i) the comparative disadvantage in crop gestation periods between growing trees and agriculture crops, (ii) low rent capture, and: (iii) incoherent enforcement associated with the lack of expertise in multiple-use forest landscapes. Under a business-as-usual scenario, the above protected areas will become increasingly vulnerable to fire during prolonged droughts potentially from the surrounding degraded forests.

The objective of the project is to bring the landuses in the connecting landscape and protected areas under a common and integrated management umbrella strategy in order to mainstream biodiversity, ecosystem functions and resilience, while enabling ongoing sustainable uses. The project will meet this objective by achieving three interconnected outcomes: (1) provisioning of an enabling environment for optimized multiple use planning, financing, management and protection of forest landscapes; (2) demonstration of multiple-use forest landscape planning and management system, and (3) demonstration of innovative sustainable financing methods for multiple-use forest landscape management. Assistance provided by GEF will strengthen the conservation of the largest area of mostly contiguous forest in Sabah, and one of the most important remaining forest landscapes in the Heart of Borneo.

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager at UNDP Malaysia, in consultation with the National Project Director at the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), and the guidance of a National Steering Committee (NSC), the Project Technical Advisor will manage and provide overall technical guidance to the project. He/She will be assisted by a full-time Project Assistant.

Key Functions:

Project Management: Manage the administrative and financial requirements, and ensure achievement of the project’s results and outputs.
• Facilitate the day-to-day functioning of the project;
• Manage human and financial resources, with accountability to the National Steering Committee, National Project Director and UNDP, for achieving results in line with the objective, outcomes, outputs and activities outlined in the project document;
• Prepare and implement detailed annual work plans, budgets and result frameworks as endorsed by the National Project Director and UNDP;
• Prepare and submit timely and quality reports to UNDP and SFD – annual, mid-year and quarterly progress reports, inception report and final report;
• Develop terms of reference for technical services, consultants/experts and specification of materials as required by the project, in consultation with the National Project Director and UNDP;
• Lead and oversee team(s) of consultants/experts through planning, implementing, managing, and monitoring the delivery of policies, reports and knowledge products as endorsed by NSC;
• Lead the coordination of project activities with related activities both within SFD and UNDP and other  external agencies;
• Organise inception workshop, trainings, stakeholder consultations, meetings of the National Steering Committee, Technical Working Committee and Working Groups, and relevant missions;
• Coordinate the distribution of responsibilities amongst team members and organise monitoring and tracking system of all components of the project;
• Advise the National Project Director on all aspects of project implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as financial accountability;
• Ensure information sharing and bridging between UNDP programme management, project management and national counterpart in the process of implementation of the project;
• Ensure that no statements are made or announced, and no data or information released regarding the project without prior consent from UNDP and SFD.
Technical Advisory: Provide technical oversight and advisory services in the design of activities and initiatives and to ensure efficient service delivery;
• Ensure technical soundness of project activities, achievement of outputs and outcomes and quality and cost effectiveness;
• Lead and manage the inputs of the consultants/experts and international advisers and undertake knowledge capture at national, regional and global levels and the production of knowledge-based products;
• Ensure that project results are captured and recorded in knowledge products to communicate project results and impact;
• Promote a learning environment and systematic information sharing within the project team;
• Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration and compatibility with other practice areas;
• Develop and oversee capacity building efforts aimed at government counterparts, civil society groups, media and other stakeholders;
• Peer review and contribute to other project related reports and publications:

Partnership and Resource Mobilisation: Lead and networking at the national and international level and form partnerships with relevant stakeholders;
• Identify stakeholders and implementation partners for the undertaking of various activities;
• Build and strengthen partnerships with other projects supported by UNDP, other UN agencies, Government and development partners that support biodiversity planning and financing for better coordination and collaboration;
• Foster partnerships with federal and state government agencies, private sector, and CSOs;
• Participate in relevant internal and/or external (coordination) meetings representing the project;
• Mobilise technical or financial resources from international organisations, non-government organisations and the private sector, where necessary.

Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
• 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 favouritism.
Functional Competencies:
• Ability to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary trouble shooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, excellent project oversight functions, including audit, accurate and thorough risk assessment and management;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting: knowledge of project cycle, excellent work/project planning skills,
• Ability to engage with high ranking Government Officials and relevant stakeholders and provide technical advisory support services;
• Capability to engage in team-based policy and programme dialogue, experience of leading workshops and being a resource person;
• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office;
• Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners.

Management and Leadership
• Proven leadership skills as a team leader;
• Ability to undertake multiple tasks;
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback, timely responses to queries;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change/comments/suggestions and ability to manage complexities.

Education:
• Post-graduate degree or equivalent in Environmental Science, Environmental/Natural Resource Management, Environmental Economics, Forestry or related discipline. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in forest management and planning including in biodiversity conservation, environmental policy, environmental economics/financing; 
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage environmental projects, and achieve outcomes and financial targets, including experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of projects activities;
• Knowledge and understanding of the forestry management and planning issues and policy in Sabah, specifically and in Malaysia in general;
Understanding and working experience in Heart of Borneo landscape;
• Proven track record of drafting relevant materials (publications, reports and related documentation) in the field of forestry management and planning;
• Proven ability to collect, verify and analyse information, and to finish and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality;
• Demonstrated ability to engage with government officials, NGOs, private sector and UN agencies; previous experience both in the government/NGO sector and UNDP/GEF would be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate large and multidisciplinary teams of experts and consultants, to provide leadership and inspiration and to work in a challenging and complex working environment;
• Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills are required;

Language Requirements:
• Excellent oral and written skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia