Background

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has established the Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Grenada to support projects consistent with global environmental priorities. The SGP supports activities of NGOs and Community-Based Organisations towards climate change abatement, conservation of biodiversity, protection of international waters, reduction of the impact of persistent organic pollutants and prevention of land degradation while generating sustainable livelihoods.
 
The SGP is hosted by the UNDP Barbados and the OECS Subregional Office located in Barbados and implementation will be funded by the Global Environment Facility.
 
The successful candidate must have sound programme development with consistency of programme focus as it relates to national needs and priorities, the GEF-SGP Strategic Framework and focal areas, high efficiency in the use of resources to create maximum project/programme impact, increased trust by clients and donors and increased opportunities for visibility, partnerships and co-financing.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Managerial Functions
Supervise the national SGP team members and provide necessary guidance and coaching;
Promote and maintain a suitable environment for teamwork within the SGP team, the National Steering Committee members, and with the UNDP CO team;
Prepare annual workplan, including strategic and/or innovative initiatives to be undertaken/explored, and set delivery and co-financing targets;
Set annual performance parameters and learning objectives for the SGP team, assess their performance and provide feedback;
Build and maintain an effective relationship with key partners and stakeholders, and keep CPMT, UNOPS and UNDP CO informed as appropriate;
 
Programme Development and Management
Keep abreast of the national environmental concerns and priorities as well as the socio-economic conditions and trends as they relate to the GEF-SGP and its focal areas, and assess their impact on SGP’s work and programme. 
Contribute to the formulation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) and its biennium review and update;
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 NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBO) and local communities, and other stakeholders to explain about SGP, and to assist potential applicants in making the link between local environmental problems and the global concerns of the GEF focal areas and operational programmes;
Work closely with NGOs and CBOs in preparation of project concepts and proposals to ensure that individual projects fit the GEF-SGP Strategic Framework;
Authorize and manage project planning grants as required.
Conduct periodic programme monitoring field visits and provide technical and operational support and guidance to SGP grantees as required;
Work closely and support the National Steering Committee and its deliberations during the projecess of project proposal selection and approval, especially the initial appraisal of proposals and assessment of eligibility.
Foster operational and policy linkages between the GEF-SGP and the large or medium-sized GEF projects, planned or underway in the country, as well as those of other donors and development partners. 
Manage the annual SGP allocations (administrative and grants), maintain the financial integrity of the programme, ensure most effective use of SGP resources;
Report periodically to CPMT on programme implementation status, including financial reporting, and update the relevant UNOPS and SGP databases.

Resource Mobilization

Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders, advocate SGP policies, comparative advantages and initiatives, and ensure visibility. 

Assess programme interest and priorities of key donors and other development partners, develop SGP advocacy  campaigns and develop/update the SGP Resource Mobilization Strategy; 

Identify opportunities and areas eligible for GEF-SGP support, and mobilize resources from the Government, donors and other partners to best leverage the GEF-SGP resources.

Knowledge Management

Assist in the preparation of SGP project/programme evaluation;

Document lessons learned and best practices in SGP programme/project development, implementation, and oversight; 

Raise awareness of Programme Team on corporate strategic issues, plans and initiatives to maximize highest impact and effectiveness; 

Access UNDP’s world-wide and regional knowledge, distill best practices and facilitate their dissemination within CO and to counterparts and partners; 

Document lessons learned and best practices in SGP programme development, implementation, and oversight; Access global best practices, share them with other local and international stakeholders and ensure their incorporation into the SGP portfolio and project design process.

 

Competencies

  • Excellent analytical and writing skills
  • Excellent teamwork and people management skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Good negotiation and problem-solving skills
  • Fluency in the official national language (must be one of the 6 UN languages) and English or a second UN language
  • Proficiency in standard computer software (word-processing, excel, presentations, databases and internet)

Required Skills and Experience

 

Advanced university degree in environmental fields, Environmental Economics, Business Administration or similar field
At least 5-8 years of relevant experience in development work, which should include programme management, preferably with an extended specialized experience in any of the GEF-SGP focal areas at the national level.
 
 

 

 

 

 

Note:  Only nationals of Grenada are eligible to apply.