Background

The project contributes to the realization of the GEF Biodiversity Focal Area, strategic objective one: Improved sustainability of Protected Area systems. It seeks to strengthen protected area management within the 24,177 sq km Chobe-Kwando-Linyanti matrix of PAs and buffer zones, and reduce threats to biodiversity in the buffer zone by putting in place measures to ensure that land use in sensitive areas adjacent to the Chobe National Park and Forest Reserves (Kasane, Kasane Extension, Kazuma, Chobe, Sibuyu, and Maikaelelo) are compatible with biodiversity conservation aims, and coordinated by the different stakeholders, including communities in the multiple use areas, in pursuit of this objective. This is critical, as wildlife depends on the wider ecological landscape outside protected areas for long term survival.
 
Improved management systems will be put in place to strengthen PA management, to expand the tourism economy, and to improve PA budgets to the levels required to manage the PA. In addition to new management systems, staff will be trained according to PA performance requirements, and to have a greater appreciation of economic and livelhood issues.  A significant effort will be made to strengthen integrative processes, plans and coordination in the district, for the purpose of protecting the integrity of the greater ecosystem, and its tourism economy and economies of scale. Further investment in tourism will increase park revenues, provide jobs, spread tourism away from concentration zones and protect areas of the parks that are currently under-utilized and enable even more people to enjoy the wildlife spectacle. Tourism expansion and household benefits will be used to bring ordinary people more into the tourism economy, and to encourage more compatible land uses and a reduction in human wildlife conflict in buffer zones.  In this way, the economy of Chobe can be greatly expanded in synergy with greater incentives for conservation as a primary land use option.

The Chobe region’s economic viability is limited  by the failure of management systems to unlock its potential.  The project will endevour to do this through pursuing two interelated outcomes; The first outcome will promote collaborative governance amongst stakeholders, to optimize the way land uses are integrated in the PAs and their buffer zones.  Integrated planning will build on the economies of scale associated with tourism to promote economic growth and employment and compatibility of land use. It will also address threats such as the loss of wildlife corridors, Human-Wildlife Conflict, infrastructure development, and inappropriate land allocation. Tourism development will also be enhanced through integrated land use planning, thereby expanding and diversifying tourism in priority and under-used areas. The new tourism developments will leverage tourism growth to generate funding for PAs and create benefits for marginalised communities.
  
The second outcome will promote management effectiveness of the PAs by improving financial sustainability in the core PAs. There is currently under-funding of PA management which trend could be reversed through utilisation of ecosystem valuation approaches and demonstrating the  importance of the CKL matrix in the regional economy of Chobe. Therefore, a strong economic and technical case for increased budgets and management effectiveness will be developed, including the advantages of managing PAs as business centres that pursue options such as revenue retention and tourism diversification. Technical assistance, faciliation and training will also be provided to strengthen PA management effectiveness with clearly defined objectives, and developing effective systems for resource protection and monitoring. These approaches will be piloted at CKL matrix site with a view to demonstrating lessons and making recommendations for national level policy review.
 
This four-year initiative will begin in 2014 and be completed in 2017. UNDP is looking to recruit a dynamic individual to manage the implementation of project activities on a day-to-day basis and ensure effective and efficient use of project funds towards the achievement of the defined goals and objectives by the end of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager, will be a locally recruited national selected based on an open competitive process. He/She will be responsible for the overall management of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision over project staff, consultants and sub-contractors. Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Resident Representative (or a duly designated UNDP officer), and in close consultation with the Project Steering Committee (chaired by PS, MEWT or his/her designate), the Project Manager will be responsible for the delivery of defined project outputs for meeting government obligations under the project, under the national execution modality (NEX). He/She will perform a liaison role with the Government, UNDP and other UN Agencies, NGOs and project partners, and maintain close collaboration with other donor agencies providing co-financing.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate the production of project outputs and deliverables, as per the project document;
• Mobilize all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures for nationally executed projects;
• Supervise and coordinate the work of all project staff, consultants and sub-contractors;
• Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project personnel;
• Prepare and revise project work and financial plans, as required by Project Steering Committee and UNDP;
• Liaise with UNDP, Project Steering Committee, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities;
• Facilitate administrative and technical backstopping to sub-contractors and training activities supported by the Project;
• Oversee and ensure timely submission of the project critical milestones and deliverables such as the; Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, Monitoring and Evaluation, documentation of lessons learnt and other reports as may be required by UNDP, GEF, Project Steering Committee and other oversight agencies;
• Disseminate project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders;
• Report progress of project to the steering committees, and ensure the fulfilment of steering committees directives.
• Oversee the exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned with relevant community based conservation and development projects nationally and internationally;
• Ensure the timely and effective implementation of all components of the project;
• Assist community groups, local authorities, NGOs, staff, students and others with development of essential skills through training workshops and on the job training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities;
• Coordinate and assists scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all field studies and monitoring components of the project;
• Represent the project at national and international meetings when directed to do so by the Project Steering Committee or project partners;
• Carry regular, announced and unannounced inspections of all sites and the activities of the project site management units.

Competencies

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.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• 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.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects,     mobilize resources;
• Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct     financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
• Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;  
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (MSc or PhD) in Project Management, Tourism, Development Administration, or Environmental Sciences.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in natural resource and water management;
• At least 5 years of project/programme management experience;
• Working experience with ministries and government departments is a plus, but not a requirement;
• Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multi-stakeholder project;
• Ability to administer budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the  project;
• Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
• Strong knowledge about Botswana’s political and socio-economic context, in particular at National and District level.

Language:

• A good working knowledge of English is a requirement.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.