Background

Sierra Leone is ranked 173 out of a total of 178 countries on the global environmental performance index (Columbia University CIESIN 2014) and the country was assessed as extremely vulnerable (# 3 out of 193) in the 2013 Climate Change Vulnerability Index. Overall deforestation rates of woodlands are presently estimated at 0.7% per year (AfDB 2012). High environmental degradation resulting from unsustainable land management, unplanned urbanization and pollution and weak legislative and monitoring structures are increasingly resulting in reduced environmental resilience against disaster risks.
 
Sierra Leone is exposed to a large of socio-natural and manmade hazards, particularly to: floods, epidemics, wind storms with thunderstorms, mass movements including landslides and mudslides, drought/dry spells, coastal erosion, fires and water sources pollution. Existing risk is mainly “extensive risk” which might evolve in intensive risk depending on vulnerability level evolvement. Sierra Leone’s vulnerability is linked partly to its climate and geography specificities, but mainly to socio-economic and environmental exacerbating factors.

In Sierra Leone, the vast majority of people rely on natural resources such as land, water, forests and fish for their livelihoods. These livelihoods face a host of different pressures including illegal fishing, slash and burn agriculture, poor waste management and unregulated mining. It is expected that the country will lose between USD 600 million and 1.1 billion annually in crop revenues by the end of the century if climate change projections materialize. Water, soil and forest resources are threatened by population growth, unsustainable mining activities, pollution of rivers, and rising demand from agribusinesses. With the close linkages between environment and sustainable development, a comprehensive and coordinated programme on environment serves as an insurance bond for national development and a catalyst for the achievement of the millennium development goals. Sustainable management of Natural Resources and the environment are one of the major economy drivers of the country and of utmost essence for the continued growth. Protecting and managing natural resources will ultimately contribute to job creation and reducing tensions around land and resources use at the community level.

The implementation of the Energy, Environment and NRM programme will be In line with the AWP, the UNDAF 2015-2018 and UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017
 
Under the guidance of the Country Director (CD) and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director (Programme) the Team Leader Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Management (NRM) acts as one of the advisers to Senior Management. In addition to the senior managerial functions, the incumbent is responsible for providing the Environment and NRM programme portfolio with management and supervision responsibilities, strategic planning, proactive delivery and effective implementation of the governance portfolio. The incumbent will cover the entire range of functions in the programme cycle, from conceptualization and formulation to monitoring and evaluation. In liaison with DCD-P and other programme teams and the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU), he/she plays a lead role in the analyses of the social, economic and political context in Sierra Leone and advises on responses to emerging complex challenges and possible areas for UNDP interventions within the Country Programme Document. In addition, he/she identifies and forges strategic partnerships with the government, UN Agencies, International Financial Institutions, CSOs as well as bi-laterals and the Private Sector.

Environment and NRM Portfolio within Programme team working through and with the operations team in the CO, Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU), programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme. And as member of the CO Leadership Team, he/she may also advise on potential areas of policy that could have an impact on the country as far as reforms in the Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management are  concerned. On a day to day basis, the incumbent provides direct support to DCD/P in relation to policy advice and guidance to strengthen national capacity to accelerate delivery ensuring cross-programme and synergies and complementarities.As Team Leader, the incumbent heads the Energy,  

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

  • Ensuring the strategic direction of Environment and NRM portfolio;
  • Management of the Environment and NRM portfolio and supervision of the Environment and NRM team;
  • Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization;
  • Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management .

As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, AWP and other documents;
  • Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation;
  • Operationalization of UNDAF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies. Identification of possibilities for joint programming;
  • Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO;
  • CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Unit.
Ensures effective management of the CO Energy, Environment and NRM programme Portfolio and supervision of the team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:
  • Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
  • Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies;
  • Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. The TL Democratic Governance performs the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
  • Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme;
  • Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
  • Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports;
  • Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with the DCD (Operations).
Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports the resource mobilization in cooperation with the CO Senior Management and The Programme Management Support Unit focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes;
  • Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc.;
  • Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
  • Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.
Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and  facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals;
  • Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
  • Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners;
  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
  • Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme.
Impact of Results
 
The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme and reaching UNDAF/ CPD goals. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

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;
  • 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:

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent on Environmental Studies, Economics, Political / Social Science, Business/Public Administration, or other development-related field;
  • Prince2 Training and Certification, RMG.

Experience:

  • Seven years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language:

  • Fluency in English;
  • Any other official language will be considered as an asset.