Background

Those Who Previously Applied  Need not Re-apply.

The Republic of Maldives is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its low-lying geography that makes it susceptible to flooding and inundation, and its dependence on economic activities that are sensitive to climate change, such as fishing and tourism. It is also highly dependent on imported fossil fuels for its energy supply and this represents a major source of greenhouse gas emissions for the country. Consequently, the Maldives has made significant commitments to the pursuit of a low emission climate resilient development agenda. However, ongoing decentralization reforms, fiscal crisis and low capacity at the sub-national level, mean that local planning is not reflective of national level commitments.

The 3 year, US$9.2 million UN Joint Programme, "Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development"  (LECReD),  responds to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework Outcome 9: “Enhanced capacities at national and local levels to support low carbon life-styles, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction” and builds on the comparative strengths of United Nations Organizations including UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA, UN WOMEN, WHO and FAO. The programme is innovative and represents a pioneering initiative of bringing together the wealth of diverse development-oriented expertise from these United Nations Organizations with equally diverse national and local partners to address this multi-faceted development challenge.

The programme will assist the Laamu Atoll and its islands to realize low emission and climate resilient development (LECReD). The programme seeks to mainstream LECReD issues into local level development planning and service delivery for greater community-level ownership and sustainability of programme benefits. Towards this objective, the programme will support local councils, civil society, private sector and other local stakeholders to establish platforms for stronger partnerships, improved coordination, and enhanced participation in local planning for LECReD; it will strengthen data and knowledge systems for LECReD; improve local level LECReD development planning and management of service delivery; and through a learning-by-doing approach establish early lessons and build demand for LECReD planning and management for replication and scaling-up.

The aim is that the local development plans will evolve from stand-alone action plans into more strategic and evidence-based instruments, which are climate smart and able to mobilize public and private investment. This programme will be closely linked to the existing national development planning cycle and will build capacity of local and national partners engaged in these local processes. The rationale being that lessons learned will be used to inform replication throughout the country and directly support the national agenda.

In pursuit of the core objective, the programme will achieve the following outputs:

• Output 1: Partnership, coordination and participation platform for local LECReD planning and action is strengthened;
• Output 2: Data and knowledge systems established or identified to support evidence-based planning and policy development for LECReD at the local level;
• Output 3: Improved Local Level Planning and Management for LECReD;
• Output 4: Practical local experience in LECReDs interventions leads to learning and promotes replication.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be a senior climate change adaptation and low emission development specialist with a track record in mainstreaming LECReD in sub-national level planning. He /She will be responsible for assuring that all programme results and management products are of the highest quality. To ensure objectivity, the CTA will be independent of the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) and will focus on quality assurance and ensuring cohesiveness of the programme. The CTA substantively reports to the co-chairs of the Project Board (PB) and administratively reports to the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC.) The CTA co-chairs the Project Technical Committee (PTC) and ensures that the strategic direction is maintained and that all key technical and operational decisions for all activities are implemented to a high standard in accordance with the Programme Document. The CTA will work closely with the Project Coordinator (PC) and the Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) on a day-to-day basis to ensure effective overall delivery of results building on the sectoral level quality assurance provided by PUNOs.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Lead and manage programme technical delivery and quality with focus on results;
• Act as the UN’s lead technical resource person on LECReD in Maldives ensuring UN’s credibility and visibility in the country;
• Coordinate and collaborate with the regional centers or other technical support centers to ensure effective support to the programme;
• Manage strategic project relations through liaising with individuals and institutions including government officials, PUNOs, international organizations, donors, civil society, media, and the private sector, under the supervision of the PB and in close coordination with the UNRC and PC;
• Provide technical backstopping to PCU, and for PUNOs, and the local level entities participating in the programme as needed;
• Guide and support the PC and the PUNOs in the joint planning for the programme and ensure timely allocation and utilization of resources through approved budgets and with observance of appropriate financial and budget controls;
• Based on programme strategic requirements provide guidance on resource allocation, identify opportunities for efficiencies, and leverage additional resources to support programme expansion where possible;
• Identify and nurture key strategic alliances;
• Identify all significant risks and appropriate action and ensure the implementation of a programme-wide risk management strategy;
• Promote a broad inter institutional collaboration and networks of expertise;
• Advise PB on matters of strategic coordination with programme stakeholders including beneficiaries and partners, and undertake related action as needed;
• Support the development of a knowledge management system in conjunction with the PCU and in close coordination with PUNOs;
• Lead the substantive preparations for the PB, PTC, programme review and/or evaluation meetings to ensure informed and supported decision making; and support the follow-up on the implementation of the PB decisions and recommendations;
• Serve as the key public advocate for the project in international and national fora and with civil society and the private sector.

Coordination and Communication:

• Provide technical advice to the programme team to strengthen partnerships building and coordination between the programme and partners, CSOs,   other stakeholders, as well as facilitating communication and exchange of lessons learned and good practices;
• Guide development and implementation of the communication and outreach strategy to ensure adequate programme visibility and awareness in relation to implementation and achievements;
• Ensure that programme activities are closely coordinated with the stakeholders – both national and international – and that a high level of collaboration and cooperation is in place at all levels.

Programme Management and Leadership:

• Provide technical support to PCU, PUNOs, and the local level entities participating in the programme;
• Provide guidance and support to the PC and the PUNOs in the joint planning for the programme and ensure timely allocation and utilization of resources through approved budgets and with observance of appropriate financial and budget controls;
• Ensure that systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating the Programme's delivery of agreed results (e.g. development and management of the M&E plan in partnership with PUNOs) and lead monitoring and evaluation work in accordance with the UNDP norms and standards;
• In coordination with the RCO, develop agenda, organize and lead agenda, follow up and coordinate, together with PUNOS, the conduct of periodic Programme Board and Programme Technical Committee  meetings, prepare and present required documentation and analytical reports to the Board and undertake follow up on the Board decisions and recommendations.; Co-chair the PTC meetings and provide technical advice and quality assurance on the work of the PUNOs, monitoring and evaluation and reporting functions;
• Maintain regular working relationships with PUNOs, PCU and other stakeholders to ensure overall integration of LECReD activities within the UNDAF;
•  Assess the impact, effectiveness and relevance of the Programme interventions through regular field visits and highlight achievements, progress and challenges through impact and results-driven reports;
• Provide and identify expert technical advice on LECReD-related  issues;
• Be responsible for quality assurance of technical deliverables from experts/consultants, contractors, implementing partners and programme staff, and provide them with substantive feedback and guidance;
• Support strategic positioning of the UN System by identifying emerging LECReD issues and response options.; and Develop and manage risk logs for the Programme;Support the audit of the programme;
•  Carry out any other relevant duties and responsibilities as requested by the UN Resident Coordinator.
  

Resource mobilization and fund management:

• Provide guidance on resource allocation, identify opportunities for efficiencies, and leverage additional resources to support programme expansion where possible;
• Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, for all resources managed by the Programme in accordance with UN rules and regulations and MDTF requirements.
  

Knowledge Building and Sharing:

• Actively support the development of a knowledge management system in conjunction with the PCU and in close coordination with PUNOs ;
• Support sharing of Programme results and products, lessons learned and good practices with other Programmes, government agencies, donors, etc.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the LECReD programme and reaching UNDAF goals, particularly on ensuring that the strategic direction of the LECReD Programme is maintained and that all key technical and operational decisions and all activities are implemented to the highest standard. 

Competencies

Functional Competencies:       

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda -Analysis and creation of messages and strategies:

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.
  

Results-Based Programme Development and Management -Contributing to results through provision of information:

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals.
  

Building Strategic Partnerships -Identifying and building partnerships:

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN  mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes joint-programming principles in inter-agency meetings.
  

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches -Developing new approaches:

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.
  

Resource Mobilization  -Implementing resource mobilization strategies:

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.
  

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing -Developing tools and mechanisms:

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise -In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.
  

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN’s Goals -Analysis and creation of messages and strategies:

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level. 
  

Client Orientation -Contributing to positive outcomes for the client:

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.
  

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UN & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advance university degree (Masters or PhD) or equivalent in Environmental Science, Development or relevant field of study.
  

Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in the area of low emission carbon resilient development - at both national and international levels in advisory, managerial and technical positions;
• Given the focus of the programme, proven experience in working with environment related institutions and good understanding of LECReD is an asset;
• Excellent programme management skills and knowledge of donor policies and funding modalities;
• Knowledge of UN wide programming practices is an asset including joint-programming knowledge;
• Hands-on experience in facilitating inter-institutional cooperation, stakeholder involvement and working with teams in a joint-programme environment;
• Knowledge and experience from working with developing countries;
• Proven familiarity with gender analysis and concepts, participative processes/approaches for women, youth and minority groups.

Language:

• Fluency in English.