UNDP Jobs - 47257- Project Manager, Strengthening Ecosystem Resilienc

Project Manager, Strengthening Ecosystem Resilience and Community Adaptive Capacity in Climate Affected River Basins (SERCARB)

Location :

Pyongyang, DPR Korea, KOREA (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

30-Jun-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year with possible extension

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Ecosystem management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction issues are highly relevant and strongly interlinked in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). Sustainable human development goals are very difficult to achieve in communities where degradation of environment are severe and people and livelihoods are at risk to seasonal extreme weather events and long term negative effects of climate change. The UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was approved by the Executive Board in February 2011. In the CPD, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Environment are identified as important components of its strategy to promote sustainable development. UNDP’s strategy is to support communities through an integrated approach to ecosystem development, community based disaster risk reduction, agro forestry and livelihood development and sustainable rural energy development. This process will contribute to resiliency of communities within the promotion of sustainable human development goals: by helping to enhance livelihood opportunities, restore environment quality, incorporate disaster resiliency and use a county level process that engages communities.

Under this strategy, the project on Strengthening Ecosystem Resilience and Community Adaptive Capacity in Climate Affected River Basins in DPR Korea (SERCARB) is approved in June 2013. The project is designed to focus on ecosystem-based adaptation strategies such as sustainable watershed and forest management, as well as sustainable land management in agriculture to reduce soil erosion and runoff and to improve water retention- to promote sustainable natural resource management and livelihoods.

The project will achieve the following outputs:

Strengthening community capacities for participatory hazard mapping and disaster reduction;
Improving weather monitoring and early warning systems (EWS) in pilot watersheds;
Improved forest management to reduce flood risk, landslides and erosion in pilot watershed;
Sustainable utilization and rehabilitation of sloping lands in agricultural landscapes;
Establishment of multi-stakeholder coordination and project management.

Since the approval of SERCARB, many parts of the country was devastated by floods in July-August 2013 and severe damages were reported by the Government of DPRK highlighting the urgency to address disaster preparedness and risk reduction. UNDP thus embarked on formulating a complementary project in April 2014 on Strengthening Resiliency of Communities through Community Based Risk Disaster Management (CBDRM). This project has very similar goals with SERCARB with focus on urgent preparedness and risk reduction measures in communities heavily affected by recurring and worsening annual floods. The project will enhance human capital by imparting skills and knowledge and support community driven processes to analyze urgent, and recurrent problems associated with floods and landslides initially as basis for preparedness for response and recovery. Using existing organizations at the local level, communities will be engaged in understanding the relationships between hazards, vulnerabilities and coping capacities as basis for planning risk sensitive agro forestry programmes, rural livelihoods and small scale energy programmes. This proposed project will provide the resources necessary to operationalize community plans for reducing disaster risks that will improve physical and natural capital in these areas.

A Project Manager (PM) is required to coordinate the management and implementation of the project. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP DPRK and working closely with the CO M&E Advisor, the Project Manager will manage and coordinate the implementation. The incumbent will monitor and oversee the progress of project implementation in all aspects (operations and processes, including budget and financial management, work planning, procurement, recruitment, audit, monitoring, evaluation and reporting functions, as well as coordination with counterparts, partners and relevant stakeholders). Highest standards of integrity, direction and commitment to UN/DP principles are essential as well as ability to meet deadlines and maintain high quality of outputs working under pressure.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Managing the day-to-day activities of the project;
Ensuring effective coordination and information sharing on project activities with relevant stakeholders, including other UNDP projects and within UNCT;
Provision of technical guidance to local communities on programmatic and project implementation issues;
Ensuring baseline information, needs and capacity assessments are completed and technical assistance is provided effectively according to plan;
Overseeing that administrative and operational support is provided effectively according to plan.

Managing the day-to-day activities of the project:

Managing the implementation of project activities in line with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) based on annual Work Plan, including cost effective financial management and budget execution;
Establishment of an M&E framework and system, including the organization and conduct of baseline information for these (2) related projects and regular field monitoring missions to target areas/sites;
This is critical to ensure that effective assistance flows directly to targeted beneficiaries, planning and coordinating implementation of project activities with counterparts, and monitoring progress against established quality criteria as well as the Project’s Annual Work Plan (AWP), Quarterly Plans (if required) and Budget;
Initiate, follow-up on and finalize all required recruitment and procurement actions with operations units, for mobilizing goods and services as inputs to project implementation, including drafting terms of reference, requests for proposals and other required work specifications and related documentation;
Organize and conduct or oversee field missions, workshops, training and/or study tours for relevant beneficiaries;
Coordinate specific activities of the project, including leading the demonstration site assessment and selection process, to confirm the suitability of the first selected site and to identify replication site;
Lead the implementation of activities under Output 1, including leading the community hazard mapping and disaster reduction planning activities at each project site;
Coordinate activities under Output 2, and under Outputs 3 and 4;
Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports, including budget revisions (as required);
Ensure a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan and system is developed and implemented, and M&E reports are finalized and circulated in a timely manner;
Monitor, update and submit project risks and issues log to the Project Steering Committee for consideration and decision on possible management and risk mitigation actions (if required), and ensure all project risks and issues are addressed or resolved effectively and in a timely manner;
Finalize Project Progress, Financial and Annual Review Reports (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures) and submit these to the Project Steering Committee;
Ensure that the Atlas Project Management module is updated on a quarterly basis;
Effectively promote synergies with other UNDP projects in DPRK.

Ensuring effective coordination and information sharing on project activities with relevant stakeholders, and within UNCT, so that effective assistance flows directly to targeted beneficiaries:

Regular coordination meetings with stakeholders, including communication and information sharing with counterparts, partners and relevant stakeholders, on project implementation and ensure complementarities and synergies with other development projects;
Ensure coordination and complementarities of the project with similar environment, disaster risk management and livelihoods support projects implemented by other development partners. This includes effective liaison and coordination with other UN agencies and NGO actors such as IFRC and related programmes and projects, to share information, identify synergies and activities suitable for sustainable rural development and disaster risk reduction;
Organize and coordinate regular field missions to target sites;
Establish joint information sharing and reporting platforms for effective communication.

Provision of technical guidance to counterparts and communities on programmatic and project implementation issues, with a view to ensuring that effective assistance flows directly to targeted beneficiaries:

Advice and support counterparts and communities in decision making on project implementation;
Ensure that project standards and policies are maintained, communicated appropriately to counterparts, partners and other stakeholders;
Oversee the delivery rates of every output of the project and take necessary measures (if required).

Ensuring baseline information, needs and capacity assessments are completed and provision of technical assistance to support counterparts and partners, with a view to ensuring that effective assistance flows directly to targeted beneficiaries:

Oversee and coordinate provision of technical assistance to counterparts and relevant stakeholders to support an appropriate level of understanding of development requirements and identify other opportunities for programme development;
Oversee conduct of baseline information on the selected sites;
Capacity and needs assessments of counterparts and implementing partners completed and that a capacity development strategy is developed and implemented;
Appropriate training and related activities for counterparts are effectively implemented.

Oversee administrative and operational support is provided effectively to counterparts:

Effective operational and logistical support to counterparts is in place;
Any other duties as assigned by the Deputy Resident Representative.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
In-depth knowledge on environment development issues;
Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
Actively work towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, act on learning plan and apply 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, and mobilize resources;
Good knowledge of the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures, PRINCE2 and ATLAS Finance;
Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioural/attitudinal change;
Strong IT skills.

Management and Leadership:

Focus on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Lead teams effectively and show conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in environment management, ecosystem conservation and land management, sustainable development, disaster management or related field.

Experience:

Seven (7) years of specialized experience of appropriate scope and complexity in environment and sustainable development with a focus on conservation ecosystem, disaster management, climate change adaptation and mitigation;
Experience in working with government and other national institutions and counterparts, UN agencies, international NGOs and other relevant stakeholders in a complex environment;
Experience in hazard mapping and disaster reduction planning and related experience in the North East Asia region is preferable;
Experience with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures and PRINCE2 (project management), including experience with ATLAS Finance (resource management system) would be advantage;
Excellent computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).

Language:

Fluency in English required;
Korean language skills desirable;
Knowledge of North-East Asia, Korean peninsula in particular, is an asset