Background

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has funded a full sized project to support 6 participating Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of which 2 are located in the Atlantic Ocean (Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe) and 4 are located in the Indian Ocean (Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles). The IWRM AIO SIDS project addresses issues related to the management of water resources, both freshwater and coastal marine areas in an integrated manner. Recognizing the urgent need for comprehensive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE), the project seeks to accelerate progress on IWRM and WUE plans and water supply and sanitation development goals for the protection and utilization of groundwater and surface water in the participating countries. It will specifically support the implementation of demonstration activities on IWRM and WUE to address priority issues at the national level with potential for replication across the region and in other SIDS regions.

The overall objective of the IWRM AIO SIDS project is to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the participating countries to implement an integrated approach to the management of freshwater resources, with a long-term goal of enhancement of the capacity of the countries to plan and manage their aquatic resources and ecosystems on a sustainable basis. In Mauritius, the Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities (MEPU) is the implementing the project and the Department of Water Resource Unit is responsible for the execution of the site Demonstration project in the Northern Aquifer, Grand Baie.. The demonstration project seek to show case IWRM and WUE in aquifer protection through integrated planning, monitoring and water demand management as well as awareness raising.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Demonstration Project Manager (PM) will have overall responsibility for the successful implementation of the Demo project in close liaison and coordination with all key stakeholders at local level.

Specifically, s/he will have the following responsibilities:

• Demonstration project management including, planning, monitoring and evaluation;
• Be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Demo project ensuring compliance to approved work plans and budget;
• Define key performance parameters and indicators to manage and monitor progress of the demonstration activities against defined targets, budget expenditures and recommendations with respect to any amendments to the work plan for the demonstration project;
• To prepare the annual work plans and details activity schedule and budget for demonstration project activities, and to submit the same to Water Resource Unit, the National Steering Committee (NSC) and the Regional Project Coordination Unit (PCU). This will include annual, quarterly and specific operational tasks as may be required from time to time;
• Establish and ensure a regularly updated participatory monitoring plan. S/he will ensure monitoring tools and indictor tracking at demo level are regularly updated based on validated monitoring report;
• Prepare terms of reference for Demonstration project activities to be contracted nationally and/ or internationally, and monitor and coordinate all work contracted to national experts;
• Ensure that work produced by consultants meets the terms of reference for such work before submission to the NSC and the PCU and before payment is made;
• Ensure that the Demonstration project work contracted out to national experts is coordinated and integrated at a national level so that it contributes effectively to the implementation of the IWRM Project;
• Keep an up to date database of all project data, information and assets inventory;
• Appropriate records pertaining to project beneficiaries and shall be properly kept with effort to ensure a gender disaggregated data;
• Ensure the implementation and completion of projects within deadlines, allocated budget and accepted levels of quality, and to initiate remedial action where required;
• Assist in the preparation of tender documents and in the evaluation of tenders, as and when required.
• Submit to the responsible Ministry regular reports on the status of implementation of project as well as to the Regional PCU.

• S/he will ensure close liaison and consultation with relevant stakeholders and authorities in close consultation with Water Resource Unit on operational day to day management, and regional R PCU on substantive matters;
• Facilitate liaison and networking among stakeholders at Demonstration project level.

• Ensure effective communication channels are in place and ensure proactive communication among the Demonstration project stakeholders and externally with national and or regional stakeholders through designated channels in order to raise awareness about project results;
• Ensure timely submission of quality reports. These include quarterly and annual financial and technical progress reports to the NSC and PCU. In addition, s/he will ensure timely submission of any other ad hoc reports as required by the regional NSC or PCU from time to time;
• Provide regular updates to NSC and PCU on project progress as well as any foreseen or not foreseen deviation, risks and or constraints for remedial action;
• Perform such other duties directly related to the main duties listed above or related to the delivery of the output and results expected from the Project Manager.

The Demonstration Project Manager shall have the authority, in consultation with the PUC , to do the following:

• To submit narrative and financial reports to the NSC and PCU as well as work plans and financial forecasts;
• To submit requests for the disbursement of Demonstration project funds to the UNOPS PCU, in accordance with the budget, work plan and PCA;
• In consultation with the IWRM focal point and PUC, request for meeting of a technical subcommittee of NSC.

• For day-to-day supervision and coordination, the PM will be accountable to the Director of Water Resources Unit/Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities;
• On substantive issues, the PM will have secondary supervision by the UNOPS, specifically to the Results and Knowledge Management Specialist;
• Overall, s/he will be accountable to the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, UNDP and the NSC for the overall delivery of the Demonstration project component;
• S/He will provide regular update reports to the MEPU/WRU, UNDP and R PCU.

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;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Functional Competencies:     

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

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

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;
• 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.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• A bachelor degree-level education in relevant technical discipline in Civil engineering, Hydrology, Water resource management, environmental studies or another related discipline; 
• Additional training in project management or in relevant fields such as public or business administration and / or monitoring are desirable.
  

Experience:                               

• At least five years of experience in project implementation water, civil engineering and environmental projects, or any other discipline that is relevant to IWRM is desired;
• Ability to implement projects with multiple stakeholder and deliver desired project  is essential;
• Previous work experience with a donor funded project with reporting obligation / responsibilities is an added advantage;
• Knowledge of administrative, procurement and financial procedures relating to civil engineering contracts is desirable;
• Have sound organizational ability and skills for overall project/program management experience;
• Experience work in a multi-stakeholder context, liaison and stakeholder coordination is valuable;
• Experience working with consultants and administering contracts is advantage;
• Good understanding of work / activity planning  and budgeting  is important;
• Good experience on financial and technical reporting is vital;
• Computer literate with at least Microsoft Office packages is essential;

Language:    

• Excellent working knowledge of English is required;
• Local working language, Mauritian creole is essential.

Application procedure:

Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through UNDP jobs website: http://jobs.undp.org.

Please ensure that you upload a Personal History Form – P11 (available at www.mu.undp.org) and your CV as one attachment in the relevant field of the on-line application.

You are required to provide the exact titles of your degrees/qualifications (as per certificates) in the Personal History Form and CV.

Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Attention to all applicants

 As part of the application submission process, candidates must submit and upload the Personal History Form – P11 (available at www.mu.undp.org) and a CV as one attachment in the relevant field of the on-line application.

UNDP reserves the right not to make any appointment following this advertisement.