UNDP Jobs - 47609- Re-advertisement - Environment and Forestry Specia

Re-advertisement - Environment and Forestry Specialist - (Open to Myanmar Nationals Only)

Location :

Nyaung Oo Township with regular visits to all project areas, Shwebo, Monywa, Myin Chan, Chauk, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

04-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-8

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Candidates who previously applied need not apply again.

Organizational Context

UNDP Country Programme in Myanmar (2013-15) aims to promote poverty reduction and sustainable development that are rights-based, gender-sensitive, inclusive and equitable by strengthening institutional capacity of national and local governments and non-state actors. UNDP’s programme in Myanmar focuses on three areas: local governance, disaster resilience and environmental governance and democratic governance.

Pillar II focuses on strengthening capacities at local, regional and national level to manage and utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, and to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity to long-term climate change – including variability impacts and to reduce the associated risk of natural disasters. One of the components of the pillar II is to develop the “capacities to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risk at the local, regional and national level”.

In this regard, UNDP formulated a project in consultation with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry and the Adaptation Fund. This project, underlying the present TOR, aims to address climate change risks on water resources and food security in the dry zone of Myanmar. The principle objectives of this project are to:

Respond to the climate-induced reduction of freshwater supply;
Introduce climate-resilient food and livestock production systems;
Improve the dissemination of climate risk information.

This project will reduce the risks and effects from the increasingly recurring incidents of drought through improved water management, as well as a crop and livestock adaptation programme in five of the most vulnerable townships of Myanmar’s Dry Zone. The programme is based on principles of local empowerment and implemented by community-based organizations (CBOs) such as Village Development Committees, Water User Committees, farmer groups, communal forest user groups, and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The anticipated impact of the project is the reduction of food insecurity and losses from extreme climate events in 50,639 households.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the overall guidance of the National Project Manager, the Environment and Forestry Specialist will:

in close collaboration with the implementing partners, take the lead in Participatory Planning Exercises in selected villages, the preparation of technical Terms of Partnership for agreed upon interventions, provide guidance on planning issues related to the development of environment and forestry and take overall responsibility for the preparation of community based sub watershed management plans in the township;
develop sector policy and strategy in consultation with National Project Manager and Technical Advisors;
provide technical guidance to implementing partners and fully comprehend the sector policy guideline and Terms of Partnership for all technical subject areas;
liaise with technical departments and research institutions, studying ways of introducing applied research results and disseminate the results in the project area;
assist the implementing partners in the establishment of natural resources activities and demonstrations in the project townships and the design of technical packages for implementation and provide technical guidance on biodiversity conservation,decentralized nursery, community forest plantation, natural forest management, agro-forestry, energy efficiency and forestry extension;
provide technical guidance and facilitate the implementing partners in the field of promoting environmental sanitation and community ecotourism;
conduct technical trainings, prepare technical manuals in selected subject areas and disseminate information, education, communication materials (IEC) to target beneficiaries, NGOs and CBOs;
take responsibility for the preparation of annual and quarterly work plans and budgets together with contributions from CBOs and NGOs;
prepare monthly and quarterly monitoring reports and an-end of assignment report;
review the availability and potential of national technical service providers that might be subcontracted to provide technical/ training inputs;
facilitate the timely and sequential provision of required technical inputs in support of Township Plans;
analyze township reports in terms of problems and actions needed and submit consolidated progress report to the National Project Manager;
ensure a high standard of quality control is applied to the related activities; and
undertake any other assignment given by the Project Manager.

Impact of Results

The Environment and Forestry Specialist provides permanent technical assistance to the manager. Promotes cooperation s/he advises the project’s collaborators and stakeholders. Reporting to the project manager, s/he facilitates and monitors the implementation of all activities and tasks under her or his technical expertise. The key results have an impact on the CPAP 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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
Builds knowledge in at least one practice areas, and shares;
Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on related issues;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation;
Ability to negotiate with partners and internal units; ability to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats to the implementation of the project;
Drafting and presentation skills;
Ability to plan and organize work programme;
Ability to work with minimum supervision;
Ability to apply RM and partnerships building theory to the specific country context;
Strong IT skills.

Management and Leadership

Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills with diverse culture and traditions;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

The incumbent should have a Bachelor Degree in an environmental sciences related subject;
A Master’s degree in forestry with a focus on rural/community development initiatives would be desirable but is not mandatory. In addition, the incumbent should be able to handle MS Office suite applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point).

Experience:

Minimum 2 years professional experience in relevant field/s.

Language Requirements:

Excellent oral and written command of English and Myanmar language.

Remark:

Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with duly filled and signed UN-P11 form, academic qualification certificates. Applications without these document will note be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here:
http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx.