UNDP Jobs - 49635- Communication and Monitoring Officer, GoI-GEF-UNDP

Communication and Monitoring Officer, GoI-GEF-UNDP India High Range Landscape Project (HRML) - (Open to Indian Nationals only)

Location :

Munnar/ Kottayam, Kerala, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year (Extendable)

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

High Range Mountain Landscape (HRML) in the Western Ghats mountains of peninsular India is a globally significant biodiversity region. Its key attributes are: a) high levels of endemism and biological diversity; b) Important Bird Area; c) presence of globally threatened species of fauna and flora; d) part of one of the five viable breeding centre of tiger in India; e) harbour the largest global population of Nilgiri tahr and a significant population of Grizzled Giant Squirrel (both threatened species); f) catchment of three major river systems of peninsular India; g) strong eco-cultural affinities; and h) support important economic sectors like cardamom, tea and tourism. At present, HRML is a complex mosaic of land uses where conservation, economic production and livelihood requirements assume equal primacy and profoundly influence each other. These contribute to competitive use of natural resources and affecting vital ecological processes. The rapidly altering developmental context, demographic contours, resource use configurations place a challenge for HRML’s long term ecological sustainability and livelihood security. The existing planning and policy framework, as well as the institutional arrangements in HRML are inadequate to address biodiversity conservation from a landscape perspective. The project aims to put in place a collaborative governance framework for multiple-use management of HRML. The project will attempt a paradigm shift from current sector based planning to an approach for integrated multiple-use management of mountain landscapes to deliver global environmental benefits. The project aims to achieve this through the following Outcomes: a) Effective governance framework for multiple-use mountain landscape management in place; b) Multiple-use mountain landscape management is applied securing the ecological integrity of HRML; and c) Strengthened capacities for community based sustainable use and management of wild resources.

The project region covers 3,000 sq. km spread across three districts of Kerala viz. Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur in Kerala.

UNDP aims to engage a Communication and Monitoring Officer for the implementation of the HRML Project. S/he will work closely with the State Project Manager and the State Project Coordinator. For operational purposes, the Communication and Monitoring Officer will also consult the Programme Analyst, Energy and Environment Unit, UNDP, New Delhi. S/he shall assist the State Project Manager and Programme Analyst, UNDP in coordinating with all relevant departments of the state government and national, state level institutions and other stakeholders in the implementation of the project. The Communication and Monitoring Officer shall extend all possible support to the State Project Manager, Landscape-level Project Management Unit (LLPMU) and other experts/ agencies hired in the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communication and Monitoring Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

S/he will provide technical support to project implementation in the landscape particularly in ensuring cross-sectoral coordination, participation of various stakeholders (including the production sectors) etc. in project activities and ensure effective and quality delivery of communication and outreach activities;
S/he shall work under the overall guidance and supervision of the State Project Coordinator, State Project Manager;
S/he shall provide technical support and guidance to the LLPMU and other project consultants in developing proper communication strategy and tools for different project activities (trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, arrangements of study tour, preparation of knowledge products, etc.);
S/he shall advise the LLPMU in coordinating with the State Government, Consultants, other relevant agencies and stakeholders on the implementation of the project with respect to communication and outreach activities;
S/he shall keep regular contact with project experts and consultants and changes and review the reports and other documents for correctness of form and contents;
S/he shall also document the project process on a regular basis;
S/he shall be responsible for monitoring, reporting and documentation of Project Implementation Report (PIR), quarterly progress reports, success stories, lessons learned and for providing inputs to the fact sheet on the project;
S/he shall be expected to travel extensively in the project area;
S/he shall look after the aspects of budgeting, planning and general monitoring of the project and ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders; ensure adherence to the project’s work plan; under the guidance of State Project Coordinator, State Project Manager and Programme Analyst, UNDP;
S/he shall prepare the Terms of References (ToRs) &/or Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the consultants to be hired or agencies to be engaged for various activities under this project;
S/he shall ensure incorporation of inputs into preparation of GEF quarterly progress reports, as well as any other reports requested by the Kerala Forest Department, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and UNDP;
S/he shall guide the work of consultants and subcontractors and oversee compliance with the agreed work plan with respect to his/her component;
S/he shall monitor the expenditure, commitments and balance of funds under the project budget lines, report on project funds and related record keeping;
S/he shall liaise with project partners to ensure their co-financing contributions are provided within the agreed terms and incorporated in the Quarterly Progress Reports, and Project Information Reports on a timely basis;
S/he shall assume overall responsibility for reporting on project progress vis-à-vis indicators in the log frame.

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;
Integrity and Confidentiality.

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Ability to document good practices in concise and comprehensive manner;
Ability to write clear and concise reports;
Good editing skills;
Ability to communicate technical matters in simple terms for outreach;
Outstanding communication skills;
Ability to promote awareness about the key messages of the programme through dissemination of information and materials Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to support strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Establish, build and sustain effective relationship, partnerships and alliances;
Result-orientation and ability to develop strategic approaches.

Team work

Builds and maintains constructive relationships with colleagues; treats people with respect, is cooperative, supportive and helpful with a positive contribution to the working environment;
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing;
Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters Degree in the field of Sociology, Social Work, Rural Development or relevant field with excellent academic record;
A higher degree/qualification in mass communication/ journalism is desirable.

Experience:

At least 3 years of post-Masters relevant experience at the state or national level in communication/ monitoring and evaluation;
Experience of developing communication strategies and communication tools and material on subjects related to natural resource management, biodiversity conservation and community based natural resource management;
Experience of documenting best practices and lessons learned from projects/ programmes of national or state level;
Experience of developing power-point presentations, speech writing/ talking points, preparing fact sheets etc.;
Experience of developing good quality knowledge products in English and regional languages, preferably Malayalam;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, ability to handle of web based management systems.

Language:

Excellent English writing and presentation skills;
Fluency in spoken English and Malayalam.

Note:

Remuneration package is Rs. 6,71,705/- per annum (all inclusive and taxable). UNDP also offers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for the Service contract holder and encourages work life balance to its employees.