Background

The Strumica River Basin (SRB) is vital to the lives of the people in the region, supplying water for drinking and agriculture and providing a crucial habitat for the rich biodiversity. Covering almost 7 per cent of the country’s territory, the river basin is also highly sensitive to changes in climate and pressures from human activities.
Changing climate conditions and human pressures in recent years have reduced the quantity and quality of the water and flow rates throughout the basin, undermining the ecosystem services to society. Projections based on meteorological and hydrological trends indicate that a continued rise in temperature and further reduction in rainfall will lead to even greater scarcity of water in coming decades. The growing demand for water from agriculture, industry and urban areas further amplify the water-related challenges. The risk of droughts and floods has also increased as a result of changes in land-use and other factors.
To better understand and address these challenges, the one-year long Restoration of Strumica River Basin project has been launched to create the necessary enabling environment for the implementation of a comprehensive set of restoration measures. The project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP) and a long list of stakeholders at local and national levels.
The anticipated outcome of the project is a comprehensive planning documentation that will provide basis for future informed decisions in selection of the most appropriate water management measures and prioritization of investments in the water and other related sectors. The project would also help building capacities for the long-term management of SRB, including the necessary legal, institutional and organizational improvements.
The project is implemented in parallel to the ongoing national efforts to improve the overall country’s water management. This also includes the harmonization with the EU Floods Directive, institutional maturation and operationalization of the transboundary cooperation.
Wishing to instigate broader stakeholder participation, the project would prototype the application of innovative approaches to obtaining data and deepening the public engagement throughout all implementation stages. Innovative tools and methods like foresight will be applied for this purpose.
To be able to accomplish the ambitious set of objectives, UNDP now wishes to hire a qualified Monitoring Officer for a period of 8 months. S/he will actively contribute to the coordination of activities and support to achieving the key project objectives, including: a) formulation of e a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for SRB in accordance to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD); b) preparation of a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) for SRB in accordance with the EU Floods Directive; c) Capacity development support to the relevant national and local authorities and other stakeholders with responsibilities over the management of SRB; d) Applying innovative (foresight) methods in crowdsourcing data and instigating stakeholder participation in the preparation of the key planning documentation.
The Monitoring Officer will be expected to communicate with project counterparts to build common understanding and coordination of project activities. S/he will be expected to support the reporting system and analyze major service delivery programmes. Besides the programmatic and administrative support, the Monitoring Officer will be deeply involved in the community outreach work (e.g., including facilitation/moderation of stakeholder workshops and meetings), collection of data and transfer of project knowledge amongst project beneficiaries.
The Monitoring Officer will work under direct supervision of the Project Manager, and in close cooperation with project partners, beneficiaries and contractors.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

1.    Assessment of technical, social, economic, maintenance and operation, and institutional feasibility of assigned project components
2.    Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of project activities
3.    Project implementation support
4.    Other duties as required

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

1.    Expected results: Assessments of technical, social, economic, maintenance and operation, and institutional feasibility of assigned project components
-    Promotion of project vision, concepts and goals among local stakeholders;
-    Collection of information, data and documents relevant for the project;
-    Filling in and maintaining the anticipated project databases, interactive maps (e.g., as part of foresight methods);
-    Preparation of assessments and technical reports as required;
-    Support to consultants hired by the project;
-    Active participation in transfer of knowledge among relevant project stakeholders;
-    Regular communication with relevant local stakeholders (e.g.,  local governments, public utility companies, public enterprises, community groups and associations);
-    Overall project support through technical monitoring of the activities.

2.    Expected results: Monitoring and evaluation of project implementation
-    Regular field visits to important project sites that would involve inspection of ongoing work, meeting with stakeholders, facilitation of project activities and similar;
-    Monitor and report on quality of assigned project activities;
-    Provide input to drafting of various project reports on the assigned project activities (based on the monitoring and evaluation efforts);
-    Monitor the use of assets delivered by the project to the stakeholders.

3.    Expected results: Project implementation support
-    Support the preparation of project work-plans, operational and financial planning process processes, based on the monitoring work and consultation with the local stakeholders;
-    Advisory support (oral and written) on the improvemenmt of project activities (support to adaptive management);
-    Facilitation/moderation of project workshops, community forums and other forms of stakeholder involvement;
-    Keeping records of equipment and ensure effective organization of the technical documentation (e.g., studies, designs, reports, commissioning reports and other)
-    Providing administrative support to the project as required;
-    Preparing agendas and briefs and arranging field visits of visitors (appointing meetings, attending meetings, facilitating communication, translation services);
-    Preparation of minutes from the visits / meetings as well as prepares fields visits reports as required;
-    Participation in selections committees and other bodies stated as required;
-    Purchasing items of lower value, as required, in accordance with UNDP procedures;

Performance indicators for evaluation of results:

The Monitoring Officer’s performance will be measured in accordance with the following indicators of success:
-    Timely and efficient monitorign and assessment of activities
-    Timely completion of envisaged deliverables including support to beneficiaries
-    Proactive role in the implementation of the on local level activities

Competencies

1.    Communications

•    Listens to develop awareness for client needs
•    Respects difference of opinion
•    Finds common ground to solve problems
•    Gains trust of peers, partners, clients
•    Presents complex, conceptual ideas in practical terms to others
•    Oral and written communication and presentation skills

2.    Delivery

•    Adapts and implements
•    Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations
•    Demonstrates commitment to clients and quality
•    Works to agreed goals dealing with challenges constructively
•    Responsible for project implementation and/or team deliverables

3.    People Management – Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

•    Seeks opportunities to learn and share
•    Demonstrates behaviors such as teamwork, knowledge sharing, maintaining relationships
•    Recognizes potential road blocks to completing tasks and seeks guidance from supervisors to address issues
•    Based on formal and informal feedback received, takes action to address areas for growth and improvement
•    Encourages team engagement
•    Strong interpersonal, negotiation and networking skills

4.    Leadership – Ability to persuade others to follow  

•    Takes initiative
•    Identifies opportunities and challenges and recommends options
•    Checks assumptions against facts
•    Assumes responsibility for decisions and outcomes

5.    Innovation – Ability to make new and useful ideas work

•    Adapts ideas to context
•    Adapts deliverables to meet client needs
•    Interprets policy within context and applies with judgment
•    Anticipates obstacles and applies practical solutions
•    Embraces new methods
•    Continually seeks improvement   
•    Collaborates to improve methods and delivery

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

•    Experience in monitoring and assessment and identification of needs
•    Knowledge of the Strumica River Basin
•    Knowledge and sensitivity of local politics and culture and other  community related issues
•    Ability to support strategic planning, results-based programming and reporting;
•    Ability to support formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
•    Excellent communication skills and understanding of local/national context
•    Capability for traveling, field work and work under pressure
•    Excellent computer literacy (MS Office; Windows)
•    Driving licence

Required Skills and Experience

Education: University degree in a development related discipline (environment, sustainable development, natural resources, agriculture, forestry, economics, social sciences, engineering). M.Sc. is considered an asset.

Professional experience: 3 years (two years for the candidates with M.Sc.) of relevant professional experience in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; Previous experience on environmental, sustainable development and water management project is a strong asset.

Language Requirements: Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills in Macedonian and English; Knowledge of other local languages shall be an asset.