Background
The IEMP project seeks to conserve the ecosystem services of the Fanga’uta Lagoon Catchment on the Tongatapu Island of the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific through an integrated land, water and coastal management approach thereby protecting livelihoods and food production and enhancing climate resilience. As part of the “Pacific Islands Ridge-to-Reef National Priorities – Integrated Water, Land, Forest and Coastal Management to Preserve Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, Store carbon, Improve Climate Resilience and Sustain Livelihoods” Program, this project is aimed to conserve the ecosystem services of the Fanga’uta Lagoon through an integrated land, water and coastal management approach thereby protecting livelihoods and food production and enhancing climate resilience.
The project will employ a full-time National Project Manager (NPM). He/She will report directly to the Project Director of the Executing Agency (EA) in this case the Department of Environment guided by the decisions of Project Steering Committee (PSC). The NPM will work in close coordination with UNDP and be responsible for ensuring that the project is implemented in accordance with the agreed project workplan, timeframe and budget to achieve the objectives outlined in the Project Document.
Duties and Responsibilities
The NPM will exercise the following key roles as approved by the Department of Environment:
Project Management
- Manage all activities of the project, within the agreed budget, to achieve the expected outputs of the project, in consultation with the EA;
- Provide vision and leadership and ensure day-to-day functioning of the project team to accomplish project success by facilitating the development of approaches, options, and optimal solutions;
- Manage consultants and their performance in consultation with the EA, and supervise project administrative staff;
- Coordinate consultations with stakeholders under the guidance of the EA;
- Coordinate and oversee the preparation of the outputs of the project;
- Under the guidance of the EA, convene and coordinate meetings of the Project Steering Committee and provide necessary updates to the Committee;
- Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures);
- Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project
- Be responsible for managing issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log;
- Update the Atlas Project Management module if external access is made available;
- Manage working relationships with all co-financing partners to ensure that their activities/programs are integrated and complementary with those of the R2R Project;
- Ensure PMU support is provided to Government and UNDP in organizing Project Steering Committee meetings and other relevant events/meetings.
Project Planning
- Prepare Terms of Reference for technical services, consultants, experts, and specifications of materials as required by the project, in consultation with the EA;
- Prepare detailed workplan and budget to ensure activities meet the objectives of the project, in consultation with the Executing Agency (EA, i.e., DECC/MLECCNR);
- Review and approve project deliverables and outputs as defined in the Project Document and based on project specifications;
- Organize consultation meetings and proceedings;
- Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risks Log.
Project Reporting and Monitoring
- Update and share financial and activities/output/outcome progress on a monthly bases (monthly briefs) with EA and UNDP, highlighting key challenges/risks and proposed way forward if and when necessary
- Prepare and submit quarterly progress and financial reports, terminal reports, relevant M&E reports as required by GEF and UNDP, as well as briefing reports as needed and as specified in the contractual arrangements.
- Prepare yearly procurement plans for the project in line with the activities indicating in the Annual Work Plans
- Monitor carefully financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
- Prepare and submit financial and technical reports to UNDP on a quarterly and annual basis;
- Prepare and coordinate submission of Project Implementation Report (PIR) to UNDP/GEF.
Communication and Knowledge Management
- Strengthen the presence and support of the R2R project on the ground through active engagement and information sharing with key project stakeholders including other national and regional R2R projects, other IWRM/R2R/ and or any other relevant projects and government counterparts, project boards and committees, and beneficiaries/communities;
- Coordinate development of communication and awareness materials of the R2R project to ensure visibility of the project achievements and good practices.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Knowledge Management and Learning:
- Shares knowledge and experience;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
- Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting;
- Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems.
Leadership and Self-Management:
- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
Summary
- Good leadership, coordination, communication and facilitation skills are essential;
- Strong management skills, including ability to supervise people and monitor other project staff as well as being responsible, honest, with strong sense of integrity and professional ethics.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- A Master’s degree in management, administration, environmental management or related field.
Work Experiences:
- A minimum of 7 years in project management at a senior level;
- Experience in programme formulation especially in project planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation;
- Experience and understanding of the UNDP and/or GEF project is preferred;
- Familiarity with political, socio-economic and environmental issues in Tonga;
- Extensive information exchange contacts with national and international partners involved in environment, climate change adaptation management and planning, water/natural resource management, community engagement is an asset;
- Demonstrate commitment to work and experience in working in a multicultural team environment, high level inter and intra-personal and communication skills.
Language requirement:
- Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Tongan.