UNDP Jobs - 50896- Climate Change Adaptation Technical Specialist (TS

Climate Change Adaptation Technical Specialist (TS)

Location :

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

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year Initially

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

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. It intends to 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 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 last five years and has a total available budget of 7.91 million US Dollars. The Technical Specialist will operate in a highly complex environment requiring coordination of interventions involving five different line ministries, State and township authorities as well as community based organizations in Sagaing, Magwey and Mandalay Regions. This project 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 enhanced climate risk management in the Dry Zone through the reduction of food insecurity and improved access to water of 50,639 households.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Pillar II Team Leader, the Technical Specialist will work closely with the National Project Manager (N-PM) in coordination with the Regional Technical Specialist – Adaptation Green Low Emission Climate Resilient Development Strategies in Asia-Pacific Regional Centre of UNDP.

Summary of key functions:

Take the lead in the technical design and implementation;
Provide technical assistance for effective monitoring and evaluation and timely reporting to UNDP, the Government of Myanmar and donors;
Knowledge Management;
Partnership Development, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization.

Take the lead in the technical design and implementation:

Support the National Project Manager with technical advice in the day-to-day management of the project;
Support the National Project Manager with oversight of the Project’s technical activities and come up with technical solutions;
By providing technical advice, liaise between the Project’s technical advisory bodies and the project team;
Support the project team in activity formulation and networking to ensure that the project is relevant and responsive to changes in the Dry Zone;
Provide continuous detailed technical advice based on changes in the national and international policy contexts;
Identify opportunities and areas for technical inputs, manage and oversee the work of consultants and other experts for delivering results;
Serve as the international expert on specific adaptation options envisaged in the project document; identify needs for external technical support for effective implementation; and assist the N-PM in carrying out necessary recruitments;
Provide technical guidance and training to project staff in areas related to watershed management, food security with an emphasis on conservation and rehabilitation of dry lands;
Manage the inputs of national and international consultants by planning of missions and development of corresponding TORs for provision of high quality inputs in technical areas;
Identify strategic opportunities for the project to achieve greater development impact through partnerships building and adaptive management;
Ensures close collaboration and creation of synergies between program components within the pillar program as well across pillars of the UNDP program.

Provide technical assistance for effective monitoring and evaluation and timely reporting to UNDP, the Government of Myanmar and donors:

Continuously monitor and set up effective reporting systems on program implementation and results achieved;
In coordination with the N-PM and Pillar II Team Leader, ensure monitoring and evaluation activities are carried out according to the agreed M&E framework;
Report to APRC focal point on the delivery of project results, financial delivery;
Assist the National Project Manager and Project M&E Officer in completing the annual project progress review with a focus on the Project’s technical aspects;
Work closely with the Technical Advisory Group and UNDP’s Technical Assurance providing advice to the project team and reporting to the project steering committee on a regular basis.

Knowledge Management:

Introduce innovation and best practices to enhance project performance;
Support the technical capacity-building of national counterparts. Provide timely quality information and technical advice to stakeholders and counterparts, mainly line ministries, implementation partners, civil society and the private sector;
Share knowledge on the Project and its achievements. Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organizational sharing and learning. Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
Produce materials with lessons learnt and best practices and participate in knowledge based tools;
Contribute to the analytical work of UNDP and ensure high quality knowledge products. Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof with other pillars;
Identify, synthesize and publish best practices and lessons directly linked to country program goals in the subject area. Contribute to preparation and provides contributions to UNDP Myanmar policy briefs in the substance area;
Contribute to the process of knowledge creation and dissemination related to national and international know-how in the subject area. In this context, partner with other practitioners and UNDP global and regional networks;
Ensures continuous and mutually reinforcing knowledge sharing with other pillars in UNDP CO;
Organize formal and informal internal and external networks or communities of practice involving experts in government, academia, think tanks, private companies, NGOs, development partners and the UN system.

Partnership Development, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization:

Represent UNDP in national and sub-national multi-stakeholder forums and other key meetings and events, as designated to speak on program issues in the area of local development, participate in policy dialogue, discuss policy initiatives, report on progress achieved and/or present policy papers/ideas to influence setting of agenda in the area of local development and local governance and promote UNDPs competencies and mandate;
Maintain active relationships and partnerships with the Government, NGOs, UN system and agency partners, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations, academia, media, and the private sector on national priorities in the area of Climate Change Adaptation to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization, sharing of ideas and to influence agenda and priority setting;
Advocate for UNDP with government counterparts at all levels; develops critical relationships, networks and builds and effective partnerships with government and with development partners in the subject area;
Develop and provide the Government of Myanmar with evidence-based policy recommendations on Climate Change Adaptation, Food Security and access to water;
Establish and maintain contacts with other relevant projects in the region and country, encouraging exchange on good practices;
Constantly review policy development in the country in the context of climate change and disaster risk reduction, and identify opportunities for the project and UNDP for greater policy support;
Develop strategies to secure new partnerships and mobilize additional resources based on program requirements and emerging opportunities.

Expected Impact of Results
It is anticipated that the work of the Technical Specialist will have the following impacts:

Increased understanding of the Project amongst key stakeholder within government and outside;
UNDP contribution to Climate Risk Management is effectively coordinated with work of other programmes, projects and related issues;
The Project Management Unit is functioning effectively;
Information gained from Project implementation is shared at, both, country and international levels;
Enhanced capacity within Myanmar to further develop and implement a national approach to Climate Risk Management in dry areas.

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, in particular in the sectors of Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Risk Assessment, Water Resources Management, Food Security, and Dry Zone management;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
In-depth practical knowledge of development issues in the context of Myanmar;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

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;
Excellent 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;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, RMG.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or higher in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Economics, Geography or Social Sciences, Forestry or similar.

Experience:

At least 7 years of work experience of which three years of senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexity;
The incumbent should have extensive work experience in a relevant sector;
The incumbent should have professional experience with rural/community development initiatives;
Management experience in UNDP or UNDP-assisted projects is an advantage;
Experience in working closely with Government counterparts in least developed countries is an advantage;
Experience in managing projects financed by climate change adaptation vertical fund (AF, LDCF or SCCF) is an advantage;
The incumbent should have excellent command of MS Office suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point);
The proven ability to lead and manage a large team and to plan and organize work productively with the team as well as strong communication, facilitation and coordination skills will be considered an advantage;
Experience of working in multinational teams;
Knowledge of the Adaptation Fund and related UNFCCC and COP-decisions will be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Excellent command of written and spoken English;
Myanmar language skills are highly desirable;
A second UN language is desirable.

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 not be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here:
http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx”.