UNDP Jobs - 56907- Technical Specialist

Technical Specialist

Location :

Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

17-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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

REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) is a recent global policy initiative to tackle climate change threats. The main goal of REDD+ is to prevent forest degradation and deforestation, and promote forest conservation through offering results-based payments as financial incentives to developing countries.

In 2008 the World Bank established the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) to specifically address this issue and support countries to develop a REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) and a consecutive REDD+ Strategy, and prepare for effective implementation of proposed activities. Papua New Guinea is also a member of the FCFP Programme seeking to bridge readiness gaps under both the FCPF and the UNREDD Programme through assistance under each Programme. In June 2014 the grant agreement between GoPNG and the World Bank was signed; the project inception workshop took place in March 2015.

UNDP has agreed to be the Delivery Partner for FCPF-RPP in PNG and is now recruiting a Technical Advisor to provide technical oversight to the implementation of the project. The Technical Advisor will be supervised by UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in close collaboration with the National Programme Director. The Technical Advisor will be supported by a National Project Manager. Administrative support will be supplied by the FCPF Team, and where needed by UNDP (e.g. regarding all required support as per letter of agreement between the national partner and UNDP). The individual will provide technical advice to government counterparts, facilitate knowledge building in implementation of the FCPF project, and take in charge of day-to-day management of the delivery of technical support related to project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Support the day-to-day management of the FCPF project through provision of technical advice, including coordination across agencies and with other programmes;
Provide advice to Government counterparts and facilitate knowledge building activities among stakeholders

Under the guidance of the Programme Executive Board, which is co-chaired by the Executive Director of the Office of Climate Change and Development and the UNDP, and under the close supervision of Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP Country Office in PNG and Director of the REDD+ Division of OCCD, and in close coordination with counterparts in the PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA), the Technical Advisor will be responsible for overall operational and financial management and reporting on the implementation of the FCPF project. To achieve this objective, the Technical Advisor will be guided by the Regional Technical Advisor of the UNDP REDD+ Team based in the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok.

Support the OCCD in the day-to-day management of the FCPF project including:

Development of annual and quarterly work plans, budgets and reports;
Provide close and regular technical backstopping to the REDD+ Division Director of OCCD, other members of the FCPF team and other implementing entities for the implementation of various components of the FCPF project;
Review of relevant policies and development of policy frameworks as well as institutional arrangements for REDD+ implementation;
Organization of, and substantive contributions to, high level policy dialogues on the development and implementation of REDD+ in PNG;
Support the REDD+ Division Director of OCCD and other members of the FCPF team in coordinating and supervising activities of national and international experts / consultants to secure timely production of planned outputs and the review of these outputs;
Support the FCPF Project Director, national project manager and stakeholder engagement and communications officer to coordinate and liaise with stakeholders, including line ministries, development partners, civil society and the private sector;
Ensure coordination with other international, regional and national REDD+ initiatives;
Support effective REDD+-related communications and coordination between different government agencies, national and international initiatives and stakeholders.

Provide advice to Government counterparts and facilitate knowledge building focusing on achievement of the following results.
Provide support and technical advice to the development of policy options and strategy for the design and implementation of the FCPF project to the Government of PNG and other development actors including support on the development of:

National REDD+ Strategy development;
REDD+ policy and measures options;
Design and implementation of REDD+ demonstration activities
Grievance redress mechanisms;
National REDD+ fund design and potential REDD+ incentive allocation options;
Other elements of National REDD+ development, as required.

Share knowledge on REDD+ by documenting lessons learnt and best practices from the implementation of the FCPF project and contributing to the development of knowledge based tools (including policies, strategies, guidelines, etc.).

Provide timely quality information and technical advice to the government, UN Country Team, implementing partners, line ministries and other partners to ensure effective development and delivery of the FCPF project.

Coordinate institutional capacity assessments of relevant national, provincial and local entities along the REDD+ supply chain.

Assist in the identification of technical expertise and lead on the preparation of terms of reference, identification and evaluation of experts, and reviewing reports produced.

Support to preparations for UNFCCC and other REDD+-related international and regional negotiations.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Promoting Ethics and Integrity / Creating Organizational Precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, Creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy / Advancing Policy Oriented Agenda - analysis and creation of messages and strategies:

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means;
Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

Building Strategic Partnerships: Identifying and building partnerships:

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to the UN’s mandate and strategic agenda related to REDD+;
Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to FCPF’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen FCPF’s mandate;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.

Innovation and Marketing new Approaches: Developing new approaches:

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing: Developing tools and mechanisms:

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the Subject-matter:

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for FCPF’s Goals: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies:

Creates effective global advocacy messages/strategies;
Contributes to the elaboration of a global advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages;
Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client:

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services;
Uses discretion and flexibility in interpreting rules in order to meet client needs and achieve organizational goals more effectively;
Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or other relevant discipline.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of working experience in forestry (preferably in the REDD+ context), natural resource management, forestry economics and/or policy and local community development, with experience in PNG or the Pacific region preferable;
Experience of working in multinational teams to implement programmes involving multiple stakeholders and different funding and implementing agencies;
Experience of implementing programmes across the UN agencies and across Government are definite advantages;
Experience the REDD+ development and implementation at international, national and local levels;
Knowledge on the UNFCCC negotiations, decisions and guidelines for national systems in the context of REDD+, as well as national and international best practices within REDD+ and other natural resource management initiatives.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English;
Knowledge of Tok Pisin an advantage.