Background

Caribbean region countries share similar economic and sustainable development challenges, including a small population, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, and most importantly, vulnerability to climate change. Given the current condition of the marine environment, most coastal areas have few defences against the raging surfs of hurricanes and tropical storms, and the likely consequences would be significant coastal damage including beach erosion and infrastructure damage. Negative impacts associated to climate change on land, water resources and biodiversity have also been predicted, and ultimately, tourism and agriculture will be negatively impacted by these changes. Meanwhile, Caribbean countries emit such relatively small amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, which mean that they will suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change.

The Government of Japan has been one of leading donors in the target of climate change. Japan has delivered development assistance total of $17.6 billion to vulnerable countries from October 2009 to December 2012 for mitigation and adaptation. The Government of Japan intends to continue its assistance in this area to create enabling environment with a view to formulate a new framework applicable to all Parties by COP 21 in 2015.  Especially, the Government of Japan sees it important to assist Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), and in this context, is interested in establishing a new regional assistance programme for Caribbean and/or CARICOM in the area of climate change under the framework of the Partnership for Peace, Development and Prosperity between Japan and the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership aims to support countries in advancing the process of low-emission risk-resilient development by improving energy security and integrating medium to long-term planning for adaptation to climate change. In the pursuit of this objective, the initiative will support policy innovation through the development of a number of NAMAs and NAPs that will help guide Caribbean countries towards a green, low-emission and climate-resilient development pathway. The initiative will then also support the implementation of actual technology that is both low-emission and advances climate risk management, including demonstration in the target countries. The programme will strengthen institutional and technical capacities in selected countries for iterative development of comprehensive NAMAs and NAPs that are country-driven, and based on existing national/sub-national development priorities, strategies and processes. Each country will be able to tailor the specific assistance it will receive as informed by its priorities and needs.

UNDP wishes to engage a Project Associate with a strong financial and project administration background and who can quickly and effectively facilitate and support project implementation with relevant country and regional counterparts in the Caribbean.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the JCCCP Project Manager based in Barbados, the Project Associate will help to achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1: NAMAs and NAPs to promote alternative low emission and climate resilient technologies that can support energy and adaptation in Agriculture and Water sectors are formulated and institutionalised

Output 1.1. Technical support towards national and sub-national institutional and coordination arrangements in Caribbean countries to support the formulation of national roadmaps on the NAP process, including elements for monitoring the progress of their implementation.

Output 1.2. National teams are trained in the use of tools, methods and approaches to advance the NAP process and budgeting.

Output 1.3. Business-as-usual greenhouse gas emission baselines established, and climate change mitigation options for selected sectors relevant for the Caribbean region identified.

Output 1.4. Design and implementation of NAMAs in the Caribbean with MRV systems and NAMA registries in place to monitor their execution.

Outcome 2: Selected mitigation and adaptation technologies transferred and adopted for low emission and climate resilient development in the Caribbean

Output 2.1 Affordable climate-resilient community-based water harvesting, storage and distribution systems designed, built and rehabilitated in selected target areas (e.g. communal reservoirs, rooftop catchment, rainwater storage tanks and conveyance systems)

Output 2.2 Crop diversification practices tested for their ability to improve resilience of farmers to climate change impacts.

Output 2.3 Community-based water capacity and irrigation systems improved or developed to test their ability to raise agricultural productivity.

Output 2.4 Climate resilient agro-pastoral practices and technologies (e.g. water management and soil fertility) demonstrated in selected target areas.

Output 2.5 Small-scale infrastructure implemented to reduce climate change and disaster induced losses

Output 2.6 Energy pilot demonstrations applied to selected adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk management interventions to catalyse low emission climate resilient technology transfer, development and investments in the Caribbean.

Outcome 3 – Knowledge Network created in Caribbean to foster South-South and North-South cooperation through sharing of experiences, and knowledge in the area of climate change

Output 3.1 High level policy events and financial tools to support the implementation of a mitigation actions programs in selected sectors (e.g. fiscal incentives, feed in tariffs, credits and guarantees) and to look at effective practices in NAPs and Community Based Adaptation.

Output 3.2 Communication campaign on the benefits of mitigation and adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk management interventions to catalyse low emission technologies for sustainable cities in island towns and communities

Output 3.3 Japan-Caribbean transfer of technical and process-orientated information on experiences, good practice, lessons and examples of relevance to medium to long-term national, sector and local planning and budgeting processes

Summary of key functions

The Project Associate will be primarily responsible for providing high quality project and administrative, coordination and monitoring support for the implementation of the project. S/he will work with the Project Manager to maintain key strategic and monitoring functions with the UNDP COs, government, and the National Focal Points to coordinate project implementation in line with the objective and outcomes of the JCCCP Project Document.

In order to achieve the above results the Project Associate:

Administration and coordination

• Establishes and maintains project files
• Collects project-related information and data
• Updates work plans and budgets in Atlas
• Administers the quality review process
• Assists in the coordination of project meetings, including Project Board meetings, and administers and provides secretarial support to meetings

Project documentation management

• Administers project revision control
• Establishes document control procedures
• Compiles and distributes all project reports

Project implementation

• Participates in the development and implementation of national activities related to the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership; reviews relevant documents and reports.
• Provides coordination support to consultations and capacity building activities in-country and regionally, including logistics and travel, in coordination with NFPs and UNDP COs.
• Supports the Project Manager in procurement and contract management
• Facilitates the activities of consultants e.g. identifying and coordinating with relevant stakeholders

Financial management, monitoring and reporting

• Assists in the financial management tasks under the responsibility of the Project Manager, including processing approved payments.
• Provides support in the use of Atlas for monitoring and reporting
• Monitors budget expenditures and maintain a proper records of approved project budgets and their revisions.
• Prepares proposals for budget revisions
• Prepares and submit expenditure and programme budget status reports
• Reviews project Financial Reports and prepares non-PO vouchers for project related activities including requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments
• Creates requisitions in ATLAS for project related activities

• Supports activities related to budget planning and monitoring

Other activities

Performs other duties related to the work of the project as required.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
• Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others
• Places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and organising:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance. Associate Degree or equivalent in Business or Public Administration, Management, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences, or a Climate Change related field would be an asset but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• 6 years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme administration is required at the national or international level.
• Experience working on UN and/or Climate Change-related projects is highly desirable.
• Experience in the Caribbean region is desired.
• Demonstrated appreciation of climate change and disaster management issues, and other related sustainable human development issues.
• Demonstrable computer skills including Word processing, spread sheets, PowerPoint.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Suitably qualififed applicants with legal status to work in Barbados (e.g CARICOM Graduate/Skilled National Certificate) are invited to apply. The position will be based in the UNDP Barbados and the OECS Subregional Office in Barbados.

Please remember to also submit your completed Personal History Form (P11) along with your application. You can return to the previous page to obtain the P11 form or click here to download it for completion.