UNDP Jobs - 58941- LME:LEARN Chief Technical Advisor

LME:LEARN Chief Technical Advisor

Location :

Paris, FRANCE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated November 1, 2015 – October 31, 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 250 working days

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

A Global Environment Facility (GEF) LME:LEARN project for generating, learning and sharing knowledge among GEF Large Marine Ecosystem projects and practitioners and related coastal and marine initiatives is being implemented to establish a dynamic global support network for the GEF LME and ICM (Integrated Coastal Management) projects. This will increase the capacity of participating nation States to realise adaptive ecosystem-based management and governance and to deliver on the requirements of the GEF-6 Strategy. A coordination unit or Secretariat will be established with the scientific and technical capacity to interact with relevant UN and non UN entities at global and regional scales, to coordinate the network and experience sharing and learning partners, and to provide oversight in the delivery of coherent development assistance to nation States.

The project will also operate in close synergy with the parallel project, the UNDP/UNEP-GEF “International Waters: Learning Exchange And Resources Network” or IW:LEARN (a project that will strengthen knowledge management capacity and promote scaled-up learning of disseminated experiences, tools and methodologies for transboundary waters management—across and beyond the GEF IW portfolio, together with a global network of partners in order to improve the effectiveness of GEF IW and partner projects to deliver tangible results and scaled-up investments).

The projects will hire staff resources and manage activities within a shared project coordination unit (PCU). Key knowledge needs will be identified, relevant information synthesized and user-friendly materials developed and shared through interactive discussions with policy-makers at local to global levels. In order to provide strategic guidance to the LME:LEARN project implementation a Technical and Policy-level project Steering Committee will be established to govern the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within the PCU, a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be contracted to support the LME:LEARN project. A consultant will provide technical support with project activities of the Global LME:LEARN Project based on the UNDP-GEF LME:LEARN Project Document. The CTA will be part of a multi-disciplinary PCU shared with GEF IW:LEARN, including staff and consultants from various partner organizations.

He/she shall liaise directly with, report to, and work under the supervision of the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor (and the UNDP-GEF IW:LEARN Project Manager), who will contribute to the day-to-day implementation of the project.

He/she shall liaise directly with the GEF LME:LEARN project partners and representatives of the GEF in order to coordinate the annual work plan for the project. The work plan will provide guidance on implementation of the project document and on the integration of the various co-financed partner initiatives. The CTA will have responsibility for strategic aspects of the project, particularly the technical quality of the project’s activities. He/she shall be responsible for helping prepare substantive, managerial and financial reports from the Project, in close support of the overall Project Manager.

The CTA will be guiding and leading external policy relations. He/she shall consult with, and coordinate closely with, the project Steering Committee, Technical Advisory Groups, senior representatives of partner agencies as well as the respective GEF LME/MPA/ICM project managers and GEF IW:LEARN Project Manager. The CTA will apply his/her expertise in ecosystem-based management, coastal management, and ocean governance, GEF LME and similar projects (e.g. ICM and MPA), information technology, structured learning, capacity development and project management to maintain the project’s overall integrity and coherence.

The CTA is responsible for the following activities:

Provide technical expertise to all Global LME:LEARN project activities;
Ensure project progress and impact through liaisons with its GEF LME/MPA/ICM stakeholders and partners and through overseeing partners’ quality and timely delivery of activity deliverables, according to the project workplan and within that activity’s budget;
Liaise, consult and network with appropriate regional and global partner organizations, other relevant IW-related environmental and/or sustainable development programs;
Ensure consistency between the various project elements and related activities provided or funded by other donor organizations;
Support the further development of the Global LME:LEARN website in coordination with IW:LEARN and incorporating data and information from all project partners;
Support the identification, synthesis and dissemination of lessons-learned across the GEF LME/MPA/ICM portfolio, as well as the communication of relevant knowledge and information
Coordinate and liaise with GEF IW:LEARN project coordination unit members on shared activities, specifically including all training and twinning activities;
Develop and maintain, in consultation with Partners, strategic plan for attaining and sustaining benefits of Global LME:LEARN products and services to its target community;
In close support of the Program Coordinator, he/she will: a) Develop agendas in discussion with partners for the Steering Committee (SC) meetings and prepare all technical background documentation in consultation with partners; b) Act as secretariat for the SC and annual LME Partnership (formal Consultative Committee) Meeting; c) Overseeing the development and management of all M&E requirements.
Coordinate and oversee the preparation of the substantive and technical reports, as well as delivery of outputs from all project activities to the SC;
Report to individual SC members or their designees regarding technical issues as they relate to the activities overseen by their respective agencies; to the SC Chair regarding strategic or project-wide issues; and to the UNDP-GEF regional technical advisor for this project regarding any administrative matters;
Promote the Project and seek opportunities to leverage additional co-funding; and,
Represent the Project at meetings and other project-related fora, as required (and designated by the Program Coordinator).

Travel:

All mission/work related travel expenses will be supported and arranged by the associated by the LME:LEARN project.

Information on Working Arrangements:

The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
A monthly progress report will be required to be shared with the Supervisor, on the Status of the Portfolio;
Due to the demand-driven nature of a number of activities, and different peak-periods, monthly deliverables will be reassessed and agreed upon with the Supervisor;
Payments will be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet submission providing details of time spent on respective deliverables, their timely execution and acceptance by the Supervisor.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Abilities to coordinate well with diverse individuals and teams and to negotiate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve results;
Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN agencies;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to lead a team;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
Excellent communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

Masters in coastal and/or marine environmental sciences or related field. Postgraduate university degree is an asset. (Criteria A - max 9 pts.).

Experience:

At least ten years of experience in fields relevant to capacity development in marine science, ecosystem-based management, strategic planning, project implementation, project monitoring and evaluation. (Criteria B – max 9 pts.);
At least five years of experience at a senior project management level including in developing countries or economies in transition. (Criteria C – max 7 pts.);
Experience in capacity-development and/or knowledge management, including planning, design, preparation and delivery of capacity-development programs or activities, experience with application of knowledge management approaches and services, in particular with the synthesis of lessons-learned and their dissemination. (Criteria D – max 6 pts.).

Language skills:

English is the working language for this assignment, therefore excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required;
Ability to communicate effectively in French or Spanish is an asset. (Criteria E – max 6 pts.)

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job based on the P11 desk review will be invited for an interview. Only those candidates who obtained at least 70% of points in each step of the process technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) will be considered for financial proposal evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A – Masters in coastal and/or marine environmental sciences or related field. Postgraduate university degree is an asset (max points: 9);
Criteria B – Ten years of experience in fields relevant to capacity development in marine science, ecosystem-based management, strategic planning, project implementation, project monitoring and evaluation (max points: 9);
Criteria C – Five years of experience at a senior project management level including in developing countries or economies in transition (max points: 7);
Criteria D – Experience in capacity-development and/or knowledge management, including planning, design, preparation and delivery of capacity-development programs or activities, experience with application of knowledge management approaches and services, in particular with the synthesis of lessons-learned and their dissemination (max points: 6);
Criteria E - Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Ability to communicate effectively in French or Spanish is an asset (max points: 6);
Criteria F - interviews: max 33 points.

Interview areas:

Experience with the Ecosystem-Based Approach to Fisheries (Max. 11 pts.);
Experience with the Five-Module Approach, in particular and understanding of basic concepts underpinning the Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems (Integrated Coastal Management and Marine Protected Areas desirable) (Max. 11 pts.);
Experience with basic approaches and techniques of knowledge-management, partnership-building and capacity-strengthening (Max. 11 pts.).

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, daily rate, travel to join duty station/repatriation travel, etc.).
Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, living costs, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). Travel to join duty station/repatriation travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. Mission travel, when required, will be cover separately (as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents).
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.