UNDP Jobs - 61398- National Project Coordinator

National Project Coordinator - (Open to Mongolian Nationals only)

Location :

Ulaanbaatar, MONGOLIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

16-Nov-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-10

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with a possibility to extend up to a maximum of 3 years

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Three years

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

The global Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is managed by UNDP, in partnership with the European Commission and the Governments of Flanders, Germany, Norway and Switzerland. The 28 million US$ initiative was launched in October 2012 and will run until the end of 2018, with further support being sought to extend it. UNDP believes a transformation is needed in the way biodiversity finance is planned and managed, unlocking resources to meet the Aichi Targets, defined in the CBD’s Strategic Plan 2011-2020, in a manner that promotes sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.

Guided by a global steering committee representing the partners, BIOFIN aims to develop a methodology for quantifying the biodiversity finance gap at national level, for improving cost-effectiveness through mainstreaming of biodiversity into national development and sectoral planning, and for developing comprehensive national finance strategies. BIOFIN will thus provide a framework for undertaking a transformative process led by national stakeholders, aimed at allowing countries to implement their NBSAPs and other national policies relating to biodiversity, and achieve national biodiversity targets. BIOFIN will feed into the development of NBSAPs, while the NBSAP projects in turn will provide a platform for integration into decision-making processes.

In Mongolia, guided by the global BIOFIN team, the initiative will be working on four components, corresponding to steps 3-7 of the BIOFIN Workbook (preceded by the inception phase):

Component 1: Integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services in sectoral and development policy, planning and budgeting: The first component assists countries to establish a firm baseline of current biodiversity expenditure levels and projections, while reviewing the underlying institutional and policy framework that directs expenditures from public, private, national and international sources. It consists of 2 separate but interrelated activities:

BIOFIN Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) – The first step includes identifying the existing national vision and key trends for biodiversity and sustainable development, mapping sectoral interactions with biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services;
A Biodiversity Finance Expenditure Review (BER) – The expenditure review is based on the institutions identified under the PIR. For each relevant finance actor, both national and international, public and private, budget and expenditure data are collected for the past 5-7 years, identifying biodiversity relevant budgets.

Component 2: Assessing the financing and governance needs for the management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services:

The second component consists of a financial needs assessment, developing projections of the true costs required to reach a country’s national biodiversity goals and fully implementing all activities of the National Biodiversity Strategy’s Action Plan.

Component 3: Developing a new vision, identifying and prioritising a wide range of financing solutions:

Under this component, a national roadmap/plan is developed for future financing of biodiversity, addressing all possible dimensions of finance, including additional resource mobilisation, improving effectiveness of expenditures, avoiding future expenditures and revising policies.

Component 4: Initiate implementation of the finance plan at national level: In Component 4, support is provided to implement one or more priority areas likely to show short term results:

UNDP is seeking a National Project Coordinator for the overall management of in-country activities, ensuring a proper workplan and budget is in place and implemented within set timelines, and to have an effective national team operational.

Organizational Setting

The Coordinator will ensure implementation mechanisms such as a National Steering Committee and technical working groups are established and meet regularly, and to have all planned workshops, technical studies and other activities organised in a timely manner, meeting expected quality standards. Works under general guidance of and report to the global BIOFIN team and accountable to UNDP. Also receives technical advisory inputs from all Participating Countries. The contract and payments will be performance-based and regularly assessed by the UNDP Country Office and BIOFIN Central Technical Unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities of the National Project Coordinator will be:

Management

Assist with the identification and selection of national consultants and experts, in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office and the Global BIOFIN Team and write terms of reference for national BIOFIN team members;
In consultation with the UNDP Country Office and Global BIOFIN Team and supported by the Lead Expert, elaborate/revise the work plan and budget and submit timely for the bi-annual budget revision process (30 June and 31 December of each year);
Supervise the work of national experts and institutions to ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget, and to high quality standards; facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national BIOFIN team;
Oversee the work of the Finance Assistant to ensure administrative requirements are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations;
Organise all relevant project workshops in a consultative manner, involving a wide variety of biodiversity finance stakeholders, including the private sector, NGOs and academia;
Discuss with the Ministries of Finance, Environment and other key stakeholders the establishment of a national Steering Committee and follow up on the formal establishment and regular convening of the Committee, and undertake the same for any other proposed coordination mechanism and write meeting reports;
Ensure a timely identification of risks in implementation at the national level and communication to the global BIOFIN team.
Organise bi-monthly meetings of the national team and monthly calls with the Senior Advisor from the global BIOFIN Team. Ensure participation of national BIOFIN Team members in regional technical calls.

Reporting/Communication/M&E

Signal any delays in national deliverables compared to the workplan to the Team Leader, UNDP Country Office and the Global BIOFIN Team;
Lead project monitoring, reporting and evaluation at national level, draft monthly and quarterly reports for review by the lead expert and submission to the global BIOFIN team;
Develop workshop reports for the inception workshop and all technical workshops;
Develop briefing notes, case studies, press releases, web articles and other media products as required;
Write the section of the inception report on national implementation arrangements;
Assist with research and write sections of technical reports as required;
Review all national level deliverables to ensure quality and consistency with the BIOFIN methodology.

Expected Results/Deliverables:

Detailed BIOFIN Work Plan and budget agreed by all major partners;
National Steering/Advisory Committee formed and operational;
All consultants and team members recruited and delivering to schedule and working relations between team members clarified and effective;
Lines of communication and working methods agreed and functional;
Reporting and updates provided to UNDP, government, etc.;
Planned activities are carried out in line with timelines and required quality standards;
All workshops organised in line with workplan and well documented.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Highly organized person, sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently.
Ability to maintain overview in complex work situations, self-starter;
Able to gather and process data and information;
Excellent interpersonal skills to network among the national team and beyond to other national institutions.
Writes clearly professional correspondence adequately;
Shares knowledge and is willing to provide support to others who request advice or help;
Works toward creative solutions by analysing problems carefully and logically;
Maintains professional relationships with supervisors, co-workers and clients.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

In-depth knowledge and practical experience on a broad range of biodiversity and sustainable development issues, such as: biodiversity management with multiple objectives, biodiversity monitoring and inventory, biodiversity conservation, illegal hunting, habitat conservation, spatial planning, land use, Indigenous Peoples, inequality, gender and community empowerment, drivers of biodiversity loss.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Proven record of working in complex teams and programmes in defining and achieving developmental targets;
Proven capacity to liaise and effectively work with international development agencies and government agencies.

Communication

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Strong interpersonal skills; commitment to team work and to working across disciplines.

Management and Leadership

Strong managerial/leadership and decision-making skills; interpersonal skills; commitment to team work and to working across disciplines and with stakeholders at all levels;
Track record in advising and managing large scale and complex projects related to biodiversity, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation;
Ability to analyse complicated issues, and to generate and communicate solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational requirement:

Master’s degree in environment/natural resource management, biodiversity, economics/finance or a closely related field, or another field combined with relevant work experience.

Experience/knowledge requirement:

At least 5 years of experience, preferably in the implementation of Environment /biodiversity /finance projects;
Prior experience with UNDP projects would be an asset;
Experience in dealing with international and national experts and institutions;
Exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity desirable, but not required;
Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office).

Language requirement:

Proficient in English and Mongolian language, spoken and written.

Computer literacy:

Excellent command of MS Office is essential.

Supervisory responsibility:

All project personnel at the Project Management Unit.