Historique

The UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Apia covers four Pacific island countries (Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau), and manages regional programs for 10 additional countries. The new UN programmatic framework (2013-2017) covers 14 Pacific countries through a Sub-Regional Programme Document for Pacific Island Countries. Most of MCO is focused in climate change and environment (CC&E, about 90 percent of the total budget), although the office also provides significant support in poverty eradication and governance.

The MCO’s portfolio has a large portfolio of about US$85million. The Climate Change and Environment unit (CC&E) Unit which include  over about 18 small and large projects, manages about US$75 million of this. The ultimate objective of UNDP’s Unit is to have a positive impact for the sustainable use of natural resources and resilience to climate change. Financial oversight, effective strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation is critical to ensure the successful implementation of projects and to further develop the portfolio. Management and coordination is also gradually moving from a project-based approach to a wider approach where several sectors are considered under one project, in order to have stronger impact, more results, and more efficient management of resources.

The Samoa Multi-Country Office has about 40 staff, consisting of regular staff, consultants, United Nations volunteers and interns. The UNDP office is located on a compound shared with FAO, UN Women and UNESCO. WHO and UNEP also have offices in Samoa, although not located in the same compound as UNDP. The head of unit will manage a staff of 7 people, of which five national staff and two international consultants.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager and the Deputy Resident Representative, the Head of CC&E Unit acts as a manager of and advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of the CC&E portfolio, including its continued monitoring of implementation. The Head of CC&E Unit leads the CC&E programme team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with the priorities of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Sub-Regional Programme Document (SRPD) and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The Head of CC&E Unit works in close collaboration with other colleagues from the Management and Operations teams in the MCO, Programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensuring the strategic direction of UNDP programme
• Management of the MCO CC&E programme and supervision of the CC&E team
• Strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization
• Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management 

As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of strategic UNDP documents;
• Identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation and possibilities for joint programming;
• Monitor progress and financial status, as well as provide technical support to the projects in the CC&E unit, of which a large part focus on adaptation activities, such as shoreline/coastal protection measures, flood monitoring and adaptation, early warning system, water management/water system, community based adaptation and climate resilient infrastructure;
• Build national capacity within climate change adaptation and mitigation, especially focusing on cooperation with educational institutions to increase levels of expertise in Samoa especially, but also the other countries under the Samoa parish, will be a key priority for the head of the environment unit;
• Monitor the implementation of activities in the projects, review and input to quarterly and annual reports, support and input to mid-term and final evaluations;
• Work closely with the implementing partners and key stakeholders for the unit projects, such as the Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Women and the Samoa Tourism Authority, the Cook Islands office of the Prime Minister and the CKI National Environment Service, the Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau and the Niue Ministry of Natural Resources;
• Provide advice on project implementation, in particular identification or of risk in implementation of activities, management of funds, progress towards project targets and capacity development of implementing partners;
• Follow the budgets and expenditure status of the projects, and support processes like budget revisions, financial closure, and identify problems or irregularities;
• Provide solutions and guidance to improve project quality, ensure timely delivery of project outputs and outcomes and ensure that UNDP rules and regulations are followed in the implementation of the abovementioned projects, exploring potential efficiency gains and innovative approaches.

 Ensures effective management of the COMCO’s CC&E programme and supervision of the Programme team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

• Use result based management tools to reach of management targets and monitor achievement of results;
• Translates UNDP priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the CC&E programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. The incumbent will perform the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for development projects transactions approval;
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme;
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
• Project and donor reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes;
• In consultation with the Resident Representative and the management team, the Head of CC&E Unit is responsible for recruitment, performance and career management and supervision of UNDP programme and project staff to motivate and promote organizational excellence. The person will also promote collaboration across units in the office.

Builds strategic partnerships and mobilizes resources focusing on the following results:

• Partnerships and resources mobilization to achieve programme outcomes;
• Partners with the UN Agencies, international finance institutions, government, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc;
• Determine programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Support the development of specific project proposals for environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation, in collaboration with government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders;
• Assist in the provision of technical advice on funding sources, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Adaptation Fund (AF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other development partners;
• Advocates for UNDP with government counterparts, donor community, international financial institutions and the UN.

    Provides top quality advice and knowledge focusing on the following results:

• Using best practices and lessons learned to implement programme country policy goals;
• Coordination of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs related to environment and climate change in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Promote sharing of results, lessons learned and other UNDP stories on the UNDP webpages, in the general media and in social media;
• Organization of trainings for the staff in the unit;
• Promote awareness of the goals and results of UNDP, the Global Environment Facility and the projects related to CC&E towards donors, government and other stakeholders through UNDP websites, newsletters and other information channels;
• Work with the communications advisor in the office on information and advocacy related to activities within the CC&E project portfolio.

Compétences

Functional Competencies:       

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• 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.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• 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 UNDP’s Goals:

• 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:

• 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;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

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;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Environmental, Political, Social or other Sciences, Development studies, International Development, Economy or related field;
• Prince2 training and certification, RMG.

Experience:

• Master’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience, or, a Bachelor’s degree with 7 years experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
• Experience with managing a unit/division and supervising staff is considered a strong asset;
• Experience with environment project management and the Global Environmental Facility, as well as experience with capacity building/education is considered a strong  asset;
• The candidate must be experienced in the use of computers and online systems.

Language:

• Fluent in English written and verbal;
• Fluency in Samoan is considered an asset.

Note:

• Women candidates are encouraged to apply.