Antecedentes

The Minamata Convention on Mercury, a major international treaty aiming at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic (man-made) releases of mercury and mercury compounds, was signed by the Republic of Mauritius in October 2013.  Mercury is considered as a dangerous pollutant and is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.  It can travel long distances through the oceans and the atmosphere, bio-accumulates in micro-organisms and bio-magnify along the food chain.  Humans are exposed to mercury through emissions in the air and from eating certain foods (mainly marine fish) and this can pose significant health risks.

The Convention, as such, provides for several measures including:

• The Phasing out of mercury added products by 2020 (batteries, thermometers, CFL lamps, pesticides and other measuring devices);
• A Phase down approach for the use of dental amalgam;
• The promotion of Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices for certain processes and industries ( coal fired power plants and industrial boilers, waste incineration facilities and cement production).

In order to enable the Government of Mauritius to determine the national requirements for the ratification of the Minamata Convention and to establish a national foundation to undertake future works towards the implementation of the Convention. Mauritius, in collaboration with the UNDP, has secured the financial assistance of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to carry out a project (2015 – 2017) that will:

• Undertake an assessment of national legislation and policies in regard to the implementation of the Convention;
• Undertake a detailed Mercury Initial Assessment;
• Identify emission sources of mercury and release sources of mercury to land and water; and
• Assess institutional and capacity needs to implement the Convention.

To achieve the projects’ objectives, a Project Manager (PM) is being recruited to oversee the overall management and implementation of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision over project staff, consultants and sub-contractors, in accordance to the National Execution Modality of the UNDP (NEX).  The PM will report to the UNDP Country Office and the National Project Director for all the project’s substantive and administrative issues.  The PM will also report on a periodic basis to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) to which he/she is accountable for the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of the activities carried out, as well as use of funds.  The PM will be technically supported by contracted national and international service providers; recruitment of which will be done by the PM, in consultation with the UNDP and Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management (MOESDDBM).

The Project Steering Committee will serve as the project’s coordination and decision making body and will be chaired by a National Project Director nominated by the MOESDDBM.  The PSC will meet at least on a quarterly basis to review project progress, approve project work plans and major project’s deliverables.  The PSC will also approve at the beginning of each year an Annual Work and Budget Plan to be prepared by the PM.  Furthermore, the PM will also have to submit to the PSC quarterly and annual progress reports which shall act as the main monitoring and reporting mechanism of the project.

Important Note

The Project Manager contract and duties may be extended to other projects in the same GEF Focal Area namely to carry out the development, overall management and implementation a project to review the National Implementation Plan (NIP) of Mauritius under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. The same duties outlined in subsequent sections will also apply to any additional project.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Ensures implementation of project strategies and objectives focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Supervise and coordinate the production of project outputs, as per the project document;
• Mobilize all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures for nationally executed projects;
• Ensure the timely and effective implementation of all components of the project through proper monitoring and evaluation of the project for timely project re-adjustment;
• Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project personnel/service providers;
• Scrutinise and review all the deliverables of the projects including deliverables of the various project personnel recruited under this project;
• Carry regular, announced and unannounced inspections of all sites concerned with the project;
• Provide all inputs required in the development of new projects in the Chemicals focal area and in resource mobilisation.

Ensures effective management of the Project for proper implementation as per the Project document achieving the following:

• Prepare and revise project work and financial plans, as required by UNDP, and support the operational and financial planning processes;
• Oversee and ensure timely submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, GEF and other oversight agencies;
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of progress reports, and monitor all project activities, budgets and financial expenditures;
• Assist in the preparation of payments requests for operational expenses, salaries, insurances etc as well as follow up on timely disbursements by the UNDP CO;
• Maintain project correspondence and communication;
• Assist in logistical organisation of meetings, training and workshops;
• Prepare agendas, make necessary arrangement for the PSC meetings and other internal and external meetings related to the project and write the minutes of those meetings accordingly;
• Maintain a proper inventory of all project’s equipment;

Ensures coordination with Project Steering Committee and other stakeholders focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Liaise with UNDP, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities;
• Disseminate project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders;
• Report progress of project to the Project Steering Committee, and ensure the fulfilment of PSC’s directives.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Promote knowledge management, document best practices and lessons learned from project implementation, and facilitate dissemination in appropriate format to relevant stakeholders;
• Ensure strategic partnership by liaising with project partners, donor organisations, NGO’s and other stakeholders for effective implementation and coordination of project activities;
• Support liaison with key partner institutions engaged in complementary national programs and initiatives.

Ensures through the supervision of the Project Personnel and service providers that the various components of the projects are properly being undertaken:

• Supervise and coordinate the work of all project staff, consultants and sub-contractors;
• Facilitate administrative backstopping (support) to project staff, consultants and sub-contractors and to training activities supported under the project;
• Advise all project counterparts on applicable administrative procedures and ensure their proper implementation;
• Provide support and technical assistance to all project staff, consultants and sub-contractors as and when required through substantive analysis and inputs.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
• In-depth knowledge on development issues;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
• Strong IT skills;
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:        

• A postgraduate degree in Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Economics, Social Sciences or other related disciplines.

Experience:                       

• At least 2 years of experience in the area of chemicals management in a policy context;
• A minimum of 2 years project/programme management experience;
• Experience with GEF Funded projects/programmes is also desirable.
• Practical working experience with the project’s national stakeholder institutions and agencies;
• Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multi-stakeholder project;
• Ability to administer budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
• Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
• Strong computer skills;
• Excellent written communication skills;

Language:         

• Fluency in English (written & spoken) and French.

Mode of Application:

• Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through UNDP jobs website: http://jobs.undp.org or www.mu.undp.org (under Operations);
• Please ensure that you upload the Personal History Form – P11 (available at www.mu.undp.org under Operations/Jobs) and your CV as one attachment in the relevant field of the on-line application; Please merge all your documents (CV + P11 form) into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one (1) document;
• You are required to provide the exact titles of your degrees/qualifications (as per certificates) in the Personal History Form and CV.
• Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration;
• Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted;
• Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Important Note:

The Project Manager contract and duties may be extended to other projects in the same GEF Focal Area namely to carry out the development, overall management and implementation a project to review the National Implementation Plan (NIP) of Mauritius under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. The same duties outlined in subsequent sections will also apply to any additional project.

UNDP reserves the right to call the best qualified candidates and not to make any appointment following this advertisement.