Antecedentes
The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is a €13.1 million capacity building program that aims to build the profile, and improve the management, of Neglected Development Minerals (industrial minerals; construction materials; dimension stones; and semi-precious stones). The program is an initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, financed by the European Commission and UNDP, and implemented by UNDP. The mining of Neglected Development Minerals has important implications for sustainable development, however, they have not to date received adequate attention for their potential to impact livelihoods and few development programmes have provided support for this mining sub-sector. Often referred to as Low Value Minerals and Materials (LVMM) due to their low price as a function of their weight, and their relatively low value to international commodity markets, Neglected Development Minerals provide crucial inputs for domestic economic development (infrastructure, manufacturing, construction and agriculture to name a few) and have the potential to be high value in terms of domestic development.
In comparison to the metals sector, Neglected Development Minerals have closer links with the local economy, and have the potential to generate more local jobs, with a greater impact on poverty reduction. The sector, however, commonly operates in an uncertain legal and regulatory environment, with a lack of publicly available and easily accessible geological data, which exacerbates wasteful exploration and discourages investment in the sector. Furthermore, the weak or often non-existent technical extension services such as skills training, capacity building, access to technology, finance, appropriate equipment, investment information and markets, contributes to the neglect of the sector.
Programme implementation and management
The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme will build the capacity of key stakeholders in the sector, including public stakeholders such as regulatory agencies and local governments; private stakeholders such as small-scale mining enterprises, intermediaries, transportation and logistics service providers, construction companies; business development stakeholders such as mining and quarrying associations, chambers of mines, training centres, universities, consulting companies; and social stakeholders such as civil society organizations and community groups.
The Programme is being implemented at both the regional and country level. At the regional level, the programme conducts capacity building activities for forty countries from the six African, Caribbean and Pacific sub-regions, through regional training workshops, guidance products and knowledge exchange.
Training and support will be provided in the following thematic areas of importance to the sector:
- Mine and quarry management;
- Environment, health and safety;
- Entrepreneurship skills;
- Market analysis and investment promotion;
- Geo-data and maps design;
- Community relations and addressing grievances.
At the country level, in-depth capacity building is undertaken with six focus countries: Cameroon (Central Africa); Uganda (East Africa); Zambia (Southern Africa); Guinea Conakry (West Africa); Jamaica (Caribbean); and Fiji (Pacific).
Activities and support at the country-level include:
- Training and capacity building workshops;
- Small grants and partnership building to upgrade value chains;
- Studies, sector capacity assessments, and capacity development roadmaps;
- Organization of public-private dialogues;
- Production of maps and databases;
- Strengthening of regulations on environment, health and safety;
- Organizing community engagement meetings and dialogues to address grievances;
- Organization of technology fairs and networking events.
A Country Coordinator/ Project Officer will be employed to support the implementation of activities at the country level for each of the six focus countries. The Coordinator / Project Officer will be contracted by UNDP and work closely with relevant government agencies, institutions and non-governmental organisations.
Deberes y responsabilidades
Under the direct supervision of Assistant Resident Representative for Poverty Reduction and reporting to the Programme Manager/Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme (UNDP-Brussels); the Project Coordinator will have the following responsibilities:
The Project will provide technical, policy, programmatic, operations, knowledge management and partnerships support in the focus country as follows:
Technical and operational support:
- Responsible for the day-to-day delivery of country-level activities for the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme;
- Responsible for country-level oversight and quality assurance of programmatic activities;
- Support the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme team in delivering training and capacity building activities.
Policy and Programme support:
- Provide support in the identification, development and design of country-level studies, sector capacity assessments, and capacity development roadmaps;
- Provide support in organizing country-level policy dialogues aimed at strengthening regulations on environment, health and safety as well as public-private dialogues to strengthen value chains;
- Provide support in organizing community dialogues to address grievances related to the mining of Neglected Development Minerals;
- Monitor the quality of small grant proposals and projects with in-country partners.
Knowledge management and Partnerships support:
- Provide support to the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme’s knowledge management networks and portal, including by convening online training participant alumni activities;
- Assist in the drafting of training/workshop proceedings, lessons learned and emerging best practices reports, annual progress reports and other knowledge products;
- Provide support to the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme team in building strategic alliances and partnerships at the country level on the programme’s thematic focus areas;
- Take the lead in organizing technology fairs and networking events at the country-level.
Competencias
Core Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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;
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment;
- Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, achieving results;
- Ability to work well in teams;
- Excellent organizational and coordination skills;
- Capable of managing several tasks simultaneously.
Functional Competencies:
- Knowledge of and ability to apply programme management methodologies, standards and tools;
- Knowledge in the field of sustainable development, extractive industries (particularly small-scale mining), natural resources and value chain development;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building networks and partnerships;
- Very strong analytical and writing abilities;
- Knowledge of the ability to apply UNDP and EU rules and regulations is an asset.
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
Education:
- Master’s Degree in economics and development planning, public administration and policy planning, development studies, or natural resource management;
- Additional qualifications in communications and knowledge management is an advantage.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years relevant professional experience is required;
- Experience in the implementation of programmes/projects on sustainable development, extractive industries, natural resource management, value chain development and/or small-scale mining is desired;
- Experience in communications and knowledge management is desired;
- Field experience is desired.
Language:
- Very good command of spoken and written English is required;
- Fluency in additional UN languages is an added advantage.