UNDP Jobs - 10952- Team Leader (Governance of Environmental Resources

Team Leader (Governance of Environmental Resources and Risks Programme)

Location :

Abuja, NIGERIA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2009

Application Deadline :

06-Jul-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

ICS-10 (NO-C)

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director and the direct supervision of Deputy Country Director, Programmes (DCD-P), the Team Leader (TL) acts as the principal manager and advisor on all aspects of the Nigeria Country Office’s (CO’s) environment programme. The main role of the TL is to enable the successful delivery, monitoring and evaluation of a high quality UNDP-assisted environment portfolio that achieves planned results, develop or strengthen strategic partnerships with domestic and external parties, mobilise resources, build and share knowledge and effectively lead and manage the Environment Team in UNDP. The TL also ensures that environment programme interventions respond creatively to emerging challenges and opportunities. While undertaking strategic planning and positioning of the environment programme, the TL ensures that the CO’s assistance is consistent with the UN and UNDP response to national development policies and goals, as set out in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the UNDP Country Programme (CP) and the UNDP Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP).

To successfully implement the Governance of Environmental Resources and Risks Programme (GERRP), the TL works in close collaboration with other programme teams, the Planning and Partnerships Unit (PPU), the Programme Finance Team (PFT), the Operations Unit, the Service Centre and UNDP central and regional units and staff. In addition, the TL also collaborates with the UN system through UN theme groups and with government officials, donors, the private sector and civil society organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Development of a strategic and substantially expanded UNDP environment portfolio
Technical leadership in policy analysis and advocacy on environmental issues
Provision of top quality policy advisory services to the Government and other partners
Forging of strategic partnerships
Resource mobilization from a wide variety of sources
Knowledge creation and management on environmental issues
Effective communication on UNDP’s environment-focused work in Nigeria
Management of the GERRP and the Environment Team

1. As a member of the CO Expanded Management Team, ensures the strategic direction of the GERRP focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Strategic positioning of UNDP as a credible and respected partner in the areas covered by the GERRP.
UNDP leadership in rigorous, technically up-to-date assessment, analysis and advocacy on environmental issues especially as they relate to environmental governance and climate change.
Identification of strategic and innovative areas of cooperation in order to grow the UNDP environment portfolio.
Contribution to programme development for the UN system and UNDP in identified and emerging areas of work (UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, specific programmes and projects).

2. Provides high quality, evidence-based advisory services to Government and other partners focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Timely, high quality inputs to development of policy, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as programmes of capacity development, especially on climate change, using CO and Headquarters resources as well as expertise sourced from within and outside Nigeria.
A leading position for UNDP in research and policy analysis on climate change issues as they relate to Nigeria.
Timely access to sources of information relating to policy and capacity development in areas covered by the GERRP, focused particularly on climate change, covering the latest research on substantive areas of work (impacts, approaches to mitigation and adaptation), financing sources and techniques, lessons learned and best practices.
Development of networks of leading edge expertise from within and outside Nigeria to advise on and back-stop UNDP-assisted programmes.
Sound contributions to UNDP and non-UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.

3. Ensures effective management of the GERRP and supervision of the Environment Team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the programme, tracking the use of financial and human resources as well as physical assets in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.
Coordination of programme implementation with financing, executing and implementing partners.
Initiation of programmes and projects and their appraisal, management of the GERRP project tree in the ATLAS ERP system, finalization of donor contribution agreements as well as government cost-sharing contributions, determination of required revisions, coordination of mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, and closure of projects through review.
Effective performance of Manager level 1 responsibilities in Atlas for POs and voucher approval.
Effective and timely recruitment of consultants and longer-term project or CO staff.
Financial and substantive monitoring, reporting and analysis of the programme environment and of UNDP-assisted programmes and projects and timely readjustment in portfolio. Evaluation of programme outcomes and, if possible, impact. Identification of operational and financial problems and development of solutions.
Thorough and timely follow up to audits of nationally and directly executed (NIM, DIM) projects.
Identification, codification and dissemination of lessons learned from UNDP-assisted programmes.

4. Pro-actively identifies and develops strategic partnerships with a wide range of key players to buttress policy analysis and advocacy and mobilise resources, with the following results:

On-going scanning of the Government, donor (bilateral and multilateral), other major international partner (such as the Global Environment Facility/GEF), private sector and civil society priorities and investments (current or planned) in areas of interest to GERRP e.g. frameworks and strategies for sustainable development, climate change risk management, effective water governance, access to energy services and sustainable land management.
Leadership in enabling Nigeria to access current or new sources of international financing on climate change, in particular though not exclusively, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Provision of regular analysis to CO senior management on the operating environment, opportunities for partnerships and possible partnership strategies.
Forging of strong, results-oriented relationships with Government agencies, donors, other major international partners such as the GEF, the private sector and civil society.

5. Undertakes information, education and communication on UNDP’s engagement on environmental issues in Nigeria with the following results:

A high level of awareness and appreciation for UNDP’s work on environmental issues among target groups such as senior and mid-ranking Government officials, donors, and the private sector.
Use of effective strategies for reaching communications targets in collaboration with the UNDP Communications Unit.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP
Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies

(i) Technical

Exhibits a good knowledge of development policy analysis with emphasis on the linkages between economic, democratic and environmental governance;
Displays a good understanding of environmental resource management, climate change risk, biodiversity and energy issues;
Able to develop and coordinate UN environmental initiatives and applies all relevant international conventions;
Able to link environment into human development and mainstream environment into the national development agenda;
Demonstrates knowledge on best practices in environmental governance, climate change risk management, energy efficiency and sustainable diversification of energy sources, biodiversity conservation and protection etc.

(ii) Development and operational effectiveness

Able to lead strategic planning, results-based management and related monitoring, reporting and evaluation;
Able to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions, manage transactions, and conduct financial delivery analysis;
Able to mobilize resources and undertake cost recovery;
Able to implement new systems and effect behavioural or attitudinal change

(iii) Leadership and management

Able to build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and results for clients and responds positively to feedback;
Demonstrates openness to change and is able to manage complexities;
Possesses positive and constructive attitudes to work.

(iv) Knowledge management and learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal examples, including sharing knowledge and experience and contributing to and encouraging staff to actively contribute to UNDP practice areas;
Prioritizes continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plans and applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or its equivalent in Environmental Science, Natural/Geo-Sciences or a relevant social or natural science.

Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant experience at national or international level at progressively higher levels of responsibility in providing development management services with particular reference to design and management of environmental policies and programmes.
A background in dealing with issues of climate change will be a major advantage as will significant exposure to international environmental funds such as the GEF and CDM.
Knowledge of and experience with environmental governance initiatives will be an asset.
Complete familiarity with basic software (MS Office) is required. Knowledge of and skills relating to specialised software (such as GIS, database applications) will be a plus.

Language requirements:

Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
Ability to communicate in at least one local Nigerian language is expected.