UNDP Jobs - 49839- Project Manager – Mainstreaming Climate Change Ada

Project Manager – Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Development Planning in Thailand (MADRiD)

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

30-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-9

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year (Renewable subject to good performance and availability of funds)

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

Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Development in Thailand (MADRiD) is an integrated multi-sectoral and multi-donor initiative that aims to integrate both disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in national and sub-national development policies, plans and budget. The project is built on two recent UNDP projects implemented with the Royal Thai Government, “Strengthening the Capacity of Vulnerable Coastal Communities to Address the Risk of Climate Change and Extreme Events” and “Strengthening Disaster Management Capacities in Thailand” and extends the already existing UNDP’s support, taking into account both CCA and DRR using an area-based approach and a single project implementation structure to ensure greater coherence, synergy and cost-effectiveness. Ultimately the Project’s impact will be to enhance National development processes towards climate and disaster resilience and environmental sustainability.

With the goal of contributing to overall CP/UNDAF outcome “Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction mainstreamed by key line ministries into their sectorial and provincial plans, policies and budget”, the project is focused on achievement of four key objectives: (i) To ensure that disaster and climate risk information is available and accessible for effective decision-making; (ii) To equip national and provincial governments with skills, tools and methodologies for mainstreaming DRR/CCA into development policies, plans and budgets; (iii) To develop and implement social innovations for disaster resilience by promoting active participation of the at-risk communities as well as public private partnership for disaster risk reduction; (iv) To design and implement pilot projects to increase resilience to disasters and climate change in two selected cities.

With financial contributions from Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery-UNDP (BCPR-UNDP), Global Environment Facility/Special Climate Change Fund (GEF/SCCF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), public and private sectors the project will be implemented by UNDP through a Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) with the Office of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of the Royal Government Thailand as Senior Beneficiaries while Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), ChangeFusion, and ThaiPBS will act as Responsible Parties.

The Project Manager is to work closely with Senior Beneficiaries, responsible parties, other cooperating partners and project colleagues to ensure the overall smooth implementation of the Project in line with planned Project objectives and outcomes. S/he will provide strategic support as needed to the Project, particularly to ensure strong engagement from national and provincial stakeholders. The Project Manager will report to UNDP Thailand’s Programme Specialist and work closely with the Programme Analyst in the Governance and Social Advocacy Team. S/He will work closely also with the UNDP Thailand’s Inclusive Green Growth and Sustainable Development Team, and the Project Board which approves all project plans and revisions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Functions: The Project Manager is a full-time project-funded personnel to manage and provide project-related advisory service to ensure project’s strategic direction. S/he will ensure that the project produces the results to the required standard of quality and within the specified time and budget. S/he will work closely with UNDP, Senior Beneficiaries - namely NESDB and DDPM - the Responsible Parties, other government agencies, private-sector actors, and other key stakeholders to ensure effective advocacy, coordination and oversight. S/he will take lead in executing project’s strategies, implementing project outputs, and making sure that the work of this project will result in broad national recognition of UNDP’s engagement in the field of DRR/CCA.

Technical and Coordination Support:

Keep abreast of DRR/CCA policies and plans as well as related information, knowledge, and developments;
Provide project’s strategic direction and technical advice to Senior Beneficiaries and responsible parties with regard to disaster risk management/climate change adaptation policy, planning, and practices especially in the area on risk assessment, mainstreaming DRR/CCA in development planning, development of DRR/CCA innovations that will ensure effective implementation of the project;
Coordinate and ensure synergies between Senior Beneficiaries, Responsible Parties, UNDP Thailand’s Governance and Social Advocacy Team and Inclusive Green Growth and Sustainable Development Team;
Ensure the coordination of activities implemented to achieve the project’s objectives;
Facilitate communications and advocacy of the project results;
Establish a good relationship with stakeholders, RTG agencies, media, private sector, donors and UN agencies in implementing the programme;
Determine the best use of resources and technical expertise based on best practices, cost and timing considerations; and
Identify potential source of funding, and assisting with preparation of funding proposals and briefings in support of project implementation.

Planning:

Organize joint planning meetings involving the Senior Beneficiaries, Responsible Parties, UNDP and other relevant parties to develop annual and quarterly work plans and corresponding budget plans with clearly stated milestones contributing to the achievement of target outputs defined in the Project Document;
Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets for the achievement project results; and
Design and formulate work plans and budget plans in close consultation with UNDP based on the operational and strategic conditions.

Implementation:

Mobilise competent national and international experts as needed;
Prepare and process Terms of Reference (ToR) in consultation with UNDP and/or the Senior Beneficiaries for required inputs (individual and institutional consultancy services, the procurement of goods, organization of training, seminars, etc.) with expert technical support as required;
Lead the Project Team and analyse the performance of consultants and Responsible Parties in delivering individual outputs as described in their ToRs/agreements under the specific project outputs;
Follow-up and ensure that required inputs are processed in a timely and transparent manner and attest to the timeliness of submission and the quality of goods and services procured for the project; and
Review project resource requirements and provide inputs to UNDP on the need for budget adjustments and possible revisions.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

Monitor project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budget plans;
Monitor activities implemented by project partners;
Provide inputs by analysing project resource requirements if there is a need for budget adjustments and possible revisions; and
Liaise with the Senior Beneficiaries, Responsible Parties and UNDP on the conduct of project evaluation.

Reporting and Audit:

Prepare project progress reports (quarterly and annual / financial and substantive) against set targets and indicators, with an analysis of evidence of progress towards planned outputs according to schedules, budgets, and inputs provided by the project;
Prepare the project report, with an analysis of progress towards expected results as defined in the Project Document and subsequent work plans and budgets. Together with UNDP, organize the final project review meeting;
Establish and maintain a systematic filing system of key documents (hard and soft copies) in line with audit requirements;
Assist UNDP Programme Officer in closing Project operationally and financially in accordance of rules and regulations of UNDP and in close coordination with the Senior Beneficiaries and Responsible Parties;
Liaise with UNDP on the conduct of project audit and ensure access by auditors to project documentation, personnel and institutions involved in the project; and
Ensure that audit recommendations are complied with.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

Technical and Functional

Knowledge, experience, and understanding of the national disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, and development policies and mechanisms as well as translation from policies to practices;
Proven ability to represent UNDP and the UN at high levels in diplomatic and government circles.

Managerial

Proven track record in project implementation, managing and overseeing inter-disciplinary teams;
Ability to perform specialized tasks related to Results-Based Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of the Project;
Ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with partner organizations, local staff, national, provincial and local government, and other collaborating agencies and donors;
Excellent skills in supervision, coaching and team management with a performance orientation;
Good oral and written communication skills;
Ability to anticipate and understand client needs, formulate clear strategic plans, prioritize interventions, and allocate resources according to priorities;
Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Thai national with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Social Development, Economics, Environment, or a related social science filed, preferably with specialisation in disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction, climate change, and/or sustainable development

Work experience:

7 years for Bachelor’s, or 5 years for Master’s holders, of relevant work experience at the national or international level, with a minimum 3 years of which dealing with project management;
Experience with interagency coordination in national and local governments and UN agencies as well as experience in working with NESDB and DDPM will be an advantage;
Experience in engaging with private sector, media and/or civil society organizations especially in innovative ideas for social development is an advantage;
Familiar with UNDP systems, rules and procedures is an advantage;
Positive track record in resource mobilization and donor liaison is an advantage;
Strong interpersonal, managerial and advocacy skills.

Language requirement:

Fluency in English and Thai, with excellent written and oral communications skills.

Remarks:

Remuneration: Starting THB 1,234,440 per annum