UNDP Jobs - 55239- Project Manager for REDD+ Readiness

Project Manager for REDD+ Readiness

Location :

Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz, ETHIOPIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

12-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six months

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

Ethiopia has been in the REDD+ process since 2008. The FCPF grant agreement was signed in October 2012. The national process was officially launched by an inception workshop in January 2013, and effective implementation started in June 2013. Under the responsibility and supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the national REDD+ Secretariat coordinates REDD+ efforts as a tool towards green economy and carbon neutral development target, and implements readiness work with support from the FCPF, Norway and the UK.

The national REDD+ process is part of a national development vision and strategy that is already strongly aligned with environmental and climate concerns. Ethiopia is committed to transforming the country’s economy while achieving a Climate Resilient and Green Economy (CRGE) vision by 2025. On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment and Forests was only created in 2013. So Ethiopia shows a mix of opportunities (awareness of natural and climate vulnerability, political discourse and commitment, mainstreaming efforts…) and challenges (young institutional arrangements for forest management…) that offer a very specific context for implementing REDD+.

The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has requested UN-REDD targeted support through UNDP and UNEP in order to enhance the national REDD+ readiness process, by strengthening capacities of national and regional authorities to understand the multiple values of forests, to drive and coordinate the development of the various REDD+ components, and to design a model for decentralized REDD+ under the UNFCCC Warsaw Framework. This capacity building effort will specifically allow the GoE to:

Better understand and navigate the institutional context and political forces that drive and determine the national REDD+ system
Better assess and advocate for the value of forests as part of national socioeconomic development
Learn from leading countries experiences on institutional arrangements for forest management and leverages to make REDD+ as one of the transformational tools that supports sustainable national development.
Mobilize regional authorities to increase coordinated capacities to attract funding under the UNFCCC framework and engage into the REDD+ investment phase, through nationally coordinated policy and measures.

The fourth objective above refers to assisting a pilot region in Ethiopia with capacity building, REDD+ readiness and moving towards investment. The UN-REDD programme will support the Government of Ethiopia with assisting the REDD+ readiness process in Benshangul Gumuz.

The Benhsangul Gumuz has been selected as the pilot region for UN-REDD support following a robust opportunity and risk assessment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

The project manager support consists in exploring an alternative way to craft and implement REDD+ at the regional level. The approach consists in focusing on policies and measures in support to regional authorities, while relying on and coordinating with national REDD+ architecture and tools to carry out carbon monitoring, reporting, verification, general accounting and access to result-based payments. This support will build regional capacities and set the ground for testing policy approaches and investing in REDD+ to achieve results under the UNFCCC and national REDD+ frameworks.

The project manager mission will be assessed against the delivery of the four following results:

Regional authorities and stakeholders are mobilized, and capacities are strengthened
Deforestation drivers are understood at the regional level, and REDD+ options are framed
Regional needs in terms of REDD+ implementation instruments (SIS, FRL/FREL, NFMS) are coordinated with and embedded in the national REDD+ architecture, and aligned with international UNFCCC guidelines
Needs are assessed and a roadmap towards full regional readiness and transition to investments is formulated

The project manager will lead the preparation and implementation of REDD+ process in the region. He/she will provide managerial and technical guidance for the preparation to REDD+ at the regional level. He/she will plan, provide direction and supervise REDD+ activities in the region. He/she will directly execute some of these activities.

The project manager will be based in Benshagul Gmuz with some missions to Addis Ababa to coordinate with the REDD+ Secretariat and UNDP CO. He/she will be supported by an international technical advisor providing coordination support and technical backstopping. The project manager, with support from the international advisor, will carry out the following activities:

Facilitating the regional REDD+ dynamics by identifying and engaging key stakeholders, while assisting regional authorities and stakeholders with daily backstopping, capacity building and advice.
Organizing an intensive training event to share a common level of understanding about REDD+ at the regional level. The event could take the shape of a full one-week training programme for about 100 participants representing multiple stakeholders, including administration, civil society or private sector at regional and sub-regional levels.
Coordinating activities with the national REDD+ Secretariat, contributing to the design of national instruments by providing a regional perspectives and needs.
Consolidating an assessment of drivers of deforestation in the region through desk review and consultations
Running a contextual assessment of strategic options for REDD+ in the region through additional data collection, consultations and workshops
Assessing current capacities and gaps at regional level
Designing a comprehensive roadmap towards full regional REDD+ readiness in the frame of national architecture and UNFCCC Warsaw Framework.
Mobilizing and harmonizing additional support for institutional and capacity building at the regional level by liaising with various relevant work streams and partners
Facilitating mobilization of demonstration and implementation finance

Key Results Expected:

The key results expected from the Project manager are:

Mapping of REDD+ direct and indirect stakeholders in the region.
Report from an intensive REDD+ training event.
REDD+ coordination at regional level organized and set up.
All relevant bibliography and data collected; resource persons identified and engaged.
Consolidated report on drivers of deforestation and REDD+ options at the regional level.
Proposal for regional implementation framework; and the integration of REDD+ instruments between national and regional levels.
Coordinated roadmap for providing services at regional level from national architecture.
Assessment of needs, risks and opportunities for full regional REDD+ readiness.
Assessment of needs, risks and opportunities for REDD+ investments in the region.
REDD+ roadmap for full readiness and transition towards investments at regional level.
Detailed work plan and methodology for the mission.
Inception workshop report.
Final report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Integrity and fairness -- embodies UN values and promotes the well-being of all individuals regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, or age;
Cultural sensitivity and adaptability – communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives;
Strong corporate commitment - works to achieve the goals of the urban development and housing sector in the CRGE.

Functional 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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Behavioral Competencies:

Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree or equivalent in natural resource management, environmental economics, management, development or other relevant discipline.

Experience:

A minimum of 8 years professional experience in project/programme management;
Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff); and
Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common internet applications will be required.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in both spoken and written Amharic and English;
Knowledge of the Country and programme operation areas is advantageous.