UNDP Jobs - 49623- Technical Officer, GoI-GEF-UNDP India High Range L

Technical Officer, GoI-GEF-UNDP India High Range Landscape Project (HRML) - (Open to Indian Nationals only)

Location :

New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year (Extendable)

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

High Range Mountain Landscape (HRML) in the Western Ghats mountains of peninsular India is a globally significant biodiversity region. Its key attributes are: a) high levels of endemism and biological diversity; b) Important Bird Area; c) presence of globally threatened species of fauna and flora; d) part of one of the five viable breeding centre of tiger in India; e) harbour the largest global population of Nilgiri tahr and a significant population of Grizzled Giant Squirrel (both threatened species); f) catchment of three major river systems of peninsular India; g) strong eco-cultural affinities; and h) support important economic sectors like cardamom, tea and tourism. At present, HRML is a complex mosaic of land uses where conservation, economic production and livelihood requirements assume equal primacy and profoundly influence each other. These contribute to competitive use of natural resources and affecting vital ecological processes. The rapidly altering developmental context, demographic contours, resource use configurations place a challenge for HRML’s long term ecological sustainability and livelihood security. The existing planning and policy framework, as well as the institutional arrangements in HRML are inadequate to address biodiversity conservation from a landscape perspective. The project aims to put in place a collaborative governance framework for multiple-use management of HRML. The project will attempt a paradigm shift from current sector based planning to an approach for integrated multiple-use management of mountain landscapes to deliver global environmental benefits. The project aims to achieve this through the following Outcomes: a) Effective governance framework for multiple-use mountain landscape management in place; b) Multiple-use mountain landscape management is applied securing the ecological integrity of HRML; and c) Strengthened capacities for community based sustainable use and management of wild resources.

The project region covers 3,000 sq. km spread across three districts of Kerala viz. Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur in Kerala.

GoI-GEF-UNDP Project ‘India High Range Landscape Project (HRML): Developing an Effective Multiple use Management Framework for Conserving Biodiversity in the Mountain Landscape of the High Ranges, the Western Ghats site in Kerala’ project will appoint a Technical Officer in New Delhi. The Technical Officer under the direct guidance of the National Project Director, MoEFCC, State Project Coordinator and overall guidance of the Programme Analyst, UNDP in New Delhi.

The Technical Officer will ensure coordination amongst all technical agencies engaged under the project to produce best results in the State as specified in the GEF-GoI-UNDP High Range Mountains project document, to the required standards of quality and within the given time and cost specifications. Therefore, the Technical Officer will assist NPD, the State Project Coordinator and Programme Analyst, UNDP to ensure that:

The State, within the overall project design, sets goals and adopts strategies, which are consistent with the State’s policy environment and ground reality;
The project delivers on its objectives in the State with best quality technical inputs;
The project is able to leverage technical expertise in order to achieve the planned results;
The project’s lessons are documented and made available to all stakeholders and used for replication purposes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

Project Implementation and Monitoring:

Assist the National Project Director, MoEFCC, State Project Coordinator, Kerala Forest Department and Programme Analyst, UNDP to identify, select and procure services of technical agencies for the project;
Ensure coordination amongst all technical agencies engaged under the project to produce best results in the state;
Monitor the progress of the technical studies/plans commissioned in the field;
Monitor and review project activities at the state and district level and take necessary measures under the guidance of the NPD and Programme Analyst to keep project implementation on track;
Assist the Working Committee in getting the technical reports peer reviewed at the national level;
Contribute to the Preparation of Quarterly Progress Reports and Annual Progress Reports (PIR) (physical and financial), using reporting format to be provided by UNDP.
Support the Landscape Level Project Management Unit (LLPMU) in preparation of Annual Work Plan, Critical Results Path and ensuring delivery of the planned targets.

Capacity Development:

Assist in assessing capacity gaps in the production and conservation sector and help develop a framework with timelines for building capacities of the relevant stakeholders;
Coordinate the conduct of training programmes and deployment of trained resource persons at state and district levels.

Technical Support and Knowledge Management:

Provide technical support and inputs on landscape based conservation to relevant stakeholders;
Help elicit policy take aways from the project and help disseminate at the National and State level;
Support in validation, documentation and sharing of good practices across districts to contribute to replication through different means and forums;
Develop partnerships with resource institutions, agencies, experts and practitioners for replication of good practices;
Provide inputs on different knowledge products generated in course of the project;
Apart from the above the Technical Officer will also be required to execute other duties and assignments entrusted by the National Project Director, State Project Coordinator and Programme Analyst, UNDP as relevant to the implementation of the project.

Competencies

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;
Integrity and Confidentiality.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Ability to interact with disadvantaged groups, local officials and policy makers;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Demonstrates ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Demonstrates competent analytical and presentation skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to facilitate strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc. Knowledge of other applications such as Front Page, Publisher and some multimedia tools would be useful.

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on expected impact and results and responds positively to feedback;
Promotes teamwork 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 stakeholders and external actors;
High interpersonal skills, and ability to remain calm, in control and good humored under pressure;
Ability to prioritize assignments and requirements, and multitask as needed;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Demonstrates skills to liaise with varied government stakeholders and report to senior government officials.

Communication Skills:

Excellent oral and writing and communication skills;
Sound analytical and presentation skills;
Good interpersonal and presentation skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in the field of Environmental Science/ Natural Resource Management/ Agriculture/ Forestry/ Energy/ Sustainable development or related field with excellent academic record;
Candidate with a higher degree such as doctoral degree (Ph.D) will be preferred.

Experience:

At least 7 years of work experience in relevant field;
Experience of working with professionals and effectively managing contributions from experts and consultants;
Experience of having worked with the government, PRIs, NGOs and disadvantaged communities;
Good understanding of application of energy efficient technologies for NRM and Conservation;
Relevant experience in documentation and preparation of communication materials on development issues;
Relevant experience in the implementation/ analysis or monitoring of flagship programmes.

Language:

Proficiency in English;
Good command over Hindi.

Note:

Remuneration package is Rs. 13,00,409/- (all inclusive and taxable).