Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and the contact details for three (3) most recent professional references this may include  previous supervisors and peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:  

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

 Office/Unit/Project Description  

The project “Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands)” implemented by the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands (GoRMI) in collaboration with UNDP became operational in January 2020 with the objective to address expected impacts of climate change on water security on Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI).

RMI is a small island developing state in the Pacific.  The nation is a large-ocean state, with a total land area of only 182 km², spread across over 2 million km² of ocean.  There are 24 inhabited atolls and islands, which are mostly remote and lie merely 2 m above sea level on average.  There are no rivers, streams or lakes in RMI and the number of small surface ponds is very limited.

GoRMI, with the assistance of UNDP, has developed a project on adaptation to climate change impacts to water supply in RMI.  The project is co-financed by GoRMI and Green Climate Fund (GCF).  The project will build resilience to the impacts of climate change on water supply, particularly in 24 atolls and islands that are highly vulnerable to drought. The project will invest in improving water security, water resilience and water governance through:

• Water Security - Improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures to increase resilience of water supply in 77 rural communities in the outer islands and atolls accounting for approximately 28% of RMI’s population, including 7,630 (49%) women, currently at risk.

• Water Resilience - Securing groundwater resources from contamination due to inundation caused by wave overtopping of seawater.

• Water Governance - Strengthening the technical capacities of national and subnational institutions and key stakeholders to integrated climate change risks into water governance processes so that management of climate change risks are coordinated, effective, participatory, equitable, and sustained over the long-term when risks are expected to worsen.

The project aligns with GoRMI’s key climate change policies and strategies and has been developed through extensive consultation with government, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and beneficiary communities. The proposed project is aligned with RMI’s NDC and country work programme to the GCF.  The NDA has issued a letter of no-objection and the proposed project is aligned with the work programme of the AE (UNDP) selected by the NDA.

This GCF project will be executed by UNDP, in close partnership with the GoRMI, given UNDP’s extensive experience in implementing climate change adaptation projects globally. The project implementation will be led by a team based in Majuro, RMI and Suva, Fiji.

Institutional Arrangement

The Chief Technical Advisor will work under the supervision of the Project Manager, and work closely with the Team Lead for the Resilience and Sustainable Development Team and the Project management Unit (PMU) as well as the key government counterparts

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the CTA is responsible for, jointly with the Project Manager, the oversee the implementation and project management of the ACWA project. In so doing, the CTA is expected to bring in international best practices to the implementation of the project and train the technical personnel in the Project Management Unit (PMU). 

Summary of Key Functions:

• Technical oversight of project activities

• Policy advice and capacity building

• Effective project management

• Knowledge management

• Partnership development and advocacy.

Technical Oversight and Expertise:

• Collaborate with the Project Manager (PM) in executing project activities and its implementation.

• Serve as the chief technical advisor on adaptation options envisaged in the project document, identify needs for external technical support for effective implementation;

• Liaise with Government, UNDP and other development partners to monitor progress implementation of project activities;

• Provide technical supervision, backstopping and oversight of all aspects of project activities, especially rainwater harvesting system and groundwater well improvement;

• Is responsible, jointly with the PM, to assess project risks (existing and upcoming), implement and monitorall risk mitigation measures during all project phases such as inception, implementation / construction and operation;

• Monitor environmental and social safeguards policy provisions and management plan and system in place

• Support the PM in liaising with the Government of RMI by providing high quality technical inputs;

• Support procurement officer for procurement and logistical arrangement of goods and services;

• Support the PM in preparing/organizing the technical materials used in the Project Board Meeting;

• Carry out assessments of the technical, financial, political, operational and management situations on the ground that affect the project implementation and keep the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji and UNDP Regional Hub in Bangkok abreast of the situations;

• Provide leadership in identifying solutions to address existing gaps arising out of assessments;

• Undertake a comprehensive overview of good international practices in the area of rainwater harvesting and groundwater well rehabilitation projects and build similar practices within the project;

• Build and maintain partnerships with technical partners and donors by reporting project progress and identifying opportunities for collaboration;

• Ensure coordination between UNDP and all project stakeholders.

Policy advice and capacity building:

• Identify strategic opportunities for the project to achieve greater development impact through partnerships building and adaptive management;

• Strengthen capacities of the PMU and the Government of RMI to plan, budget and deliver water supply security related public services in remote communities;

• Provide timely advice to the PMU and key project stakeholders on any major environmental and social safeguards-related issues

• Provide guidance on environmental and social impact assessments, environmental and social management plan, indigenous people plan, free, prior and informed consent and other requirements as part of project implementation on an needed basis.

• Lead to set up appropriate mechanism of grievance resolution procedures for hearing and addressing project-related complaints and disputes.

• Build technical and managerial capacities within the PMU;

• Provide technical assistance support and advice to the national counterparts, as required;

• Provide of other advice as needed to UNDP concerning the evolution and role of the relevant Ministries/stakeholders;

• Participate and actively contribute to the PMU in coordination with the PM;

• Provide policy advice to Government of RMI on water supply security and resilience for remote communities and ensure coherence with the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji portfolio.

• Provision of advice and support on gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) Action Plan and other gender mainstreaming activities.

Effective Project Management in coordination with the PM:

• Strongly support project implementation and management under the overall guidance of the PM

• Provide strategic input to technical, financial and managerial aspects of the project to ensure that activities are in accordance with the Project Document

• Provide input in joint collaboration with the PM and other members of the PMU on the following elements of project management to ensure achievement of targets and results

• Annual work planning

• Annual budgeting

• Procurement of goods and services

• Budget and expenditure analysis

• Contractual management

• Quarterly and annual progress reporting

• Quarterly operational reporting

• Provide advice for the annual financial audit

• Monitoring and Evaluation of project activities, and identify and implement solutions to bring the project back on track, as needed

• Planning and providing strategic inputs into all aspects of project activities

• Coordinate with the Joint Operations Centre in the Pacific Office in Fiji to ensure that financial and operational procedures of the project are in line with UNDP rules and regulations

• Perform other duties as necessary to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project.

Knowledge Management:

• Identify, analyze and communicate lessons learned that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects. The duty of identifying and analyzing lessons learned is an on-going one, and the duty to communicate those lessons is on an as-needed basis;

• Share knowledge on the Project and its achievements. Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organizational sharing and learning. Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture

• Produce materials with lessons learnt and best practices and participate in knowledge-based tools

• Contribute to the analytical work of UNDP and ensure high quality knowledge products. Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof with other pillars.

Partnership Development and Advocacy

• Seek and identify partnership to strengthen water security; and oversee the preparation of, donor briefings and presentations in support of resource mobilization efforts as appropriate;

• Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies;

• Foster and enhance collaboration with UN partner agencies for an effective implementation of country project;

• Strengthen existing partnerships with decentralized authorities.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience