Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a middle income country which is still recovering from the 1992-1995 war which had a devastating impact on its human, social and economic resources, leading to enormous challenges of the post-war reconstruction and economic and social recovery. This challenge has been further compounded by the transition towards market economy requiring structural reforms and improved governance. The slow rate of the post-war economic recovery of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been compounded by the negative impacts of climate change on key sectors such as agriculture, energy (hydropower), the environment and, in particular, the frequency and magnitude of flood disasters, which have tripled in frequency in the last decade.  In May 2014, Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced its worst flooding in 150 years which resulted in 23 deaths and $2.7 Billion USD worth of damages which is 15% of GDP, and is expected to result in a 1.1 percent contraction in the economy this year, compared to the growth of 2.2 percent that had been predicted before the flood.

BiH is significantly exposed to the threats of climate change, but has very limited capacity to address and adapt to its negative impacts, in particular the frequency and magnitude of floods from its major rivers. The Vrbas River basin is characterized by a large rural population comprised of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in BiH, including war returnees and displaced people, with high exposure to flooding and its devastating impacts.  Through the Project Technology transfer for climate resilient flood management in Vrbas River Basin, UNDP, BiH aims to enable the communities of the Vrbas basin to adapt to flood risk through the transfer of adaptation technologies for climate resilient flood management, upgrade and rehabilitation of the hydrometric monitoring network, development of a flood forecasting system and early warning system, development of emergency response plans, and provision of training in flood-specific civil protection.   Importantly, the project will provide targeted training on climate-induced FRM to over 100 practitioners and decisions makers, and will develop an institutional capacity development plan for the long-term development of capability and capacity in Flood Risk Management (FRM).  The project will work closely with affected communities to introduce climate resilient community-based non-structural measures and provide training to local communities in climate resilient FRM. This will include the introduction of agro-forestry, community-based early warning systems, reforestation and introduction of financial instruments such as index-based flood insurance and credit deference schemes as a means of compensating for flood damages for agriculture. 

The enabling environment will be enhanced by embedding climate change into key sector policies, strategies and plans to enable climate resilient flood risk management within sectors that impact flood risk significantly,   including land use and spatial planning, forestry, agriculture and energy sectors.  Specifically, the project will introduce floodplain management regulations that will enhance zoning of development and activities away from high risk areas. 
Hence, the project will help the government of BiH and the population of the targeted region to develop adaptive capacity and embark on climate resilient economic activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Technical support to Project Manager in coordination of project activities on the field;
2. Support to management of the project within the areas assigned, focusing on quality control, from formulation to implementation
3. Support in creation of strategic partnerships;
4. Support to Gender Mainstreaming

Technical support to Project Manager in coordination of project implementation on the field:

• Supports Project Manager in coordination of project implementation with project team individual consultants, contracted companies and implementing partners;
• Organizes and coordinates project’s activities with and among key stakeholders: hydro-meteorological institutes, water agencies, geodetic institutions, civil protection units etc.;
• Organizes and coordinates project’s activities at municipal level;
• Provides technical input in policies development;
• Takes part in development of technical and non-technical guidance documents for all studies and assessment undertaken as part of the project;
• Undertakes activities to improve hydrometric monitoring network in VRB;
• Coordinates activities on flood hazard and flood risk maps development;
• Participates in mobilization of communities in the implementation in intervention plans;
• Identifies training needs, organizes and oversees trainings;
• Takes part in design and implementation of Flood  Forecasting and Early Warning System;
• Takes part in selection of structural and non-structural measures;
• Oversees implementation of structural and non-structural interventions.
• Assists PM and project team in development of integrated land use and Flood Risk Management Plan in VRB;
• Supports development and implementation of community based programmes for FRM.

Support to project management within the areas assigned, focusing on quality control, from formulation to implementation

• Supports designing and formulation of work plans, financial and procurement plans within the area of responsibility, translating project goals into local/cantonal/entity and national interventions;
• Ensures financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, identification of operational and financial risks and problems and development of solutions;
• Provides support in organization and implementation of external evaluation of the project;
• Monitors and analyses the project environment and timely adjustments if identified.
• Assists in evaluation of the project impact. 
• Ensures efficiency in the provision of support to local stakeholders at municipal level;

Support in creation of strategic partnerships:

• Supports Project Manager in developing partnership with all government levels in BiH, international financial institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.
• Analyses and researches information on donors, prepares substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identifies opportunities for initiation of new projects, actively contributes to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.

Support to Gender Mainstreaming:

• Ensures gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, researches, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
• Ensures gender equality is mainstreamed throughout team, consultant and staff management activities;
• Ensures knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in Project Knowledge management activities and products.

Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
Level 1.2: Preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Results-Based Programme Development and Management
Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation

Building Strategic Partnerships
Level 1.2:  Maintaining a network of contacts

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
Level 1.2: Enhancing processes or products

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
• Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Level 1.2: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Client Orientation
Level 1.2: Establishing effective client relationships

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

Resource Mobilization
Level 1.2:  Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

• Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Level 1.2: Basic research and analysis

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies

 Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, disabilities, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism
• 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
• Competence in handling project’s external relations at all levels
• Demonstrate strong negotiation skills
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Managing conflict
• Informed and transparent decision making
• Possesses strong ICT skills
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each employee.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in relevant technical discipline
• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with additional two years of experience may be taken into the consideration may be accepted in lieu of MA

Experience: 

• At least 3 years of experience in Integrated Water Resources Management and Flood Risk Management;
• Experience in management of spatial planning projects would be an asset;
• Good understanding of environment/development issues in BiH;
• Experience in managing tasks of similar complexity and nature; 
• Demonstrated experience in working with local stakeholders;
• Familiarity and prior experience with UNDP and GEF requirements and procedures are considered as an asset;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English and in BHS languages