Antecedentes

Organizational context

The Democratic republic of Sao Tome and Principe (STP) published its National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in 2006 that sets out a list of 22 priority adaptation projects in sectors including agriculture and fisheries, livestock, water, health, infrastructure, energy and civil protection. In recent years until now, STP has been facing problems related to deforestation, coastal erosion and increase frequency of extreme events (especially, squall lines and flooding). Rainfalls have been irregular with the later onset rainy season, and the dry season (gravana) starting earlier and finishing later. All these phenomena have widespread impacts, primarily on the poorest, destroying crops, reducing productivity for farmers, floods forcing the displacement of human populations and damaging properties and infrastructures.  For this reason, adaptation represents a critical emerging and priority area of work for the STP government and the UNDPCO, to develop and lead a country-wide adaptation programme.

Brief Project Description

In STP, the UNDAF priorities which are aligned with the government PRSP priorities are to increase awareness and population commitment to protect the environment; to strengthen climate resilient development and adaptation to climate change through Early warning system, adopting  log terms mechanisms for adaptation to inherent uncertain impacts of climate change to vulnerable population; to ensure sustainable renewable energy sources to the major part of the population; to formulate and disseminate the strategies and national action plans to reinforce national institutions that are responsible for environmental, climate change, energy and disaster risks management in order to settle the National approaches to management sustainable development activities and priorities in order to attain the MDGS. The UNDP country office has recently implemented the Africa Adaptation programme and supported the development of the Second National Communication on Climate Changes, the fourth and fifth National Reports on Biodiversity and under the Convention to combat desertification.

Thus year, through UNDP, São Tomé and Príncipe has mobilised 13.2 million USD from the GEF (global Environment facility) to implement three full size projects between 2013 and 2017.
The first project will consist in “Strengthening climate information and early warning systems in São Tomé and Principe for climate resilient development and adaptation to climate change   (4 million USD) will be completed by two additional projects on renewable energy, watershed, land and forest management (5.2 million USD) and Rural Communities adaptation to climate change (4 million USD). These projects will enhance the country capacity, promote adaptation action and lay the foundation for long-term investment in adaptation with the objective of adjusting Sao Tome and Principe national development processes to incorporate climate change risks and opportunities. The programme will help establish an enabling environment and develop the capacity required at local and national levels to permit the authorities to design, finance, implement, monitor and adjust long-term, integrated and cost-effective adaptation policies and plans that are robust and resilient to a wide range of possible changes in climate conditions. The UNDP CO will support this program and will participate with government authorities in the implementation of activities and projects.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the overall guidance of the Country Office Management, the Operations Manager/Environment Unit is responsible for providing and guides on all administrative matters and provides also support to the Unit in formulation and monitoring of annual work plan and operational, budgetary and procurement support of portfolio projects and programmes.

The Operations Manager/Environment Unit leads and guides the Project team in the CO and works in close collaboration within the Programme Manager/Environment Unit, with programme and operations staff and with other UN Agencies UNDP HQs staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operations services and a client-oriented approach.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Responsible for the day-to-day management, administration and coordination between Projects;
• Assist the National Coordinators on programmatic, operational and strategic;
• Provide technical leadership program in the absence of the Programme Manager or/and/ National Coordinator;
• Manage staff towards achieving the goals of the Project;
• Manage and oversee the development of administrative reporting, compliance, and enforcement to periodically report to the Steering Committee;
• Draft implementation plans, including the preparation of budgets, periodic disbursement requests, work plans, procurement plans and plans for monitoring and evaluation (M & E), to submit to the Programme Manager;
• To provide leadership, coordination and daily management of operations and the implementation of the Projects;
• Ensure that the Unit due operations are in full compliance with local regulations and with the requirements and standards of GEF/UNDP;
• Ensure the responsibility that any problems linked to the National Coordinator is directly addressed by the Operations Manager with relevant members of the Country Office Management Team;
• Serve as primary liaison between operational units and of procurement, financial management, legal affairs, communication and M & E.;
• Ensure continuous improvement in operational efficiency in the implementation of programme. Use of relevant information produced by the Unit staff to identify and communicate recommendations, mid-course corrections, and lessons learned of the program;
• Supervise staff to ensure effective management of the program, the exchange of relevant information, identification and risk management and compliance with the requirements and standards GEF/UNDP;
• Manage the work of the Unit employees using a method of evaluation and compensation system based on results; make recommendations to the National Coordinator on staff retention and other relevant issues;
• Give feedback and make contributions to the Programme Manager to communicate with the relevant branches of government,     donors, civil society and other stakeholders in the Compact to ensure the dissemination of critical information, the commitment of resources, and timely completion of tasks related to the implementation of the program.

 Provide monitoring and operational support to the UNDP Sao Tome and Principe Environment Programme and focus on the following results:

• Implementation of Programme, projects plans and strategies;
• Supervise study based information, analysis, reporting and dissemination of the results of the country Programme;
• Provide support for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of activities and annual work plans;
• Supervise operational support to the Programme.

Provide technical assistance, and monitoring to the environment programme in support of implementation and mainstreaming of portfolio projects and programmes aspects into national development policies while focusing on the following results:

• Perform analysis of political situation and develop scenarios for effectively addressing environment, climate change adaptation and disaster risks reduction mainstreaming in this context;
• Prepare information and documentation on programme implementation;
• Provide background information to identify opportunities for project development;
• Provide support and contribute to the development and formulation of new project proposals.

Coordinating the UN country system on the environment portfolio:

• Connect consistently the UNDP Country Programme Action Plan and UN Development Assistance Framework with the Government’s PRSP priorities;
• Develop linkages with on-going UN activities in the course of developing interagency climate change adaptation projects;
• Promote a coherent and consistent UN approach to environment, energy, and disaster risk reduction and climate change and development investments;
• Ensure supply of training to UN to establish minimum standards of knowledge in climate change linkages and implications;
• Promote the participation of civil society in the development of an environment strategy.

Developing knowledge management:

• Develop knowledge management tools and processes to promote learning and awareness;
• Promote screening of climate-sensitive programmes and projects, and adaptation among different practices, such as disaster risk reduction, poverty, governance, etc.

Various:

• Participate in weekly meeting of the management team of the local office;
• Support the development of work and activities of the UNDPCO;
• Liaise with other partners and UN agencies to assure the flow of information;
• Strengthen the capacity of national environmental and meteorological institutions, and of communities, to protect the environment and implement international environmental conventions.

Competencias

Functional Competencies:

• Understanding of the GEF’s operating principles, in particular in relation to various adaptation funds, and how the application of these affects project design and implementation;
• Hands-on experience in design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Knowledge of how climate risk information can be used to add value to policy processes and planning tools is essential;
• Ability to prepare briefing notes, presentations and other knowledge products;
• Ability to communicate technical concepts among many different stakeholders – government, donors, civil society organisations -  in plain, non-agonistic language, and to understand the language of sectoral policy makers.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrated capacity for innovation and results;
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills;
• Availability to contribute to the substantive development and increased capacity of the team and willingness to share expertise;
• 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.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:        

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in engineering (highly desirable), economics, business administration or public administration.

Experience:

• Five years of operational experience in senior management positions in a private organization recognized (preferably in the electricity sector) and/or a government agency managing the rapid business process complex and multidisciplinary, including electrical engineering or other infrastructure activities.
• Skills in the management of a large company or a program (with a budget of at least $ six million per year) and a permanent staff of at least ten people;
• Program and project management throughout the life cycle (from development, feasibility study, design, construction, completion and transfer) for large projects complex infrastructure as well as in the implementation of measures to support the sustainability of these long-term projects;
• Project management with specific targets for reducing poverty; expertise or familiarity with the integration of social equality and equality in development projects is highly desired;
• Meet the environmental, social, health and safety of international development projects;
• Knowledge of public finance management system in São Tomé and management systems projects with donors or similar systems (highly desirable);
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with various stakeholders from the government (national and local levels), the private sector, civil society and international donors;
• Implementation of programs and partnership development assistance projects as well as knowledge of international tendering rules;
• Program management/results-based projects. Having a project management professional certification is highly desirable.
• Computer Skills:    
• Excellent computer skill (Word, Excel), good experience on internet browsing and familiarity with the IT management system.

Language:   

• Excellent knowledge (writing and speaking) of English;
• Portuguese and French would be desirable.

 Observations:

Please note that years of experience required for ICS 10 (P-3) level should be “5” with Master’s Degree, “6” years with specialized license in the relevant area and “7” years with Bachelor’s degree as per corporate UNDP recruitment framework.

Applications should be submitted on line and include an up to date UNDP Personal History Form (P11) duly filled posted at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc; Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position; Curriculum Vitae. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. We strongly encourage qualified women to apply.