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schedule_type: Full-time
Regional Technical Specialist for Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity
Location ...
Home Based - Reports to Office in New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline :
11-Feb-22 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left :
15d 8h 52m
Additional Category :
Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract :
IPSA (Regular)
Post Level :
IPSA-11
Languages Required :
English Spanish
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is
Regional Technical Specialist for Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity
Location ...
Home Based - Reports to Office in New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline :
11-Feb-22 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left :
15d 8h 52m
Additional Category :
Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract :
IPSA (Regular)
Post Level :
IPSA-11
Languages Required :
English Spanish
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
14-Feb-2022
Duration of Initial Contract :
1 year
Expected Duration of Assignment :
1 year
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
UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.
The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDP's Nature, Climate and Energy practice spans 137 countries, with a portfolio directly benefiting 86 million people. Our support to Governments focusses on enabling an inclusive, resilient, green recovery by: building competency to accelerate access to sustainable energy and climate and nature-positive policies and finance; scaling capacity to ensure No One is Left Behind; catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private); delivering client-focused solutions that respond to countries' immediate, mid- and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities; and leveraging our on-the-ground presence and networks to unlock bottom-up solutions that deliver lasting impacts at country level.
In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on nature climate and energy, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services. The Nature, Climate and Energy Team focuses on managing the oversight of climate and environmental financial resources from global trust funds to catalyze and unlock other types of public and private financing for sustainable development. This includes oversight of the design as well as implementation phase of projects (together with Country Offices and Regional Bureaus), as well as portfolio level oversight and management.
Water Governance
Water is essential for life and sustainable development. UNDP works across the full range of the water resources challenges, addressing them from a governance perspective to promote equitable and efficient use and protection of water resources, supporting institution-building and capacity development for participatory governance of water resources.
Supporting integrated ecosystem-based management in 27 shared basins, UNDP is one of the major global actors in transboundary water management and governance. The water governance programme seeks to expand its engagement in national and local water governance reform, including in support of climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as peacebuilding and the reduction of multi-dimensional poverty and inequality for greater prosperity.
Taking a source-to-sea / ridge-to-reef holistic perspective on integrated management of land, water, biodiversity and coastal resources, the water governance work is managed in close coordination with the ocean governance programme.
Ocean Governance
The ocean contributes substantially to human development, including via the provision of food security, transport, energy, tourism, and critical ecosystem services; ocean sectors contribute around $3 trillion per year to the global market economy. Due to governance and market failures leading to unsustainable ocean practices, the health and socioeconomic contributions of the ocean face significant threats including overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. UNDP works with national and local governments, intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, academia and the private sector to advance integrated, cross-sectoral, ecosystem-based approaches to ocean management that help to create and maintain sustainable blue economies.
Ecosystems & Biodiversity
UNDP recognizes health ecosystem services and biodiversity as the foundation of human wellbeing and essential for tackling multiple development challenges: the climate and biodiversity loss crises, inequality and poverty, insecurity and migration. UNDP works to increase government, business and public support for biodiversity conservation, accelerating the actions necessary for systemic changes that are necessary for achieving the global biodiversity goals. These systemic leavers UNDP focuses are: (i) redirecting flows of finance from nature negative to positive; (ii) transforming production and consumption system through mainstreaming; (iii) placing nature at the very heart of development thinking and actions; (iv) leveraging legal and human rights instruments for protection of nature; (v) causing large scale behavioral change of individuals, businesses and governments. Through national, regional and global programming and policy support UNDP catalyzes these changes.
The Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) for Water, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity is primarily responsible for providing technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight, as well as, knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the work of the Water & Oceans and Ecosystems and Biodiversity signature programmes to UNDP country offices and UNDP’s various implementing partners. The RTS is also expected to support and oversee UNDP´s work with other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors (bilateral, IFI, foundations), the private sector and other stakeholders.
Duties and Responsibilities
Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy:
• Contribute to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact and identifying strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
• Participate in the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development within the BPPS and beyond. Engagement in policy and advocacy work with external partners where relevant;
• Provide policy development support and guidance to country offices and governments;
• Support the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
• Facilitate policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance;
• Maintain trusted relationships with country offices, government, and non-governmental partners’ role within the region;
• Keep the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area and contribute actively to the development and implementation of the regional NCE programming and Business Plans;
• Keep the Principal/Senior Technical Advisors (STAs) informed of trends and issues in the region;
• Work in coordination with other Specialists in the region to develop projects requiring technical guidance for multiple areas.
Portfolio Management:
• Assist in the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information, and corporate information systems;
• Facilitate the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts, and review reports;
• Provide guidance on ecosystems and biodiversity management including: strengthening management of protected area landscapes and developing protected area system finance schemes,mainstreaming biodiversity management in economic sector governance systems and markets, developing ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation soluction to address climate chage, and developing financial instruments for ecosystem management.
• Advise governments and other constituencies on issues related to fisheries management, integrated coastal management, governance of Large Marine Ecosystems, and integrated water resources management particularly in a transboundary context.
Resource Mobilization:
• Support programme and project identification and development, including on integrated approaches and multifocal area projects;
• Providing timely and quality information and technical advise on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities, including the Global Environment Facility funds, the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral donors, bilateral donors and foundations;
• Identify and suggest to the STAs priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
• Facilitate the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
• Provide guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts, and reviewing reports;
• Facilitate liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.
Development Impact:
• Assist with inception, contracting and initiation of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
• Support UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management;
• Assist the UNDP country offices with organizing and compiling information that will feed into th project development exercise;
• Prepare reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results.
Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development:
• Evaluate, capture, codify, synthesize lessons and stimulate the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
• Peer review, comment on, and seek to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
• Contribute to the preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
• Support the preparation and delivery of training courses;
• Respond to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons.
Competencies
Core Behavioral Competencies
• Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact.
• Propose new ideas, approaches and solutions to problems.
• Be flexible in handling change, and adopt new ideas, approaches and ways or working.
• Establish and develop networks that deliver powerful collaborations.
• Treat all individuals with respect, consider ethical implications and respond sensitively to all differences among people.
• Demonstrate honesty and transparency.
Technical
• Conservation and Sustainable use of biodiversity, land, forest and oceans.
• Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. CBD, UNCCD)
• Ocean governance: legal and policy frameworks and restoration and protection.
• Blue economy (particularly in SIDS)
• Integrated Water Resources/River Basin Management
• Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Programmes (TDA/SAP)
• Water governance: for sustainable solutions and legal and policy framework
Coss - Functional
Business direction and strategy
• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to understand and eal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
• Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impacto on other parts of the system.
• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resoulve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.
Business management
• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide netwokrs of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Business development:
• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.
• Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
• Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.
Required Skills and Experience
Min. Academic Education
Master’s degree or higher in water resources management, environmental sciences, or in engineering, economics or social sciences with specialization in environment and development, or other closely related fields
Min. years of relevant Work experience
• Minimum 7 years of experience working with developing countries in the field of marine, freshwater, and/or terrestrial ecosystem management;
• Minimum 5 years of experience with conceptualizing and developing internationally financed projects and programmes;
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with developing countries in the policy development and implementation processes associated with marine and freshwater resources, ecosystems and/or biodiversity resources in the development context;
• Minimum 5 years of experience in policy development processes in climate change (mitigation or adaptation)
• Minimum 7 years of experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean
Desired additional skills
Skills
• Experience in UN or international organization and knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices would be an advantage
• Experience working with developing countries on freshwater and marine transboundary water systems management and governance an advantage, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean;
• Experience working with developing countries on ecosystem-based mitigation and adaptation to climate change an advantage;
• Experience working with multilateral, bilateral and/or regional environmental funds. Experience with the Global Environment Facility is an advantage;
• Experience in project management (direct experience an advantage) and guiding project implementation and management an advantage;
Required Language(s) (at working level)
• Written and oral proficiency in English for all candidates
• Fluency in Spanish is required;
Professional Certificates
N/A
Institutional Arrangement
• The Technical Specialist – Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity will report to the W&O PTA and EBD PTA under BPPS/ NCE, based in New York, as well as to the RTL under BPPS/NCE, based in Panama;
• The Technical Specialist – Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Technical Specialist – Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, phone) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
• The consultant will engage regularly with the supervisor by email and Skype on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis;
• The consultant shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks;
Travel:
• International mission travel will be required. An estimated 5-6 missions during the first year (destinations to be identified) with expected total travel duration of approximately 4-8 days per mission. Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of assignment and updated quarterly;
• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in writing and advance by the W&O PTA or EBD PTA, and the RTL, depending on the project;
• The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• The incumbent is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP and for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
• S/he is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/
• The incumbent will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies.
7. The following documents shall be required from the applicants:
• 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 at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
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Location ...
Home Based - Reports to Office in New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline :
11-Feb-22 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left :
15d 8h 52m
Additional Category :
Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract :
IPSA (Regular)
Post Level :
IPSA-11
Languages Required :
English Spanish
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
14-Feb-2022
Duration of Initial Contract :
1 year
Expected Duration of Assignment :
1 year
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
UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.
The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDP's Nature, Climate and Energy practice spans 137 countries, with a portfolio directly benefiting 86 million people. Our support to Governments focusses on enabling an inclusive, resilient, green recovery by: building competency to accelerate access to sustainable energy and climate and nature-positive policies and finance; scaling capacity to ensure No One is Left Behind; catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private); delivering client-focused solutions that respond to countries' immediate, mid- and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities; and leveraging our on-the-ground presence and networks to unlock bottom-up solutions that deliver lasting impacts at country level.
In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on nature climate and energy, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services. The Nature, Climate and Energy Team focuses on managing the oversight of climate and environmental financial resources from global trust funds to catalyze and unlock other types of public and private financing for sustainable development. This includes oversight of the design as well as implementation phase of projects (together with Country Offices and Regional Bureaus), as well as portfolio level oversight and management.
Water Governance
Water is essential for life and sustainable development. UNDP works across the full range of the water resources challenges, addressing them from a governance perspective to promote equitable and efficient use and protection of water resources, supporting institution-building and capacity development for participatory governance of water resources.
Supporting integrated ecosystem-based management in 27 shared basins, UNDP is one of the major global actors in transboundary water management and governance. The water governance programme seeks to expand its engagement in national and local water governance reform, including in support of climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as peacebuilding and the reduction of multi-dimensional poverty and inequality for greater prosperity.
Taking a source-to-sea / ridge-to-reef holistic perspective on integrated management of land, water, biodiversity and coastal resources, the water governance work is managed in close coordination with the ocean governance programme.
Ocean Governance
The ocean contributes substantially to human development, including via the provision of food security, transport, energy, tourism, and critical ecosystem services; ocean sectors contribute around $3 trillion per year to the global market economy. Due to governance and market failures leading to unsustainable ocean practices, the health and socioeconomic contributions of the ocean face significant threats including overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. UNDP works with national and local governments, intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, academia and the private sector to advance integrated, cross-sectoral, ecosystem-based approaches to ocean management that help to create and maintain sustainable blue economies.
Ecosystems & Biodiversity
UNDP recognizes health ecosystem services and biodiversity as the foundation of human wellbeing and essential for tackling multiple development challenges: the climate and biodiversity loss crises, inequality and poverty, insecurity and migration. UNDP works to increase government, business and public support for biodiversity conservation, accelerating the actions necessary for systemic changes that are necessary for achieving the global biodiversity goals. These systemic leavers UNDP focuses are: (i) redirecting flows of finance from nature negative to positive; (ii) transforming production and consumption system through mainstreaming; (iii) placing nature at the very heart of development thinking and actions; (iv) leveraging legal and human rights instruments for protection of nature; (v) causing large scale behavioral change of individuals, businesses and governments. Through national, regional and global programming and policy support UNDP catalyzes these changes.
The Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) for Water, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity is primarily responsible for providing technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight, as well as, knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the work of the Water & Oceans and Ecosystems and Biodiversity signature programmes to UNDP country offices and UNDP’s various implementing partners. The RTS is also expected to support and oversee UNDP´s work with other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors (bilateral, IFI, foundations), the private sector and other stakeholders.
Duties and Responsibilities
Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy:
• Contribute to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact and identifying strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
• Participate in the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development within the BPPS and beyond. Engagement in policy and advocacy work with external partners where relevant;
• Provide policy development support and guidance to country offices and governments;
• Support the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
• Facilitate policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance;
• Maintain trusted relationships with country offices, government, and non-governmental partners’ role within the region;
• Keep the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area and contribute actively to the development and implementation of the regional NCE programming and Business Plans;
• Keep the Principal/Senior Technical Advisors (STAs) informed of trends and issues in the region;
• Work in coordination with other Specialists in the region to develop projects requiring technical guidance for multiple areas.
Portfolio Management:
• Assist in the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information, and corporate information systems;
• Facilitate the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts, and review reports;
• Provide guidance on ecosystems and biodiversity management including: strengthening management of protected area landscapes and developing protected area system finance schemes,mainstreaming biodiversity management in economic sector governance systems and markets, developing ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation soluction to address climate chage, and developing financial instruments for ecosystem management.
• Advise governments and other constituencies on issues related to fisheries management, integrated coastal management, governance of Large Marine Ecosystems, and integrated water resources management particularly in a transboundary context.
Resource Mobilization:
• Support programme and project identification and development, including on integrated approaches and multifocal area projects;
• Providing timely and quality information and technical advise on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities, including the Global Environment Facility funds, the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral donors, bilateral donors and foundations;
• Identify and suggest to the STAs priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
• Facilitate the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
• Provide guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts, and reviewing reports;
• Facilitate liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.
Development Impact:
• Assist with inception, contracting and initiation of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
• Support UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management;
• Assist the UNDP country offices with organizing and compiling information that will feed into th project development exercise;
• Prepare reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results.
Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development:
• Evaluate, capture, codify, synthesize lessons and stimulate the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
• Peer review, comment on, and seek to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
• Contribute to the preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
• Support the preparation and delivery of training courses;
• Respond to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons.
Competencies
Core Behavioral Competencies
• Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact.
• Propose new ideas, approaches and solutions to problems.
• Be flexible in handling change, and adopt new ideas, approaches and ways or working.
• Establish and develop networks that deliver powerful collaborations.
• Treat all individuals with respect, consider ethical implications and respond sensitively to all differences among people.
• Demonstrate honesty and transparency.
Technical
• Conservation and Sustainable use of biodiversity, land, forest and oceans.
• Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. CBD, UNCCD)
• Ocean governance: legal and policy frameworks and restoration and protection.
• Blue economy (particularly in SIDS)
• Integrated Water Resources/River Basin Management
• Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Programmes (TDA/SAP)
• Water governance: for sustainable solutions and legal and policy framework
Coss - Functional
Business direction and strategy
• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to understand and eal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
• Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impacto on other parts of the system.
• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resoulve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.
Business management
• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide netwokrs of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Business development:
• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.
• Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
• Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.
Required Skills and Experience
Min. Academic Education
Master’s degree or higher in water resources management, environmental sciences, or in engineering, economics or social sciences with specialization in environment and development, or other closely related fields
Min. years of relevant Work experience
• Minimum 7 years of experience working with developing countries in the field of marine, freshwater, and/or terrestrial ecosystem management;
• Minimum 5 years of experience with conceptualizing and developing internationally financed projects and programmes;
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with developing countries in the policy development and implementation processes associated with marine and freshwater resources, ecosystems and/or biodiversity resources in the development context;
• Minimum 5 years of experience in policy development processes in climate change (mitigation or adaptation)
• Minimum 7 years of experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean
Desired additional skills
Skills
• Experience in UN or international organization and knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices would be an advantage
• Experience working with developing countries on freshwater and marine transboundary water systems management and governance an advantage, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean;
• Experience working with developing countries on ecosystem-based mitigation and adaptation to climate change an advantage;
• Experience working with multilateral, bilateral and/or regional environmental funds. Experience with the Global Environment Facility is an advantage;
• Experience in project management (direct experience an advantage) and guiding project implementation and management an advantage;
Required Language(s) (at working level)
• Written and oral proficiency in English for all candidates
• Fluency in Spanish is required;
Professional Certificates
N/A
Institutional Arrangement
• The Technical Specialist – Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity will report to the W&O PTA and EBD PTA under BPPS/ NCE, based in New York, as well as to the RTL under BPPS/NCE, based in Panama;
• The Technical Specialist – Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Technical Specialist – Water, Ecosystems & Biodiversity will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, phone) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
• The consultant will engage regularly with the supervisor by email and Skype on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis;
• The consultant shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks;
Travel:
• International mission travel will be required. An estimated 5-6 missions during the first year (destinations to be identified) with expected total travel duration of approximately 4-8 days per mission. Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of assignment and updated quarterly;
• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in writing and advance by the W&O PTA or EBD PTA, and the RTL, depending on the project;
• The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• The incumbent is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP and for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
• S/he is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/
• The incumbent will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies.
7. The following documents shall be required from the applicants:
• 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 at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
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