Requisition ID: 3561
Grade: ISA-Specialist
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 4-Apr-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate of The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development, Industrial Policy Advice and Statistics (TCS/CPS); Circular Economy and Chemicals Management (TCS/CCM); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS).
The Division of Circular Economy and Chemicals Management (TCS/CCM) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment. The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for SMEs. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.
The Division coordinates its advisory and service delivery with the services offered by other technical departments and other relevant organizational entities of UNIDO. Regarding global trends and advocacy, the Division coordinates closely with TCS/CPS and the Office of Managing Director of TCS.
This position is located under the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CCM/CER), which is responsible for supporting capacity development to scale up and mainstream the production of sustainable products and adoption of circular and resource-efficient, cleaner patterns of consumption and production along value chains, circular economy policies, programmes and practices, including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. In addition, it promotes nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches for inclusive and sustainable industrial development that support the co-existence of industries in harmony with nature. In addition, it facilitates the design of sustainable products made with fewer materials, with greater durability, reliability, reparability, reusability and recyclability, and supports the deployment of new business models that improve environmental performance.
PROJECT CONTEXT
SAP ID 210028:
The project entitled “Private sector transition to a green and circular economy in Lebanon” (210028), will contribute to a reform, recovery and reconstruction Framework (3RF) for Lebanon. The framework prepared by EU, WB and UN in consultation with government, donor and civil society, following the Beirut explosion in August 2020, aims building back better of Lebanese economy with promoting growth and job creation. The project funded by EU will be executed by UNIDO in collaboration with counterpart Ministry of Industry (MoI) and Ministry of Environment (MoE). Through the project, EU and UNIDO collaborate to strengthen private sector and support “Start-ups, Micro and Small Enterprises, including women-led enterprises, develop sustainable, socially and gender responsive green and circular economy business models”.
UNIDO within the projects MED TEST II and III, contributed significantly to capacity building and identification of barriers, challenges and road map for future growth of industrial sector. Agricultural production in Lebanon is very much limited and faces adversity because of Climate Change (CC). Some agro-products like citrus, grapes, olives, cereals, various other fruits and vegetables are very important resources and its efficient use and further value addition via industrial production is extremely important for food security, import minimization and country development. Hence, the Food and Beverage (F&B) is a priority sector. Energy import and power shortage has further constrained the industrial growth in the country.
The overall objective of transitioning to green and circular economy embraces Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology (TEST) and resource-efficient production and sustainable consumption following Circular Economy (C.E.) approach; capacitates for mobilizing investments and promotes renewable energy resources for the growth of Lebanese F&B industrial sector to generate more jobs and attain greener economy.
A wide range of stakeholders namely from public sectors (Ministries, governmental authorities etc.), international financing as well as development organizations, private sector organizations and academia are involved to ensure effective deliverable and ownership at a national level for the transition to a greener and more circular economy in Lebanon.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, assists in appraising, adjusting and presenting project proposals, and monitoring programme execution, identifying problems and utilizing information as an input to corrective actions to promote effective project management, develops and administers technical cooperation projects. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.
• Locate and analyze specific economic and social data and distilling and synthesizing information relevant to proposed projects;
• Identify, describe and justify project possibilities related to a particular project and consistent with approved technical cooperation programmes and ongoing activities;
• Appraise, review and adjust project proposals to ensure consistency with national, sub regional, regional and sectoral priorities and programmes, and with available resources; formulate and present such proposals on the basis of technical and substantive inputs in accordance with required format for final review and approval;
• Develop schedules, arrangements and methods for the management of the execution of individual project/s, in consultation with project personnel, technical, substantive and administrative service units;
• Exchange information required for project formulation and execution with government officials in planning, finance, donor input coordination and sectoral functions, as well as with representatives of multilateral and bilateral donor agencies;
• Monitor and expedite project execution systematically through discussions and correspondence with technical, substantive and project staff, field visits, analysis of periodic project progress reports, participation in tripartite reviews and mid-term project evaluations; utilize information obtained as an input to corrective decision-making and revisions;
• Organize and conduct briefings and debriefings on projects with special regard for the country, sub regional and regional aspects, resources and development characteristics, with a view to maximizing project performance levels.
Main Duties:
1. Facilitate coordination with other relevant UNIDO projects and with UNIDO internal functions, supporting procurement and recruitment processes.
Prepare (or contribute to) Terms of Reference and/or Technical Specifications for services and goods needed by the project, as requested by the PM, in accordance with the project action plan; coordinate collection of required inputs from different specialists and team members to build appropriate description of technical requirements. Participate in the evaluation of proposals submitted as part competitive procurement procedures appointed by the PM, ensuring compliance with UNIDO/Donor rules, interests and conditions. When required by the PM, be part of evaluation panels for recruitment of consultants by the project. Provide inputs and required information to facilitate smooth development of Procurement and Recruitment processes, as well as payment requests to Finance; follow up with the respective officials in charge of specific workflows, such as Administrative Assistants, procurement officers, approving managers, etc., to ensure that the needed inputs have been provided for a smooth execution of activities.
2. Assist in appraising and adjusting the project planning to ensure smooth implementation in consideration of UNIDO’s procedures and the donor’s rules, facilitating an effective project management.
Provide feedback to the project’s annual work plan in consideration of the incumbent’s technical expertise and her/his knowledge on UNIDO’s internal procedures. Keep a knowledgeable approach on the EU rules that apply to the UNIDO contribution agreement. Provide insights and feedback that enable to fine tune annual work plans and budgets in full compliance with the EU rules.
3. Provide technical advice related to the TEST methodology, RECP technical assistance in industry, and Circular Economy approaches.
Offer technical guidance on the design and practical implementation of technical assistance service models on TEST and RECP in industry and Circular Economy interventions, for the definition of the project implementation strategy to be reflected in the respective annual work plans, budgets, and project annual reports. Transfer the agreed models to Terms of Reference and Job Descriptions accordingly. When needed, collaborate with the IDE to follow up on specific consultancy works, providing technical feedback to activity development, consultants’ reports, and project publications.
4. Assist the PM and IDE with stakeholder relationships when needed, and promote coordination with other relevant UNIDO projects and regional initiatives.
Facilitates efficient internal coordination with UNIDO’s relevant projects and promote synergies. Prepare inputs for communications on the project status to the Technical Steering Committee (TSC) members and their respective focal points. Manage relevant documents and knowledge material for future references. Supports whenever necessary the PM and IDE in liaising with Government Officials, International Financial Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks, Bilateral and Multilateral Donors, Industrial Associations, Private Sector Operators and other relevant stakeholders. Conduct briefings and debriefings of the project with special regard for the country, sub regional and regional forums related to green and circular economy, with a view to maximizing project visibility and synergy opportunities. Contribute to the formulation of relevant project proposals for potential partnership.
5. Monitor the project implementation as per the Project Logic Framework and exert reporting functions.
Develops the project’s monitoring plan for verifying effective implementation of project activities, timely delivery of outputs, consistent progress of expenditures, reviewing and tracking Objective Verifiable Indicators (OVIs); developing data collection tools, supervising and coordinating data collection activities, recording of data, performing data analysis, reporting and advising on risk management. Prepare project’s annual progress reports to the Donor, liaising with the PM, IDE and consultants to consolidate the project status and results. Update the EU online reporting platform “OPSYS” related to the progress on OVIs. Prepare other intermediate reports such as progress report to the TSC, UNIDO’s internal units, PM, etc., and other relevant reports to share impact with stakeholders whenever necessary.
Education: Advanced university degree in Engineering, Economics, Environmental Management, or other relevant discipline relevant to the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Unit’s mandate associated with green and circular economy is required.
Technical and Functional Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience on project technical cooperation, or portfolio project management including some exposure at the international level, is required
This vacancy is archived.