Job ID: 35825

Practice Area - Job Family: Environment and Energy

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 25/03/2021

Duty Station: Maseru, Lesotho

Education & Work Experience: G-Bachelor's Level Degree - 5 year(s) experience

Languages: English, Sesotho

Grade: SB4

Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Africa

Contract Duration: 7 months with possibility of renewal

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Background

The UNDP Country Office and the Government of Lesotho is currently implementing a GEF-financed project “Development of Cornerstone Public Policies and Institutional Capacities to accelerate Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Progress” that will be ending in 2021. The objective of the project is to catalyse investments in renewable energy-based mini-grids and Energy Centres to reduce GHG emissions and contribute to the achievement of Lesotho’s Vision 2020 and SE4All goals. It proposes to put in place an enabling environment for the development of these renewable energy systems and develop a suitable business model and financial instruments for their viability and replication. This objective is proposed to be achieved through the participation of the private sector working hand in hand with village community organisations. Thus, this programme will not only benefit rural households and small commercial enterprises, but will also connect the private sector, financial institutions, technical training and local organisations to promote the establishment of distribution channels to develop the renewable energy market for the provision of electricity services. Project outcomes are intended to achieve the following:

  • Development of cornerstone SE4All Policies and Strategies to facilitate investment in renewable energy-based mini-grids.
  • Improved capacity of energy stakeholders and government officials for decentralized clean energy planning and decision-making on the basis of quality energy data.
  • Successful establishment of a village-based energy service delivery model for replication nationally
  • Outreach programme and dissemination of project experience/best practices/lessons learned for replication nationally and throughout the region.

The project is nationally implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology (MEM) as the Implementing Partner (IP) and has run for four (4) years since 2016. Therefore, the project is at the critical stage of implementation and consolidation of all its outputs in order to realize its main objective of promoting and catalysing investments in renewable energy-based mini-grids and energy centres. The project has made significant progress towards achievement of the first two outcomes and the fourth outcome as it supported development of the SE4ALL Country Action Agenda (CAA), the Investment Prospectus (IP) as well as regulatory framework and regulations for mini-grids application. Under the second outcome, the project supported capacity building of the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) and Department of Energy (DOE) on the collection and analysis of energy data. As a result, both BOS and DOE were able to lead a national energy survey for households and produced technical and analytical reports on household energy consumption. The project is currently supporting several activities through media, exhibitions and roadshows to raise awareness on application of renewable energy technologies and providing platforms to facilitate discussion on energy development in Lesotho. Implementation of activities towards achievement of project outcome 3 “Successful establishment of a village-based energy service delivery model for replication nationally” are still ongoing. A project Financial Support Scheme (FSS) to incentivize development of mini-grids and energy centres has successfully been established in collaboration with UNCDF. The FSS that is currently supporting development of 8 mini grids out of project target of 10 and 7 energy centres out of target of 10.

In light of the above, UNDP and the Government of Lesotho require the services of a Project Officer to from part of the technical and managerial team responsible for the successful implementation of the residual actions of above project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Responsibilities

The Project Officer will be responsible for project management, stakeholder coordination, and reporting on the project activities. S/he will take overall responsibility for liaison with all project implementing partners and stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the project, by:

  • Managing project implementation to ensure successful delivery of the project objectives.
  • Coordinating and monitoring of project activities, and providing technical support and advisory to project implementing partners
  • Establishing strategic linkages and partnerships at national and local levels for advancing green economy and establishment of sustainable value chains
  • Promoting knowledge and learning on the project,

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities: Manage project implementation to ensure successful delivery of the project objectives.

  • Provide leadership to implementation of project activities, monitor work progress and ensure timely delivery of outputs.
  • Prepare annual and quarterly workplans and facilitate approval for implementation.
  • Liaising with project Chief Technical Advisor, prepare reports on project progress, providing progress on attainment of project outputs, indicators, management of risks and documenting of best practices from implementing partners.
  • Develop a clear monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan, budget and workplan of the project, including tools for data and information collection
  • Act as a liaison with key project stakeholders including project steering Committee, district authorities, Community Councils and other institutions within and outside the project areas.
  • Supervise, facilitate, coordinate and work of technical staff supporting project implementation.
  • Prepare and ensure timely submission of financial reports and GEF Project Implementation Review (PIR) and other reports as may be required by UNDP, Implementating Partner (IP) and Project Steering Committee (PSC).
  • Prepare and ensure timely submission of annual and quarterly reports and budgets for PSC approval.
  • Oversee budget preparation and oversight ensuring project implementation aligns to agreed budget parameters and tolerance levels
  • Prepare and ensure smooth execution of Terminal Evaluation including recruitment of appropriate evaluation team/experts, organization of evaluation missions.
  • Contribute to IP, UNDP and UN programming strategy, in planning, monitoring and reporting phase.

Coordinate and monitor project implementation, and provide technical support and advisory to project implementing partners

  • Support project partners in developing implementation plans and facilitate an effective system for monitoring, information sharing and reporting on the project.
  • n collaboration with project stakeholders, district and community level authorities and private sector, establish a collaborative platform for engagement in context of the project objectives
  • Provide technical support to the implementing partners and grantees as may be required for effective implementation of the project activities

Establish strategic linkages and partnerships at national and local levels for advancing green economy and establishment of sustainable value chains

  • Participate in the District Project Implementation Committee meetings and the Inter Community Council Committee meetings, as well as coordinate project site visits.
  • Establish a community of knowledge and advocacy on green economic growth and jobs creation in collaboration with the project partners and stakeholders
  • Effectively participate and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on related issues,
  • Seek opportunities to develop close linkages and partnerships with government, business and other NGOs nationally and internationally in support to the project objectives
  • Connect and mobilize ideas and inputs from project partners and team members to improve project implementation and outcomes for youth development

Develop knowledge products to share lessons and best practices on the project to contribute to UNDP’s learning objectives

  • Identify and document best practices and lessons learned generated from the project on regular basis
  • Ensure up-to date data and information on the project and related initiatives in the country,
  • facilitate use of innovative mechanisms for data collection, and collection of evidence-basis on the project
  • Develop knowledge resources and briefs as may be required on the project to support UNDP’s engagement in this area

Competencies

Corporate Competences:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competences:

  • Excellent analytical and writing skills
  • IT literacy and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications
  • Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Knowledge and the ability to apply communication methods and techniques
  • Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture
  • In-depth knowledge of relevant development issues
  • Ability to provide policy advice
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Management and Leadership

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
  • Effective communication skills in various contexts: strategic planning, mentoring, training and making presentations
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, international development, social sciences, public administration or other relevant field.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience, preferably in energy field.

Experience of 3 - 5 years’ in providing support to implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and related assignments

Proven experience working with Government, local authorities, private sector, international organizations or donors and community mobilization.

Good knowledge and experience of donor funded energy projects and programmes including operational modalities and familiarity with UNDP_GEF procedures would be an advantage.

Prior knowledge and experience of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to energy development and climate change mitigation in African countries including Lesotho.

Good organization and coordination skills, networking with experience interrelationships between different stakeholders.

Proven ability to draft, edit and produce written proposals and results-focused reports.

Fluent in English and Sesotho including writing and communication skills.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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