Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs, and working towards supporting countries in achieving their multilateral agreements. To create the transformative changes needed to address our planetary crisis, nations are rapidly swinging into action to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted at the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2022. Parties are committed to revising and updating their NBSAPs to align with the KMGBF or to align national biodiversity targets by the sixteenth Conference of the Parties in October 2024. Parties are further expected to prepare a Seventh National Report to the CBD by February 2026, which provides an assessment of progress. Biodiversity finance plans will also be ready to support the adequate and timely mobilization of resources for effective NBSAP implementation and reporting.
Timor Leste, as an eligible Convention on Biological Diversity Party since 2007, with financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under its Enabling Activity window, will the support from UNDP will implement the following biodiversity project:
GEF Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support GEF-8 Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans GEF-8 Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP and 7th National ReportThe first ‘GEF-7 Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support’ project aims to support countries in aligning their NBSAPs with the new Framework, focusing on aligning national targets, assessing monitoring systems, strengthening policy and institutional coherence, and undertaking biodiversity finance activities. The second project ‘the GEF-8 Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans’ aims to support a transformative process for biodiversity finance by providing support to develop baseline diagnostics to assess the policy and institutional biodiversity framework and national biodiversity expenditures, estimate finance needs, and develop a national biodiversity finance plan to mobilize resources at scale to implement the KMGBF. Lastly, the ‘GEF-8 Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update and Seventh National Reports’ aims to build on the foundational work of the GBF-EAS project and to support revise, update, and implement NBSAPs that reflect the KMGBF and its global targets. Parties will additionally be supported to prepare high-quality, data-driven, and gender-responsive Seventh National Reports to the CBD.
These three strategic GEF projects for biodiversity planning, finance, implementation, and reporting will be implemented complimentary to promote synergies, ensure project resources are utilized effectively, and avoid duplication of efforts. Against this background, UNDP is seeking the support of a Project Coordinator to support implementation of the biodiversity programs. The Project Coordinator will support implementation of project activities in alignment with national commitments to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and in close coordination with the relevant government ministries.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Unit for Climate Change and Environment in close collaboration with other relevant units and UNDP Country Office Senior Management (Deputy Resident Representative and Resident Representative).
The Project Coordinator is expected to assume the following responsibilities:
Day-to-Day Project Coordination, Management and Implementation Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Communication Knowledge Building and Sharing:Day-to-Day Project Coordination, Management and Implementation
Develop project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets following the Project Document and other relevant AWP annexes, including the procurement plan and project risk log. In consultation with the UNDP Country Office and GPMTSU, elaborate/revise the work plan and budget and submit them on time. Develop terms of references, identify, select, and supervise national/international consultants and experts in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office, GPMTSU. Supervise the work of consultants to ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget, and to high-quality standards; facilitate, guide, and monitor their work. Organize Project National Steering Committee and Project Technical Steering Committee meetings, especially through the timely preparation of agenda, background materials, and minutes. Ensure that procurement of goods and services is on time and according to the agreed work plan and procurement plan, with support from the Procurement officer. Carry out the following elements of project management: Contractual management Quarterly and annual progress reporting Quarterly operational reporting Track the project budget expenditure against approved allocation and track project delivery through Quantum and other tools, ensuring that the expenditures are in line with the approved Annual Work Plans and Project Documents. Provide financial data for donor reporting and progress reporting to the UNDP Country Office and the GTPMU teams. Prepare and consolidate the overall budget, monitor expenditures following UNDP financial rules and cost-recovery policies, and implement adequate internal control. Oversee the work of the Project Support Associate and other team members to ensure administrative requirements and budgets are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations. Organise all relevant project workshops in a consultative manner, involving a wide variety of biodiversity stakeholders, including the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and academia. Act as principal technical contact for the project implementation with GPMTSU with regard to all questions and issues that arise during national implementation. Assess the technical substance, policies, and strategies and advise on the design, organization, and implementation of project activities. Apply principles of gender and social inclusion as the cross-cutting issue in every aspect of the project implementation and management.Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Communication
Organize formal or informal briefing sessions with the Government, as needed, to inform them of any minor changes in the implementation plan, needs for adaptive management, and emerging risks. Signal any delays in national deliverables compared to the work plan to the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU. Lead project monitoring, reporting, and evaluation at the national level, draft monthly and quarterly reports, and submit them to the UNDP CO and the GPMTSU team. Coordinate the development of workshop reports for the inception workshop and all technical workshops. Review all technical reports as required. Coordinate the overall organization of training and workshops and produce reports. Establish and maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders, government, private sector, and non-government organizations. Examine efforts and provide recommendations to include various marginalized sectors, especially illiterates, women, youth, and people with disabilities. Produce reports to be used for media development, i.e., articles, blogs, etc.Knowledge Building and Sharing
Contribute to sharing lessons learned and knowledge with the stakeholders and other implementing countries. Ensure the capturing and dissemination of lessons learned from the implementation of the biodiversity projects and coordinate with the GPMTSU team for wider dissemination. Build the project’s reputation in the knowledge networks to draw on and disseminate best practices and lessons learned. Facilitate training on the different components of the three biodiversity projects for government stakeholders, CSOs, the private sector, and other key stakeholders. Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practices and lessons learned.Competencies
Core Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision makingPeople Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.Cross-functional & Technical competencies
Business Management
Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments and tools Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.Business Direction & Strategy
System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness
Effectiveness: Project Quality Assurance Effectiveness: Systems and tools for managing risk2030 Agenda: Planet
Climate Strategies and Policy: Policy and Institutional BuildingRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, Biodiversity Conservation, or other closely related field is required. A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years (2) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degreeExperience:
Minimum two (2) years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in project management and implementing environmental-related works, leading, coordinating, interacting, and effectively managing multidisciplinary teams is required. Experience in project management, project implementation, developing annual work plans, and monitoring of project implementation and execution. Excellent understanding of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements, especially the Rio Conventions. Experience in building partnerships with diverse stakeholders in the government, private, and non-governmental sectors Good analytical, organizational, and management skills, including proven experience in coordinating with national stakeholders and expert teams, organizing multi-stakeholder consultation processes, documenting results, and possessing effective communication skills (based on work experience). Experience in project oversight and quality assurance. Experience in produce/reviewing technical reports and project coordination. Knowledge of national policy and institutional structures, and ability to advise on institutional capacities and relations. Teamwork skills experience with gender, religion, age, and/or cross-cultural sensitivity or tactful Demonstrated capacity in knowledge sharing and knowledge management and ability to generate innovative and new ideas and promote learning through leadership and personal example Good communication and interpersonal skills Strong demonstration of effective participation in team-based collaboration and cooperation Strong ability to effectively work with tight schedules or under pressure Excellence in computer skills Strong ability to identify and feedback from and to the issues, ideas, concerns, or interests of other team members Sound cross-cultural, gender-awareness, interpersonal, and networking skills.Required Languages
Fluency in Tetum and English Language is required. Knowledge of Portuguese is desirable.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
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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