Back Project Analyst, BIOFIN and Climate Promise

Background
  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
  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.

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 policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. 

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale 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.

In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans. 

The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country's economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country's national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.

The implementation of the project in Montenegro falls under the GEF8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will be led by the Project Analyst with the support of a technical team and in coordination to a government project director and the National Steering Committee. 

For the implementation of the GEF8-BFP Umbrella program at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a Project Analyst.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Analyst will work under direct supervision of Team Leader for Inclusive and Green Growth. The oversight will be coordinated with the Assistant Resident Representative to ensure synergy with the Social Inclusion and Human Development Portfolio, with particular attention to financing for sustainable development. He/she will be responsible for the overall supervision and management of in-country activities, ensuring a proper workplan and budget is in place and implemented within set timelines, with an effective national team and strong partnerships. 

The Project Analyst will work closely with the technical team of UNDP Montenegro office designated to take the role of Environmental Policy Expert, Biodiversity Finance Specialist and Project Support Associate, to ensure implementation mechanisms and technical working groups are established and meet regularly, that all planned workshops, technical studies and other activities are organised in a timely manner, and that they meet expected quality standards. 

He/she is expected to have senior experience and to provide substantial technical expertise in assuring horizontal integration and consistency of workstreams/studies, as well as advisory services and quality assurance of national products and processes throughout the duration of the national project. He/she will also coordinate the preparation of the Biodiversity Finance Plan and will oversee the identification and implementation of finance solutions as requested. He/she will also specifically be responsible for outreach activities to national (Government, donors' delegation, academia, etc.) and relevant international stakeholders, and the preparation of synthesis reports, policy briefs, press releases and briefing notes for Government, UNDP, etc.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure Effective Project Management
  • Oversee the identification, selection and supervision of international and national consultants and experts, in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office, Senior Finance Expert and the Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit (GPMTSU);
  • Write/revise terms of references for national BIOFIN team members;
  • In consultation with the UNDP Country Office and GPMTSU elaborate/revise the work plan and budget and submit draft workplans/budgets timely;
  • Supervise the work of national and international experts and institutions to ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget, and to high quality standards; facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national team;
  • Oversee the work of the Project Support Associate 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 finance stakeholders, including the government, private sector, NGOs, donors and academia;
  • Discuss with the Ministries mandated for Finance, Environment and other key stakeholders the establishment of a national Steering Committee and follow up on the formal establishment and regular convening of the Committee and develop meeting reports to be shared with Steering Committee, the UNDP CO and GPMTSU; 
  • Maintain regular communication with Ministries mandated for Environment and Finance for the development and completion of all reports and products;
  • Liaise the project processes and products with relevant national planning biodiversity and finance relevant processes, such as NBSAP updates and Global Biodiversity Framework implementation; 
  • Ensure a timely identification of risks in implementation at the national level and communication to the GPMTSU;
  • Ensure gender mainstreaming of all project related processes and outputs;
  • Ensure participation of national team members in regional and global technical calls on regular basis. 
    • Provide Technical advisory support:
      • Act as principal technical contact for the project implementation with GPMTSU with regards to all questions and issues that arise during national implementation; 
      • Provide overall guidance and quality control for the four main deliverables of the project. Provide technical support to the national project team to complete all the deliverables of the BIOFIN methodology, in a consistent and high-quality manner; 
      • Ensure drafts of all work are sent to the global Technical Advisor and GPMTSU regularly to provide backstopping and assure feedback is adequately integrated into national reports;
      • Research and write, develop the sections on subsidies and financing incentives in the PIR according to the guidance provided by the GPMTSU and written guidance documents (especially the BIOFIN Workbook); 
      • Provide technical support for the data collection, analysis, and conclusions of the BER;
      • Support the data collection, modelling, quality checking, and validation of the FNA.
        • Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:
          • Signal any delays in national deliverables compared to the workplan to the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU; 
          • Lead project monitoring, reporting and evaluation at national level, draft monthly and quarterly reports for review by the lead expert and submission to the global BIOFIN team; 
          • Coordinate the development of workshop reports for the inception workshop and all technical workshops; 
          • Review all technical reports as required; 
          • Ensure alignment of national work with global methodologies such as the BIOFIN workbook and others;
          • Liaise with relevant initiatives and programs in UNDP and other organizations in support of the execution of the project, including BIOFIN, the NBSAP support programme, the GEF 7 Early Action Support Programme, the Nature Hub, and other organizations and initiatives; 
          • Review the final reports of the national Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity expenditure Review, Financial Needs Assessment and Biodiversity Finance plan;
          • Develop with the collaboration of the rest of the team members, of at least one brief overview publication per year, press releases, and web and media products.

             

            • Ensure effective implementation of the project: 
              • Maintain regular communication and provide advisory support to identified institutional partners in their endeavours towards efficient administration; 
              • Organize teamwork within the project consisting of consultants, prepare and assign tasks, monitor progress and motivate hired pool of experts; 
              • Ensure that work plans are prepared and updated on time and reflect project objectives and outputs;
              • Ensure timely coordination and implementation of recruitment of individual consultants;
              • Ensure that procurement of goods and services under covered projects is undertaken in an optimal quality manner; 
              • Monitor implementation progress and ensure quality and timely reporting to project partners;
              • Ensure the establishment and maintenance of complete accounting records of all project activities (budget, commitments, expenditures, income); ensure proper follow up in relation to project expenditures, approval, and financial reporting;
              • Be responsible for all assets purchased and used under the portfolio;
              • Monitoring of the resources being spent i.e., approve requisitions in Quantum and certify/confirm receipt of goods and services;
              • Assist in identifying relevant sources of expertise and funds for project/activity implementation;
              • Implementation of action plans and assigned tasks including the field visits to monitor progress on a regular basis;
              • Review official documents and communications, including drafting routine correspondence, facsimile, memoranda and reports from oral instructions, previous correspondence or other available information sources, in accordance with the standard office procedures;
              • Advise respective Team Leader on potential adjustments of actions and procedures in light of changing requirements, issues, risks and needs;
              • Regular monitoring of the relevant events and/or subjects in the local media. 
                • Facilitate knowledge sharing, communication, and advocacy:
                  • Ensure visibility of included projects by keeping target public informed about Project objectives, results/achievements and their impact on the recipient communities;
                  • Ensure that outputs produced by the projects are adequately communicated in partnership with relevant institutions and donors;
                  • Contribute to the learning and knowledge sharing within UNDP and among external partners at the country, regional and global levels.

                    The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.     Competencies   Core Competencies:

                    • Achieve Results: 
                      • LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
                      • Think Innovatively:     
                        • LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
                        • Learn Continuously:   
                          • LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
                          • Adapt with Agility:    
                            • LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
                            • Act with Determination:    
                              • LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
                              • Engage and Partner:     
                                • LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
                                • Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
                                  • LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

                                    Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

                                    • Strategic Thinking:     
                                      • Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
                                      • Negotiation and Influence:    
                                        • Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.
                                        • Resource Mobilization:    
                                          • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
                                          • Project Management:     
                                            • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
                                            • Partnership Management:     
                                              • Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
                                              • Communication:    
                                                • 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. 
                                                • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
                                                • Nature:    
                                                  • Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme: Nature-positive economy and Biodiversity Finance.
                                                      Required Skills and Experience 
                                                      Education:
                                                    • Master’s degree in Environment/Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity, Political Studies, Economics/Finance, or a closely related field OR;
                                                    • Bachelor’s degree in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.  Experience:
                                                      • Applicants with Master’s degree in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
                                                      • Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in management of a development project.

                                                        Required Skills:

                                                        • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

                                                          Desired Skills:

                                                          • Experience in coordinating complex projects in multi-stakeholder environments, preferably on issues related to environment, biodiversity and finance. 
                                                          • Experience in environmental or biodiversity related policies. 
                                                          • Experience in strategic planning, results-based management, monitoring of management projects and reporting; Experience in gathering and processing data and information.
                                                          • Previous experience in development assistance or related work for an international agency or donor organization.
                                                          • Experience in promoting gender equality in project activities.

                                                            Required Languages:

                                                            • Fluency in Montenegrin and English is required.

                                                              Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace, and to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have access to UNDP job opportunities and benefit from participating in UNDP selection, hiring and employment processes. UNDP is committed to providing reasonable accommodation during recruitment, hiring and employment. 
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                                                                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.   Non-discrimination 
                                                                UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.   
                                                                UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.  
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