Project Background
The United Nations Development Programme Country Office (UNDP CO) in Mauritius will implement an Adaptation Fund project ‘Restoring Marine Ecosystem Services by Restoring Coral Reefs to Meet a Changing Climate Future’ with a budget of USD 9,132,420 financed through an Adaptation Fund Board (AFB) grant. The project will be implemented under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) and involves executing partners in the Republic of Mauritius (Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping) and the Republic of Seychelles (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change). The project implementation will start in 2020 and run over a period of six years (72 months).
The overall objective of the project is to reduce the impact of climate change on local communities and coral reef-dependent economic sectors in the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles by implementing coral reef restoration with thermal tolerant corals as adaptation to climate change. The project objective will be achieved through the following outcomes
In the Republic of Mauritius
- development of a sustainable partnership and community-based approach to reef restoration;
- establishment of coral farming and nursery facilities, and
- active restoration of degraded reefs.
In the Republic of Seychelles
- development of a sustainable partnership and business approach to reef restoration;
- establishment of coral farming and nursery facilities, and
- active restoration of degraded reef.
In both countries
- improved understanding and knowledge management of using coral reef restoration as an adaptation to climate change;
- sharing regionally and globally the experienced learned in sustainable coral reef restoration, and
- training to build capacity for long-term sustainable coral reef restoration.
The project is divided into three components
- Component 1: Enhancement of food security and reduction of risks from natural disasters through the restoration of degraded reefs in Mauritius;
- Component 2: Enhancement of food security and reduction of risks from natural disasters through the restoration of degraded reefs in Seychelles;
- Component 3: Knowledge, management and sharing, training and sensitization to build regional capacity for sustainable reef restoration.
The Regional Project Manager (RPM) will be recruited based on an open competitive process. He/she will be responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision over project staff, consultants and sub-contractors. The RPM will report to the UNDP CO, in close consultation with the host institution for all the project’s substantive and administrative issues. From the strategic point of view of the project, the RPM will report on a periodic basis to the Project Steering Committees (PSC) at the regional level and to the Project National Coordinating Committees (PNCC) at the national level. Generally, the RPM will be responsible for meeting government obligations of the two countries under the project, under the Direct Implementing (DIM) Modality. He/she will perform a liaison role with the Government, UNDP and other UN Agencies, NGOs and project partners, and maintain close collaboration with any donor agencies providing co-financing.
Summary of Key Functions
- Strategic project planning, coordination and implementation;
- Management of the Project;
- Representation and Coordination;
- Management of communication flow;
- Partnership building and donor liaison
Functions / Key Results Expected
Specific tasks and responsibilities
Ensures strategic project planning, coordination and implementation, focusing on achievement of the following results
- provides guidance and manages the overall implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring;
- ensures overall efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP CO and the participating Ministries / Organisations;
- ensures identification and promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities;
- identifies and develops new programme and project opportunities;
- supports capacity building of national counterparts;
- oversees project implementation through close monitoring of results;
- ensures effective application of RBM tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks;
- coordinates and follows through on decentralized local evaluations;
- ensures full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations;
- promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.
Responsible for effective project management focusing on achievement of the following results
- ensures smooth running of the project, builds an effective project team, promotes teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results;
- supervises and coordinates the production of project outputs, as per the project document;
- ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the project by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations;
- continually finds ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations;
- approves contracts and ATLAS transactions under written delegated authority from the Resident Representative and/or Country Director;
- has Atlas manager rights as delegated;
- responsible for the management of the project staff, monitors their performance, completing performance assessments where necessary;
- ensures timely and regular reporting;
- mobilizes all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures for directly executed projects;
- supervises and coordinates the work of all project staff, consultants and subcontractors;
- coordinates the recruitment and selection of project personnel;
- builds capacity of the project staff by identifying capacity needs and establishing training/learning programmes;
- contributes to preparation and revision of project work and financial plans, as required by UNDP, and supports the operational and financial planning processes;
- oversees and ensures timely submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report, Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, AFB and other oversight agencies;
- contributes to the preparation and implementation of progress reports, and monitors all project activities, budgets and financial expenditures;
- assists in the preparation of payments requests for operational expenses, salaries, insurances etc. as well as follow up on timely disbursements by the UNDP CO;
- will act as Secretariat to the PSC and PNCCs;
- maintains project correspondence and communication;
- assists in logistical organisation of meetings, training and workshops;
- prepares agendas, makes necessary arrangement for the PSC and PNCCs and other internal and external meetings related to the project and writes the minutes of those meetings accordingly;
- maintains a proper inventory of all project equipment.
Responsible for Representation and Coordination in the area focusing on achievement of the following results
- able to represent UNDP with UNCT and development partners if needed;
- provides strong coordination support to national/regional authorities and other organizations through the establishment of a wider consultation process;
- liaises with UNDP, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities;
- disseminates project reports and responds to queries from concerned stakeholders;
- ensures proper coordination and inputs to interagency initiatives;
- maintains collaboration and coordination with the other project managers to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices.
Promotes communication flow in the project focusing on achievement of the following results
- maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and Government agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart;
- ensures internal communication and coordination at project level and effective and proactive communication between relevant project units;
- monitors the perception of the AFB project at the national and regional level and suggests media activities that positions the AFB project more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development;
- enhances local visibility for the project in development effectiveness;
- ensures that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with the Communication Office in the UNDP CO;
- coordinates and assists scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all field studies and monitoring components of the project.
Fosters partnership building and donor liaison focusing on achievement of the following results
- contributes to the development of the project Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy;
- identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the project level through innovative approaches to partnership development;
- encourages ways of increasing project funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities;
- carries out regular Environmental and Social Impact monitoring, as required;
- handles any grievances received and responds accordingly as per the Stakeholder Response Mechanism of UNDP;
- assists community groups, municipalities, NGOs, staff, students and others with development of essential skills through training workshops and on-the-job training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities;
- performs any other duty relevant to the assignment.
Core Competencies
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Level 2: Analyzes complex technical materials (including data) and makes concise, relevant recommendations
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
Level 2: Proactively identifies new opportunities and challenges
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Level 2: Takes ownership of responsibilities
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Level 2: Understands, explains and shares information on assigned tasks with accuracy and clarity
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
Level 2: Meets goals and timelines for delivery of products or services
Technical/Functional Competencies
Planning and Organizing
Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Knowledge Management and Learning
Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Level 2:Execute & Learn:Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work
Marine Environmental Management
Level 2: Technical Assistance: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work
Conflict Management
Level 2: Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work
Education
- A Master’s degree in Environmental, Natural Sciences or Natural Resources Management;
- Master’s degree in management/project management is also highly desirable and can be accepted in place of a degree in Environment if completed by adequate experience;
- Diving qualifications such as PADI or equivalent is desirable.
Experience
- At least 5 years of experience in natural resource planning and management;
- At least 5 years of project/programme management experience;
- 3 years of experience in international/regional project management;
- Working experience with the project national stakeholder institutions and agencies is desired;
- Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multi-stakeholder project;
- Ability to administer budgets and prepare work plans;
- Ability to mobilize, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
- Working experience with donor funded projects (UNDP, UNDEP, GEF, AFB, EU, WHO, FAO, etc) will be an advantage;
- Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
- Good IT skills (word processing, presentation, spread sheets, internet, email); and
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English (written & spoken);
- French desirable;
- Fluency in local language Mauritian Creole is desirable.
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.
Workforce diversity
UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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Contract Duration: One year renewable