Project Description
Guyana is endowed with abundant mineral wealth. Since the 1990s, gold mining has emerged as one of the most important drivers of the economy, operating at different production scales. Gold mines differ in terms of the technology used; compliance with environmental and safety standards; formal declaration of production, trade, and royalty payments; alongside downstream multiplier effects through the range of secondary employment benefits the sector creates. While larger-scale, more conventional gold mining has expanded since 2015, the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector has supported livelihoods for over 100 years and remains the largest source of employment for hinterland regions[1]. Despite significant economic benefits for miners, their communities, and the Guyanese economy, where ASG accounts for nearly 70% of annual production, the sector relies on mercury to process whole or concentrated ores, leading to widespread pollution hazards presenting risks to human and ecosystem health. Although small-scale gold mining is legally recognized, lack of geologic information, insecure land tenure, and conflicts with claim holders create a highly mobile workforce that presents serious environmental, social, occupational safety and health (OSH), and public health risks due to persistent shortfalls in financial, technical, and human capital.
Guyana hosts incredible biodiversity with over 8000 species of flora and roughly 1800 species of fauna, some of which are endemic to the Guiana Shield. Guyana forest ecosystems and biodiversity are key factors that support community-based livelihoods. Recognizing the socio-economic and cultural significance of biodiversity, Guyana has taken steps to protect and conserve these vital assets through policies, programs, and projects in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB), Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna, and Flora (CITES), and Ramsar Convention on the protection of Wetlands.
Despite the importance of small-scale gold mining for Guyana’s economy, the sector often operates on margins of the formal economy in remote areas with limited governance, leaving miners susceptible to labour rights abuses and hazardous working conditions, including exposure to harmful chemicals, including mercury and the emerging threat of cyanide[2]. Informal, ASGM operations drive degradation, deforestation, habit fragmentation, chemical pollution, and turbidity of waterways leading to biodiversity loss. Uncontrolled deforestation, land clearing, and topsoil removal impact carbon storage, soil erosion, bank stability, and weathering process, with cascading impacts on water quality, aquatic habitats, forest regeneration, and ecosystem resilience.
The Government of Guyana recognizes that a long-term solution to address these challenges is required, including more robust policies, regulations, and financial instruments to encourage responsible practices across the mine life cycle, toward safe, post-mining land use and site relinquishment and introduce new bond mechanisms to facilitate reclamation to stable, non-polluting landforms. In addition, revision of penalties and positive incentives to encourage behaviour change is needed, combined with the necessary capacity and inter-institutional coordination and continuous monitoring of the impacts of the sector.
In support of its ambition, the Government of Guyana, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to implement the Project “Strengthening the enabling framework for biodiversity mainstreaming and mercury reduction in small-scale gold mining operations”, hereinafter referred to as “The MBIM Project.” This 7-year MBIM Project (2021-2028) aims to strengthen the regulatory framework and institutional capacity for managing small-scale gold mining and promote greater adoption of environmentally responsible mining techniques to protect globally significant biodiversity, reduce mercury contamination, and enhance local livelihoods and human health.
The project has been organized into four outcomes: 1) Policy and regulatory framework strengthened and supported for oversight of the environmental impacts of the small -scale gold mining sector; 2) Increased institutional capacity and inter-institutional coordination to mitigate and manage the impacts of small -scale gold- mining; 3) Adoption of more environmentally responsible gold mining practices increased; and 4) Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation implemented to support learning and upscaling. It is expected to deliver benefits to the mining stakeholders both governmental and non-governmental alike.
Under Outcome 4, the MBIM Project is seerking the services of a Technical Officer- Monitoring and Evaluationto oversee the monitoring and evaluation aspects of the MBIM Project.
SCOPE OF WORK
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the following key tasks:
Monitoring of the Project Implementation and Results Responsible for implementing and coordinating the day-to-day M&E activities of the project under the direct supervision of the Project Manager Develop/review, update and implement the M&E plan for the project to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project and to ensure that activities and outputs result in positive outcomes. Responsible for the monitoring of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan, the Indigenous Peoples Plan, and the Gender Action Plan. Develop/update project monitoring tools including forms, questionnaires, checklists etc. Undertake regular field trips to the project sites and provide monitoring reports on progress. Perform data monitoring and analysis as per Project’s Results Framework having ensured triangulation of qualitative, quantitative and impact-level data and preparing relevant reports. Monitor the overall progress of the project and ensure tracking performance through the collection of appropriate and credible disaggregated data and other evidence on the achievement of results. Analyze evidence to inform management decision-making, improve effectiveness and efficiency. Participate in annual project reviews and planning workshops and assist the Project Manager in preparing relevant reports. Prepare and maintain a database to track progress on the project’s indicators and targets. Provide input and update information related to the progress of project outcomes. Provide inputs in drafting and review of TOR Terminal project evaluation. Liaise with international and local evaluators to facilitate mid-term or final evaluations of the project.2. Analyse and interpret M&E data for reporting
Compile and analyze monitoring and evaluation data Visualize quantitative and qualitative data for reporting purposes Provide inputs, information, and statistics for quarterly, annual, and other reports. Support the Project Manager in the preparation of donor reports.
3. Capacity building and knowledge sharing
Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing on monitoring and evaluation. Organize and conduct training on M&E and data collection for the project staff and project stakeholders in the intervention areas, if needed. Closely work with the project staff and provide support, when necessary, on topics related to M&E.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
REPORTING
The Technical Officer- Monitoring and Evaluationwill plan, organize, and effectively report on the work undertaken:
Annual work plans and budgets and associated Procurement Plans. Prepare consolidated report on capacity building, base line and monitoring data collection, implementation of M&E plan, Gender Acion Plan, Indigenous Peoples Plan, and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT
The Technical Officer- Monitoring and Evaluationwill work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Mining Project under the Environmental Protection Agency as the Executing Agency for the Project
Competencies Core 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 Thematic Area Name Definition Business Management Monitoring Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and program performance and results Business Management Evaluation Ability to make an independent judgment based on set criteria and benchmarks -Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns Business Management Risk management Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks Business Management Knowledge Generation
Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and
new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Business Management CommunicationAbility to 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.
Digital & Innovation Data analysis Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.Minimum Qualifications Min. Academic Education
Advanced university degree(master's degree or equivalent) in development studies, international relations, environmental science, management, economics, statistics, or a relevant field, is required, or A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combinationwith an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. Min. years of relevant Work experience Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in development programming, design, implementation, and measuring and reporting results, relating to environment, mining, biodiversity and multiple cross-cutting issues such as gender equity Required skills and competenciesProven ICT skills, especially in the development of M&E framework using database software.
Experience in rendering M&E results using different media and reporting to donors and partners.
Desired skillsRelevant experience in the field of environment, biodiversity, and mining project M&E
Experience with the design and implementation of a monitoring framework is highly desirable.
Experience in the assessment of data quality and analysis of data sets, preferably related to environment, mining, biodiveisity, and water is an asset.
Required Language(s) (at working level) Fluency of the English language is required.
Travel
The Project will provide full support concerning logistics, IT, and required services (including travels, workshops, etc.) to ensure the successful execution of your function.
National Action Plan (NAP) on ASGM. (2021). Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana. Available online here.
Gold cyanidation is a hydrometallurgical technique for extracting gold from low-grade ore by converting the gold to a water-soluble coordination complex. While cyanidation can be conducted safely and without harm to the environment if conducted with safeguards, in practice, the process also presents considerable safety and environmental risks to workers, communities and the environment (i.e., Omai gold Mine in Guyana in 1995) and is growing threat for hinterland areas.
Equal opportunity
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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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