National Project Associate
United Nations Development Programme – United Nations
- Grenada
- Not disclosed
- Temporary full-time
- Updated 26/07/2023
- Human Resources
The National Project Associate is expected to support technical, administrative (including logistical arrangements), and monitoring actions relating to project implementation, execution, and reporting.
Job Description
Office/Unit/Project Description
The UNDP is responsible for the implementation of the GEF Funded GlobalBiodiversity Framework Early Action Support project in 69 countries. The Multi-Country Office (MCO) will be responsible for implementation in seven (7) countries across the eastern Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The objective of this global project is to fast-track readiness and early actions to implement the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by providing financial and technical support to GEF-eligible Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in their work to align their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) including national biodiversity targets, monitoring, policy, and finance frameworks with the GlobalBiodiversity Framework of the CBD. Financial and technical support is provided through two pathways: first, grants made to Parties to undertake early actions at the national level, and second, a global technical support grant that will make it possible to provide technical guidance to Parties to ensure these early actions are effective, efficient, inclusive, and of the highest technical standards.
Each of the participating countries, based on their current planning status, will use the grant to undertake activities from the following menu: a) Rapid review of NBSAP for alignment with the post-2020 GBF; b) assessment of monitoring systems; c) policy and institutional alignment and review of policies for coherence with the GBF; and d) biodiversity finance activities. The rapid review of the NBSAP and national targets will focus on identifying gaps required to align the national targets, goals, objectives, and action plans within the existing NBSAP to the new GBF; the assessment of monitoring systems will focus on identifying gaps and promoting alignment between the NBSAP-related monitoring system and the GBF; the policy and institutional review will focus on identifying policy gaps and inconsistencies within the existing NBSAP and the GBF; and the biodiversity finance activities will focus on preparedness for developing and/or implementing a finance plan for implementing a GBF-aligned NBSAP.
Scope of Work
The National Project Associate is expected to support technical, administrative (including logistical arrangements), and monitoring actions relating to project implementation, execution, and reporting. The successful candidate will provide support for the day-to-day management of the project in the mobilization of inputs, the organization of activities, and other implementation support functions as requested.
Responsibilities include:
Programmatic planning and resource mobilization
- Identify, synthesize, and promote the adoption of best practices and lessons learned, particularly innovative approaches and South-South cooperation directly linked to programmatic and project-level goals
- Support the preparation of project-related documents
- Make presentations as required local, regional or international fora on relevant topics
- Prepare terms of reference(TORs) for the procurement of international and national consultants as required to support the implementation of project activities, oversee procurement processes, as well as ensure quality assurance and timely delivery of services
Project development and implementation support
- Support the Programme Manager (PM) in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of activities for projects
- Provide technical and policy guidance in the design and implementation of activities, including research and strategic situational/problem analysis
- Provide technical support in the application of field methodologies related to the implementation of project activities as relevant
- Advise and support the PM in the resolution of technical and administrative issues
- Support development of annual work plans and procurement plans for NIM and DIM projects
- In collaboration with programme and operations personnel, help coordinate and deliver training for project staff in corporate Project Management requirements
- Coordinate procurement processes, including the development of solicitation documents, convening evaluation committees, evaluating bids, and preparing submissions to local and regional procurement committees
- Support UNDP management in project governance mechanisms, as necessary, providing guidance to in-country project teams and National Project Directors on UNDP, donor, and government processes and requirements.
- Support the PM in the technical supervision, coordination, and contract management of consultants, ensuring efficient and effective resources utilization.
- Support beneficiaries in liaising with national and regional partners on project issues.
- Provide technical guidance in sustainability measures/plans for project initiatives.
- Support the coordination of project activities and outputs with related UNDP and UN System initiatives.
- Support the recruitment of consultants and the administration of contracts through drafting TORs, and finalizing advertisements;.
- Assist as necessary with project closure activities
Capacity building and knowledge management
- Contribute to the development and implementation of capacity building programmes at national and community levels
- Evaluate, capture and synthesize lessons and stimulate the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of position papers, resource kits, and other knowledge materials
- Respond to queries on demonstration activities’ progress, impacts, and lessons
Monitoring and reporting
- Assist inception activities including the establishment and monitoring of indicators, baselines, and targets
- Support PM on missions for programmatic inspections in line with monitoring and evaluation plans to ensure activities are proceeding towards achievement of project outcomes, and outputs are of requisite quality
- Prepare reports to the PM identifying risks, challenges, and causes of potential bottlenecks to activity implementation and propose (and implement where relevant) mitigation measures, including modification to activities where appropriate
- Conduct regular analysis of the effect of actual performance relative to the project timetable and budgets, in close collaboration with the PM
- Support preparation of inputs to periodic narrative and financial reports, including donor and UNDP corporate reporting
- Support Implementing Partners in the preparation of annual work plans, quarterly and annual progress reports as required
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Location: St. George´s, Grenada
Institutional Arrangement
Directly reports to the Multi-Country Project Coordinator and functions under the overall guidance of the Head Cluster, Nature, Climate and Energy
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: Adaptsto change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible |
| Act with Determination: | LEVEL 1: Showsdrive 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
| ThematicArea | Name | Definition |
| 2030 Agenda: Planet | Nature, Climate and Energy | Ecosystems and biodiversity |
| 2030 Agenda: Planet | Nature, Climate and Energy | Ecosystems and biodiversity: Biodiversity Finance |
| Business Management | Project Management | Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals |
| Business Management | Partnerships Management | Ability to build control resources 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 |
| Business Development | Knowledge Generation | Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need |
Business management | Resource management | Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity |
| Business management | Results-based management | Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results |
Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA
| Min. Education Min. Education requirements | Secondary education is required University degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in Environment or natural resource Management, Environmental Economics,Development, Business Administration, Coastal/Ocean Engineering, Project Management or similar field. |
| Min. years of relevant work experience | Minimum 7 years with a Secondary Education or 4 years with Bachelor’s degree of relevant experience in environmental, climate change And/or development work, project management. |
| Required skills | Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. |
| Desired skillsin addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section |
|
| Required Language(s) | Written and spoken English |
| Professional Certificates | Project management certification is desirable |
Disclaimer
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