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 Pakistan works with the Government and communities to develop and implement local solutions to development challenges. In an evolving development context, UNDP supports the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to build a more equitable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient society, and to achieve its SDGs and COP 25 targets.
RECCU is supporting projects across the country to respond to the growing threat of climate change, to mainstream environmental concerns into national development planning processes, and to expand access to environmental and energy services for the poor. UNDP has sought to ensure that the poor have stronger capacities to manage, adapt, and monitor climate change. Climate Change is a huge development challenge as well as a huge environmental challenge. It is a growing problem and is now hitting the poorest and the most vulnerable first and hardest.
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 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, updating NBSAP and providing early action support (EAS). The NBSAP and EAS supports the reporting against the existing NBSAP targets while supporting National entity in developing updated NBSAP targets beyond 2030. 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 Project Manager will be responsible for the overall supervision, implementation and management of in-country activities under the biodiversity programme, ensuring a proper work plan and budget are in place and implemented within set timelines, with an effective national team and strong partnerships. The incumbent will work closely with the technical team 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.
The Project Manager 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. The incumbent will be responsible for relevant sections the production of the Policy and Institutional Review, the Biodiversity Expenditure Review and the Financial Needs Assessment. The incumbent will also lead the preparation of the Biodiversity Finance Plan, and the preparation of NBSAP action plans and targets and will oversee the identification and implementation of finance solutions as requested. The incumbent will 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 the Government, UNDP.
Duties and Responsibilities The Project Manager will work under the overall guidance of the Assistant Resident Representative RECCU and directly reports to Programme Analyst RECCU while collaborating closely with the Biodiversity Wing at the Ministry of Climate Change, where required. The Project Manager of Biodiversity Conservation will supervise various positions reporting directly to the PM including reporting officer, communication and engagement officer, gender expert and admin and finance officer.
The key duties and responsibilities for the Project Manager will be as below:
Coordinate effective project planning and implementation.
- Develop project planning process and ensure the work plan and a fully costed budget are prepared based on sound capacity assessments and in accordance with UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines
- Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
- Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met.
- Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
- Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization.
- Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.
- Supervise the work of national 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;
- 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.
- 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 timely identification of risks in implementation at the national level and communication to the RECCU.
- Organise regular meetings of the national team and monthly calls with the Technical Advisor from the GPMTSU.
- Support and supervise all consultants and relevant staff in the data collection, analysis, and conclusions in form of Workbooks, reports and success stories.
Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.
- Provide technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of a detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting.
- Lead project monitoring, reporting and evaluation at the national level, draft monthly and quarterly reports for review by the lead expert and submission to the global and regional teams.
- Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management.
- Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end-line assessment, and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
- Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, and initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions.
- Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities.
- Review the final reports of the national Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity expenditure Review, Financial Needs Assessment and Biodiversity Finance plan.
- Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.
Establish partnerships and open channels of communication
- Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners and RPs mainly the Government entities.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
- Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
- Support resource mobilization efforts and project development under biodiversity conservation and portfolio expansion under RECCU as a Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
- Ensure regular communication with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, provincial wildlife and environment departments and completion of all reports and products.
- Act as principal technical contact for the project implementation with GPMTSU concerning all questions and issues that arise during national implementation.
- Provide key technical leadership on all finance issues and assure horizontal integration and consistency of workstreams/studies.
- Provide overall guidance and quality control for all projects under the Biodiversity Programme.
Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).
- Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
- Coordinate the development of workshop reports for the inception workshop and all technical workshops.
- 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.
- 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.
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 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 making
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
2030 Agenda: Planet
- Nature: Ecosystems and biodiversity
Partnership management
- Private sector resource mobilization: Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources
Business Direction & Strategy
- Systems Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Management
- Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
- Partnerships 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
- Monitoring and Evaluation. Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results; Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming; Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools; Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks; Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Required Skills and Experience Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environment/Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity, Environmental Economics, or a closely related field, is required or
- A first-level university degree (bachelors’ degree) in Environment/Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity, Environmental Economics, or a closely related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years (with masters’ degree) or 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of experience in the implementation of environment/biodiversity/finance projects is required.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with government and civil society organizations in the context of environment and development.
- Experience in fostering networks and partnerships and ability to coordinate with the UN agencies and international and other organizations present in the sector.
- 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.
- Experience in environmental or biodiversity-related policies.
- Knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies.
- Experience with UN and/or UNDP procurement policies and procedures.
- Experience in managing multiple projects and work teams and supervising technical assessments, reports and technical documents.
- Experience in developing proposals, EOI and concept notes with a focus on Biodiversity conservation and linked thematic areas.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Urdu is required.
Disclaimer Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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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.
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