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UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is based in UNDP’s Bureau of Development Policy and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Its main focus is on helping countries develop the capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability into development at national and local, but also global and regional, levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy.
With its technical focus, the Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is organized into substantive technical teams with a Principal or Senior Technical Advisor (PTA) being the team leader within each area. Each team leader supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs). As well as being a member of a technical team, each RTA is also a member of a regional team, which consists of RTAs from all technical teams working together under the leadership of a Regional Practice or Team Leader. The regional teams are based in regional service centres from where they support UNDP’s country offices and partners in their region.
The role of a Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) is to provide high quality technical guidance and support to policy and project development and implementation partners, primarily UNDP country offices but also other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, etc.
The PTAs and RTAs are also responsible for providing detailed knowledge related to sources of funds for environment work, and assisting partners to obtain, use, and report on, such funding. Currently the main sources of funds include: the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its Adaptation Funds (LDCF, SCCF); the CDM carbon market; and various bilateral, multilateral, and sub-national donors and partners including country governments, NGOs, and the private sector. EEG is in the process of expanding its capacities to assist countries access the voluntary carbon markets, the private sector, the UNFCCC Adaptation fund, and, if they become available, mechanisms associated with REDD.
The Regional Technical Advisor for Water, Ecosystems and Biodiversity works under the overall guidance and supervision of the Principal Technical Advisors for International Waters and Ecosystems/Biodiversity, and the Regional Practice / Team Leader, and in close collaboration with other technical specialists at both global and regional levels.
Depending on work load and resources Regional Technical Advisors can be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, in any region as needed. This post will be based in Panama with a policy and project portfolio emphasis on integrating biodiversity management objectives into development, protected areas management, ecosystem based adaptation and mitigation; Large Marine Ecosystems, fisheries, integrated coastal management and integrated water resources management.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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The Regional Technical Advisor for Water, Ecosystems and Biodiversity is primarily responsible for providing high quality technical, policy, and programming, implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services, to UNDP country offices, other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, and donor partners, in the region. Specific results are expected in the areas of:
1. Leadership, Strategic Planning, Management, Innovation and Partnerships (10%)
- Establishing and maintaining a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact with and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
- Leading, or contributing to, the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development;
- Participating in global retreats, focal area retreats, regional strategic planning, pipeline management exercises, etc.;
- Participating in cross-substantive area technical dialogue, common strategic visioning, mainstreaming, programming, and other collaboration within the regional team;
- Keeping the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area;
- Keeping the Principal Technical Advisors informed of trends and issues in the region.
2. Policy Support, Development, Dialogue and Advocacy (10%)
- Providing strategic policy development support and guidance;
- Developing strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
- Developing and advocating for specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance;
- Establishing a trusted leadership role within the region;
- Identifying, and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
3. Programming and Resource Mobilization (35%)
- Programme and project identification and development
- Providing timely quality information and technical advice on source of funds policies, priorities and activities;
- Identifying priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
- Leading the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
- Identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
- Liaison with potential financing agencies and institutions.
4. Project Implementation Oversight and Support (35%)
- Assisting with inception, contracting and start up of projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
- Supporting UNDP country offices and project implementation partners in the supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management of approved projects;
- Maintaining project and portfolio information and corporate information systems;
- Reviewing and commenting on relevant projects and project proposals from other agencies.
5. Generating, managing and stimulating the uptake of knowledge (10%)
- Evaluating, capturing, codifying, synthesizing lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of resource kits and other knowledge materials;
- Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve, the technical quality of projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
- Assisting with preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
- Preparing and delivering training courses;
- Responding to queries on project progress, impacts and lessons;
- Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan (5%).
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Competencies
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Technical Competencies:
- Ability to provide guidance on biodiversity and ecosystem management: strengthening management of protected area systems and developing protected area system finance schemes; mainstreaming biodiversity management in economic sector governance systems and markets; developing ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation solutions to address climate change; and developing financial instruments for ecosystem management. Ability to advise governments and other constituencies on issues related to fisheries management, integrated coastal management, governance of Large Marine Ecosystems, and integrated water resources management in the Latin America and the Caribbean region;
- Ability to guide the design and implementation of multi-sectoral and sectoral programmes and projects at different scales; and
- Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Functional Competencies:
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting
- Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects
- Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
- In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
- Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP
Management and Leadership
- Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
- Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
- Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills
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Required Skills and Experience
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Education:
- Masters degree or higher in ecology, marine sciences, oceanography, fisheries, coastal management, environmental sciences, economics, social sciences with a specialization in environment and development, or other closely related field;
Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years experience working with developing countries on water, ecosystems and biodiversity issues;
- Extensive experience with project development, implementation and management (direct project management experience is preferable);
- Experience in the policy development processes associated with water, ecosystem and biodiversity resources and sustainable development issues;
- Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in substantive area;
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
- Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills;
- Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
- Full computer literacy;
- Experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean;
- Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices.
Language Requirements:
- Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
- Fluency in Spanish including excellent writing skills
- Proficiency in other UN languages, especially Portuguese, is an asset
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