Sustainable Development Specialist

The Sustainable Development Specialist position is a critical function that serves to leverage the linkages between environmental sustainability and inclusive growth portfolio. This function will provide the overall anchor and support to the CPD Inclusive Growth Pillar in coordination with the Strategy and Policy Unit, which is led by the Senior Economic Advisor. In this role the SD Specialist position will coordinate the translation of policy advise from the SPU into concrete programmatic interventions.  At the same time, the function is essential to ensure synergies are achieved in the areas of environmental sustainability, climate change, energy, disaster risk reduction and resilience with the overall economic recovery for the country. The role of the SD Specialist is instrumental in enabling the effective delivery of Outcome 1 of the CPD, including leading the necessary resource mobilization activities in partnership with the communication and PMSU teams. The SD Specialist will support the Deputy Resident Representative in the effective delivery of the Inclusive Growth and sustainable development programme which consists of a large portfolio of Vertical Fund (VF) projects (GEF, GCF, AF) under implementation and in pipeline as well as a number of inclusive growth programmes.

The main responsibility of the SD Specialist is to ensure overall coordination of the Inclusive growth and sustainable development portfolio, technical coherence of the Nature, Climate, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme and assist the Senior Management Team (SMT) in the strategic planning and identification of new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF/CPD priorities, creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities including responsiveness to the country’s priorities under the National Development Plan. The SD Specialist will technically guide the works of Nature, Climate, Energy in strategic planning, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation. With technical direction from the SMT, he/she promotes innovations and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities, while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF/CPD priorities and working closely with Programme staff in other UN Agencies.Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme & Operations), the Programme Specialist (Inclusive Growth) acts as a manager and Advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of Country Office (CO) programme in Inclusive Economic Growth. The Programme Specialist leads the programme team in strategic planning and identifies new programme areas while ensuring consistency with UNSDCF and CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The SD Specialist will administratively supervise the Nature, Climate, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction Team, working in close collaboration with the Senior Management Team. Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative with direct reporting to the Deputy Resident Representative, the SD Specialist acts as the day-to-day manager of the Inclusive growth and sustainable development portfolio, and advises Senior Management on all aspects of Nature, Climate, Energy and Resilience Programme, including related Disaster Risk Reduction, and Community Resilience building.

Position Purpose:

• Provision of oversight and portfolio management of the Country Office Inclusive Growth Pillar as part of the Sustainable Development Portfolio.
• Provision of technical leadership to ensure (i) the strategic positioning and direction of the Nature, Climate, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction programme, through development of new pipeline projects day-to-day management of the Nature, Climate, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction portfolio.
• Provision of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
• Provision of top-quality policy advisory services to the Government and facilitation of learning, knowledge building and management

Ensures implementation of Inclusive Growth Pillar as well as the effective Nature, Climate, Energy, and Disaster Risk Reduction programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Leads the delivery of relevant programme activities; identifies modalities to achieve development targets; plans, coordinates and monitors activities with the Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development programme team and with other UN agencies;
• Provide top quality inputs to climate change, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy environmental sustainability and sustainable natural resources programmes with a focus on strengthening institutional capacity for policy, strategies and programmes formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting;
• Undertake diagnostic assessments of critical trends and context shifts in the thematic areas of nature, climate change and energy landscape in the country and identify areas for programme and project development;
• Identification of opportunities in the practice area for development of new initiatives and programmes, including cross-practice interventions and joint programming with other UN agencies within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned;
• Contribute towards Country Office business processes mapping and preparation of the content of Internal/Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management;
• Work closely with the Programme Management Support Unit to ensure quality assurance and programme implementation are aligned to UNDP’s rules and regulations;
• Review project proposals under formulation for GEF, GCF and other donors and assist the CO in obtaining the necessary co-financing letters, review proposed activities, and outputs;
•  Support the start-up of the SLM project, Energy Efficiency Project including Inception, Steering Committee Meetings, finalization of LPAC and administration of project budgets;
• Build capacity of project management team, implementing and responsible partners on UNDP-GEF, GCF and NDC projects cycle, policies and procedures;
•  Provide technical support to planned project activities by partners to ensure compliance with UNDP-GEF policies and procedures.

Ensures effective management of the Inclusive Growth Pillar as well as the Nature, Climate, Energy, and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme thematic / sectoral areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and performing monitoring of results to measure the impact of the programme i.e. climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster resilience building, energy access, sustainable natural resources management, including the coordination of necessary programme and project evaluation exercises;
• Design and formulation of Country Office programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities  into local interventions. Co-ordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
• Coordination of programme/project cycle management – Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, entering project into Quantum, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; co -ordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review;
• Provide programme management support to ensure effective delivery and impact of the portfolio while ensuring alignment with National Priorities, UNSDCF, UNDP strategic Plan, CPD, in addition to ensuring the proper incorporation of cross cutting themes (i.e., environment/climate change, youth/women employment, PWDs, human rights, gender mainstreaming, LNOB, etc);
• Lead the preparation of portfolio work-plans while ensuring complementarities and coordination within the portfolio and with other CO Thematic Areas as well as ensuring timely and well-sequenced execution of approved work plans and programmes, using multiyear framework for planning, budgeting and reporting, including the development of strategies to ensure delivery acceleration and timely reporting of results while managing risks of exposure to audit recommendations and maintaining UNDP standing and reputation;
• Coordinate joint review of programmes and projects in the Inclusive Growth and sustainable development portfolio and the substantive monitoring and evaluation of programme and projects;
• Effective Financial management and oversight of the projects, including project resource planning and budgeting; the identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions;
• Participation in audit of NIM projects, including follow up with PMSU on audit recommendations and their timely implementation; ensure exceptions are timely reported;
• Results oriented reporting; ensure aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs, and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports;
• Build capacity of project management team, implementing and responsible partners on UNDP-GEF, GCF and NDC projects cycle, policies, and procedures.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Programme Management Support and Partnerships and Resources Management Team, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of partnerships with the Nature, Climate, Energy, and Disaster Risk Reduction vertical funding streams, UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi- lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific them care as based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
•  Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization;
• Support the development and implementation of resource mobilization strategies in the area of Sustainable and Inclusive Growth to achieve programme results; identify synergies with development partners and pursue resource mobilization targets;
• Provide technical inputs and advisories in the development of GEF, GCF and other Vertical funds projects and programmes including integrated approaches and multifocal area projects;
• Providing timely and quality information and technical advice on sources of funds, policies, priorities, and activities – including the Global Environment Facility funds, the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral donors, bilateral donors, and foundations;
• Facilitating the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
• Providing guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support services including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
• Facilitating liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.

Ensures   provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of learning, knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Thorough analysis and research of the environmental, climate and disaster preparedness situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, CPD and other documents;
• Identification of sources of information related to policy driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address issues and needs in relation portfolio themes in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Evaluating, capturing, codifying, synthesizing lessons, documenting best practices and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
• Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve the technical quality of programmes /projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
• Contribute to the writing of the ROAR, IWP and donor project reports etc;
• Supporting the development of strategic UNDP CO policy position papers and Project briefs, speaking engagement and memos as required;
• Provide guidance on dissemination and application of knowledge, best practices and programme results for advocacy, resources mobilization, learning and practice development and ensure visibility of unit activities through regular updating on achievements, and providing advice on the visibility materials (newsletters, publications, blogs etc.);
• Facilitate publication of study reports and knowledge sharing events;
• Liaise with the Communications team and support the development of communications materials for maintaining the social media footprint and uploading documents on both twitter and Facebook as well as updating the UNDP country office website.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Sustainable Development Specialist will perform Manager functions in the approval of Purchase Orders and vouchers in Quantum.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation; Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion. Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People management Competencies:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Business Management: 

Portfolio Management : Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Resource mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

Business Development: 

Integration within the UN: Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work, knowledge of the UN system and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

2030 Agenda Planet:

Nature, Climate and Energy:  Environment: Environmental and social impact assessments, including data collection and analysis.  Knowledge of environmental issues, concept and principles and the ability to apply strategies and/or practical situations.

Nature, Climate and Energy: Climate Change Mitigation: Sustainable Infrastructure. Apply knowledge of climate change adaptation concepts and the ability to apply strategies and/or practical solutions.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery:  Disaster Risk Reduction:  Ability to provide analysis of climate risks and hazards, climate scenarios, trends, and vulnerabilities, to support disaster recovery policy, planning and programming.

Nature, Climate and Energy: Green Economy: Knowledge of Green Economy concept and green growth issues, including green commodities, supply chains and poverty-environment nexus, and the ability to apply strategies and/or practical solutions.