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.
Viet Nam is among the countries which are most vulnerable to climate change. The Government of Viet Nam has made significant efforts in responding to climate change, protecting the environment, and ensuring energy security and energy transition, including the adoption of the National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, the Green Growth Strategy and Implementation Plan, Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030, Climate Change Strategy, National Energy Master Plan for the period 2021 – 2030, National Power Development Planning for the period of 2021 – 2030, and legal frameworks and plans on disaster risk management.
At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Viet Nam Prime Minister made ambitious commitments to achieve netzero emissions by 2050, joining the global pledge to cut emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane by 30 per cent by 2030, and pledging to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. In December 14 2022, Viet Nam and the International Partners Group (IPG), consisting of the European Union, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Japan, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of France, the Italian Republic, Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Norway and EU, agreed to a new Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P) that will mobilize $15.5 billion of public and private finance between the next 3 to 5 years to support Viet Nam to achieve its ambitious Net Zero 2050 goal.
In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Viet Nam for the period 2022-2026 and the One Strategic Plans of the UN in Viet Nam for the period 2022 – 2025, the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) for the period 2022-2026 underlines UNDP’s work to promote Climate Change Response, Disaster Resilience and Environmental Sustainability in Viet Nam. UNDP’s support targets advocacy, policy research and formation, capacity and partnership building and coordination, technology testing and transfer, piloting models and promoting participation of businesses and local communities, aiming to to support the Government in formulating and implementing the above policies, especially play the lead role in providing technical assistance in the implementation of the JETP.
In order to realize the above targets, UNDP in general and Climate, Environment and Energy (CEE) Unit in particular have been developing and implementing six portfolios of many projects and activities, as follows:
- Climate and disaster resilience
- Green and low-carbon development and Energy transition
- Circular Economy, waste, and plastics
- Natural resources and biodiversity
- Climate and Health
- Small Grants Programme
The Assistant Resident Representative serves as the team leader for the CEE Unit requires strong political sensitivity and diplomatic skills, as well the aptitude to manage complex processes with strong relationship-building and problem-solving abilities. As a key manager and a member, the incumbent also is expected to contribute to UNDP CO high level policy advising and dialogue, actively participates in the CO senior staff (team leaders) group and supports the implementation of shared office priorities in programme and management fields.
Under the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and with overall guidance of the Resident Representative, the Assistant Resident Representative serves as the team leader for the Climate, Environment and Energy Unit (CEE) of the UNDP Viet Nam Country Office (CO). He/she oversees the implementation of the CEE Unit’s programme, leads the team in strategic planning and identifies new programming/pipeline opportunities for programme development while ensuring consistency with the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) and the UN Sustainable Development Framework with Viet Nam – UNSDF’s priorities and providing innovative responses to new and emerging challenges and opportunities.
Reporting structure and partners – Reports directly to the Deputy Resident Representative and serves as team leader for Climate, Environment and Energy Unit (CCE). Works in close collaboration with other teams and units in the CO, Government officials, counterparts in UNDP HQ and Regional Centre, technical advisors and experts, multilateral and bilateral donors, UN agencies and civil society.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
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.
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.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Scope of work:
- Spearhead the strategic direction of Climate, Environment and Energy, including UN joint programmes with UNDP’s participation and other collaborative UN initiatives.
- Ensure effective management of the CO’s Climate, Environment and Energy programme and supervision of the CEE Team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation Establish and maintain strategic partnerships and support mobilization of resources in cooperation with the CO Senior Management Ensure provision of quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
Duties and Responsibilities
Spearheading the strategic direction of Climate, Environment and Energy, including UN joint programmes with UNDP’s participation and other collaborative UN initiatives through:
- Analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of the UNSDCF, UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD), Annual Work Plans (AWPs), and other documents, guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals, Identify strategic programme areas of cooperation;
- Identification of possibilities for UN joint programming in relevant areas and support of UNDP’s alternate-chair role in UN Results Group on Climate Change and Environment.
- Operationalization of CPD in collaboration with key national partners, and development partners, development partners and civil society,
- Development of the CO programme portfolio in the area of CEE and participation in response to national priorities, UN/UNDP programming frameworks;
- Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation and contribution to the definition of related policy research, advocacy, and advisory work;
- Working closely with concerned Government agencies (MONRE, MARD, MPI, MOF, MOT, MOC, MOST, MOCST, and provincial authorities etc.), UNDP HQs and Regional Center on the related issues, disseminating policy decision and responding accordingly;
- Keeping abreast of national/regional/global development trends in the areas of CEE and providing advice on planning, policy and resource mobilization interventions.
- Ensure that new programmes incorporate gender equality and women’s empowerment at the design stages, supporting the gender marker targets under the Country Office Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy and UNDP’s global Gender Equality Strategy.
Ensure effective management of the CO’s Climate, Environment and Energy programme and supervision of the CEE Team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation achieving the following results through:
- Providing high quality guidance and supervision to UNDP CO staff within the CEE unit and if applicable to UNDP Technical Advisory staff embedded within Government offices;
- Effective application of RBM tools: establishment of management targets and monitoring the achievement of results as well as the programme environment, effecting timely readjustment of programme where needed;
- Design and formulation of the programme, translating UNDP priorities into high-quality programmatic interventions (GEF, GCF, bi-laterals and others); coordination of programme implementation with implementing partners;
- Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Taking the responsibility for achievement of identified results and effective delivery of allocated resources
- Performing the function of Manager in Quantum, as well as other roles in the CO Internal Control Framework (ICF) based on delegated authority from CO management; Follow up on audit recommendations and report all exceptions in a timely manner;
- Ensuring aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports;
- Follow up on audit recommendations and report all exceptions in a timely manner. Application of appropriate cost recovery for the services provided by the programme unit to projects.
Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports mobilization of resources in cooperation with the CO Senior Management focusing on achievement of the following results through:
- Actively developing strong partnership with national and international partners (government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, IFIs, vertical funds, private sector, civil society), contributing to raising the profile and credibility of UN/UNDP in the area of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Climate-Health.
- Generation of a predictable, multi-year pipeline of non-core resources contributing to sustain UNDP’s progamme;
- Actively enhancing close interaction and substantive dialogue with key partners, identification of partnership and resource mobilization opportunities, including domestic fund cost sharing, and lead in the materialization of those opportunities;
- Active representation of UN/UNDP and substantive participation in relevant forums and thematic groups involving Government, civil society and development partners.
- Directly support the coordination of relevant Joint Results Group(s) under the UN One Strategic Plan and UNSDCF, and support UN/UNDP senior managers in coordinating joint initiatives
- Active representation of UN/UNDP and substantive participation in inclusive growth fora and thematic groups involving Government, civil society and development partners.
Ensure provision of quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Identification of key climate change, environment, energy/energy transition, and climate-health policy issues and challenges, identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals, leading to the formulation of substantive policy advice;
- In close cooperation with CO’s National Economic Specialist, lead the formulation and providing CO policy advice priorities on climate and disaster resilience; low carbon development and energy transition, natural resource and biodiversity, circular economy and waste management; and climate and health, as well as small grant programme. Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
- Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks focusing on executing relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns with key partners;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
- Organization of necessary trainings for the unit staff and project personnel in required areas.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of Country Office Programme Team.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
2030 Agenda: Planet– Nature, Climate and Energy
- Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Conservation and Sustainable use of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans.
2030 Agenda: Planet– Nature, Climate and Energy
- Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Business Direction & Strategy – System 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 – 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.
Partnership Management- Strategic Engagement
- Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
Business Management – Client Satisfaction/Management
- Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
Business Management – Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development portfolios and projects in relevant thematic areas; and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments.
- Having experience in managerial and leadership skills is required.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.
- Proven hands-on experience in providing policy advice to the Governments and support to the development of strategic policies is required.
- Proven hands-on experience on climate and environment policies and Governance: Understanding of international, national, and local climate change, energy and environment’s frameworks/treaties, policies, regulations is an asset;
- Having strong experience in developing and management of development projects is desirable.
- Demonstrate analytical, conceptualization and communication skills, experience with working in a multicultural environment international or regional organizations or United Nations is an asset.
- Experience in building partnerships and resource mobilization through different funding sources is an asset.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in English and Vietnamese is required.
NOTE: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest Performance Evaluations (if applicable).
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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