GEF Project Specialist I

Position description

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The overall objective of UNEP’s Climate Change Division is to deliver effective strategic guidance and high-impact action in support of the transition towards climate stability. UNEP provides capacity building and technical support to governments to enhance their policy and implementation capacity and helps them access finance to align to the Paris Agreement, decarbonize, anticipate, and adapt to climate impacts. Its work is guided by ambition, innovation, credible science, alignment to global climate goals and needs of individual countries. The UNEP Climate Change Division also plays an important role in supporting developing countries to meet their reporting obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement (PA). The Division is seeking the services of a Programme Management Assistant to support the UNEP Task Manager in undertaking activities related to the GEF portfolio of Climate Change Enabling Activities. This portfolio supports countries to meet their reporting obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement (PA), through the preparation and submission of National Communications (NC), Biennial Update Reports (BURs) to the UNFCCC and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) under the Paris Agreement. Under the guidance and supervision of the Task Manager, Climate Change Division/Mitigation Branch/GEF Climate Mitigation Unit, the GEF Project Specialist I will provide support in coordinating and expediting implementation of Climate Change enabling activities portfolio. Under the guidance and supervision of the Task Manager, Climate Change Division/Mitigation Branch/GEF Climate Mitigation Unit, the GEF Project Specialist I will provide support in coordinating and expediting implementation of Climate Change enabling activities portfolio.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

Programme/Project Development

• Monitor status of programme/project proposals and receipt of relevant documentation for review and approval.
• Research, compile and present basic country project information/data for use in preparation of project proposals

Project/Programme implementation

• Prepare Project Cooperation Agreements (PCA) and Internal Cooperation Agreements (ICAs) and their annexes for CEO approved projects
• Prepare PCA/ICA amendment packages for approval by UNEP and Executing Agencies (EAs).
• Track circulation of project agreements and project revisions through UNEP approval process.
• Review project implementation plans, work plans and budgets; verifies availability of funds; ensure necessary approval and entry in computerized budget system.
• Compile, summarize and enter data on project delivery; draft related status reports, identifying shortfalls in delivery, budget overruns, etc., and bring to the attention of the task manager.
• Prepare reporting templates to be used by UNEP partners and ensure the EAs from the assigned countries use them to meet reporting requirements, and all sections are completed
• Review project expenditure and progress reports to ensure technical and financial compliance with reporting requirement of UNEP, the GEF and the UNFCCC
• Guide EAs undertaking project revisions, including the review of budgets and workplans for the assigned countries
• Organize meetings with EAs from the assigned countries to discuss disparities identified in reports submitted, over-expenditure against budget lines as well as strategies for the sustainability of the projects.
• Support in the administration and consolidation of data from the annual survey’s status of climate report preparation.
• Provide support to financial team in financial closure of projects
• Prepare Operational Completion Reports for three (3) projects and one (1) umbrella Programme for assigned countries.

Programme/Project Administration

• Organize and facilitate Enabling Activities Portfolio meetings, as and when needed.
• Ensure proper filing and archiving project information of the assigned countries.
• Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Support the functionality of the MS Planner, and/or other tracking tools to ensure timely circulation of reports, revisions and other documents.
• Prepare a monthly report with a list of completed deliverables.

Performance indicators

• High quality NC, BUR and BTR budgets, workplans, and Quarterly reports prepared by Executing Agencies.
• High quality NC, BUR and BTR reports prepared and submitted by national teams in a timely manner.
• General and timely coordination and tracking of the enabling activities project portfolio is provided.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: natural resources management, biological or physical sciences or environmental sciences studies, international relations or related fields.
• A first level degree with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two (2) years experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation, or related area is required.
• Experience working with national governments on climate change issues is desirable.
• Knowledge of task management and team collaboration tools is desirable
• Knowledge of the Global Environment Facility or other international multilateral climate funds is desirable
• Knowledge of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is a required.

 

Application instructions

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