National Project Coordinator

Result of Service

Effective and timely project implementation and achievement of all planned results ( i.e. overall project coordination from engagement of project partners, management, guidance and technical inputs to generated project deliverables, project reporting, as well as liaison with MOEPP and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate smooth project implementation and promotion).

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global 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. Under its Western Balkan portfolio, it facilitates the implementation and execution of numerous projects pertaining to climate change, biodiversity protection, land degradation and other environmental related aspects. The consultant will be engaged for the purposes of the GEF7 project implemented in North Macedonia titled “Biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and sustainable tourism development in North Macedonia”, executed with support from UNEP Vienna Programme Office. The main goal of the project is to reduce the effects of land degradation and land use pressures on natural resources in the mountain landscapes and, to support national and local stakeholders in the Shar Mountains of North Macedonia to develop and apply an Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) approach and thereby demonstrate in a pilot landscape the achievement of land degradation neutrality and biodiversity objectives in synergy with more secure and sustainable local livelihoods i.e. demonstrate the benefits of achieving synergies between biodiversity, SLM and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and rural development efforts, preserving the land resource base by ensuring no net loss of healthy and productive land, and learn the lessons crucial for scaling up such approaches nationally.

To achieve this objective, the Project will support activities through the implementation of the following two components:

• Practical application of integrated landscape approach to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and Biological Diversity (BD) targets in the pilot area of the Shar Mountains and dependent ecosystems service area (peripheral productive landscape); and
• Support to national level adoption and upscaling of Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) and related Land Degradation (LD) and BD best practices.

The project will build on and strengthen, the existing thematic initiatives within the national land degradation and biodiversity focal areas, in particular the existing baseline efforts in the completed GEF5 BD and ongoing GEF6 SLM projects (UNEP), and the Development of Environmental Monitoring and Information System project (EU DEMIS project) – see the baseline, but adding to the extent and sustainability of impacts through their better integration and synergistic application at a landscape scale. The practical experience gained on the ground will provide important baseline legal, institutional, capacity and awareness building at the central level for issues related to LD specifically, and practical experience and lessons learned from the field of some forestry and arable land SLM practices. The proposed the Shar Mountain multifocal project, will use and build on the experience through the introduction of the more holistic integrated landscape approach that seeks to maximize benefits from synergies between LDN, BD and sustainable rural development efforts. The selected consultant will be required to support UNEP Project Management Unit and other team members in the effective and timely implementation of the project and achievement of all planned results i.e. the overall project coordination, from engagement of project partners, management, guidance and technical inputs to generated project deliverables, project reporting, as well as liaison with MOEPP and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate smooth project implementation and promotion. The Consultant will support the implementation of the following duties and responsibilities under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Associate Programme Management Officer and UNEP WB Projects Coordinator of the UNEP – Vienna Programme Office – SCC, who coordinate the implementation of the mentioned project on behalf of UNEP as part of the overall programme:

• Manage and coordinate project activities based on the relevant Project Document, including guidance of project staff, term consultants and experts, with a view to achieving project results;
• Develop comprehensive/detailed project work-plans including structured dynamics of all project activities, role and responsibilities and milestones;
• Prepare project progress reports for the donor and the main project beneficiary (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning);
• Prepare and ensure timely submission of inception report, project implementation report, technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNEP and/or the donor;
• Prepare regular updates and reports on project progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems and proposals for necessary remedial actions;
• Registration and due diligence processes for project partners;
• Development of TORs for specific project activities and drafting of corresponding agreements with project partners;
• Administrative support, guidance to project partners as per the signed agreements;
• Maintain regular coordination and quality assurance of expert inputs and products as well as among project partners to ensure coherence and complementarity of project activities; Review technical inputs of the generated project deliverables;
• Monitor financial resources and ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
• Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, inform on new risks to the project management for consideration and decision on possible action if required;
• Technical contribution for development of knowledge management products, in consultation with MOEPP, municipalities and other relevant stakeholders;
• Coordinate daily duties with the project management team and provide support in steering project implementation;
• Liaise with government institutions, targeted municipalities, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholder on the project’s behalf;
• Prepare materials and organize, in coordination with MOEPP and UNEP team, the GEF7 Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting, including minutes and follow-up documentation and communication;
• When needed, promote the project and its components in relevant media;
• Coordinate the implementation of the project monitoring and evaluation plan, as outlined in the project document,
• Technical contribution in development of new LD and BD-related project proposals;
• Other managerial and technical activities pertaining to the project implementation.

Qualifications/special skills

• Postgraduate degree (Master or equivalent) in environmental/natural resource management, forestry, agriculture, legal sciences or a related field is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least two years of experience in cross-cultural project management (design and implementation), with a proven track record of achieving results, in particular concerning natural resources management, environmental information management, capacity development etc is required.
• Prior UN projects management experience, and particularly UN/GEF project experience and knowledge of UN and GEF procedures and guidelines is desirable. Familiarity and understanding of sustainable development, including financial and institutional sustainability, is desirable. Working experience in academic or governmental institutions is desirable. Proof of successful accomplishment of contract/s with similar nature is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and Macedonian is required. Knowledge of Albanian and/or other languages in the project target region is considered an asset.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/239161?language=en