The “Green Job Creation through Recycling and Upcycling in Pokhara Metropolitan City (GCRU) project” is designed to promote green economy by establishing recycling/upcycling enterprises based on the model of the circular economy against the ongoing ‘throw away’ approach, thereby increasing green jobs and reducing the pollution and environmental impact of the solid waste. Similarly, a cleaner city will have a big positive impact primarily on tourism business in Pokhara. This objective will be achieved through three interlinked areas of interventions: 1) policy and coordination, 2) promotion of RU enterprises, and 3) empowering communities for increased awareness and community level RU initiatives.

The project aims to become a model example of a successful public-private partnership, which would encourage the rest of the province and other municipalities to follow the Green Economy approach. Waste management, environmental protection and jobs creation are emerging challenges of Nepal’s urbanization. The project will also offer a sustainable solution to address these challenges and contribute to operationalize federalism by strengthening the capacity of the local government in line with the spirit of the constitution. This project directly contribute to SDGs Goal 1, SDGs 8, SDGs goal 11 .6 –  Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities and Goal 12.5 – By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The project will also contribute to achieve waste related targets of Nepal’s second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Targets that are directly relevant are 1) by 2030, create an enabling environment for both public and private sector to treat industrial and municipal waste, including faecal sludge, 2) By 2030, adopt and implement waste segregation, recycling and waste-to-energy programs in at least 100 municipalities, 3) By 2030, the burning of healthcare waste in 1,400 healthcare facilities will be prohibited by proper management of healthcare waste through the application of non-burn technologies, 4) Promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach to waste management, along with source segregation and management of degradable and non-degradable waste, 5) Focus on co-production of energy and organic fertilizer from solid waste, wastewater and faecal sludge.

Enabling policy environment for incentivize existing and potential RUs will also encourage communities and the public to proactively contribute to minimize the burden of waste management by source segregation and increased source recovery. Learning and educational platforms like Green Venture Zone would respond to the learning needs and innovation for RUs required to complement opportunities created by an enabling policy environment. Community level RU groups created as a result of sustained public awareness and skill development would perfectly complement with the Green Venture Zone. These groups could be the direct beneficiaries of the GVZ incubation and educational programmes, and a foundation to supply necessary raw materials (refined and cleaned materials) for the RUs promoted by GVZ.

Under the overall guidance of UNDP DRR, the Project Manager will report to and work under the UNDP’s Portfolio Manager, Inclusive Economic Growth. The Project Manager will also work closely Partnership with the Economic Policy Advisor and Results team, Operations Manager, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor and the Communication team. The duty station of the Project Manager will be in Pokhara, where the project office will be located.

Overall management in project implementation

• Lead the project planning exercise to produce project annual and quarterly work plan/budget and implementation of day-to-day project activities within the timeline in coherence with set guidelines, procedures and quality standards in compliance with UNDP’s rules and procedures;
• Prepare Annual Work Plans, Quarterly Work Plans and other documents for the approval of the Project Board; Monitor and manage progress and update risk management status to the Project Board;
• Ensure regular oversight to project implementation based on project follow up and monitoring plan, implementation strategy, action plan, calendar of events, etc. in consultation with project team;
• Prepare specifications, terms of references, evaluate proposals and ensure implementation managed through procurement of goods and services required for the project
• Take timely actions to hire experts and consultants as required by the project to perform various tasks as reflected in the project document and project work plan; such as preparation of technical papers, guideline, modeling tools and others;
• Undertake regular field visits as necessary and ensure coherence in understanding and approach undertaken for implementation of activities;
• Facilitate joint monitoring with consortium members, government counterparts and private service providers to ensure quality delivery of outputs and activities;
• Identify potential issues related to project implementation and management and prepare set of recommendations for discussion with UNDP team and in the PEB as relevant to project implementation and management;
• Ensure that project receives adequate level of visibility and attention through multiple means at all tiers of government.
• Take responsibility of coordination, management and monitoring of project finance, administration, procurement and logistics of the project in compliance with UNDP’s rules and procedures

Providing technical oversight, quality assurance and support to implement all project outcomes:

• Provide necessary technical oversight and quality assurance of various activities under project outcomes and logical framework;
• Organize project inception and review workshops to build common understanding about project outcomes, implementation modality, challenges and deliverables;
• Provide technical guidance to proejct team, in liaison with the government officials and other stakeholders;
• Conduct regular meetings and follow ups with project team to take stock of implementation and reflect cross-cutting issues such as vulnerability, gender, social inclusion, human rights, etc. in project result framework;
• Engage in policy advocacy to enhance green job creation and cicular economy;
• Facilitate the building of capacity and awareness of key stakeholders regarding green job and cicular economy, including among the private sector and civil society;
• Develop relevant policy briefs, lessons learned documents, communication materials, website updates, and other relevant publications.

Ensure effective coordination and strong relationship with donor, implementing partners and other counterparts

• Establish and maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders, government (federal, provincial and local), non-government organizations, academia and private sectors to support smooth implementation of the project and ensure their ownership on project results;
• Facilitate strategic dialogue between project staff, the donor, implementing partners at federal, province and local levels, non-governmental organizations, cooperative, private sector and others;
• Ensure close coordination with project board members, project steering committee and project advisory committee and donor to achieve project results, timely reporting of progress, challenges, and potential modifications (in case required), and making responses to additional queries;
• Provide secretariat services for the Project Advisory Committee chaired by the Secretary of Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) and Project Steering Committee (PSC) chaired by the Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City and the Project Board Meetings ensuring coordination with committee members and keeping record of meeting minutes.
• Ensure participation of federal, provincial and local governments, line agencies, target communities, and other stakeholders including community in planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities as relevant;

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the overall Programme deliverables:

• Prepare key operational reports including quarterly reports, annual reports and other thematic reports as necessary summarizing findings, achievements, conclusions and recommendations on the progress of the project in the country as per the requirements;
• Supervise the development of knowledge products (including brochures, briefs, documents on lessons learnt, evaluation reports);
• Take the lead, coordinate and participate in the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings related to the project;
• Create and foster good working relationships with the media (social media, newspapers and journals, radio, and television).
• Act as a focal point for the UNDP Country Office to ensure that all financial and administrative tasks related to the project are transparently, expediently, and effectively managed in line with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of required reports, including bi-annual progress and expenditure reports, and as per the requirements of UNDP and KOICA;
• Documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, knowledge products in coordination with UNDP communication unit;

Gender and Social Inclusion Sensitivity:

• Ensure alignment of programmatic policy, processes and procedures as per the UNDP’s GESI strategy;
• Prioritize selection of consultant process with due consideration of Gender and Social Inclusion perspectives as per the UNDP GESI strategy;
• Coordinate with GESI focal point within relevant local governments as required to deliver the results of the project;
• Provide advice and direction on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender & social inclusion initiatives in the programme plan and implementation strategy;
• Facilitate in creating an environment to address GESI issues and make sure women and people from disadvantaged group are sufficiently benefitted from project result;
• Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices;
• Collaborates with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.