Programme Specialist

Position Purpose

 Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative in Solomon Islands and in matrixed supervision of the Team Leader, Resilience and Climate Change based in Fiji, the Programme Specialist is responsible for the effective oversight of programme/ portfolio management, accountability, and achievement of the MCPD results of the Sub-Office programme in the area of Resilience and Climate Change. To effectively perform these functions, s/he works in close collaboration with other policy and programme portfolios and the Operations Team to ensure a collaborative and harmonized joint UNDP programme. Cross-cutting coordination with CO Communications, Gender and other relevant experts will be required to increase the impact of the development interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides strategic direction and effective management of the sub-office portfolio on resilience and climate change:

• Advises on technical-level portfolio/ project design with development partners, UN Agencies and implementing partners , ensuring the robust articulation of Theory of Change and results  framework, linking inputs and activities to programme outputs and outcomes, supported with evidence to report on the Strategic Plan and MCPD indicators.
• Contributes to the analysis of the political, social, and economic situation in the country and ensures collaborative and coordinated preparation/revision of CCA, UNSCDF, MCPD, annual business planning, Integrated Work Plan and results reporting, project documents, policy briefs, briefing notes and other programmatic documents.
• Identifies and analyze strategic programmatic areas of cooperation based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.
• Promotes and facilitates innovation as well as identification of innovative development solutions to the delivery of results.
• Leverages innovative approaches, resources, and collaborative efforts to enhance programme and project impact.
• Leads the design of the climate finance strategy, as well as a comprehensive landscape and key stakeholder analysis to determine implementation activities existing in climate financing, and the key stakeholders involved.
• Leads and facilitates sector mapping to inform financing priorities and strategies for nature, climate and energy programming. Ensures the development of green project pipeline generation for development/climate financing.
• Ensures regular monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely adjustment of programme, measuring of the impact of the projects, and that results, and lessons learned to inform analysis, policy and programme, and project work.
• Ensures that women empowerment and gender mainstreaming aspects are integrated and applied in all programmes/projects from the design to implementation, including planning and budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as reporting in line with and using the corporate gender equality commitments, tools and strategies.
• Ensures effective application of results-based management tools and high-quality reporting of results for internal and external audiences.
• Participates and contributes to the CO and Inter-Agency (if applicable) thematic focal teams actively making sure that the responsible activities under the respective plans are delivered successfully.
• Facilitates robust monitoring of key performance indicators and risks of the portfolio and leads the direction and implementation of corrective strategies and management measures based on risk-informed analysis and trends.
• Ensures effective monitoring of pipeline management system, programme delivery and applies appropriate actions for delivery acceleration measures.
• Applies UNDP’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework in the assigned portfolio, including the application of the Social and Environmental Standards in each project and ensures adequate safeguards measures.
• Manages team(s) and ensures that the team-specific enabling actions are included in the annual plans and implemented to meet the set targets contributing to the CO’s performance in corporate and regional KPIs.
• Coordinates UNDP’s support to development institutions working towards addressing national development priorities in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Contributes to portfolio development and ensures cross-cutting collaboration between projects under the entrusted portfolio, stimulates synergies and aggregates data for portfolio reporting

Ensures accountability, quality control and effective oversight of the projects:

• Provides strategic planning and oversight of the assigned portfolio of programmes/projects and ensures their compliance with programme and operations policies and procedures (POPP) and quality assurance standards.
• Ensures annual work planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of assigned portfolio in line with requirements (e.g., budget revisions, approval of CDRs, etc.).
• Provides quality assurance of the entire cycle of programming and management of portfolios. Performs project assurance function in projects and serves as Quality Assessors.
• Facilitates and quality assures the project documentation prior to final approval by the Senior Management and ensures proper document management and update in the corporate systems and regional platforms (CPS, Quantum, Vital Signs, etc.)
• Exercises transaction approval for development projects  as delegated in line with the established internal control framework, and ensures appropriate separation of duties is in place and maintained throughout the project cycle.
• Implements Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) framework covering micro assessments, assurance plans and assurance activities, carries out programme/monitoring visits, ensuring appropriate remedial actions are implemented; and ensures the establishment of the tracking mechanism for cash transfers to Implementing Partners/Responsible Parties in accordance with UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations and HACT policies.
• Performs clearance measures (incl. tracking of NIM advances/reimbursements, liquidation of NIM advances, clearance of FACE forms, escalating and advising the CO Management on timely remedial actions required).
• Facilitates assessment of barriers and opportunities to enable private sector engagement and participation and quality assures all required capacity and risk assessments, including private sector due diligence.
• Provides strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Ensures compliance with a cost-recovery system for the services provided in close collaboration with the operations colleagues.
• Facilitates and quality assures the completion of the Vertical Funds project development stage and ensures appropriate separation of duties is in place and maintained throughout the project cycle.
• Ensures adherence to the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) as well as established MCO business processes and internal controls, contributes to design of the Standard Operating Procedures on programme and project management.

Ensures establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships and leads resources mobilization efforts in the area of resilience and climate change:

• Identifies strategic opportunities and leads engagement on potential joint programming with other UN Agencies and entities.
• Ensures development and implementation of MCO partnerships and resource mobilization strategies to achieve country programme outcomes related to resilience and climate change. Contributes to effective pipeline development in the Office. Ensures effective and timely pipeline management through timely and accurate update of the pipeline management module in UNITY (corporate ERP system).
• Supports deployment of partnership strategies and related actions with a focus on programme portfolio development and the identification of sustainable and predictable funding mechanisms for the implementation of the country programme, including but not limited to Environmental Vertical Funds (GCF, GEF and others).
• Leads and maintains strong partnerships with relevant development partners and government, UN Agencies, IFIs, government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, and civil society in the designated support areas.
• As part of the overall MCO partnerships and communications strategy and action plans, develops new project concepts to ensure project documents and financing agreements are developed with high quality and in line with UNDP corporate rules and procedures.
• Ensures the preparation of analysis and research of information on partners, donor profiles, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing and initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall MCO efforts in resource mobilization.
• Leads engagement, networking and mobilization of experts of the international development community, government partners, UN Agencies, and prominent think tanks.
• Leads development of strategies for government cost-sharing in the resilience and climate change area.
• Ensures quality and timely donor reporting and adherence to the conditions and requirements of partnership agreements by programme teams and projects.

Leads provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitates knowledge building and management:

• Integrates evaluation findings, real-time monitoring data, and applied learning to adaptive programme and project management and policy advisory work.
• Ensures capacity building of national counterparts for effective management and compliance with funding partner’s requirements within UNDP projects.
• Maintains effective network with development partners and Government at the national level and sub-national level and where necessary links up with the corporate Global Policy Network of UNDP and other international development actors.
• Leads the implementation of awareness building and advocacy around UN/UNDP events and supports strategic communications work and knowledge management initiatives.
• Provides sound and proactive contributions to corporate, regional and MCO events, knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Writes and communicates on best practices and lessons learned linked to programme and policy goals.
• Facilitates knowledge building and management especially between the programme and projects and facilitates trainings for the UNDP staff and personnel and national counterparts on relevant programme issues.
• Contributes to development of training materials and organizes workshops, as required by the supervisor.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Development Financing, Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, International Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development Economics, Economics, International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field. or
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the above-mentioned fields with additional 2 years relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s Degree.
• Professional Certification in programme or project management (e.g., PRINCE-2, MSP etc.) is a distinct advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience at the national or international level in providing policy and/or management advisory services on nature, climate or energy.
• At least 2 years of the above experience should be in providing oversight and advisory services to multiple complex development projects in the area of nature, climate change, energy, development/climate financing or disaster risk reduction.
• Managerial experience in a supervisory role for at least 2 years is a requirement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills is a requirement.
• Understanding of policy development processes is an advantage.
• Demonstrated multi-stakeholder facilitation and coordination skills.
• Demonstrated ability in people management and working with diverse teams is an advantage.
• Prior experience in a UN Agency and/or international organizations is an advantage.
• Experience working with high-ranking officials is an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling web-based management systems.
• Fluency in English and local language for Solomon Islands (Pidgin) is a requirement.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/21018