Programme Technical Specialist

The Programme Technical Specialist, SES specialist will be responsible for first-layer oversight (of the portfolio), capacity building and knowledge management to strengthen SES implementation across the Country Office portfolio, from the programme and project design through implementation. The Programme Technical Specialist, SES specialist will not be responsible for the preparation and execution of SES instruments during NIM project implementation (as this is a project execution function under the Implementing Partner) but will rather quality assure project-level safeguards instruments prepared by the project teams, and monitor, advise and oversee the project teams in executing the relevant safeguard management measures.

Scope of Work:

Summary of key functions: 

• Provide the strategic direction of the Environment Unit on Natural Resources Management;
• Technical advisory services and technical oversight of the Environment Unit on Natural Resources Management;
• Contribute to the effective and efficient oversight of the Natural Resource Management portfolio, Mauritius & Seychelles MCO SES Oversight and Quality Assurance;
• SES Capacity Building to the Mauritius and Seychelles MCO;
• SES Knowledge Management to the Mauritius and Seychelles MCO Mauritius Country Office (CO).
• The results to be delivered by the Programme Technical Specialist, will provide general management of the Natural Resource Management portfolio and key risk management and SES compliance capacity for the Multi Country Office, helping ensure UNDP delivers on its commitment to protect people and the environment across all programming and avoid inadvertent harm. Results will facilitate a new phase in SES implementation across the country programme, transitioning from a siloed and projectized approach to SES implementation to a programmatic approach that ensures oversight, alignment, and shared learning.
• UNDP’s stakeholders and partners are increasingly requiring that we demonstrate implementation of safeguards, including as a condition for funding. Additionally, this capacity provides an opportunity to strengthen UNDP’s offer to partners on the application of environmental and social safeguards for risk-informed development. Therefore, the results delivered by the Programme Technical Specialist also aim to ensure continued funding and strengthened reputation of UNDP as a leader in sustainable development programming.

Provide the strategic direction of the Environment Unit on Natural Resources Management:

• Contribute to defining the strategic direction of the Environment Unit on Natural Resource Management, with a focus on building synergies with the relevant partners and collaborators in that field.

Technical advisory services and technical oversight of the Environment Unit on Natural Resources Management:

• Provide technical support and inputs to support the Team Leader to ensure effective and efficient management of the Environment Unit Natural Resource Management portfolio;
• Advise on timely and well-sequenced execution of approved work plans and programmes, using multiyear framework for planning, budgeting, and reporting, including the development of strategies to ensure delivery acceleration and timely reporting of results while managing risks of exposure to audit recommendations and maintaining UNDP standing and reputation, for the Natural Resources Management portfolio;
• Ensure strategic and operational oversight of planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources as per commitments with key partners and in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations for the Natural Resources Management portfolio;
• Advise the Environment Unit Team Leader on delivery implementation challenges and seek support from the other team leaders to resolve obstacles and bottlenecks;
• Facilitate the timely organization of project audits under the Natural Resource Management portfolio and follow-up for prompt implementation of audit recommendations including updates in the Comprehensive Audit and Recommendation Database System (CARDS);
• Facilitate the management and mitigation of risks and issues timely and appropriately while raising them to senior management attention as required.

Contribute to the effective and efficient oversight of the Natural Resource Management portfolio, Mauritius & Seychelles MCO SES Oversight and Quality Assurance:

• Provide day to day support to unit team, quality assurance, troubleshooting and supervision to the unit team;
• Facilitate the Unit meetings organization, document the deliberations as well as agreed action points and ensure the timely follow-up of their implementations programme;
• Contribute to the M&E program and actions;
• Promote gender equity/empowerment in programming opportunities;
• Provide technical advice on biodiversity management & conservation, land degradation management, circular economy, marine conservation in relation the Natural Resource Management portfolio, to enhance coherence and synergies;
• Conduct a quality review of early drafts of SESPs (or “pre-SESPs”) to ensure proper identification and categorization of risk;
• Advise project design team and/or PMU on needed social and environmental assessments/management plans and safeguards expertise, including review of related ToRs. (e.g. ESIA, ESMP, ESMF, IPP, RAP, SEP, relevant ToRs, etc);
• Confirm validity of any SESP exemptions;
• Quality assure final SESPs prior to submission to PAC or Project Board (for Nature, Climate and Energy Vertical Fund projects, clearance will be prior to submission for Headquarters “Safeguards Clearance”);
• Facilitate recruitment, onboarding, and oversight of safeguards consultants to the project management units hired to support SES execution in projects;
• Quality assures draft and final SES documentation for projects (e.g. ESIA, ESMP, ESMF, IPP, RAP, SEP, relevant ToRs, etc.) to ensure they meet technical standards and requirements (for Nature, Climate and Energy Vertical Fund projects, clearance will be prior to submission for Headquarters “Safeguards Clearance”);
• Advise project teams in responding to HQ/RBx SES oversight reviews and relevant audit/investigation/evaluation findings;
• Identify risks for which additional technical support may be needed through the Global Policy Network, Regional Bureau, or external consultants (e.g. through ExpRess roster) and opportunities for projects to cost share needed expertise;
• Undertake safeguards oversight missions, as needed and per projects’ M&E plans etc.;
• Quality assures safeguards sections of progress reports and evaluations (e.g. donor reports, annual progress reports, GEF PIR/GCF APR, mid-term, and final evaluations) and contribute substantively where to line with the oversight function (e.g. in support of relevant Team Lead);
• Track progress of high/substantial risk and other priority projects’ implementation of required SES elements (ESIA, GRM, stakeholder engagement, disclosure, FPIC, etc.);
• Regularly scan available data on SES implementation across the portfolio to identify emerging risks or High/Substantial Risk projects that may require additional oversight and support;
• Escalate issues to second layer oversight (RBx and BPPS Nature, Climate, Energy team, where relevant) and advise CO senior management on safeguard risks where needed.

SES Capacity Building to the Mauritius and Seychelles MCO:

• Conduct a CO capacity assessment to identify baseline quality of SES documentation, capacity needs, priority risks, and opportunities;
• Develop and coordinate implementation of an action plan to strengthen SES implementation across the portfolio, clarifying the oversight and quality assurance process, roles and responsibilities, and a learning plan;
• Ensure CO SES action plan is aligned with and contributes to global/regional SES implementation plans;
• Ensure regular SES capacity development, awareness raising, training and other learning opportunities for the CO team and implementing partners;
• Ensure the Stakeholder Response Mechanism is established and operational at the CO level;
• Ensure project-level grievance mechanisms are established within the project governance structure and that relevant safeguard risks are monitored by Project Boards;
• Establish roster of national social and environmental safeguards consultants;
• Advise senior management in their engagement with partners and stakeholders (including affected people, implementing partners, donors) on issues related to the SES;
• Advise and support senior management on any SECU/SRM cases;
• Prepare communication materials and products that can be used to communicate the SES and UNDP’s Accountability Mechanism with partners and project affected people;
• Present on the SES and Accountability Mechanism at inception workshops and support on-boarding of project-level safeguards experts;
• Assess national capacities/safeguards to identify key gaps between the SES with guidance on how these gaps should be approached across the portfolio, as well as entry points for capacity building and use of national systems;
• Review national grievance redress mechanism (GRM) capacities/entry points related to the MCO portfolio.

SES Knowledge Management to the Mauritius and Seychelles MCO:

• Engage and coordinate with SES experts in Headquarters (including second layer oversight provided by RBx and BPPS Nature, Climate, Energy team and SES policy owner, BPPS Effectiveness Group) and other regions to ensure consistency in policy interpretation and oversight;
• Document lessons learned, including from cases where things went wrong as well as good models of SES implementation;
• Track and share precedents that have implications for the entire portfolio to ensure an aligned and consistent approach (e.g. identification of indigenous peoples);
• Share lessons learned across the portfolio and with regional, global teams to facilitate learning;
• Maintain a library of project safeguards documents and examples that can be used as reference points;
• Engage with MCO Gender Specialist and/or Gender Focal Team to document and share lessons learned and good practice related to gender-related risks, including analysis of national gender and social inclusion issues and how these can be addressed across the portfolio;
• Coordinate exchange between project-level safeguards experts to facilitate shared learning, consistency across the portfolio, and identification of opportunities to cost-share or combine efforts on risks faced by multiple projects;
• Engage in safeguards networks and partnerships, including with UNCT, to ensure learning and exchange on safeguards with partners and UNDP’s leadership role in this area;
• Prepare an annual report on SES implementation in the office, capturing key lessons learned and recommendations for how to strengthen SES implementation moving forward;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements:

Minimum education requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Environmental or Social Studies, Natural Resource Management or other relevant areas is required. OR;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) experience in Natural Resource Management, Social and Environmental Safeguards is required.

Required Skills:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section:

• Experience in overseeing the implementation of Natural Resource Management projects/ programmes is highly desirable;
• Experience in development projects with public institutions is an asset.

Language

• Fluency in English (both written and oral), and Mauritian Creole is required;
• Working knowledge of French (both written and oral) is desired.

Source:https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/17988