Project Analyst

Thailand is one of the 16 countries identified globally as being in the ‘extreme risk’ category of those most vulnerable to future climate change impacts over the next 30 years.  Severe drought and flood events are likely to be experienced increasingly in the near and longer-term future as a result of the combined effects of a more vigorous hydrological cycle and enhanced surface drying. Thailand’s agricultural sector, in particular, will be impacted by changing precipitation patterns with increasingly common extreme rain events and floods, as well as more extensive drought periods, which particularly affect poor households. With climate extremes expected to increase, climate-informed water management and climate-resilient water infrastructure will be critical in order to prepare for and respond to floods and droughts, which are the key priorities in Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan 2018.  Given the cost of upgrading existing water infrastructure across the country, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is seeking to complement its grey infrastructure with ecosystems-based adaptation measures (EbA), an integrated solution which brings together water management and agriculture.  

The project addresses the core problem of climate-induced droughts and floods threatening agriculture livelihoods and infrastructure in the Yom and Nan river basin (Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Uttaradit provinces). Specifically, it seeks to:  a) support climate informed water management, planning and investment, and b) support vulnerable farmers in reducing volatility to changing climatic conditions, enhancing climate-informed and integrated planning as well as reduce disruption to smallholder farmers.  

The objective will be achieved through generation of three complementary outputs:   

• Output 1:  Enhance climate and risk informed planning in the water and agricultural sectors through improved climate information and cross sectoral coordination
• Output2:  Improve water management through strengthened infrastructure complemented by EbA measures, for greater resilience to climate change impacts
• Output 3:  Reduce volatility of agriculture livelihoods in drought and flood prone areas through strengthened extension support and local planning, investment in on-farm adaptation measures and greater access to finance and markets.
• The Project Analyst will have to closely liaise with the project’s Project Management Unit (PMU) which has been established at the RID to be responsible for project management and execution of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Project Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Integrated Team Leader of UNDP Thailand and technical consultation and guidance of the UNDP Technical Support Team, and the Project Analyst will supervise Gender Responsive Data Officer, Project Monitoring and Evaluation Office and Project Associate in UNDP Thailand. He/she will also coordinate closely with PMU to collaborate for effective project implementation. The Project is currently managed by the Project Management Unit (PMU). The PMU is led by the Project Manager (PM), who is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the project
• Under the direct supervision of the Integrated Team Leader of UNDP and guidance from the UNDP Technical Support Team, the Project Analyst is responsible for, jointly with the Project Manager from Project Management Unit (PMU), overall coordination between UNDP, PMU, and other relevant stakeholders and ensuring that the project is effectively and efficiently executed within the agreed timeline and resources. While the Project Analyst will be based in Bangkok, he/she is expected to travel to and spend time in the 3 target provinces. 
• Ensure effective project management, coordination and monitoring in coordination with PMU and RID
• Ensure PMU in project implementation and management under the overall guidance of the RID.
• In coordination with UNDP project and programme team, PMU and RID, facilitates strategic inputs to financial and managerial aspects of the project to ensure that activities are on track in accordance with the Project Document, as well as provide technical and advisory support on the following elements, among others:
• Annual work planning and budgeting
• Facilitate the organization of Project Board Meetings and periodical coordination meetings to monitor implementation of project activities.
• Procurement of goods and services
• Budget and expenditure analysis, including ensure timely quarterly advance disbursements of funding to the Responsible Parties, in cooperation with the Project Associate; analyze the Quarterly/Annual Technical and Financial Reports from the Responsible Parties with technical inputs from the RID

Contractual management

• Coordinate and compile periodical progress reporting to GCF.
• Monitoring of all the project risks and mitigation measures on a quarterly basis and update the Project Risk Register
• Coordinating evaluations and auditing
• Oversee the monitoring of the Project Results Framework Indicator values performed by the project M&E officer on a quarterly and annual basis in cooperation with RID and PMU
• Oversee the monitoring of implementation of the Gender Action Plan performed by the project Gender Officer on a quarterly and annual basis in cooperation with RID and PMU
• Make coordination of project stakeholders smoother and coherent

Ensure Quality Assurance and Oversight

• Review and support to the quality of the project’s deliverables of both Implementing Partners and Responsible Parties by coordinating technical inputs from the RTA, UNDP and RID experts in a timely manner and in close collaboration with the Project Manager (PM);
• In close collaboration with PMU, RID and UNDP CO coordinates and ensures the timely implementation of the project Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

Provision of Policy advice and capacity building

• In close collaboration with RID, PMU and UNDP, directly contributes to annual work plan and budget revisions as to fully capture the sequencing of all technical deliverables during the project implementation.
• Support technical and managerial capacities within the PMU, including the introduction of management tools and templates that enable effective planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Provide advice and support through technical assistance to the national counterparts, as required and relevant to the scope of the project and provides other advice as needed to UNDP concerning the evolution and role of the relevant Ministries/stakeholders within the scope of the project.

Facilitate Knowledge management

• In cooperation with the project M&E Officer, Implementing Partner, Responsible Parties and the PMU, extract, document, summarize and publish lessons learned and best practices from the project, disseminate them through project and partners networks (e.g. through email, web, social media, local media), and update the Project Lessons Register on a quarterly basis;
• In cooperation with the Project M&E Officer, organize annual knowledge exchange meetings with IP/RPs, PMU, and other project stakeholders.
• In cooperation with the UNDP Communications team, the UNDP M&E Officer, and RID communication consultants, coordinate the production and dissemination of project news and articles and other communication materials.
• Promotes the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration of the project results with other thematic pillars of the UNDP CO.

Ensure Partnership Development and Advocacy

• Advise on the development and implementation of the partnership and advocacy strategies and outreach efforts.
• Establishes and maintains relations with project members, the Board of Directors and other external stakeholders, key national and international partners.
• Identifies prospects and sequencing requests to maximize opportunities for inter-agency cooperation and partnerships.           

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Sustainable Development, Environmental Management, Climate Change, Environmental Engineering, or related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant development sector experience at the national or international level is required.
• Demonstrated experience in project management is required.
• Experience in managing complex projects and coordinate stakeholders is required.
• Proven track record of experience in Thailand and/or in Southeast Asian region, with direct interaction with government and public organizations is required.
• Project management experience in areas related to climate change, planning and management of natural resources and environment, water resource management and/or agricultural development is an asset
• Experience and technical knowledge of climate change adaptation and mitigation, or other relevant areas, is considered an asset.
• Experience with GCF or GEF- related projects, activities or partnerships is considered an asset.
• Practical experience in project planning, monitoring and reporting is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues) solutions and generate resources is desired.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Thai is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/19370