Project Coordinator

UNDP helps Kazakhstan honor its Paris Agreement commitments by supporting the expansion of the “green economy” to tap into new opportunities for jobs and businesses. It partners with other United Nations agencies to provide technical expertise to translate strategies into action, establish a monitoring framework for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and develop plans for transition to green energy, land management, climate-proof agriculture, biodiversity, reforestation, disaster risk reduction, and waste management. By catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private), UNDP delivers client-focused solutions that respond to immediate, mid and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities, and; by leveraging on-the-ground presence and networks, we unlock bottom-up solutions towards lasting impacts at the country level, benefitting most disadvantaged and leaving no one behind.

 Duties and Responsibilities

• Management of a designated Project of the Energy and Environment Unit in accordance with UNDP Program and Operations Policies and Procedures and UNDP Kazakhstan Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):
• Supervise and coordinate the Project and ensure results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP POPP. Bear responsibility for the day-to-day management of organizational and substantive issues, budgeting, planning and overall monitoring of the Project;
• Develop Annual Work Plans  aligned with the Project Document including required budget revisions;
• Support the work and decision-making of the Project Board by providing timely, detailed, and accurate information to the Project Board`s members. Prepare Project Board meetings to share progress updates and by documenting decisions and follow-up actions;
• Coordinate an exit strategy at least 6 months ahead of the project closure date; ensure closure of the project is done per the established procedures;
• Provide policy advice and support capacity development of national counterparts through knowledge transfer including procedures, manuals, guidelines and systems for implementation.

Monitor progress and manage risks, ensuring that changes are controlled, and problems addressed, report on progress and issues: 

• Develop and implement  a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan to assess  progress against the  set  targets.
• Monitor expenditures of financial resources to ensure compliance with rules and procedures and accuracy and reliability of financial reports; ensures preparation of budget revisions as necessary; follows up with the National Project Director and the Project Board on issues;
• Monitor Project progress against the timetable outlined in the Project Document, and prepare concise, regular updates for the Project Board on progress, challenges, emerging risks, and proposed remedial actions;
• Ensure that the indicators included in the project results framework are monitored annually in advance of the GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR)/Donor’s report submission deadline so that progress can be reported in the GEF PIR/ Donor’s report. Prepare the GEF PIR/ Donor’s report;
• Collect and manage project data as required by the M&E Plan;
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings that will arise as the result of partnerships with different project partners, and organize field visits to the project partners participating in implementation to monitor the project progress and discuss and clarify the related issues;
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial report;
• Monitor financial contributions of partners;
• Monitor and manage the project risks; inform the Project Board on emerging issues and risks, update the issue and risk logs;
• Ensure reporting to National Project Director/Project Board is prepared timely and the reports are meeting the standards;
• Support the preparation of reviews and evaluations as defined in the Project Document – Mid-term review and Terminal Evaluation processes;
• Prepare progress and final Project reports and papers;
• Assess major and minor amendments to the project within the parameters set by UNDP-GEF/ Donor;
• Monitor implementation plans including the gender action plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and any environmental and social management plans of the project;
• Monitor and track progress against the GEF/Project Document Core indicators;
• Use Quantum Management Information System for all related Project coordination tasks, ensuring effective data management and accessibility for audit purpose;
• Embrace digital tools and platforms for monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder engagement to enhance efficiency and impact.

Create synergies with other income generation or inclusive prosperity initiatives in the country or other UNDP initiatives to maximize the project impact:

• Collaborate intensively with all project stakeholders, including other projects to maximize the impact of UNDP’s interventions that will contribute towards achievement of the expected outcome under the UNDP’s Country Programme Document 2021-2025;
• Maintain good cooperation and coordination with national counterparts, project partners, and other stakeholders (donor community, international finance institutions, private sector);
• Maintain regular contacts with beneficiaries to ensure relevance and quality of project’s outputs;
• Actively identify and mobilize new partnerships and funding sources (resource mobilization) for new projects and initiatives, ensure blending of resources to achieve scalable impact;
• Establish records with contacts, pursue networking and information sharing and follow up on partnership-related issues;
• By providing project level information, contribute to the development of pipeline initiatives primarily under the themes covered by the Project.

Communication, knowledge management and learning:

• Maintain close working relations and regular contacts with the Government partners, facilitating discussions and feedback;
• Engage in regular exchange of information/experience with other projects, promoting cross-learning and sharing results and the best practices;
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of high-quality knowledge and visibility products at different national and regional platforms.

Ensure Gender mainstreaming within the project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
• Ensure gender equality is mainstreamed throughout team, consultant and staff management activities;
• Ensure gender knowledge   is incorporated in Project Knowledge management activities and products.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

• The Project Coordinator is responsible for the management and implementation of the assigned Project of the Energy and Environment Unit, including technical coordination and mobilization of Project resources, supervising Project personnel, consultants and subcontractors. The Project Coordinator will be tasked with the day-to-day management of the Project activities, as well as dealing with material, financial and administrative reporting. The Project Coordinator will apply an integrative manner and closely coordinate with the Project experts, as well as other ongoing and future projects and initiative for building synergies, towards achieving outcome results as well as performance indicators specified in the Project Document, in accordance with the required quality standards and within the specified time and cost constraints. This will require linking indicators to the workplan to ensure results-based management. On institutional aspects, the Project will closely communicate, coordinate and work with the National Project Director and the the ministries of energy, industry, ecology of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other relevant government bodies and stakeholders.
• The Project Coordinator will report to the Programme Specialist/Head of EE Unit on all programmatic and administrative issues of the Project. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for liaising with the Government, UNDP and other UN agencies, NGOs and other Project partners as appropriate.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in the social, environmental, engineering sciences, or other related sciences is required.
• Bachelor´s degree in the areas mentioned above with additional 2 years of relevant experience can be considered in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of working experience in managing/coordinating projects/programs in one of the following fields: energy saving and energy efficiency, renewable/alternative/clean energy sources, green economy, natural resources management.

Language

• Fluency in English and Kazakh and/or Russian is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/17466