Project Specialist -Forest and Biodiversity

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is a leading organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. 

UNDP Bhutan has an ambitious and challenging Country Programme covering a wide range of environment related issues, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental governance, biodiversity conservation and renewable energy. Using a portfolio approach, the Programme also pursues linkages with other projects and programmes addressing complex development challenges under the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 13th Five Year Plan of the RGoB, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2024-2028) and UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD 2024-2028).

Within the CPD and UNSDCF, biodiversity conservation and tourism development are two central pieces that play major roles in socio economic and environmental conservation in Bhutan. Over the past years, UNDP and Royal Government of Bhutan has successfully partnered in mobilizing climate financing, particularly from vertical funds in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation.  As Bhutan prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country and prepare for 21st century climate resilient economy, the country’s carbon neutral commitment, sustainable use of biodiversity resources and eco-tourism opens new opportunities for enhancing resilience through conservation and livelihood enhancement. 

Currently several development projects are under implementation in continuation of UNDP’s 50 years of partnership with the government and civil society organizations. In this context, the National Programme Coordinator, as part of country office programme team, will manage and oversee the following projects: 

• Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Tourism Development in Bhutan with the Department of Tourism (DoT), Ministry of Information and Communications (MOICE). This project is implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) in which a PMU is established with the Department of Tourism, DoT, MoICE.
• The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) / Global Biodiversity Early Action Plan (GB EAS) with the National Biodiversity centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) and the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) is implemented under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) in partnership with the key stakeholders and the Global Biodiversity Early Action Support mentioned above. The project implementation is fully coordinated through the Country Office.

These projects aim to mainstream biodiversity conservation into development as a long-term strategy for mitigation of threats to biodiversity and generate sustainable conservation financing and livelihoods enhancement. The project will achieve these through supporting policy and strategic development, establishing Bhutan as a model ecotourism destination, hot spot for biodiversity and generation of livelihoods opportunities, sourcing sustainable financing for landscapes within and outside protected areas, facilitate human wildlife coexistence, mitigate negative impacts of increasing tourism on Bhutan`s socio cultural heritage and globally significant biodiversity.

The Project Specialist will be based in the UNDP CO. He/she liaise with the PMU for the Ecotourism project in the DoT, MoICE under a full NIM mode and lead coordination of the NBSAP project with the key partners namely National Biodiversity and the Department of Energy and Climate Change, MoENR under a DIM mode. The project will be implemented with Responsible Agencies identified by the PMU in respective project landscapes.

The Project Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager, Environment and Energy, UNDP. He/she will be responsible for successful management of the projects by coordination with and working closely with the implementing partners in the Department of Tourism (PMU established at DoT) for the Project Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Tourism Development in Bhutan NBSAP) inoordination with National Biodiversity Center and the Department of Environment and Climate Change for the Global Biodiversity Early Action Support and National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan (NBSAP) in fulfilling the responsibilities and tasks of the position. 

He/she will also work with other agencies that are actively involved in fulfilling the broader objectives of mainstreaming biodiversity and tourism into sustainable development in Bhutan and Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan. As part of the country office programme team, he/she will support policy development, capacity building and strategic planning for new programme areas within the programme team, while ensuring consistency of CPD priorities. S/he will also support exploration of new areas of cooperation and work, including with the advancement of strategic partnership, resource mobilization and expansion of the country portfolio. 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. The Specialist develops innovative solutions while ensuring oversight and compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, and policies. S/he manages partnership building and resource mobilization.

The Project Specialist ensures effective oversight of programme management, accountability, and achievement of the CPD results within the assigned outcome. The incumbent works in close collaboration with Bangkok Regional Hub, UNDP HQ, staff from other UN Agencies and national partners from the Government, civil society, and donors through multilateral and/or bilateral arrangements.

The overall key duties and accountability are as follows:

Ensure the projects are implemented in compliance with programme and operations policies and procedures (POPP) and quality assurance standards as outlined in the approved Project Document.

• 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 projects to meet the requirements of UNDP and the GEF/donors.
• Exercises and effectively manages 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.
• Ensure strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the projects, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Manages 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).
• Identify and utilise opportunities for the project to achieve greater impact and synergies through partnership as well as through seeking collaboration across UNDP’s programmes/projects.
• Support PMU and Project Manager with oversight of the project’s technical activities and provide programmatic support and solutions.
• In coordination with the Project Management Unit and CO, Organize Technical Advisory Committee / Project Board meetings at least twice a year to present progress, issues and risks of the project and seek an approval from the Board for the Annual Work Plan
• Preparation of periodic Annual Performance Report (APR) in close collaboration with PMU to be submitted to UNDP and donor agencies.

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

• Stays ahead of the curve with regard to developments and evolutions in areas related to biodiversity and eco-tourism, to adapt programmes, resource mobilization strategies, and advice to Senior Management accordingly.
• Ensures that UNDP remains a thought-leader in the areas of biodiversity and eco-tourism.
• Integrates evaluation findings, real-time monitoring data, and applied learning to adaptive programme and project management and policy advisory work.
• Leads 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.
• Ensure capturing and dissemination of lessons learnt including evaluation outcomes during project implementation and coordinate with the PMU and UNDP for wider dissemination.
• Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned.

Contribute towards strategic partnerships development.

• Identifies strategic opportunities and leads engagement on potential joint programming with other UN Agencies and entities.
• Identifies diverse sources of funding and financing beyond the vertical funds to ensure a balanced portfolio, looking particularly at private sector opportunities, and other non-traditional sources.
• Ensures development and implementation of CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategies to achieve country programme outcomes related to Nature, Energy and Climate. Contributes to effective pipeline development in the Office in this area. 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/financing 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 CO 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 CO 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 co-financing in the Nature, Climate and Energy area.
• Ensures quality and timely donor reporting and adherence to the conditions and requirements of partnership agreements by programme teams and projects.
• Ensure, with support from the PMU, that technical outputs are reviewed to meet the highest technical standards and quality.
• Establish, maintain, and facilitate strategic dialogue between UNDP, project staff and Government officials at central and local levels, in project´s areas of work.
• Advocate UNDP with relevant stakeholders and build partnerships with donors, technical agencies and other development partners
• Provide inputs to UN coordination platforms and participate in meetings, as required.
• Assist CO in the resource mobilisation strategies through developing concept papers and systematic follow ups for resources.

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

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business direction and strategy         

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.

Business management           

• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2030 Agenda: Planet 

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Socio-environmental impacts of natural resource extraction; Access and benefit sharing of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans.