Regional Project Manager

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Project Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles Multi Country Office (MCO) is implementing the ‘Restoring Marine Ecosystem Services by Restoring Coral Reefs to meet a Changing Climate Future’ project through an Adaptation Fund grant amounting USD 9,132,420. The project is being implemented under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) and involves executing partners in the Republic of Mauritius (Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping) and the Republic of Seychelles (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change). The project implementation started in 2020 and will be run over a period of six years (72 months). 

The Project

The overall objective of the project is to reduce the impact of climate change on local communities and coral reef-dependent economic sectors in the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles by implementing coral reef restoration with thermal tolerant corals as adaptation to climate change. The project objective will be achieved through the following outcomes: 

• Development of a sustainable partnership and community-based approach to reef restoration;
• Establishment of coral farming and nursery facilities;
• Active restoration of degraded reefs;
• Improved understanding and knowledge management of using coral reef restoration as an adaptation to climate change;
• Sharing regionally and globally the experienced learned in sustainable coral reef restoration; and
• Training to build capacity for long-term sustainable coral reef restoration.

The activities of this project are geared to the attainment of 3 clear-cut Outcomes which are linked to:

1. Component 1: Enhancement of food security and reduction of risks from natural disasters through the restoration of degraded reefs in Mauritius. 
2. Component 2: Enhancement of food security and reduction of risks from natural disasters through the restoration of degraded reefs in Seychelles. 
3. Component 3: Knowledge, management and sharing, training and sensitization to build regional capacity for sustainable reef restoration.

A Regional Project Manager (RPM) is required to ensure general management and proper implementation of the project.

Summary of Key Functions

• Strategic project planning, coordination and implementation
• Management of the Project
• Liaison and Coordination
• Management of communication flow
• Partnership building and donor liaison.

The RPM leads and supervises the project staff (chief technical adviser, project assistant, operation assistant, communication officer and gender & monitoring and evaluation officer) working in the project, ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. The RPM ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations in conformity with the UNDP Internal Control Framework and good management practices. The RPM advises the PSC/PNCC, cost-effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges in managing the project.

• Provides guidance and manages the overall implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
• Ensures overall efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and the participating ministries/organizations.
• Ensures identification and promotion of programming and planning opportunities.
• Identifies and develops new programme and project opportunities.
• Supports capacity building of national counterparts.
• Oversees project implementation through close monitoring of results. 
• Ensures effective application of result-based management (RBM) tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks.
• Coordinates and follows through on decentralized local evaluations.
• Ensures full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

Responsible for effective project management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures smooth running of the project, builds an effective project team, promotes teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results. 
• Supervises and coordinates the production of project outputs, as per the project document.
• Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the project by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. 
• Continually find ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations.
• Managing Quantum transactions under written delegated authority from the Resident Representative and/or Head of Unit.

Responsible for the management of the project staff, monitors their performance, completing performance assessments where necessary:

• Ensures timely and regular reporting.
• Mobilize all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures for directly executed projects.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of all project staff, consultants and subcontractors.
• Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project personnel.
• Builds capacity of the project staff by identifying capacity needs and establishing training/learning programmes.
• Contribute to preparation and revision of project work and financial plans, as required by UNDP, and support the operational and financial planning processes.
• Oversee and ensure timely submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report, Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, EC and other oversight agencies.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of progress reports, and monitor all project activities, budgets and financial expenditures.
• Guide in the preparation of payments requests for operational expenses, salaries, insurances etc. as well as follow up on timely disbursements by the UNDP CO.
• Will act as Secretariat to the PB/PSC.
• Maintain project correspondence and communication.
• Facilitate in logistical organization of meetings, training and workshops.
• Prepare agendas, make necessary arrangement for the PB/PSC and project meetings, and other internal and external meetings related to the project and write the minutes of those meetings accordingly.
• Maintain a proper inventory of all project equipment.

Responsible for Liaison and Coordination in the area focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Liaise with UNDP, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities.
• Disseminate project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders.
• Ensures proper coordination and inputs to Inter-agency initiatives.
• Maintains collaboration and coordination with the other project managers to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices.

Promotes communication flow in the project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and Government agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart.
• Ensures internal communication and coordination at project level and effective and proactive communication between relevant projects units.
• Monitors the perception of the Eco-Fish Project at local level and suggest media activities that positions the project more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development. Enhances local visibility for the project in development effectiveness.
• Ensures that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with Communication Office in the country office.
• Coordinate and assists scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all field studies and monitoring components of the project.

Fosters partnership building and donor liaison focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the project level through innovative approaches to partnership development.
• Encourages ways of increasing project funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities.
• Carry out regular Environmental and Social Impact monitoring, as required.
• Handle any grievances received and respond accordingly as per the Stakeholder Response Mechanism of UNDP.
• Advise community groups, municipalities, NGOs, staff, students and others with development of essential skills through training workshops and hands-on training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities.

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

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. 

2030 Agenda: Planet: Nature, Climate and Energy

• SIDS: Blue economy.
• Ocean Governance: Ocean restoration and protection.
• Climate Change Adaptation: Coastal Resilience