ReLISA Technical Specialist

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Africa country office is seeking a qualified

and experienced national specialist in Land Restoration and Sustainable Land Management to manage

the project “Restoring Landscapes in South Africa”(ReLISA).

The overall aim of the ReLISA project is to make the economic case for landscape-level restoration and create the conditions for a just transition of South Africa’s land-use sector, to adapt to climate change and address biodiversity loss while improving livelihoods of rural communities and farmers. This will be achieved through biophysical/economic assessments as inputs to planning restoration activities, the leveraging private sector investment through pre-feasibility studies and project development, on-the-ground implementation at landscape level for thicket, grassland and savanna biomes, and dissemination and communication.

ReLISA has four interconnected principal outputs, which will be delivered through a consortium of 6 partners including UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO, Endangered Wildlife Trust, CSIR, Unique and C4ES:

Output I: Biophysical / socio-economic assessments, restoration strategies and planning. Viable options and comprehensive restoration strategies for the three biomes that align with political priorities and stakeholder needs are developed and validated through stakeholder consultations – based on thorough analyses of costs / benefits, cash flows, and environmental and distributional impacts (e.g. effects on poverty and on gender).

Output II: Leveraging restoration finance through private sector investments and other sources. On-the-ground implementation and upscaling of restoration projects in the three biomes are made investible for impact investors and financial intermediaries through addressing specific investment barriers and supporting investment preparation for Voluntary Carbon Market projects and other marketable benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, increases in freshwater quality and quantity, and enhanced community involvement.

Output III: Direct landscape-level interventions and on-the-ground implementation. Restoration and conservation of selected landscapes in the identified priority areas of the three biomes through coordination, need- and opportunity-based technical and legal support and facilitation of stakeholder dialogues.

Output IV: Gender responsive dissemination and outreach. Innovative models and approaches, technical solutions and fundraising strategies for implementing restoration of degraded lands at scale in the three biomes are translated into target-specific knowledge products that highlight the contribution of women in particular, and the diversity therein, and are disseminated nationally and at relevant international fora.

The core deliverables which UNDP is responsible for include: 

1. Within priority project landscapes, understand how land degradation affects people and ecosystems, how land degradation is affected by climate change and contribute towards it.
2. Facilitation, cross sectoral dialogue and coordination to ensure opportunities for job creation through avoiding, reducing and reversing land degradation.
3. Leverage  Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA), Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) for sustainable food-systems to increase resilience of communities in critical ecosystems through UNDP ReLISA Land Restoration Entrepreneurs and Champions support for implementation of land rehabilitation activities in Savanna, Grassland and Sub-Tropical Thicket biomes within South Africa.
4. Track progress towards sustainability and increased levels of resilience through participatory monitoring and evaluation, and ensure continuous improvement through reflection and learning and adaptation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Nature, Climate and Energy Team Lead, the Technical Specialist: ReLISA will be responsible to:

• Provide technical and specialist support for the development of project deliverables, including implementation strategies.
• Prepare and manage all ReLISA project-related workshops, meetings and seminars, exchange visits, farmers” days, conferences, training events etc.
• Support and advise on the preparation for all technical meetings (either online or in-person as required), site visits, and implementation monitoring of the different project landscapes (Savanna, Grasslands and Sub-Tropical Thicket Biomes) for the duration of the project to ensure effective and efficient project implementation;
• Actively Support all UNDP HACT audits, mid-term and terminal project evaluations and reviews
• Consolidate inputs and guidance towards project narrative reporting requirements for UNDP project-related activities;
• Participate in close collaboration with Responsible Parties, project stakeholders and beneficiaries for the design and implementation of a Participatory Monitoring Evaluation Reflection and Learning (PMERL) Programme for all project landscapes and UNDP-related project activities. Ensure regular feedback on monitoring results, adaptive management and continuous improvement on deliverables and impact of project interventions;
• Advise and support project awareness, knowledge management, capacity and skills development programmes and activities;
• Provide technical inputs towards  ReLISA Project website and social media platforms;
• Provide inputs towards project risk assessments and mitigation, Social and Environmental Standards and other  ReLISA-related project governance and management requirements  for UNDP-related activities.

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 Technical Specialist will report directly to the UNDP Nature, Climate and Energy Team Lead at UNDP South Africa. S/he will work closely with all ReLISA Consortium Partners, as well as work in close collaboration with the Country Office team and coordinate with project focal points in government and other stakeholders.

Competencies

Core

• 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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• Nature – Land Restoration-Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme: Sustainable Land Management and Restoration (inside and outside Conservation/Protected Areas and Systems)
• Partnerships-Relationship Management-Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and forge productive working relationships
• Monitoring & Evaluation-Results-based Management-Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results
• Knowledge Management-Knowledge Facilitation-Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge
• Business Direction & 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
• Project Management – Project Management-Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Gender & Social Inclusion-Inclusive Programming-Knowledge of inclusive approaches to address gender, poverty, and vulnerability in climate/environment actions

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master”s degree or equivalent) in areas of restoration ecology, sustainable land management, environmental sciences, sustainable development, environmental sustainability or related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in Sustainable Land Management, land restoration, agricultural development, land use and soil management, land degradation, environmental assessments.

Required  skills           

• Experience working on designing land restoration projects with multi-stakeholder engagement in various biomes in South Africa.
• GIS, remote sensing, data visualization tools and site selection for sustainable land management.

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

• Experience engaging with government and donors as well as familiarity with UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards and risk mitigation frameworks.
• Proven experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, and multi-stakeholder coordination;
• Experience managing monitoring and evaluation;
• Experience reporting to international donors; experience working with multiple partners.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required

Professional Certificates

• Registration as a Natural Scientists in Restoration Ecology, Sustainable Land-management, GIS and remote sensing is desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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