State Project Manager- Nuapada, Odisha

Job Title: *State Project Manager (ADAPT4R)*

Duration: 1 Year (with performance-based renewal up to 4 years)

Type of contract: Third Party

Duty Station: Odisha, Nuapada

Remuneration: INR 1,00,000/ Per month

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Strengthening Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Sri Lanka and India to Increased Impact of Climate Change (ADAPT4R) is a five-year project supported by Adaptation Fund (AF) constituted under UNFCCC and executed in India by Ministry of Environment, forest and Climate Change and WFP as Multilateral Implementing Entity. The regional project targets the dry zones in Sri Lanka and drought prone districts on the eastern coast in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The project’s main goal is to strengthen the climate change adaptive capacity and food security of vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka’s dry zone and India’s eastern coastal states, utilizing a regional, integrated approach. Leveraging differentiated skills and experience in the two countries, and using participatory and bottom-up approaches, the project will enable vulnerable groups to use last mile climate services to plan and implement targeted adaptation measures best suited for different livelihoods and localities, supplemented by livelihoods diversification and enhanced linkages to existing financial services. A regional feedback loop will provide valuable real-time lessons for scaling up and out, both within and beyond the two countries.

The project will achieve its goal through the following two objectives:

1. Strengthen access to reliable, timely and targeted last-mile climate services, and develop a system to co-produce, disseminate and scale up tailored Agromet and hydromet advisories

2. Enhance the adaptive capacity of income-poor farming households facing high climate risks, with a focus on women and vulnerable groups, to develop and implement local adaptation plans informed by climate advisories, resulting in improved practices, and diversified, climate-resilient livelihoods
The project will target smallholder farmers in the inland, dry areas of the project localities, and vulnerable groups in both countries including marginalised communities e.g., PVTGs, women- and youth-headed households, and food-insecure households.

JOB PURPOSE AND KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Not all inclusive)

The position is responsible for the state level implementation of ADAPT4R. The SPMs will report to the National Project Coordinator, with overall guidance of the HoU, CC, Resilience and DRR, WFP and Nodal Officer appointed by the State Government. The positions are based in the project intervention district.
The main responsibilities of the SPM include-

• Preparing state level project implementation plans in consultation with the state government. This includes the annual work-plans including the training plan, communication and procurement plan, schedules, budgets and timelines.

• Maintaining the project data base for the state including climate adaptation, drought mitigation strategies, plans, climate services, leveraging the ongoing Government schemes for synergies, improved efficiencies and scale-up potential etc.

• Providing inputs and feedback on the project technical strategies, suggest state level contextualization and value -addition, support preparation of knowledge products to facilitate learning and exchange.

• Facilitating timely support from all the relevant government departments- organization for meetings of state and district level committees and fund utilization and disbursements.

• Liaising with key departments under leadership of Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change and facilitating support from Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, IMD, Water Resources, and other relevant entities on need basis.

• Managing partnership with NGO implementing partners/Community-Based Organisations, technology partners, financial institutions, market-based agencies etc in accordance with project guidelines and in consultation with the National Project Coordinator.

• Organising and participating in review of progress, deliverables/quality control, provide feedback to the national teams in regular quarterly review meetings.

• Establishing project monitoring and reporting mechanisms in the state for monthly and quarterly physical and financial progress reports. Preparing state level annual progress report, documentation of best practices, encourage state level innovations. Supporting state level data collection and organization of mid-term review and end evaluation.

• Participating in knowledge exchange and learning sessions between India and Sri Lanka and incorporating the learnings into the project plans and its dissemination through various forums for wider ownership and scale-up and development of adaptation plans at various levels.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced university (Post graduate) degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Rural Development, Environmental/climate sciences, or other related field from an institute of repute.

Experience: At least 7 years of related work professional experience in managing and implementing climate adaptation/agriculture or resilient livelihood project, supporting development of climate resilience, adaptation planning at various levels.

Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English, Hindi and ability to speak in Odia (for Odisha) is an added advantage.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. A written test will be used as a form of screening. In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide in advance a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/ certificate(s) required for this position.

• This is a national position therefore candidates who are non-Indian nationals will not be considered.

• WFP is committed to promoting diversity and gender balance. WFP adheres to “zero tolerance policies” in the workplace.

Female applicants are especially encouraged to apply