Technical Specialist

BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The Sustainable Financing of Papua New Guinea’s Protected Area Network Project, (the ‘Project’) commenced in September 2019 with the objective will extend the Government of Papua New Guinea’s ability to fulfill its protected area mandate and implement its Protected Area Policy and associated legislation. This support aims to ensure:

• Secure, stable, and long-term financial resources for the management of protected areas across the country.
• That these financial resources are allocated to contribute to improving the effective management of protected areas across PNG and their administration balances cost effectiveness and conservation.

In recognition of this need, the Project assists with the development of a diverse mix of conventional and innovative funding sources and consolidate revenues to finance the ongoing costs of establishing and managing protected areas in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Project has already assisted in establishing a PNG Biodiversity and Climate Fund, designed as a secure, accountable, and transparent financial mechanism for receiving, administering and disbursing such funds. The Project will therefore result in a system that will provide catalytic and long-term financial support that will lead to more stable ecosystems (both within and ultimately outside of protected areas). This includes helping institutions to become supporters and/or facilitators of that process and establishing long-term partnerships with a diverse constituency of stakeholders.

The Project has completed Mid-Term Review in December 2022 and received a ‘Satisfactory’ rating. The expected date of operational closure of the project is 30 July 2026.   

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project concludes in July 2026 and UNDP now seeks a Technical Specialist with expertise in business and financial planning, resource mobilization, and systems and capacity building to support PNG’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority for the remaining project period to complete the output/activities and achieve its objective and project outcomes and indicators.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Under the overall guidance of the DRR, the Technical Specialist will undertake the following as key adviser of the Project and on matters relating to sustainable financing of protected areas.

Ensure effective technical leadership in project implementation and monitoring: 

• Provide overall technical, strategic and planning assistance to project activities, and specifically lead the – (i) implementation of the financing solutions identified under the national Protected Area Finance and Investment Plan (ii) resource mobilization for the Biodiversity and Climate Fund and support to the Secretariat and Board to implement its Strategic Plan; (iii) capacity development of partners on financial management.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to refocus and where necessary revise project strategies and implementation plans as the operating context evolves.
• Provide guidance and advice to ensure successfully implementation of activities at project sites, in partnership with implementing partner and responsible parties.
• Provide significant input to project reporting and monitoring for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Advise on biodiversity conservation issues and ecosystem management.
• Work with national and international partners on identifying opportunities to support civil society organisations (CSOs) on sustainable livelihoods, community resilience, land mediation including opportunities for accessing additional resources where possible.
• Develop and run media information campaigns as required on the Fund’s work and the Project more broadly.
• Advise Country Office senior management on engagement related to environmental finance and  resource mobilization opportunities.
• Advise senior management on pertinent national environmental issues, developing policy briefs, speeches, position papers, as well as contribution to strategy development.

Ensure provision of top-quality advisory services:

• Provide technical support to the Project Manager, Conservation and Environmental Protection Authority (CEPA) staff and other project partners in the areas of project management and planning, management of site activities, monitoring, and impact assessment.
• Provide specific support to assist in integrating the Project into the UNDP’s broader Environment portfolio of projects.
• Work with the project team to develop Terms of Reference for consultants and assist in selection and recruitment process.
• Ensure the technical aspects of the work of all consultants and Implementing Partners is of the highest standard.
• Facilitate the Project Manager in the preparation and revision of Annual Work Plans and other documents and reports associated with the Project.
• Advise in the preparation of TORs to engage consultants and other partners to support implementation.
• Work with the Project Manager on the preparation of the periodic Status Report when called for by the National Project Director.
• Advise the Project Manager in the preparation of the Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), inception report, technical reports, quarterly financial reports for submission to UNDP, GEF, other donors, and Government Departments as required.
• Advise in mobilizing staff and consultants in the conduct of a project terminal evaluation, and in undertaking management response and preparing project exit strategy following evaluations and recommendations.
• Facilitate the Project Manager in liaising with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs, and other groups to ensure effective coordination of project activities.

Build strong strategic partnerships and resource mobilization: 

• Lead on relationship building with key government counterparts to ensure full participation on the Project.
• Lead external and internal analysis for assessing opportunities for resource mobilization to support the Project’s objectives.
• Lead on relationship building with key private sector entities to support resource mobilisation for the Biodiversity and Climate Fund.
• Actively mobilise financial resources for the Biodiversity and Climate Fund through the implementation of the finance solutions in the Protected Area Finance and Investment Plan.

Facilitate Communication and Knowledge management:

• Document lessons from project implementation and make recommendations to the Project Board for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities as and when required.
• Ensure that any institutional assessment and analysis is done in an inclusive and participatory way with the involvement of stakeholders. This should include ensuring that the emerging roles and responsibilities are appropriate for the nature of the protected areas of PNG. This includes supporting the role of CEPA in areas of conservation management, compliance, enforcement, and administration.
• Work to build the capacity of communities, institutions and organizations involved in protected area management to support better management of protected areas and in particular, ways to ensure action and financing are more sustainable.
• Ensure close collaboration with the GEF-8 Blue Green Islands Integrate Program (BGI-IP) child project in PNG titled ‘Accelerating PNG’s sustainable economy through strengthened governance and investment in marine areas’ as the project idea was conceived based on the blue economy work undertaken through the GEF-6 project with funding support from joint SDG fund and Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR).   

Other Duties:

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• Supervision and performance management of project team.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Environmental Economics, Business Administration or Conservation/Nature Resource Management or related fields of expertise is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study,  in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience working with developing countries on one or more of the following: Protected Area (PA) management; innovative/sustainable financing on Protected Area, biodiversity and climate change; payment for ecosystem services; or other related fields.
• Prior experience in providing policy advice on managing a Conservation Trust Fund is desired.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is required.
• Experience in the policy development processes supporting sustainable financing, public financial management, protected area management and/or sustainable development is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate with high level political and administrative officials on change management matters is an asset.
• Experience in leading GEF financed project teams and working in challenging environments in the region is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in effective negotiation skills with excellent communication and presentation skills is desired.
• Prior experience and knowledge of UN/UNDP operations and programmes and familiarity with UNDP programme execution rules and regulations is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

COMPETENCIES

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 Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• 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.
• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Partnership Management

• Resource Mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding
  requirements.

Business Direction and Strategy

• Systems 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

Finance

• Financial planning and budgeting: Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing, and reporting.

 

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Note: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest performance evaluations (if applicable). 

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