Background
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The drying up of the Aral Sea is one of the ecological disasters for the Central Asian region, including Turkmenistan. Most of the water basin has already evaporated, and intense wind erosion is occurring from the drying sea zone to the adjacent irrigated areas, thereby leading huge economic losses in agriculture, public health and environmental stability. The project area (Dashoguz velayat and Darganata etrap in Lebap velayat) is most affected by the negative effects of the Aral Sea, which has been devastated over the past few decades by poor water management and agricultural practices and is currently one of the most degraded landscapes in the country. Truly addressing sustainable land and water management, conservation of biodiversity and high-value ecosystems across the Aral Sea basin landscape requires regional cooperation, effective coordination, and the cultivation of synergies among all stakeholders.
The overall objective of the project is to promote land degradation neutrality, restore and improve the use of land and water resources in Turkmenistan’s Amudarya watershed in Lebap and Dashoguz provinces to enhance the sustainability and resilience of livelihoods and globally significant ecosystems. The project will attempt to achieve this objective through a multifocal strategy, that includes the following four interrelated outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Integrated land use planning that will contribute to the land degradation neutrality and improved integration of key biodiversity habitats into surrounding geographies, thus securing critical ecosystem services in Dashoguz and Lebap regions;
- Outcome 2: Addressed direct drivers of biodiversity degradation, to protect globally important biodiversity, habitats, and species, through PAs system expansion and targeted support in strengthening the management effectiveness of some of the key existing PAS in project regions;
- Outcome 3: Strengthened national capacity and better informed engagement of Turkmenistan in implementation of regional cooperation for improved management and restoration of Aral Sea Basin land and water resources; and
- Outcome 4: Project results properly monitored and evaluated
The long-term solution for sustainable development and conservation of high value ecosystems has multiple key goals but revolves around the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and around leveraging KBAs/IBAs within the wider landscape as the focal points for integrated land use management with biodiversity benefits from mainstreaming. These include promotion of models of non-depleting farming, but at the same time effective conservation of critical ecosystem services. The experience will be shared and replicated beyond project boundaries through a series of lesson sharing events.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Water Management Analyst (WMA) is a key technical expert to provide advisory support, evaluate, identify of LDN hot spots and assessment of the drivers of land degradation (with focus specifically on degraded irrigated arable land), and develop adaptation options for water, agriculture and other inter-connected sectors. WMA in close collaboration with the Project Manager (PM) and other project specialists will contribute to implementation of project outcomes with the higher attention towards providing input and organizing consultancy work under Outcomes 1 and 3. The incumbent is responsible for conceptualization and implementation of activities with full consideration of possible climate risks, gender aspects, ecosystem conservations and interests of all stakeholders as well as for identifying the bottle-necks and strategies to overcome them. WMA is also responsible for the development of effective water management plans and their further implementation. More specifically, the WMA will perform the following duties:
Serve as the Project’s key technical person on sustainable water management, use and efficiency, including Integrated Water Resource Management approaches:
- Maintain close coordination among various stakeholders (Water Committee, International Fund for Saving Aral Sea) and other national partners in the water sector on the national and regional/ municipal levels to guide the development of the Sustainable Water Management Plans (or Plans for Increased Water Efficiency) in pilot regions; when applicable, engage local NGOs, private sector and local communities;
- Review ongoing state and development projects in the water management sector to come up with proposals for possible synergies;
- Provide technical guidance to the team, and ensure quality of work on various stages of project implementation, preparation of knowledge products/ PR materials related to water management;
- Supervise the technical content of all the knowledge products related to water management (guidelines, concepts, manuals, templates, brochures, reports, workshop proceedings, minutes);
- Provide technical information and presentations for various awareness and training events;
- Prepare relevant sections of Annual Work Plan and regular progress reports (including annual APR/Project Implementation Reviews and quarterly progress reports) on project results and outcomes related to his/her assigned Outputs and thematic area;
Provide technical assessment of the water consumption in irrigated areas, including monitoring systems and indicators for soil and water use improvement aligned with Land Degradation Neutrality:
- Review policy reforms and institutional changes on the regular basis for the timely adjustment of project design;
- Provide technical inputs for development of recommendations for inclusion of economic incentives for water savings in the current policy/regulatory frameworks and into the development of amendments to the Water Code;
- Liaise with the relevant authorities for the official approval of the Manuals and Guidelines, for the institutionalisation of developed documents;
- Participate in the organization of innovation challenge;
- Support the review of innovation proposals;
Support development of Social and Environmental Standards Assessment and ensure implementation of Environmental and Social Management Framework and Environmental and Social Management Plan related to risk management measures, concerning risks from the water use planning and demonstration of efficient measures at project sites:
- Ensure the mainstreaming of gender aspects and SES requirements into the water management planning, work with the Gender expert, advocate for women inclusion and participation.
Ensure effective implementation of activities on water management and land reclamation directions in project regions in close coordination with the other technical experts, local field coordinators and local specialists on water management:
- Technical support on the assessment of pasture management infrastructure and lead/guide the necessary steps for the construction of water wells for pasture management and for wildlife, rainwater harvesting facilities;
- Guide the work of other short-term experts and lead the assessment of the minimum ecological flow required for the maintenance of the ecological integrity of water based on Key Biodiversity Areas in the project area.
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 Water Management Analyst will work in a team of 8 full-time members. The Water Management Analyst will directly report to the Project Manager and will work in coordination with other the Project Analysts and international and national consultants and national partners.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
- Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: livelihoods
- Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: Public and private finance for adaptation solutions
- Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: strategies
- Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: water management
- Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: Public and private finance for adaptation solutions
- Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: agriculture/food security
- 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
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree in Water Resource Management, Hydrology, Hydraulics, Irrigation or another related field is required.
- Bachelor’s degree in the above fields in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.
Experience:
- Up to 2 years (with Master’s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in the area of sustainable water resources management.
- Previous working or consulting experience related to the institutional processes and organizations involved with water management and irrigated agriculture in Turkmenistan.
- Experience in the design and implementation of efficient irrigation systems, reduction of losses from canals, efficient operation of water delivery systems and climate adaptation at the national or international level.
Languages:
- Fluency in Russian and Turkmen is required.
- Working Knowledge of English is a strong asset.
Required Skills:
- Strong ICT skills, including the application of digital tools in day-to-day work.
- Knowledge and experience of working with relevant UN Framework Convention on Climate Climate, Conference of Parties -decisions, and national commitments.
- Experience in coordination of diverse groups of consultants/ other stakeholders.
Desired Skills:
- Experience in the design and implementation of institutional processes and organizations involved climate change and national commitments under various International Conventions.
- Experience in similar assignments preferably implemented by UNDP or other development cooperation agency.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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