Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
Location: Istanbul
Grade: Mid level – IPSA-10, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Project and Programme Management
Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2024-12-21

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste.  This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;
• Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems;
• Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS;
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
• Sustainable Energy;
• Extractive Industries;
• Chemicals and Waste Management;
• Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches.

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships in Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds (VFs), UNDP’s Environmental Finance Unit supports UNDP’s Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste related Hubs and provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.

The newly established UNDP Nature Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to a “Nature Pledge” that aims to put nature at the heart of sustainable development. UNDP’s Nature Pledge for 2030 focuses on three systemic shift areas that are necessary to trigger accelerated and scaled action for achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Importantly, the Nature Hub leads several global programmes and projects such as the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, Nature for Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Commodity Systems, the GEF Early Action Support, Umbrella Programme on NBSAP Support, Global Biodiversity Finance Programme. These global projects are linked to country level work and help connect people on the ground to the national, regional and global decision makers and influencers, as well as, fostering exchange and learning between communities, landscapes, and governments in different countries and continents.

The Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update, and the 7th National Reports will support countries in revising and updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in order to align with the recently agreed Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), and enable effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the national level. In addition, this grant supports countries in preparing and submitting their 7th National Report on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the KM-GBF.

This Global Programme will be responsive to CBD guidance on developing NBSAPs and completing the 7th National Report, including recent COP15 outcomes and decisions. It will also build upon existing work through the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS) that is ongoing, as well as support to countries to develop biodiversity finance plans, through the recently approved “Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans”. The project implementation units of all three initiatives will coordinate to ensure that resources from both projects are used effectively and efficiently towards the update or revision of the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and the preparation of the 7th National Reports in the targeted countries.

Responsibilities:

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 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Requirements

Minimum Education requirements

Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Natural Resource Management, Environment, Economics and Development Studies or relevant field is required; or

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience

Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in project management with technical expertise in the thematic areas of natural resource management, environment, biodiversity, environmental finance or a related field;

Required skills 

• Prior experience in supporting and coordinating strategic planning and development of NBSAPs and National Reports to the CBD is required;
• Experience in applying sound project management skills including project planning, organization, and risk management is required,
• Prior experience working with international organizations is an asset
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

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

• Experience managing UNDP projects is highly desired;
• Experience in developing and managing technical and expert reviews of national plans and reports is highly desirable;
• Significant international and developing country experience is an asset;

Required Language (s): 

• Fluency in English required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

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