Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | Istanbul
Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
Project and Programme Management
Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2024-08-01
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.
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 offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its 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 UNDP’s 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. UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.
BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. In addition to the country portfolio, Nature Hub team is supporting a growing body of global work funded by bilateral donors and partners, including the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), Green Growth Programme, Nature for Development Programme, Global Fund for Coral Reefs Program etc.
In 2018, UNDP joined the multi-partner initiative PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet https://panorama.solutions/en, as a co-coordinator for its Protected Areas (currently 30×30 Solutions) thematic community. PANORAMA is an initiative to document and promote examples of inspiring, replicable solutions across a range of conservation and sustainable development topics, enabling cross-sectoral learning and inspiration. PANORAMA allows practitioners to share and reflect on their experiences, increase recognition for successful work, and to learn with their peers how similar challenges have been addressed around the globe. The initiative is governed by a Project Board and Partnership Council comprised of all partner organizations (IUCN, GIZ, UNDP, UNEP, World Bank, Rare, GRID-Arendal, ICCROM, ICOMOS, EcoHealth Alliance, OCTO and IFOAM) and supported by a PANORAMA Management Unit jointly hosted by IUCN and GIZ.
With financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer protection (BMUV), a PANORAMA programme has been created to strengthen the PANORAMA initiative, which improves the global learning from successful practices among practitioners and decision-makers in the context of nature conservation and towards the goals of the CBD Global Biodiversity Framework. The project entered its second phase in May 2024, as a project extension with additional funding from BMUV.
The expected Impact of the second phase of the project is:
“Powerful knowledge management, learning and exchange practices applied, replicated and scaled up by relevant actors are increasingly contributing towards the global biodiversity, climate and sustainability goals.”
The programme’s key outputs include:
Coordination and Management: the PANORAMA initiative is effectively and efficiently managed based on streamlined internal operations, strategic planning including business development, partnership engagement and public visibility, collectively contributing to the objectives and alignment with global biodiversity targets,
Impact monitoring and Guidance: a robust framework for impact monitoring and solution analysis forms the basis for generating insights aligned with key global policy frameworks, thereby elevating PANORAMA’s influence and relevance in both policy and practice improving impact monitoring as well as synthesizing solutions and generating insights on common success factors,
Methodology: a rigorously upheld and progressively refined PANORAMA “solutioning” methodology is advanced, underpinned by a high-quality web platform, quality assurance mechanisms for solution case studies, and an improved learning approach. These collective enhancements serve to improve user engagement, inclusivity, and impact, thereby reinforcing PANORAMA’s standing as a premier platform in the realm of sustainable solutions,
Community: a multi-faceted enhancement of PANORAMA’s community engagement, achieved through strategic global representation, and targeted user experience improvements, all aimed at broadening the initiative’s impact and inclusivity,
Collaborations: Strategic collaborations and enhanced institutional adoption amplify PANORAMA’s impact on global biodiversity and sustainability goals.
Duties and Responsibilities
The PANORAMA Project Coordinator will lead management of the BMUV/IKI financed PANORAMA project and provide support to the UNDP’s Principal Technical Adviser (PTA), Nature Hub. The Coordinator will work closely with the UNDP regional teams and country offices to generate solutions from the UNDP portfolio and promote uptake of solutions by project partners in countries. The Coordinator will cooperate with the PANORAMA Management Unit (previously Secretariat) on management and implementation of the BMUV/IKI-financed PANORAMA global project, including financial and progress reporting, monitoring and evaluation, communications, knowledge management, safeguard and due diligence, and maintaining partner relationships and strategic collaborations related to the PANORAMA: Solutions for a Healthy Planet Initiative.
Project Management and Coordination (60%):
Management of the overall conduct of the project and monitoring progress against the approved workplan, providing regular updates to the Partners Council / Steering group;
Ensure operational and financial completion of the current PANORAMA support project;
Management of the responsible party agreements, preparation and execution of financial transfers and project related documentation filing and management in close collaboration with UNDP programme support unit staff and PTA;
Review annual budgets and project expenditure reports, and note any discrepancies or issues. Prepare revisions to the multi-year project workplan;
Liaise and follow up with the responsible parties for implementation of project activities in matters related to project funds and financial and progress reports;
Consolidate financial progress reports submitted by the responsible parties on a quarterly basis and coordinate with the Operations unit of UNDP on cash advance issuance;
Collate annual financial and progress reports based on reporting by the responsible parties for UNDP clearance and submission to the BMUV and UNDP Funding Windows;
Coordinate evaluation and audit of the project and ensure timely and quality report submissions to BMUV;
Monitor project progress and participate in the production of progress reports (including annual reviews) ensuring that they meet the necessary reporting requirements and standards;
Exercise intellectual leadership when policies, strategies and plans are being developed in alignment with programme policies, particularly in relation to BMU IKI;
Provide technical and operational support required in the Nature Hub in related fields.
PANORAMA Technical Support, Solutions Generation and Facilitation of Country service support work (40%):
Coordinate generation of new solution cases from the UNDP portfolio, liaising closely with UNDP staff including regional staff, country offices, project staff and counterparts;
Promote uptake of PANORAMA solutions by UNDP project stakeholders in countries, and beyond UNDP projects;
Provide support to coordination of 30×30 Solutions Thematic Community of PANORAMA in cooperation with IUCN;
Provide support for partnership development to ensure the linkage between PANORAMA and relevant institutions and frameworks (CBD, Global Biodiversity Framework, NBSAP’s Accelerator etc);
Collaboration with the CBD secretariat on biodiversity knowledge management and solution-based knowledge exchange and capacity building, in support of the GBF implementation;
Support PANORAMA’s participation in key nature related conferences and meetings including participation in high level events and in hosting, and participating in, side events.
Key deliverables:
High quality annual project review and financial reports;
High quality quarterly update reports submitted to the Steering Group;
Project safeguard system analysis reports, partner due diligence reports;
Successful organization of various events related to PANORAMA during global events;
Increased flow of UNDP solutions to the PANORAMA platform;
Technically cleared policy documents including guidance notes and discussion/position papers, linking PANORAMA and relevant UN Frameworks.
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
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Risk Management
Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Results-based management
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
Communication
Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
Relationship management
Ability to engage with a wide range of partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
Event planning and execution
Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.
Nature, Climate and Energy
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Master’s degree in the area of international development, environmental management, environmental policy, business, economics or similar field is required.
Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.
Experience:
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree, or 7 years with a Bachelor’s degree, in the field of project management.
Required Skills:
Previous experience in managing projects / programmes and coordinating and maintaining strategic partnerships in nature conservation, knowledge management and capacity building, and other related areas is required.
Desired Skills:
Knowledge of the UN and/or UNDP’s rules, policies and procedures is an asset.
Experience in developing and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships is an asset.
Working experience in organization of international meetings, events and logistics planning would be desirable.
A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) is an advantage.
Languages:
Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential;
Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
Institutional Arrangement
The incumbent will work home based;
The incumbent will report to, and be directly supervised by, the Principal Technical Advisor (Nature Hub)
The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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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