Programme Manager - ESD Unit

Organizational coontext

Drawing heavily on the proposal for alignment and structural change as enunciated in the UNDP Sao Tome and Principe Change Implementation Plan, a new portfolio and Programme design has been developed whereby UNDP Sao Tome and Principe will use three work streams suggested in the proposal for alignment to undertake a detailed strategic review, which will align existing project-level interventions behind programmatic portfolios. The rationale for the selection of the portfolios is well articulated in the Sao Tome and Principe Change Implementation Plan, the government transformative agenda 2030 and the UNDAF.  In order to align the Country Office structure to the UNDAF 2017-2021, as well as respond to the SDGS and STP government priorities, the design of the Programme portfolio will include three mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around three ongoing projects( energy, DRR and adaptation to climate change)  and a promising list of pipelines projects ( biodiversity, food security, CCA) under the GCF and GEF6 and 7, to be implemented by national teams and supported through UNDP by a Programme Manager.

The Programme Team will include two major Programme portfolios designed around the following results areas: Responsive capacities and national Institutions and Communities Engagement Portfolio (RENICE) and the Sustainable Development Growth and Resilience Portfolio (SDGR).

These two portfolios within the environment and sustainable development Programme are is aligned to UNDP UNDAF pillar (Economic Growth and resilience, incorporating productive capacities that create employment and livelihoods for the poor and marginalized.

 The Environment and Sustainable Development Programme Manager will therefore act as the overseer of the sound implementation of Programme activities under the portfolios and act as the head of Unit

Country Context

The Democratic republic of Sao Tome and Principe (STP) published most of its national strategic and climate change related convention such as the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in 2006 that sets out a list of 22 priority adaptation projects in sectors including agriculture and fisheries, livestock, water, health, infrastructure, energy and civil protection. In recent years until now, STP has been facing problems related to deforestation, coastal erosion and increase frequency of extreme events (especially, squall lines and flooding).

In STP, the UNDAF priorities which are aligned with the government PRSP priorities are to increase awareness and population commitment to protect the environment; to strengthen climate resilient development and adaptation to climate change through Early warning system, adopting  long terms mechanisms for adaptation to inherent and uncertain impacts of climate change to vulnerable population; to ensure sustainable renewable energy sources to the major part of the population; to formulate and disseminate the strategies and national action plans to reinforce national institutions that are responsible for environmental, climate change, energy and disaster risks management in order to settle the National approaches to management sustainable development activities and priorities in order to attain the SDGS. The UNDP country office is supporting the development of various poverty reduction strategies through the environment and sustainable development programmes. This has covered national communications, programmes and projects on Climate Change biodiversity, renewable energy, community resilience development, early warning systems, contingency plan and national strategies to reduce risk of disasters to vulnerable communities and population.

In addition, São Tomé and Príncipe with the support of UNDP CO has mobilised more than 15 million US, through LDCF and GEF funds and is actually developing a solid pipelines portfolio through various initiatives including the GCF, the GEF7, the AFDB CCA implementing with national partners projects .. These pipeline projects will enhance the country capacity to fight poverty, develop resilience and green economic growth promote adaptation action and lay the foundation for long-term investment in adaptation with the objective of adjusting Santomean national development processes to incorporate climate change risks and opportunities.

The programme will help establish an enabling environment and develop the capacity required at local and national levels to permit the authorities to design, finance, implement, monitor and adjust long-term, integrated and cost-effective adaptation policies and plans that are robust and resilient to a wide range of possible changes in climate conditions. The UNDPCO will support this program and will participate with government authorities in the implementation of activities and projects.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative/programme, the Programme Manager will provide advice to senior management and lead the UNDP CO Programme as it relates to socio-economic policies for growth and resilience:

• Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management and Resilience;
• Environmental and Natural Resources Management;
• Economic Competitiveness and Private Sector Development.
• Renewable energy, strategic partnership and poverty reduction

The Head of the Environment Unit will prepare high quality analyses and briefs on issues in the Environment portfolio and will lead and supervise a team of professional staff as well as national consultants and projects. The Head of Unit will maintain networks with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, international financial institutions, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society. He will identify economic trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of Programme activities within his/her portfolio. He/she contributes to policy dialogue with the government providing advisory services and identifying national and international talent and expertise with whom to complement this advisory role in the Programme and portfolio implementation.

The Portfolio Manager, SGR has a pivotal role in forging strong alliances with academia, governmental institutions and other national and international partners to support the Programme country under her/his thematic oversight.   The Programme Manager leads his team in the strategic planning and the identification of new Programme opportunities within the thematic areas with a view to successful resource mobilization outputs while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/ CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities as well as mindful of cross cutting considerations.

The Programme Manager is accountable for the implementation of all programmes and projects under his oversight. The incumbent is responsible for the quality assurance of the Programme interventions under his oversight.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Provide oversight, managerial leadership and strategic direction of the ESD - Programme and Projects;
•  Regularly brief and consult Senior Management of developments in ESD and portfolio and provide advice and information as required and contribute to Country Office exercises and initiatives;
• Manage and supervise the ESD staff in the Country Office to perform project oversight, quality assurance, monitoring, field missions, reporting, audits, evaluations, formulations and project support services, providing day-to-day guidance and enhancing team work within the unit, with the project/programme team and with other Country Office units;
• Undertake performance management of staff including establishment of annual results, ongoing feedback and mid-term/final assessments;
• Ensure staff implementation of mandatory trainings and promote learning and development

Lead the development of annual programme/project delivery targets and guide the team to achieve the targets as well as manage the overall programme/project

• Provide guidance, technical backstopping and advice to UNDP CO management on the Environment portfolio related areas: environment, sustainable development, green and blue economy, energy, disaster risks management and climate change adaptation.
• Provide technical support and guidance to Government counterparts and facilitate knowledge building and mainstreaming on related areas: environment, sustainable development, green and blue economy, energy, disaster risks management and climate change adaptation.
• Facilitate and build local, regional and international strategic partnerships in the Environment portfolio to ensure a coordinated approach to financing climate change policy/strategy and to secure additional funding to support climate change policy implementation.
• Supervise financial and technical aspects of the Environment portfolio at the CO, ensuring coherence of project cycle management, synergies and quality reporting process at national and regional and HQ levels.
• Support the CO in GEF resource mobilization and other sources of funds.

a. Provide guidance, technical backstopping and advice to UNDP CO management on the Environment portfolio related areas: environment, sustainable development, green and blue economy, energy, disaster risks management and climate change adaptation.

• Compile, analyze, interpret and produce briefs to feed UNDP managers on relevant information about the related areas’ events and trends;
• Conduct strategic research on related areas in the country and draft relevant reports, case studies, briefings and speeches, aimed at promoting a coherent and consistent UN approach to related areas;
• Providing top quality analysis and substantive inputs to the UNDAF, Country Programme Document and other strategic documents and processes on related areas, assuring alignment between those and the Government priorities;
• Promote a coherent and consistent UN approach to the Environment portfolio related areas.
• Promote the participation of civil society in the development and implementation of the UNDP strategy in the related areas.

b. Provide technical support and guidance to Government counterparts and facilitate knowledge building and mainstreaming on related areas: environment, sustainable development, green and blue economy, energy, disaster risks management and climate change adaptation.

• Facilitate policy and strategic   dialogue on related areas with Government counterparts, civil society and the private sector;
• Oversee the programme/project team (project managers, programme analysts, technical advisors, project specialists, and support staff) and ensure timely implementation, results-orientation and accountability of programmes and projects;
• Provide intellectual and strategic guidance and advice in Climate Change, Natural Resource Management and Disaster Risk management with careful regard to reducing the likelihood of conflict, and lower the risk of natural disasters, including from climate change;
• Provide intellectual and strategic guidance and advice in the thematic areas under the portfolio particularly with regard to women economic empowerment, young people  and private sector development, promoting gender equality and inclusion of vulnerable population groups, ensuring conflict-sensitivity and compliance with social and environmental standards;
• Identify lines in related areas where UNDP support may have impact in reaching national goals and priorities;
• Channel inputs into national policies on related areas;
• Provide capacity development support for UNDP staff and Government officials on related areas

c. Facilitate and build local, regional and international strategic partnerships in the Environment portfolio to ensure a coordinated approach to financing climate change policy/strategy and to secure additional funding to support climate change policy implementation.

• Develop partnerships with UN Agencies, IFIs, Government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society focusing on related areas;
• Communicate with the relevant branches of government, donors, civil society and other stakeholders in the country to ensure the dissemination of critical information, and engage the commitment of resources and timely completion of tasks related to the implementation of the portfolio.

d. Supervise financial and technical aspects of the Environment portfolio at the CO, ensuring coherence of project cycle management, synergies and quality reporting process at national and regional and HQ levels.

• Ensure the drafting of annual work plans and budgets;
• Ensure alignment of projects with Quality Standards Policies and Procedures, using the relevant information produced by the unit staff to identify and communicate recommendations, mid-course corrections and lesson learned;
• Provide support and contribute to the development and formulation of new project proposals;
• Ensure quality Monitoring and Evaluation for all projects within the portfolio;
• Lead the organization and monitor recommendations follow-up of the portfolio Steering Committee meetings;
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with technical service providers to ensure well designed climate change interventions.

e. Support the CO in GEF resource mobilization and others sources of funds.

• Produce periodic updates and briefs on country development situation to be used by stakeholders, the CO and HQ;
• Maintain and build a programme portfolio pipeline for three years with a view to mobilize resources in practice areas under incumbent’s oversight;
• Seek and identify partnership and funding opportunities; and oversee the preparation of funding proposals, donor briefings and presentations in support of resource mobilization efforts;
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• Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies;
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• Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation with other stakeholders;
• Map donors, contributors or investors and their funding policies and priorities for the related areas;
• Develop partnerships in areas of mutual interest and lead the technical and administrative compliance process until approval phase;
• Liaise with partners (donors and other sources of funds) during project or programme implementation, ensuring full technical and administrative compliance.

Functional Competencies:

Building Partnerships

Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 2: Developing tools and mechanisms

• Participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 2: In-depth knowledge of own discipline

• Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration)
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Continually looking for ways to enhance financial performance in the office

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

Level 2: Assisting the individuals to cope with change

• Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation

Design And Implementation of Management Systems

Level 2: Designing and implementing management system

• Makes recommendations regarding operation of systems within organizational units
• Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation

Client Orientation

Level 2: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

Level 2: Input to the development of standards and policies

• Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Core Competencies:

• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, Procurement, HR, Accounting and Finance     

Education:       

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Environmental Studies,  International Development or related field.

Experience:      

• Minimum 7 years of work experience, in programme/project formulation, management and policy advice, of which 3 years in Environmental Programme Management.
• Experience in advising national authorities and donors on Climate Change, Environmental Management and Disaster Risk Reduction;
• Proven management experience;
• Sound knowledge and experience in all aspects of project cycle
• Experience managing large GEF portfolios an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English and French.  Portuguese highly desired

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