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Project Assistant - Panama Biosafety GEF Project

Panamá

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Panamá
  • Grade: Volunteer - National Specialist - Locally recruited Volunteer
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Administrative support
    • Environment
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

Brief Project Description
 
The project “Consolidation of National Capacities for Full Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” (BIOSAFETY) was approved by the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) on August 11th, 2011, and by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) on May 2nd, 2012. There is in place a Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Environment of Panama and UNEP to execute the project. 
This project is fully in line with the Action Plan for Capacity Building of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, adopted during the first Conference of the Parties (COP-MOP) in 2004 and modified during COP-MOP IV in 2008.
This initiative will offer support for biodiversity conservation, avoiding the inadequate use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), as well as offering alternatives that generate environmental benefits at the local, national and global levels, and changes in land use practices to reduce threats and overexploitation of critical ecosystems, including buffer zones and biological corridors of global importance.
Likewise, the project seeks to attain the alternative scenario of reducing the risks to biodiversity posed by the LMOs and will considerably increase global benefits by allowing Panama to fully exert its rights and obligations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. 
The Republic of Panama ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety through Law #72 of December 21th, 2001; later on, through Law #48 of August 8th, 2002, the National Biosafety Commission for the LMOs was created. The law defines the institutional responsibilities and creates sectorial commissions in the agricultural, environmental and public health sectors. Additionally, it establishes a framework for the development of regulations at sectorial level.
The Ministry of Environment approved between 2005 and 2009, nine (9) environmental public policies, among them: environmental information; environmental auditing, control and supervision; decentralization of environmental management; and biodiversity. The national policy on biodiversity, through the conservation for sustainable development strategy and its policy orientation for 2004-2009 and 2009, highlights the need for the establishment of a biosafety regulating framework in Panama

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
Un Environment Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in Panama City, is seeking a Project Assistant. The incumbent will provide support to the project entitled “Consolidation of national capacities for full implimentation of the Cartagena protocolo in Biosafety in Panama,” which is implemented by the Panama’s Ministry of the Environment.
The objective of the consultancy is to support the Panama Biosafety GEF Project work by providing administrative, technical and logistical services.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
  • Support the day to day activities and needs of the Project.
  • Provide administrative and logistical support to the project team. 
  • Manage schedules and project implementation. Undertake secretarial and archival services to project; 
  • Provide assistance in a range of administrative processes, including recruitments, procurement, legal agreements, payments, etc.
  • Assist in the organization of workshops, meetings or conferences, including arrangements for participants, logistic arrangements, and reporting. 
  • Keep records of official correspondence and of the products submitted by consultants and partners.
  • Collaborate in preparation of Terms of Reference, contracts and agreements
  • Collaborate in the review of consultancy products
  • Attend field trips and meetings and provide technical assistance
  • Interaction and technical
  • Collaborate in preparation of workplans and reporting.
  • Communication with key project actors, including high level officers
  • Support project coordination, including technical aspects
  • Assist in necessary research for the project
Furthermore, UN Volunteer s are encouraged to: 
  • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
  • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
  • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
  • Assist with the UNV Buddy Program for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
  • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Output

  • Timely completion of organizational work for the scheduled meeting(s)
  • Project related administrative processes are duly completed.
  • Terms of references and minutes of recruitment processes are generated.
  • Administrative reports are produced.
  • Project related information is duly filed.
  • Communication materials are issued.
 

Competencies

  • Commitment and Motivation
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning
  • Integrity
  • Managing Performance
  • Planning and Organizing
  • Professionalism
  • Self-Management
  • Working in Teams

Required Skills and Experience

  • Effective time management and ability to prioritize and plan own work to meet deadlines and effective organizational skills;
  • Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
  • Excellent ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, in English and Spanish
  • Analytical skills
  • Knowledge of UN activities and administrative processes is desirable

Disclaimer

Las solicitudes recibidas después de la fecha límite no serán consideradas.
 
Esta posición es una asignación de Voluntario/a Nacional ONU.
 
Serán contactados (as) solo aquellos (as) candidatos (as) de la lista corta

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

United Nations Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.

This vacancy is now closed.
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