Project Associate, PIRSEM Project

Background

Myanmar has low middle-income status (LMIC) and is committed to lifting itself out of Least Developed Country (LDC) status within the next seven years. Following the implementation of the first ever UNDP Country Programme during 2013-2017 and as a key development partner of the government of Myanmar, UNDP will implement a new UNDP Country Programme for the period 2018-2022, striving to deliver on a large and relevant programme portfolio that is responsive to the main development challenges facing the country. 

The UNDP Country Office in Myanmar is a key interlocutor and advisor to the government at the national and sub-national on sustainable and inclusive growth, (including economic, environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction issues) and is expanding its programme at the state, region and township levels in order to ensure stronger institutions at all levels of government as well as broader civic engagement as part of the effort to support Myanmar’s democratic transition, build and sustain peace and promote more inclusive and sustainable development.  

UNDP Myanmar also strives to provide high quality advice on issues related to natural resource management, both because of the importance of this topic to sustainable development, but also because of the potential social tensions related to the equitable and inclusive management of natural resources.

The new UNDP Myanmar Country Programme (2018-2022) is being finalized and a new structure to support a more integrated and collaborative way to help Myanmar achieve sustainable development and sustained peace will be implemented. The Country Office has aligned the new office structure with the new CPD and designed new ways of working that will facilitate more collaboration across the office, create the foundations for more sub-national level work and higher delivery, facilitate the transition of the country office from Yangon to Naypyidaw during the upcoming CPD period, and emphasize learning and support to national staff capacity development.

The Promoting Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Environmental Management (PIRSEM) Project leverages existing AF/GEF/REDD/GCF vertical funding and links up to horizontally and vertically with UNDP Country Programme key priority areas working at national and sub-national levels to help establish mechanism to link the Myanmar National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction with the National Disaster Management Committee in order to maximize the coordination and impact of risk reduction initiatives across different ministries and help develop a new disaster recovery framework and guidelines, including innovative damage-and-loss data collection, mapping and vulnerability assessment to track disaster and climate risks. The Project supports finalization and adoption of various policy instruments linked to environmental conservation, climate change and disaster risk management, as well as specific assessment and programming tools. 

Areas of Project support include strengthening capacities to ensure climate, disaster, and environmental risks are considered in development planning and budgeting at national/sub-national levels; technical assistance to review and improve relevant policies and laws to promote green growth, and strengthen government mechanisms to mobilize, access and effectively manage environment and climate finance including Innovative financial mechanisms such as Payment for Ecosystem Services; provide support to assessing the economic, social and environmental impact of selected extractive industries including building linkages with the private sector to influence sustainable practices; and supporting access to justice to address grievances, and supporting civic engagement in monitoring compliance with environmental standards. 

The Project also supports Myanmar climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and actions, such as the provision of climate risk information and livelihood diversification including implementation of Myanmar’s National REDD+ Strategy and scaling up community-based and ecosystem-based approaches to enhance adaptive capacity resilience of vulnerable communities.  Regarding biodiversity, the Project supports initiatives to enhance the management of targeted protected areas and conservation of ecosystems and wildlife focused on promoting community-based natural resource management and conservation, integrated land use, and participatory protected area management. The project envisions expanding UNDP’s work to include environmental justice and enforcement.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Associate provides leadership in execution of services in the project in support of project implementation in accordance with project documents. The Project Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Project Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Strategic Results, Partnership and Innovation, Programme Support teams in resolving complex project-related issues and information delivery.

The Project Associate will be initially based in Yangon, but may be required to relocate to Naypyidaw when conditions permit.

UNDP Myanmar is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS POSITION IS LIMITED TO AFFECTED NATIONAL PERSONNEL OF UNDP MYANMAR.

Duties and Responsibilities

Competencies

Functional Competencies:           

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Level 1.1: Support the preparation of information for advocacy

• Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences
• Makes research of contacts in the media, government, private sector, donors, other agencies, civil society in other stakeholders for UNDP’s advocacy efforts

Results-Based Project Development and Management

Level 1.1: Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information for linkages across project activities to help identify critical points of integration
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/project implementation
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 1.1: Maintaining information and databases

• Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
• Maintains databases of donor information
• Tracks and reports on mobilized resources

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 1.1: Implementing processes and uses products

• Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
• Tracks bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes solutions
• Responds positively to new approaches

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations)

Level 1.1: Providing information for resource mobilization strategies

• Maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors
• Maintains database of project files
• Provides data and information needed for preparation of project documents

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 1.1: Basic research and analysis

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 1.1: Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools, and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

Level 1.1: Research and analysis

• Identifies relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
• Maintains a network of contacts in the media and civil society, for use in UNDP’s advocacy efforts

Client Orientation

Level 1.1:  Maintains effective client relationships

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Responds to client needs promptly

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity  
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Prince2 training and certification, RMG

Required Skills and Experience