Project Coordinator - Kuwait National Energy Outlook (KNEO) “Preference to Kuwaiti nationals”

Kuwait has an ambitious plan to diversify its energy resources and reduce consumption of energy per capita within the period leading to 2030. The Sustainable Energy Project will aim to lay the foundation for actions to achieve this goal and requires an effective and coordinated approach across the Kuwait society. The prevailing low oil prices which results in low Government revenues from the oil and gas call for the diversification of the economic sector and increased energy efficiency. However, the volatility of oil prices affects the economy either positively or negatively. The greatest challenge is when the prices fall at a time when Kuwait economy and population are growing creating pressure on government revenues. One way of dealing with the volatile nature of revenue flows is to diversify the Kuwait energy sources through increased use of renewable energy while reducing energy consumption per capita. Doing so will free more oil and gas for export from domestic use contributing to government revenue.

The project is designed to address the challenge by developing a framework to strengthen the institutional capacity in the country to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix and the rate of energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption per capita in Kuwait. It will achieve this by strengthening the capacity for evidence-based sustainable energy policy development by laying the foundation for an annual production of the Kuwait National Energy Outlook (KNEO) publication by Kuwait Institute of Science and Research (KISR).  The KNEO publication will produce energy data sets and forecasts that will be helpful in informing the implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan and to effectively integrate a sustainable energy policy in its strategy and framework.  

Under the direct supervision of the Energy and Building Research Center in KISR and UNDP’s Programme Officer, the Project Coordinator is responsible for day to day management of the Kuwait Annual National Energy Outlook (KNEO) Project, liaising with related counterparts, and ensuring the project implementation is in line with UNDP policies and procedures.

Summary of key responsibilities and functions:

• Ensures the Implementation of the project goals & delivery of all aspects of the project;
• Provides effective administrative, financial and procurement management, and support to the project;
• Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing for the project;

Ensures the Implementation of the project goals & delivery of all aspects of the project:

• Coordinate, systemize, codify, and integrate successful approaches, methodologies, and tools developed in the relevant area, into a cohesive UNDP framework for supporting government’s efforts of production of the Kuwait National Energy Outlook (KNEO);
• Coordinate with KISR National Coordinator to implement project’s activities including, but not limited to project implementation based on relevant project document and related proposals, including short, medium, and long-term consultants, with a view to achieving project results;
• Support the development of comprehensive/detailed Project work-plan including structured dynamics of all Project activities, role and responsibilities of the stakeholders and milestones;
• Monitor progress and implementation of comprehensive/detailed project work plans and key event schedules comprising planned activities, responsibilities, and deadlines relating to all active participants in the project;
• Monitor project risks initially identified, submit new risks to the KISR National Coordinator (to report for project board) for consideration and decision for possible action; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risk Log;
• Prepare progress reports with KISR National Coordinator (progress of planned activities, update on risks issues, expenditures) and submit the report to the Project Board;
• Support preparation of the annual review report and submit the report to the Project Board;
• Provide effective guidance to stakeholders on ways to ensure the project mainstreams gender considerations in its implementation;
• Assist KISR/ National Coordinator in drafting minutes of project board and other project related meetings;
• Assume overall responsibility for administrative matters of a more general nature, such as registry and maintenance of project files and records;
• Arrange external and internal meetings (including the meetings of the project board, technical level, as well as other relevant meetings, etc.).

Provides effective administrative, financial and procurement management, and support to the project, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Administrative/Procurement Support:

• Prepare and revise the recruitment and procurement plan;
• Mobilize and manage personnel, goods and services, training and initiate activities, including drafting related terms of reference, work specifications, and facilitate all contractors’ work;
• Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project consultants;
• Provide support to international consultants in the implementation of their tasks for the achievement of project results (communication, contracts, agenda, visas, hotel reservations, etc.);
• Maintain records on all project personnel/national consultants and their respective status (contracts, TORs, time and attendance – if appropriate, etc.) in accordance with accepted policies and procedures;
• Make pertinent logistical arrangements for the prompt and effective implementation of the programme activities;
• Arrange for procurement of equipment, supplies, and services in accordance with the Project Work Plan;
• Create and manage e-requisitions in ATLAS;
• Ensure that contractual processes follow the stipulated UNDP/KISR procedures.
• Coordinate budget-related protocols.

Financial Support

• Ensure the existence of successful quality assurance for the project’s financial, procurement and administrative processes in order to make sure that they are conducted in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations as well as in line with the project timelines;
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
• Perform tasks in ATLAS in line with given function;
• Prepare requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments;
• Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project budgets and their revisions;
• Prepare proposals for budget revisions;
• Prepare and submit expenditure and programme budget status reports;
• Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparations and audit;
• Advise and assist international advisors and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters and calculate payments due for claims and services;
• Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis.

Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing for the project, focusing on

achievement of the following results:

• Contribute substantially to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Share relevant and substantive and operational experiences with other colleagues and counterparts; (Develop knowledge products based on the project outcomes to be shared with the Project partners).
• Support and coordinate activities for KISR’s capacity building to annually produce the Kuwait National Energy Outlook. 

Functional Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Prepare information for advocacy
• Identify and communicate relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Contributes into results through primary research and analysis
• Advise on project performance to identify success factors and incorporate best practices into project work
• Research linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitor specific stages of projects/programme implementation

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Maintaining a network of contacts
• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge SharingBasic research and analysis

• Catalyze new ideas and approaches, research best practices and propose new, more effective ways of performing tasks.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Possess fundamental knowledge of own discipline;
• Understand and apply fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and apply them consistently in work tasks;
• Strive to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrate competence in information technology and ability to apply this knowledge to work assignments.

Delivery

• Demonstrate quality of delivery in leadership, innovation, people management, and communication;
• Insure quality of management is satisfactory plus delivery;
• Determine quality of idea by relevance to client.

Client Orientation

• Research potential solutions to internal and external client needs and report back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion,
• Organize and prioritize work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development and initiative-taking
• Act as a team player and facilitate team work
• Facilitate and encourage open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Create synergy through self-control
• Manage conflict
• Learn and share knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Engage in informed and transparent decision-making

Education

• Bachelor degree with a specialization in Energy, Sustainable Energy, natural resources management environmental or another related field;
• A Master Degree is a plus.

Experience

• 4 years minimum relevant professional experience in managing or coordination of similar projects;
• Experience with international organisations is considered to be an asset.
• Experience in building partnerships in project implementation and building teams among stakeholders including government officials, scientific institutions, NGOs and private sector;
• Experience in performing capacity building and training needs assessments, evaluations, monitoring, tracking progress in project implementation and knowledge management;
• Excellent computer literacy (MS Office; Windows XP, Internet); excellent communications, report writing and analytical skills.  

Language Requirements

• Language proficiency in both written and oral English and Arabic is required.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

The priority will be given to Kuwaiti national personnel or others legally authorized to work in the country.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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