National Project Technical Coordinator

The UNDP-GEF project “Reducing pressures on natural resources from competing land use in non-irrigated arid mountain, semi-desert and desert landscapes of Uzbekistan” is designed to support the improved, more sustainable and more resilient land use management of non-irrigated arid desert, steppe and mountain landscapes of Uzbekistan, which constitute the vast majority of its territory, and reduce competitive pressures between different land uses, particularly pasture use and forestry. It facilitates the up-scaling of existing best practices for land management within two ecologically and socio-economically representative districts (Zaamin and Karakul) and provides a model for undertaking district level integrated land use planning. Based on the ground experience, the project supports updating and refinement of relevant national policy, legislation, institutions, and mechanisms aimed at improved national coordination and planning to achieve the integrated land use management. Project further supports land use capacity development at all levels: from national decision-makers to farmers in target districts, and provides a basis for developing national professionals who are capable to implement effective and flexible national land use policy and legislation. Lessons learned from the project target districts related to sustainable land use practices will be used as an effective vehicle for wider replication of project outputs in the targeted landscapes.

To contribute to efficient project implementation, a National Technical Coordinator will be hired. Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National Technical Coordinator (NTC) will work closely with the project team and inter/national consultants. He/she will be fully responsible for coordination of all relevant thematic activities through providing sound technical expertise and oversight

The specific tasks and responsibilities include:

Work planning and Reporting

Provide support to Project Manager in the preparation of all required planning and reporting in terms of their technical content, including AWP, PIR, Quarterly reports, Terminal Project report, etc.

Recruitment and supervision of technical consultants

• TOR drafting: undertake primary responsibility for defining the technical responsibilities and deliverables expected from the national and international consultants and service providers recruited by the project, and elaborate them in the comprehensive Terms of Reference;
• Selection process: play a key role in selection of individuals or service providers to fulfil TOR’s;
• Supervision: undertake responsibility for ensuring that technical consultants prepare adequate workplans, monitor progress, and provide technical guidance as required;
• Management: Ensure effective management of work towards achieving the expected project results by the recruited consultants through periodic technical staff management meetings.

Technical Reports Oversight and finalization:

Undertake responsivities for reviewing, follow-up and finalization of all technical reports, best practices, lessons learned, publications, etc. prepared by the project.

Technical Coordination Group and Liaison with Project Technical Partners

• Chair the Project Technical Coordination Group and ensure that it effectively achieves its objectives (i.e. relevant technical coordination and information exchange between various project partners to ensure complementarity and collaboration).

Liaison and Support to Chief Technical Adviser (CTA)

• Liaise and consult with the part-time CTA to ensure that the technical direction of the project implementation remains on course;
• Provide direct support and work closely with the CTA while he/she is in-country to ensure clear understanding of the technical tasks to be implemented, and in particular during the project closure phase (Final Project Workshop) to facilitate effectiveness and efficiency project outputs.

Monitoring and evaluation

•  Undertake direct responsibility for effective and efficient implementation of the project M&E plan; establishing the appropriate database to enter, process and generate materials required to measure project progress towards the corresponding indicators;
• Play a central role in supporting conducting the project terminal independent evaluation.

I. Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrates sound judgment, self-development and initiative-taking;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge;
• Informed and transparent decision-making.

II. Functional Competencies:

1. Communications and Networking

• Has excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
• Has excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

2. Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the team;
• Focus on results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

3. Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints.

4. Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
• 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.

Education

• Bachelor degree in an appropriate subject/s (i.e. agriculture, agricultural economics, natural resource management, environmental management etc.). Master degree and PhD will be an asset.

Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in project implementation, including management of experts’ team in the international organizations and/or projects related to natural resource management.
• Work experience in projects related to natural resource management, especially to sustainable land use management is desirable.

Language Requirements

• A good working knowledge of Uzbek, Russian and English is a requirement.

Important applicant information

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

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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