Palm Oil National Project Coord -Readvertised

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one of the most significant areas of largely-intact tropical forest in the world, although these forests appear to be facing acute and imminent threats. Forests are also a vital resource for the local population particularly in the remote rural areas of PNG, providing food, fibre, building materials, and support a variety of wildlife and ecosystem services.
A mechanism for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) being developed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides an opportunity to support PNG’s efforts to reduce levels of deforestation and help to maintain and protect its natural forest. PNG has been a leading proponent of REDD+ at the international level, and has made significant progress towards developing the capacity to engage in an international mechanism on REDD+. This progress has initially been supported by the UN-REDD Programme and is now being aided by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) through a project that will run until the end of 2020.
Increases in land clearance for agriculture are likely to increase in a country with population growth of over 2%, increasing global demand for agricultural commodities and only 4% of land area currently dedicated to agriculture when an estimated 30% is considered suitable for agriculture. Agriculture is a mainstay of the PNG economy and thus represents an important area for economic growth and stability. The sector accounted for 19% of total exports and 25% of GDP in 2010, as well as forming a major part of rural economy on which 80% of the population directly depend.  As such there is a need to ensure that continued agricultural development not only supports economic growth and poverty alleviation, but is also socially and environmentally sustainable. A report on sustainable commodity production in PNG, commissioned by FCPF in 2016, found that sustainable agricultural commodities production can provide strong benefits for PNG's people, economy and the environment by increasing employment, protecting the environment and associated livelihoods and health benefits, helping to secure and diversify the exports market, and securing foreign exchange.
Palm oil is the primary source of agricultural export revenue in the country and is likely to have the most impact on forest cover change in the short to medium term due to its currently unregulated expansion. It is therefore proposed that PNG’s National REDD+ strategy which was endorsed by the Government of PNG in May 2017, will focus its efforts on abating the impacts of this sector. The FCPF sustainable commodities assessment report set out two recommendations: 1) development of a national policy for sustainable palm oil, and 2) establishing a multi-stakeholder PNG Palm Oil Platform (PNGPoP).
UNDP as delivery partner for FCPF REDD+ Project is currently working with the Government of PNG to establish a PNGPoP to strengthen smallholders capacity through increased productivity and better environmental management, supporting government strategies to develop agricultural sector, protect forests, enhance biodiversity conservation, and mitigate and monitor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, facilitate social responsibility through empowering local communities and enhancing mediation systems, as well as  identifying standards for wider acceptance and improved market access in the country and abroad. 
Thus, to run a PNGPoP UNDP is seeking to recruit a qualified national coordinator to manage the platform on a day-to-day basis. A National Platform coordinator is responsible for recommending decisions on Platform implementation for consideration by the FCFP National Project Manager, Advisory Boards and approval of the Project Executive Board. A National Palm Oil Coordinator will be supervised by the FCPF REDD+ National Project Manager with overall supervision and technical guidance of Chief Technical Advisor with the support of UNDP Regional Hub in Bangkok and Green Commodities Programme.
 

• Coordinate and manage the day-to-day PNGPoP implementation and ensure achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan;
• Mobilise goods and services and other project inputs, including preparing ToRs for related expert consultants, meetings and workshops;
• Oversee the work of PNGPoP consultants to deliver quality outputs within time and financial expectations.
• Manage critical issues, troubleshoots problems and develops solutions to the overall processes of PNGPoP implementation;
• Consult with the FCPF REDD+ National Project Manager, Chief Technical Advisor and Regional Advisors for any issues that require their attention, including issues related to deviation from the approved work plans and its tolerance;
• Ensure effective monitoring of PNGPoP performance, and the preparation of high quality and results-oriented progress reports to be submitted to UNDP and Donor Partners via the FCPF REDD+ National Project Manager and /or Chief Technical Advisor;
• Implement PNGPoP work plan and ensures that it remain within the tolerance level of the approved work plan;
• Deliver conferences and workshops, in collaboration with independent facilitator(s) and with multiple stakeholders, across the country, that enables democratic dialogue and true participation, taking into account minority voices;
• Conduct regular monitoring to ensure achievement of targets in line with the annual work plan and in line with UNDP global guidance on delivering national commodity platforms;
• Provide inputs and data for external project reports as necessary and required by the project assurance team;

• Establish and maintain good working relationships with the relevant public, private and development partners who are the principal stakeholders of the platform;
• Initiate and maintain partnerships with development partners, government institutions, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to contribute to the achievement of platform’s objectives;
• In collaboration with FCPF REDD+ Communication Officer and UNDP Communications Advisor, build PNGPoP reputation by maintaining high-quality news for platform publication purposes;
• Identify opportunities for mobilizing resources for the platform activities, and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation; and to facilitate resource mobilization for the platform; 

• Identify best practices and lessons learnt from the platform activities and from other initiatives that can be helpful in achieving its goals and objectives;
• Participate in internal capacity building training to facilitate appropriate management and timely delivery of outputs; and encourage platform staff to do the same
• Lead in generating knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing; and contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Strong managerial skill with track records of management roles in a team of multi-diversity background;
• 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.
• Informed and transparent decision making

•  Communicate relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating platform’s objectives and mandate;

• Assess PNGPoP performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into Platform work;
• Research linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• Monitor specific stages of PNGPoP implementation;
• Analyse palm oil sector situation to identify solutions for Platform to involve;
• Excellent written communication skills in English;

• Maintain an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Analyse and select materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;

• Generate new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Document and analyse innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

• Generate new ideas and approaches, research best practices and propose new, more effective ways of doing things
• Document and analyse innovative strategies and new approaches

• Understand and apply fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possess basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Strive to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrate good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignment

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

•  Bachelor Degree in Agriculture Economics/Development Practices /Environmental Management/ Landscape Architecture, or other relevant fields.

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation, budget and financial resource Proven experience in project evaluation and reporting; management of the project, procurement and human resources management;
• Experience working on agriculture and/or forests in PNG or Pacific, preferably in the palm oil sector;
• Solid experience in providing technical support and strategic coordination with government, development partners and NGO to address relevant issue and to ensure the smooth coordination of the project;
• Experience in managing project in compliance with the requirement of the donor and other development agencies. Within this context, experience of working within UN agencies, government entities, various development partner agencies in managing donor funds is an asset.

• Fluency in written and spoken Tok Pisin and English

Important applicant information

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

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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.

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