Programme Specialist (IGGSD)

The UNDP Country Office in Thailand works closely with the Royal Thai Government and other stakeholders on support to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.   Its current main areas of focus are related to governance and anti-corruption, and to climate change, biodiversity and livelihoods. UNDP Thailand also promotes the meaningful participation of civil society and engagement with the private sector. UNDP Thailand is one of the 18 UN agencies that comprise the UN Country Team in Thailand.

Under the guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, the Team Leader is part of the UNDP Thailand management team, and is expected to play a key role in designing, monitoring, and supporting implementation of UNDP’s programmes and projects, with a focus on the environment and climate change portfolio.  The Team Leader is also expected to design resource mobilization strategies, strengthen strategic partnerships with key actors, including donors, support, research, document and synthesize lessons learnt and facilitate and undertake knowledge sharing as well as monitoring and evaluation of programme interventions.

The Team Leader provides sound leadership and ensures that country programme interventions respond creatively to emerging challenges and opportunities in the country and are consistent with the overall UN Partnership Assistance Framework with the Royal Thai Government and the UNDP Country Programme (2017-2021).

The Team Leader collaborates closely with the members of the other CO Programme Team, the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), as well as programme staff from other UN agencies, national partners, key Government counterparts and technical advisors and experts.

Summary of key functions will be as follows:

• Contributes to the strategic direction of the UNDP country programme;
• Ensures effective management of the projects and programmes, with focus on environment, climate change and sustainable livelihoods;
• Initiates and maintains strategic partnerships;
• Provides evidence-based policy advisory services and capacity building support to Government and national counterparts;
• Promotes UN inter-agency collaboration.

1. Ensures the strategic direction of the UNDP programme with a focus on climate change mitigation, adaptation, environmental security and sustainable livelihoods concentrating on achievement of the following results:

• Identify strategic and innovative areas of cooperation with Government agencies, national and international development partners, the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and HQs, the UN Country Team, and new programming entry points in line with national development policies and priorities;
• Develop new initiatives, programmes and projects, in collaboration with key partners in areas of responsibility;
• Oversee implementation and realignment of on-going programmes and support country office to meet all corporate reporting requirements, including on gender.

2.  Ensures effective management of the projects and programmes in the area of the environment, management of natural resources, and climate change. Supervises the programme team focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation by:

• Effective application of Results-Based Management tools to ensure quality of financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of projects;
• Identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Ensure gender concerns are incorporated in projects and programmes;
• Preparation of project reports and communication and advocacy materials.

3. Initiates and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization by the following activities:

• Identify and implement new and innovative Country Office partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, particularly through private sector engagement and government funding, to achieve programme outcomes;
• Develop key partnerships with new (e.g. private sector, universities) and traditional donors (e.g. regional funds, bi- and multi-lateral donors) based on strategic goals of UNDP and the country needs in implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

4. Provides evidence-based policy advisory services and capacity building support to Government and national counterparts and support knowledge management by the following activities:

• Successfully link sub-regional and regional platforms through South-South cooperation to leverage their impact on the national agenda;
• Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country’s issues and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners.

5. Promotes UN inter-agency collaboration

• Contribute actively to the relevant UN Country Team Results Groups and Thematic Working Groups, ensuring sharing of information, coordination of activities;
• Actively collaborate and coordinate with other UN agencies to ensure coherence in the overall work of the UN Country Team.  

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work

• Ability to persuade others to follow

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional:

Technical Knowledge

• Ability to demonstrate excellent understanding of and familiarity with substantive issues

• Ability to manage programmes with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

• Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders

Education:

• Master's degree in a development related area such as environment and natural resources management, development studies, economics, social sciences, and/or other related fields. 

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of working experience and progressive responsibility on development challenges, with experience of climate change issues, including adaptation, mitigation, biodiversity conversation, institutional capacity development;
• Demonstrated substantive experience with in project development and/ or programme management;
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results;
• Familiarity with gender issues is an asset;
• Familiarity with the procedures of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an asset; 
• Experience in working with the UN or other international development organisations is an asset;
• Excellent writing skills, presentation and facilitation skills.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Thai.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NO/GS/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.

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