Project Manager, SAPPHIRE Joint Management Area Demonstration project

Background
In March 2011, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) adopted the recommendations which conferred upon the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles, the joint jurisdiction over an area of the seabed and its underlying sub-soil in the Mascarene Plateau region. Mauritius and Seychelles were among the first nations to have made a Joint Submission in 2008 to the UNCLCS and to successfully obtain joint jurisdiction on an area of extended continental shelf in the Indian Ocean.

This area, known as the Joint Management Area (JMA), excludes the water column and the living organisms above the shelf and extends beyond the two hundreds nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the respective two coastal States. Located in the North-East of the Islands of St Brandon and South East of the Island Coëtivy, the JMA covers an extent of approximately 400, 000 square kilometers and includes the whole of the ‘Saya de Malha’ Bank and the ‘Correira’ Bank Rise on the Mascarene Plateau.

The Joint Managed Area
In an effort to demonstrate further the willingness to collaborate, the two Coastal States signed two treaties to jointly manage the area. The Treaty sets out the underlying framework for the management of the Joint Zone and establishes an institutional framework to support cooperative management. It does this by establishing the following three-tiered regulatory structure

• the Ministerial Council, which is established as a body composed of Ministers appointed by Seychelles and Mauritius, who are to consider any matters referred to them that relate to the operation of the Treaty;
• the Joint Commission (JC), with responsibilities for establishing policies and regulations concerning activities in the JMA, and composed of Commissioners appointed by each of the Parties. It exercises powers that are specified in an Annex to the Treaty, and during its first three years following the entry into force of the Treaty will have responsibility for designating the Designated Authority; and,
• the Designated Authority, as the body with day-to-day responsibility for regulation and management of activities in the JMA, and for the exercise of certain powers again specified in an Annex to the Treaty. This includes powers to

1. manage and regulate the day-to-day natural resource activities;   
2. apply regulations and give directions on all matters relating to the supervision and control of natural resources activities; and
3. act as a repository of all data and information pertaining to the JMA.

The Project
On behalf of the nine coastal and island states in the Western Indian Ocean region, UNDP approached the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and successfully secured its financial support to assist the nine countries in implementing a set of selected interventions that are in line with a set of transboundary priorities agreed by all nine countries through the ministerial endorsement of the Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems, or WIO LME SAP in short.  GEF financial support will be provided through a UNDP-GEF project titled, Strategic Action Programme Policy Harmonization and Institutional Reform (SAPPHIRE), to be implemented from 2017 to 2023.  

Given its importance and significance as an innovative case for ocean governance, the nine countries have agreed to allocate part of this GEF finance to exclusively support the development and management of the Joint Zone between Mauritius and Seychelles.  This semi-autonomous component of the SAPPHIRE Project, referred as the JMA project, will be implemented with the main aim to achieve the main strategic objectives as laid out in the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan of the Joint Commission.  The main components of the project will be focusing on the following

• Building Technical and Management Capacity in support of Marine Spatial Planning and effective management of the Joint Management Area

The Project will support the JC to develop a training and capacity development programme and to design and implement training courses and workshops. It will also provide support to appropriate technical and management level personnel in attendance at relevant regional and global meetings related to the Joint Management process and Marine Spatial Planning development. The Project will also work with existing industry partners to support mapping and monitoring programmes in the Joint Management Area. The Project will also assist and support the JC in the development of contingency plans for offshore extractive industry.

• Development of a data and information system along with a programme of data capture and gap-filling as a foundation for an adaptive management strategy

Finalise a gaps analysis of missing data and of unsurveyed areas. Assist in the repatriation of missing data currently outside of the countries. Undertake further baseline surveys of the Mascarene Plateau in order to fill in gaps. Assist in the development of a joint Data and Information System to support the Designated Authority. Identify and facilitate access to appropriate technologies linked to capacity building and training. Select appropriate indicators for targeting in a long-term monitoring programme. Develop a reliable mechanism to ensure that data analysis results and conclusions feed into management guidelines and policy advisories providing adaptive management options for decision-makers. Identify and advice JC on partnerships with other bodies and institutions focusing on specialised areas in support of long-term monitoring, especially through the provision of equipment and expert support to data analysis, predictive modelling, etc.

• Adoption and implementation of a Marine Spatial Planning approach with the objective of improving and implementing effective decision-making for activities within the Joint Management Area

The overall aim would be to develop a sustainable ‘Blue/Ocean Economy’ based approach. This approach would primarily allow the greatest advantage to the two partner-countries in terms of access to natural resources and the economic benefits thereof whilst avoiding conflicts of use that might challenge the sustainability of living marine resources and the livelihoods of all users and maintaining biodiversity and life-supporting ecological systems. The goals of a MSP would be clearly defined by the JC. The Project would carry out a Governance baseline Assessment looking at existing governance processes in terms of how they would work in a Joint Management scenario, accounting for existing legislation/policy that must be recognised, and coming up with alternative management scenarios. The project would also undertake an economic evaluation of all goods and services with the Area (living and non-living; renewable and non-renewable) and, through this resource valuation exercise, define for the JC the cost-benefits of the overall MSP process and the alternative management scenarios. Spatial mapping will be undertaken and will include a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process to identify actual and potential resource distribution and stakeholder priorities. Existing and potential threats and impacts to the sustainability of resources and their economic value will be identified and mapped. Management options would be presented along with associated institutional scenarios. The Project will assist the JC in identifying funding mechanisms for management and will develop a monitoring and review process for assessing management progress and goal attainment.

Although it is approved under the larger SAPPHIRE project, the JMA project will be implemented on a semi-autonomous manner with its own stand-alone Project Steering Committee established and with its own Executing Agency, separate from the arrangements made for the overall SAPPHIRE project.  The Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration of the Ministry of Defence and Rodrigues (CSMZAE) of Mauritius is requested by the Joint Commission to be the executing agency of the JMA project on behalf of JC.  The JMA project is, nonetheless, required to coordinate closely with SAPPHIRE and the reporting to GEF will be done through SAPPHIRE.  

The PSC will constitute of representatives from The Technical Committee of the Joint Commission and UNDP.

Administratively, the project manager will report to and be supervised by the Resident Representative of UNDP Country Office for Mauritius and Seychelles.  The project manager will receive guidance on a day to day management of the project from the Director of the Continental Shelf Unit, to whom such responsibilities have been delegated by the Joint Management Commission.  The Director of the Continental Shelf Unit will also assume the role of the Project Director for this project.  

The performance review of the Project Manager will be jointly done by UNDP and the Project Director.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure the implementation of project strategies and objective

• Coordinate and monitor the activities described in the Work Plan;
• Liaise closely with, oversee, and advise the Project Steering Committee on the of the implementation of the Joint Management Area project;
• Supervise and coordinate the production of project outputs, as per the project document;
• Supervise and coordinate the work of project staff, consultants, and sub-contractors, under the guidance of the Project Director;
• Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project personnel;
• Ensure the timely and effective implementation of all components of the project.

Ensure the effective management of the Project for proper implementation as per the project document

• Prepare and revise project work and financial plans, as required by UNDP, and support the operational and financial planning processes;
• In close liaison with Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration & Exploration (CSMZAE) of Mauritius, the Joint Commission, and UNDP, prepare and revise project work and financial plans;
• Oversee and ensure timely submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review / Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, Global Environment Facility (GEF), and other oversight agencies, in collaboration and coordination with the Project Coordinator for the UNDP-GEF SAPPHIRE project;
• Coordinate and oversee preparation of the substantive and operational reports from the program;
• Ensure project compliance with all UN and GEF policies, regulations and procedures, as well as reporting requirements;
• Ensure the timely and effective implementation of all components of the project;
• Prepare progress reports and monitor all project activities, budgets, and financial expenditures;
• Prepare payment requests for operational expenses, salaries, insurances, etc. as well as follow up on timely disbursements by the UNDP CO;
• Maintain a proper inventory of all project equipment.

Ensure coordination with Project Steering Committee and other stakeholders

• Organize and supervise all reporting activities to the JC, UNDP, and GEF, ensuring adherence to the Agencies' administrative, financial, and technical reporting requirements;
• Prepare agendas, make necessary arrangement for the Project Steering and other internal and external meetings related to the project, and write the minutes of those meetings accordingly;
• Disseminate project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders;
• Report progress of project to the steering committees and ensure the fulfilment of steering committees directives;
• Ensure consistency between the project elements and related activities provided or funded by other donor organizations;
• Represent the project at meetings and other project related fora within the region and globally, as required;
• Coordinate and assist scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all field studies and monitoring components of the project;
• Maintain project correspondence and communication;
• Assist in logistical organisation of meetings, training, and workshops;
• Provide deliverables and terms of reference and other documents to the Steering Committee for comment/approval as required.

Ensure provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management

• Promote knowledge management, document best practices and lessons learned from project implementation, and facilitate dissemination in appropriate format to relevant stakeholders;
• Supervise the collection and analysis of lessons learned and best practices, and design replication strategies;
• Oversee the exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned with relevant community based integrated conservation and development projects nationally and internationally;
• Facilitate administrative backstopping to subcontractors and training activities supported by the Project;
• Support liaison with key partner institutions engaged in complementary national programs and initiatives;
• Promote the project and seek opportunities to leverage additional co-funding.

Ensure through the supervision of the Project Personnel and service providers that the various components of the projects are properly being undertaken

• Prepare consultants' and sub-contractors' terms of reference, identification and selection of national and international sub-contractors/consultants, cost estimation, time scheduling, contracting, and reporting on project activities and budget, and supervise and coordinate the work of all consultants and sub-contractors;
• Facilitate administrative backstopping (support) to project staff, consultants, and sub-contractors and to training activities supported under the project;
• Advise all project counterparts on applicable administrative procedures and ensure their proper implementation;
• Provide support and technical assistance to all project staff, consultants, and sub-contractors as and when required through substantive analysis and inputs;
• Assist community groups, municipalities, NGOs, staff, students, and others with development of essential skills through training workshops and on the job training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities.

Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work    

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow    

Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction    

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform    

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement    

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional   
Strategic Planning
Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission    

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management
Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge    

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Operational Efficiency
Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency    

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Marine Environmental Management
Knowledge of concepts, principles and policies relevant to Environmental Management, pollution prevention and control, and natural resources management in the oceans and coastal areas and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations    

Level 4: apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals     

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Sustainable Development
Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions    

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Education

M.Sc. in Marine Science, Information Technology, Environmental Science, or other highly relevant fields to the assignment.

Experience

• A Master’s Degree with at least two years of working experience in the fields related to the assignment, at national and international levels, is required;
• If candidates possess a post-graduate certificate (but below Master’s Degree), then the minimum of four years of working experience in the fields related to the assignment, at national and international levels, are required.   If candidates possess only a Bachelor’s Degree, then the minimum of five years of working experience in the fields related to the assignment, at national and international levels, are required.  Candidates have at least Bachelor’s Degrees to be qualified for the post;
• Demonstrated experience in management and coordination of multi-disciplinary projects, preferably of bi-national or regional scope, including team-building skills;
• Demonstrated experience in the preparation of planning documents for large marine and coastal ecosystems (management plans, strategies or legal instruments);
• Direct experience or familiarity with the development, institutional set-up, vision and mandates of the Joint Management Commission and its relation to the relevant ministries in the Government of Mauritius as well as in Seychelles are highly desired; 
• Close familiarity and working knowledge of the goals and procedures of relevant international organizations, in particular those of the Global Environment Facility and UNDP, as well as those of other partner institutions related to the Strategic Action Plan Policy Harmonisation and Institutional Reform (SAPPHIRE) project (e.g. Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) Indian Ocean Tuna Commission ( IOTC), etc.) and the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS);
• Experience in administration of budgets and in human resources management required;
• Experience in managing donor-funded projects is advantageous;
• Previous work experience in Mauritius or Seychelles on the related subjects is required;
• Previous work experience in the Western Indian Ocean region on issues related to similar projects is advantageous.

Language Requirements

• Fluent in both oral and written English required;
• Knowledge of local languages used in Mauritius or Seychelles will be considered as highly advantageous.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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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