Background

UNDP is the lead United Nations agency on international development. UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s work is centred around six core development areas, known as our signature solutions: poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality.

UNDP in Suriname Country Office has been operating since 1994 working with the Surinamese people, government and organizations to help with and sustain growth that improves Surinamese's lives while protecting the environment. As highlighted in the Country Programme Document 2022-2026, UNDP in Suriname specifically focses on three programmatic areas of work: deomcractic governance, social development, and environment, climate change and natural resource management. Gender equality and partnerships are embraced as key cross-cutting issues, and critical target groups include women, youth, persons with disabilities and indigenous and tribal peoples.

The Sustainable and Inclusive Development of West Suriname or the Child Project falls under the environment, climate change and natural resource management focus area. This project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is part of GEF– 8 Amazom Sustainable Landscapes Program Phase 3 or ASL-3.

Project context

Suriname is a high forest low deforestation (HFLD) country with 93 percent of the country covered by forest. Suriname has dedicated 13.5% of its total land area to a national protection system to preserve forests and wetlands and is committed to maintaining its HFLD status by expanding protected areas and increasing efforts towards sustainable forest and ecosystem management.

The objective of the Child Project, which is part of the GEF-8 Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program Phase 3 (ASL3), is to strengthen integrated landscape conservation and sustainable management in the West Suriname intact forest landscape. This will be achieved through four interrelated components that will allow West Suriname Amazon intact forests to be effectively conserved and managed, implementing a sustainable inclusive nature-based economy, enhancing governance and landscape planning for conservation and sustainable development, and knowledge management and regional collaboration to promote forest conservation. This strategy will reduce deforestation and the degradation of intact forest landscapes in West Suriname delivering global environmental benefits including 216,386 hectares (ha) of terrestrial PAs created or under improved management, 100,000 ha of landscapes under improved practices, and 16,564,051 tCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions mitigated over 20 years. In addition, it will directly benefit

To achieve the project objectives, the project will work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment (OGM), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the National Environment Authority (NAM), universties, CSOs etc., At the local level, the most relevant stakeholders are the Districts, Protected Areas (PA) managers, Indigenous Peoples and Maroon Tribes (ITPs) and other local communities (i.e., communities in Kaboeri creek area, Bakhuis Area, Kabalebo Area, Washabo, Kwinti, Tibiti, and Witagron), women's and youth organizations in local communities, NGOs, and logging and mining private companies.

The project will last 5 years with a total investment of USD 11,742,966, USD 4,742,966 of which will be provided by the Global Environment Facility. The project is implemented under the national implementation modality of UNDP. It will be coordinated through a project management team located at the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment. UNDP wil provide support services to the government to ensure project achieves its intended results. UNDP, as part of the support services, is seeking to hire a Project Assistant to provide technical, administrative and monitoring support for the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical and Administrative Monitoring Project Associate (TAMS) supports the implementation and monitoring of project activities, including field reporting, monitoring and reporting on grant projects. S/he will work closely with the Project Manager to provide technical and administrative support to the government, especially the Permanent Secretary of Forest Management, and engage with other stakeholders such as inter-governmental organizations, NGOs, and the private sector to coordinate project implementation in line with the objective and outcomes of the ASL3 project funded by the GEF and UNDP supported.

1. Provide Administrative support services

• Participates in field missions, including support to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.

• Keep records of project funds and expenditures, including all project-related financial documentation are well maintained and readily available for the Project Manager.

• Maintain project expenditures and ensure that project funds are used in compliance with the Project Document and Government of Suriname financial rules and procedures.

• Prepare FACE forms for submission to UNDP.

• Provide necessary financial information as and when required for project management decisions.

• Provide necessary financial information during project audit(s).

• Support in preparation of annual budgets and prepare project expenditure reports and notify the Project Manager if there are any discrepancies or issues.

• Consolidate financial progress reports submitted by the responsible parties for implementation of project activities;

• Gather necessary technical and financial information for the preparation of progress reports, project implementation reports (PIR), final reports and external evaluations.

• Assist Project Manager for the development of grants and monitor their technical performance.

2. Provide Technical support services

• Provide on-demand logistical and technical assistance to OGM,GBB/SBB training events (including institutional coordination), and monitor impact of training on target audience

• Provide on-demand logistical and technical assistance to events (including institutional coordination) and assist in monitoring impact of training on target audiences, including application of UNDP Capacity Scorecard to OGM, NMA, GBB and SBB.

• Provide logistical and technical support to the various specialists and consultants supporting the project to undertake their work and achieve results.

• Support operational management of training and communication events, including travel and workshop venues

3. Facilitate Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation

• Assist the PM in matters related to M&E and knowledge resources management.

• Assist with the development and monitor implementation of detailed work plan for monitoring, evaluation, sustainability and scaling for the project.

• Support Project Manager and Technical Experts to monitoring of project indicators, stakeholder involvement, gender and Enviroment and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

• Assist on ensuring the timely measurement of project indicators and make results available for progress reports, PIR and external evaluations.

• Assist on ensuring all project documentation (progress reports, consulting and other technical reports, minutes of meetings, etc.) are properly included in KM system.

• Assist on ensuring project information on Amazon conservation and sustainable development, generated by the project, is systematized and publicly available.

• Provide PMU-related logistical assistance.

• Assist administrative management of contracts and consultancy contracts

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Associate Technical and Administrative Monitoring (TAMS) reports to the Project Manager. On a day-to-day basis, S/he will work in close coordination with colleagues of the PMU, the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Enviornment (OGM) and the UNDP Suriname Office, local and international consultants, other responsible partners, Key Ministries of the project.

Competencies

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management - Results-based Management:

• Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge

and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools

Business Management - Project Management:

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management - Monitoring and evaluation:

• Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.

• Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.

• Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools.

• Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks.

• Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Ethics - UN policy knowledge-ethics:

• Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity

Business management - Communication:

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Partnership management - Relationship management:

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements

• Secondary Education with specialized training in operations and logistics management or procurement is required.

• University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in International Development, Sustainable Development; Natural Resource/Environmental Management, Management, Economics, or a Climate Change related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement

Min. years of relevant work experience

• A minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, including finance, accounting or similar field.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with government agencies, local communities (including Indigenous Peoples and Maroon Tribes), NGOs, and private sector partners to ensure effective project implementation and inclusive participation.

• Experience in designing and applying monitoring frameworks, collecting and analyzing project data, and supporting the measurement of project indicators related to environmental conservation, gender, and social inclusion

• Proven track record of experience in managing project budgets, maintaining financial documentation, preparing expenditure reports, and ensuring compliance with donor and government procedures.

• Experience systematizing project information, preparing clear progress and technical reports, and facilitating knowledge sharing within the project team and with external stakeholders, using both written and digital communication tools.

• Very strong understanding of national and local development planning processes in Suriname

• Knwoledge and awareness of gender equality

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PP, Adobe Creative Cloud; etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems. Experience in using facebook and Twitter;

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in Dutch and English is required.

• Knowledge (speaking) of Sranang Tongo is desired.

Professional Certificates

• N/A

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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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