Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

 Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in more than 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

UNDP Samoa Multi-Country Office (MCO) is supporting the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau to promote inclusive, blue-green and pro-poor growth, effective governance, and sustainable and resilient development that leverages innovation and digital transformation and seeks to catalyze financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We help our partners identify relevant solutions to their most significant development challenges and offer policy and implementation services to address these challenges.

Guided by the UNDP Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) 2023-27, the MCO’s policy, advisory, programmatic, and implementation services focuses on the following areas:

  • Peace: inclusive governance, justice and peace 
  • Prosperity: inclusive, blue-green and sustainable growth 
  • Planet: sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity conservation, strengthened climate and disaster resilience and management.

UNDP’s programme is anchored in the principle of leaving no one behind, with specific focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment including the fight to end violence against women and girls, and empowerment and engagement of youth and Persons with Disabilities. The MCO serves the four PICTs from its office located in Apia, Samoa where it hosts approximately 40 personnel.

Under the Planet pillar, UNDP supports the four PICTs to build climate resilience and protect vital ecosystems. By helping governments implement their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, the focus is on nature-based solutions, clean energy (including electric mobility), and disaster risk management that places communities, especially women and vulnerable groups, at the center. From low-carbon energy access to integrated early warning systems, UNDP is working on climate-proof infrastructure and foster environmental stewardship for the protection of biodiversity on land and in the ocean. Working with regional and global partners, UNDP is strengthening national capacities to manage climate risks, secure renewable energy solutions, and promote circular economies. These efforts are rooted in gender equality, inclusivity, and the idea that thriving ecosystems are the foundation of Pacific resilience and prosperity.

The Planet pillar is implemented through a portfolio of multiple projects from different donors (main donor: Global Environment Facility) and through different implementation modalities (national implementation and direct implementation).

Duties and Responsibilities

The CTA reports to the Deputy Resident Representative. S/he works in close collaboration with and under the guidance of the Assistant Resident Representative and the Programme Analyst in the Environment and Climate Change Unit. S/he liaise with other technical specialists in the MCO, the Regional Hub and HQ. S/he works closely with the project implementing partners, in particular the PMUs. At this stage, no direct reports are envisioned, although this may be reconsidered depending on the growth of the portfolio.

The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) serves as the senior technical and programme support resource for UNDP’s biodiversity conservation and climate resilience portfolio, particularly GEF-funded projects implemented under the National Implementation Modality. Based in the UNDP MCO, the CTA provides hands-on technical leadership and strategic advisory support to Project Management Units and government implementing partners to accelerate implementation, ensure technical quality, and address capacity and delivery bottlenecks. The role combines deep subject-matter expertise with practical programme management support, quality assurance, and risk-based adaptive management, while ensuring alignment with national priorities, GEF strategies, and UNDP policies and standards. In addition, the CTA plays a critical capacity-development, knowledge-sharing and partnership-building role, strengthening national systems, supporting monitoring, reporting and evaluations, and promoting sustainability, learning, and resource mobilization across UNDP’s biodiversity and climate resilience interventions in the Pacific SIDS context.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership & Guidance

  • Provide high-level technical leadership and strategic advice to Implementing Partners, UNDP and other Responsible Parties across all biodiversity and resilience projects of the MCO, in particular those funded by GEF.
  • Provide hands-on advisory to PMUs on ecosystem management, invasive species control, protected area governance, climate risk integration, ridge to reef approaches, and nature-based solutions, in line with approved ProDocs and annual workplans.
  • Provide technical leadership to PMUs in technical planning, adaptive management, risk mitigation, and quality assurance of project deliverables.
  • Provide quality assurance of technical reports and consultants’ deliverables.
  • Ensure integration of cross‑cutting areas (gender equality, social inclusion, human rights due diligence, stakeholder engagement).
  • Ensure technical coherence and alignment with national policies, GEF focal area strategies, and global best practices.

2. Programme management

  • Work closely with PMU teams in executing annual workplans, budgets, procurement, monitoring & evaluation, and reporting.
  • Support annual/multiyear planning (AWPs), budget revision, deliverables scheduling, risk management registers, and adaptive management.
  • Support PMUs in ensuring that project activities are planned and executed in a timely manner with high technical standards and implemented to achieve defined indicators.
  • Provide hands-on support to government counterparts for overcoming implementation bottlenecks, ensuring alignment with UNDP POPP procedures.
  • Support the development of Terms of Reference, selection of technical experts, and oversight of consultant deliverables.
  • Strengthen M&E systems consistent with GEF tracking tools and UNDP RBM, including baselines, indicators, field verification, and knowledge products.
  • Support the management and monitoring of project risks and treatment actions.
  • Support adherence to UNDP Social & Environmental Standards, risk screening and management, stakeholder engagement plans, grievance mechanisms, and information disclosure.

3. Monitoring, Reporting & Communication

  • Coordinate with PMUs to prepare quality reports (QPRs, PIRs, APRs) and results oriented knowledge outputs for national and regional audiences
  • Lead preparation of technical inputs for steering committee meetings, evaluations, and national reporting obligations.
  • Provide technical and coordination support for the organization and implementation of mid-term and final project evaluations.
  • Develop, design and technically quality assure knowledge products and communications products
  • Lead the development of project sustainability plans and exit strategies.
  • Promote visibility of project successes through communication products and events.

4. Capacity Development & Knowledge Transfer

  • Strengthen technical and managerial capacities of government implementing partners through mentoring, on-the-job training, and workshops.
  • Facilitate cross-project and cross-country knowledge sharing on biodiversity and climate resilience approaches, especially among Pacific SIDS.
  • Document lessons learned and best practices for dissemination within UNDP and with partners.

5. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

  • Foster strong working relationships with line ministries, national agencies, donors, civil society, private sector, and community stakeholders.
  • Identify partnership and resource mobilization opportunities to scale up or replicate project interventions and support development of related concept notes and proposals.
  • Oversee the preparation of donor briefings and presentations in support of resource mobilization efforts as appropriate.
  • Participate in technical coordination fora related to biodiversity, ecosystem management, climate resilience, and related sectors.

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

Competencies

Core Competencies:

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy    

  • System Thinking: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
  • Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
  • Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
  • Negotiation and Influence: Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.

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.
  • Partnership Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

2030 Agenda: Planet    

  • Nature: Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme: Sustainable Land Management and Restoration (outside Conservation/Protected Areas and Systems)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Natural or Physical Sciences, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management, Environmental Economics or a related field is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years (with master's degree) or 9 years (with bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, climate resilience, or closely related technical areas.

Required skills:

  • Proven experience providing technical advisory and implementation support for the implementation of donor-funded projects, including work planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting.
  • Proven experience supporting or working on a GEF-funded project.
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word Excel, etc), database packages.

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

  • Experience working in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), preferably in the Pacific region.
  • Experience working with UNDP project cycles, including ProDoc implementation, annual work planning, PIRs, APRs, and terminal evaluations.
  • Working in the public sector, the United Nations and/or any other international organization and/or development agency.
  • Country-level working experience, with regular engagement of national counterparts.
  • Experience supporting resource mobilization efforts in biodiversity and resilience.

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required.

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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