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 in Papua New Guinea prioritizes environmental sustainability, climate change action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable natural resource management under Outcome 4 of the UNDP Country Programme Document (2024–2028). Through its Environment and Climate Change portfolio, UNDP supports the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) in strengthening climate resilience, promoting low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways, protecting biodiversity, improving environmental governance, and mobilizing climate and environmental finance. UNDP works closely with national institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and local communities to advance Papua New Guinea’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the REDD+ Framework, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other multilateral environmental agreements.

The “Forest, Climate Change and Biodiversity SRBC Accelerator” (FCCB-SRBC Accelerator) is a joint UNDP–FAO initiative funded by the European Union under the State and Resilience Building Contract (SRBC). The project aims to accelerate the achievement of key climate change, forestry, and biodiversity reform targets under Strategic Priority Area 10 (SPA 10) of Papua New Guinea’s Medium-Term Development Plan IV (2023–2027). The project seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), and the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) to implement national climate and biodiversity commitments, improve environmental governance systems, and strengthen access to public investment financing for climate and biodiversity priorities.

The project addresses key institutional challenges affecting climate and biodiversity governance in Papua New Guinea, including fragmented coordination among sector agencies, limited capacity to prepare high-quality Public Investment Programme (PIP) submissions, weak climate and biodiversity data systems, and inadequate access to sustainable public financing. Through strengthened coordination mechanisms, enhanced planning and budgeting processes, improved forest monitoring systems, and strengthened biodiversity governance, the project will contribute to more effective implementation of national climate and environmental priorities.

The project is structured around two mutually reinforcing outcomes.

Outcome 1 focuses on enhancing implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. Activities include strengthening and expanding the National Forest Inventory system, improving country-specific emission factors, supporting REDD+ Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, developing and operationalising key climate governance instruments such as the National Climate Finance Strategy and National Blue Carbon Strategy, strengthening the Climate Finance Unit within CCDA, and supporting the preparation of joint Forestry–Climate Change–Biodiversity (FCCB) investment frameworks and consolidated Public Investment Programme submissions to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and the Department of Treasury.

Outcome 2 focuses on strengthening ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. The project will support the establishment and management of protected areas, strengthen biodiversity monitoring systems, update and operationalise national Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) guidelines, and establish Papua New Guinea’s Protected Areas Network Registry to improve biodiversity governance, reporting, and investment planning.

The project will be implemented under UNDP’s overall leadership as the lead agency, with FAO responsible for delivering specialised technical components related to forest inventory systems, emission factor development, forestry downstream processing strategy development, and protected area management. The project will work closely with CCDA, CEPA, PNGFA, DNPM, the Department of Treasury, provincial administrations, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen policy–budget coherence, improve climate and biodiversity data systems, and enhance institutional coordination across the Forestry–Climate Change–Biodiversity sector.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management and coordination of the FCCB-SRBC Accelerator Project, including mobilisation of project inputs, supervision of project personnel, consultants and service providers, management of project implementation and reporting, coordination with FAO and government counterparts, oversight of financial and operational delivery, and support for strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation. The Project Manager will ensure effective implementation of project activities, achievement of project results, compliance with UNDP and donor requirements, and close coordination with CCDA, CEPA, PNGFA, DNPM, Treasury, FAO, the European Union, and other key stakeholders. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager works under the general supervision of International Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Technical Specialist and collaborates closely with the project team.

Provide strategic leadership for effective project planning and implementation.

  • Lead strategic planning for the project, including formulation of annual project work plan (AWP) as well as plans for budget, HR, procurement, and overall project implementation.
  • Provide quality and timely management of the project life cycle, including meeting programmatic and financial deliverables in adherence to project documents and applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
  • Provide direction, guidance and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel, including technical experts, to ensure activities are implemented in a timely manner as planned. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met.
  • Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
  • Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation that includes building and sustaining effective liaison with the CO’s functional areas and units (i.e., programme, M&E, finance, HR, procurement, and supply management).
  • Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.

Build and maintain UNDP’s strategic partnerships.

  • Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
  • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of key objectives, and to promote inclusive project implementation.
  • Communicate relevant and critical information with key implementing partners and members of project governing bodies, and substantively contribute to project visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the CO management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
  • Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
  • Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:

  • Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation, and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Ensure strategies, processes, systems, and mechanisms are in place to effectively fulfill programme and financial monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance and reporting requirements.
  • Lead implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations, underperformance, and other problems. Support diagnosing problems and ensure accountability for corrective actions within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP/CO management.
  • Proactively perform risk assessments to identify and document risks related to the project, including operational, financial, legal, contractual, social, environmental, reputation and safety risks. Design mitigation measures and keep appropriate project governing bodies informed. Develop and complete regular reviews of risk management matrix for the project.
  • Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities.
  • Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s) and UNDP.

  • Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training and other relevant capacity building activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. Lead workshops with senior level officials and stakeholders.
  • Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for the documentation and communication of best practices, programme results, and lessons learned under the project.
  • Actively participate in and make substantive contributions to external networks and communities of practice to promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends. Represent UNDP in relevant technical meetings and working groups under the direction of CO management.
  • Support establishment of knowledge platforms and innovative mechanisms for capturing and disseminating knowledge from the project; and ensure development of knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

  • 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.
  • 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.

Business Development

  • Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management

  • Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • Communication: 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; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels

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    

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two 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 experience at the national or international level in project management, management advisory services, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and partnership management in climate change and environment in PNG is required.

Required skills:

  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.


Desired Skills:

  • Experience in climate change and environment in PNG
  • Experience in project planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.
  • Experience in coordinating and supervising multiple parties in their implementation of technical activities in partnership with a variety of stakeholder groups, including government, civil society, private sector, academic and research institutes, the broader donor community, and local beneficiaries.
  • Experience in Gender-sensitive approach/mainstreaming
  • Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.

Required Language(s)

  • Fluency in English and Tok Pisin 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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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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