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

Albania’s EU accession process requires comprehensive reforms to align its legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks with EU standards. This includes transforming institutional structures and adopting best practices with a strong focus on environmental governance and climate action.

As the experience of the new Member States and current EU candidate countries shows, about 4 to 5 years of intensive work needed to prepare to start Chapter 27 negotiations. SANE27 I and II phase provided this support in the last 7 years that lead to opening for negotiation process for Chapter 27. The Chapter 27 is considered as one of the most comprehensive and challenging to implement, including being the costliest chapter. 

The next stage of negotiation requires the implementation of the Action Plans for the closing benchmarks and negotiation positions under Chapter 27. This includes measures related to the transposition of the EU acquis, strengthening the administrative capacity of all institutions relevant to Chapter 27, and ensuring the effective implementation of the acquis, including the Directive or Regulation Specific Implementation Plans (R/DSIPs) for directives or regulations for which transitional periods have been requested. To fulfill all requirements under Chapter 27, Albania must establish a comprehensive legal and administrative framework fully aligned with the EU acquis. At present, Albanian legislation is only partially aligned: while some sub-chapters (e.g. horizontal legislation) demonstrate a high level of transposition, others, particularly climate, remain at an early stage. Albania has set the objective of closing all chapters by 2027. Achieving this will require substantial efforts to develop and adopt national legislation that ensures full transposition of EU environment and climate acquis, which represents a considerable challenge for the ME.

The National Plan for European Integration (NPEI) 2024–2026 outlines the alignment of 342 legal acts, many under environment- and climate-related chapters. However, Albania’s goal to complete negotiations by 2027 demands an accelerated pace of alignment. 

Progress under EU Chapter 27 on environment and climate change depends not only on the transposition of the EU acquis, but also on the effective, transparent, and consistent implementation and enforcement of related legislation. Governance-related risks may affect Albania’s ability to meet interim and closing benchmarks, particularly in areas requiring robust permitting systems, credible inspections, sound public investment management, and inter-institutional coordination. In line with UNDP’s mandate and corporate policies, the project integrates governance and integrity measures as enablers of accession progress. It supports strengthened transparency, accountability, institutional oversight, and capacity development, helping ensure that Chapter 27 reforms are implemented in a manner that meets EU standards and delivers sustainable, verifiable results.

While EU enlargement momentum has increased since 2022, the EU emphasizes that membership depends on each country’s merit-based progress. For Albania, this means delivering tangible, lasting reforms in areas such as air and water quality, waste management, protected area management, and climate policy implementation. The mounting legislative workload particularly in environmental chapters requires Albania’s public administration to scale up efforts by 200–300%, highlighting the urgency of institutional strengthening.

Albania’s 2030 EU membership goal coincides with heightened demands to demonstrate environmental leadership, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability. The growing number of support requests from line ministries reflects the increasing complexity of the green transition. Meeting the EU’s environmental acquis is not only a legal obligation but a strategic imperative for Albania’s inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient future. RACA Project offers flexible and broadly accessible technical assistance instruments to the Government of Albania to accelerate and effectively implement and sustain EU accession required reforms. 

The RACA Project provides two modalities of technical assistance: 

  • Supporting Albanian Negotiations in Environment, Chapter 27 (SANE27) phase III -On demand services included to support to Albanian institutions in advancing environmental and climate commitments for Chapter 27 negotiations and strengthen institution capacities for strategic planning and implementation of Chapter 27 acquis. This includes supporting priority initiatives with medium- to longer-term impact.
  • Capacity Development Fund (CDF) - Provides flexible and timely support to develop the capacity of environmental Institutions and agencies with regard to policy formation and implementation with focus on enforcement under Chapter 27.

Compared to traditional projects, which operate within rigid frameworks, predefined workplans, and limited scopes, the RACA project enables public institutions to access support when they need it within the evolving context of the EU accession process. The RACA Project offer is demand-driven, context-specific, and directly linked to Albania’s evolving negotiation priorities under Chapter 27. The RACA Project focuses on institutional ownership, ensuring that Albanian institutions lead the reform process, develop internal expertise, and retain institutional memory to sustain reforms beyond accession.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will be responsible for achieving the projects outcomes and, hence, objectives of the projects, and for ensuring the co-operation and support from the executing and implementing agent(s).

Ensure effective project management 

  • Lead Team’s day-to-day activities: supervise personnel , guide and orient efforts and contributions of consultants, stakeholders and state institutions towards the achievement of the projects’ objectives;
  • Organize projects personnel  and assign tasks, monitor progress and motivate the Team;
  • Establish monitoring mechanisms in the team to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the projects, in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, including the regular use of the Quantum project management tool for provision of quarterly progress reports, annual reviews and final report, recording and monitoring of risks and issues, reporting on monitoring schedule, and financial resources planning and reporting;
  • Provide regular professional guidance and advise to the supervised project staff; assess and evaluate their performance, ensure regular update of staff’s job descriptions;
  • Provide on-the-job training for the projects staff to increase capacities of the team for greater efficiency and effectiveness in projects implementation;
  • Prepare implementation action plans and annual workplans;
  • Plan and monitor projects delivery; Develop monitoring indicators and monitor the progress in projects implementation;
  • Prepare projects work plans and progress reports such as Project Implementation Reviews and Quarterly Progress Reports in accordance with the section “Monitoring and Evaluation” of the project document;
  • Prepare and monitor the projects budget;
  • Support to following the procedure for governmental cost contributions;
  • Ensure that the procurement processes and all the documentation for CAP/ACP are prepared in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Ensure continuous liaison with Government counterpart and other relevant stakeholders to ensure national ownership of and involvement in the projects;
  • Advise the Environment Programme Specialist on potential adjustment of actions in light of changing requirements/needs;
  • Assist in the identification of relevant sources of expertise for project/activity implementation;
  • Communicate with international investors and financial organizations to define fields of cooperation and attracting additional financing;
  • Ensure effective dissemination of and access to information on project activities and results, (including an regularly updated project website);
  • Ensure coordination and cooperation with Stockholm Environment Institute as the responsible party for Implementation of the on-demand component
  • Review official documents and communications;
  • Ensure successful completion of the project in accordance with the stated outcomes and performance indicators summarized in the project’s log frame matrix and within the planned schedule and budget;
  • Regular monitoring of the relevant events and/or subjects in the local media;

Provide technical support, build strategic partnerships and resource mobilization  

  • Analyze economic, social and political factors which may impact on the implementation of the projects;
  • Participate in the projects in the meetings of governmental and non-governmental agencies and donors meetings on wetland management issues;
  • Liaise and collaborate with other biodiversity and marine/wetland conservation initiatives in the country and in the region. Enable the project to learn from other EU–funded projects worldwide and other UNDP-projects in the region; establish links with other related EU-funded programs and other relevant regional programmes;
  • Prepare documentation in support of resource mobilization activities;
  • Ensure proper coordination of the projects with respective national and regional stakeholders

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing 

  • Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners. 
  • Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop 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.

Institutional Arrangements

The Project Manager will work under the direct guidance and the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist for Environment.

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work;
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking;
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning;
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process;
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously;
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships;
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Functional/Technical competencies

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.
  • 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.

Business Development

  • Knowledge Generation
    • Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. 
    • Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. 
    • Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

2030 Agenda: Planet

  • Climate
    • Climate change adaptation policy and planning: National Adaptation Plans. 

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 Degree or equivalent ) in Natural Sciences, Environment, Engineering or related field is required. 
  • 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:

  • A minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree)  of relevant and progressive experience in managing environmental, climate and natural resources, sub-grant management projects. 

Required  skills:

  • Experience and knowledge of environmental climate and natural resources issues in Albania.
  • 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 additional skills:

  • Affiliation with professional international organizations.
  • Experience and knowledge of multilateral environmental and climate change agreements guiding EU compliance under Chapter 27.
  • Familiarly experience in managing and/or providing services for the implementation and management of UN/DP Projects and/or development projects.
  • Experience in any of the environment, climate, forestry and natural resources thematic areas at the national and local level. 
  • Proven experience working in a sensitive environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors (e.g., government, CSO, Academia. Private Sector etc.). 

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English and Albanian 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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