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
Office/Unit/Project Description
UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.
UNDP partners with the host government, civil society including the business community, the United Nations system, the development partners and other development actors to help the country achieve sustainable development including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.
UNDP Kenya Country Office (CO) is moving towards an integrated collaborative business model.
The team converges around the planning, design, implementation and quality assurance of an integrated programme in a fast-paced environment. Fostering strategic partnerships and alliances with diverse stakeholders requires a team that approaches work with energy, innovation and strong client orientation.
As Kenya undergoes political, economic and social transition underpinned by a progressive Constitution, its extractive sectors present a significant opportunity for economic growth and human development, alongside risks of conflict, environmental degradation, and inequitable benefit-sharing if poorly governed. Responsible governance of the extractive sector is a key priority under Kenya's Vision 2030, and UNDP Kenya has worked with the Government since 2013 to strengthen the legal, policy, and institutional framework for the sector, including support to the enactment of the Mining Act 2016.
Building on this foundation, UNDP Kenya implements the Environmental Governance Programme (EGP) for Sustainable Natural Resource Management, a joint Swedish EPA-UNDP global initiative funded by Sida that draws on combined governance, environmental, and extractive-sector expertise to integrate environmental protection, human rights, and gender equality into the governance of mining and related extractive industries. The EGP works at the nexus of environment and human rights, addressing the drivers of conflict, environmental degradation, inequality, and exclusion associated with large-scale extractives, and supports exchange of innovative policy approaches across EGP partner countries through South-South cooperation. In Kenya, the programme works closely with national and county government institutions, civil society organizations, communities in resource-rich areas, and development partners, and engages with global platforms such as the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) and relevant UN agencies.
In this context, UNDP Kenya is seeking to recruit a Project Officer to support Environmental Governance Programme (EGP). The incumbent will ensure effective implementation of EGP projects, monitoring, and reporting of project activities to ensure they meet targets, budget, and quality standards. Key responsibilities include coordinating stakeholders, preparing documentation, reporting and supporting capacity-building initiative, in alignment with UNDP rules and regulations.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Duties and Responsibilities
Support, coordinate, and develop effective planning and implementation of Projects.
- Support implementation of the Environmental Governance Programme (EGP), ensuring activities are delivered in line with the approved workplan, budget, and results framework.
- Provide technical oversight on integrating environmental, social, gender, and human-rights safeguards into the governance of the mining and extractive sectors, including support to ESIA processes and policy or legal reviews.
- Prepare and review project work plans, procurement plans, and budgets, and monitor implementation progress against targets and milestones.
Identify implementation risks and bottlenecks and propose timely mitigation measures in consultation with the Team Lead ERU and Policy Advisor-Environment. - Coordinate and regularly meet with Swepa and UNDP HQ team
Support Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Provide strategic and technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
- Coordinate Kenya's participation in South-South cooperation and peer-learning exchanges with other EGP partner countries and resource-rich nations, facilitating the sharing of policy approaches, tools, and lessons learned.
- Document and disseminate case studies, good practices, and knowledge products arising from South-South exchanges for use by Kenyan government counterparts and stakeholders.
- Map and engage potential government, private sector, and development partner entry points for resource mobilization in the NRM and Environmental Governance space.
- Draft concept notes, partnership briefs, and funding proposals, and support donor and private-sector engagement to expand and sustain the EGP and related NRM portfolio.
Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.
- Draft high-quality progress, donor, and annual reports, briefing notes, and knowledge products, in line with UNDP corporate requirements and reporting timelines.
- Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), including data collection, indicator tracking, field monitoring visits, and updates to UNDP's corporate M&E systems.
- Work in close coordination with the UNDP focal points and to co-develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting.
- Support implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results.
- Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place.
Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas.
- In close coordination with technical focal points and project teams ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
- Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 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.
- Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.
- 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 Officer works under the general supervision of UNDP Environment and Resilience Unit team lead and collaborates closely with the UNDP HQ, Swedish EPA based in Stockholm and Kenya, UNDP technical teams and project Coordinators.
Competencies
Core 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 Direction & Strategy
- Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
Business Direction & Strategy
- System Thinking and Innovation
- 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 communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
Business Management
- Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
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
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels
- Working with Evidence and Data
- Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making
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 Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Development Studies, International Relations, Project Management or related field is required, OR
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience
in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and/or leading and managing projects.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.
- Proven knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies
- 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.
- Knowledge and experience in relevant project management.
Languages
- Fluency in English and Swahili 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
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