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Re-advertisement - Project Manager - Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform

Bangkok

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Bangkok
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
    • Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Innovations for Sustainable Development
    • Managerial positions
    • Grant writing
    • Poverty ReductionEnvironment and Energy
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. 
 
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts. 
 
UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas. 
 
The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.
 
In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on natural capital, environment and climate, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which  includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services. 
 
At the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) in Madrid (the United Nations Climate Change Conference), the Adaptation Fund has launched a new US$10 million pilot grant programme to foster innovation in adaptation in developing countries. The programme targets a broad range of potential finance recipients, including non-governmental organizations, community groups, young innovators and the private sectors. 
 
The programme is part of the Adaptation Fund’s innovation facility, providing small grants to developing countries to support innovation for effective, long-term adaptation to climate change. 
 
UNDP acts as small grant aggregators for innovation in adaptation, making small grants available to a broad scope of stakeholders on a competitive basis. The programme will focus on producing the Expected Results of the ‘Strategic Focus 2 (Innovation)’ in the Adaptation Fund Medium-Term Strategy 2018-2022, which are:
  • (Expected Results 3) New innovations encouraged and accelerated - Development of innovative adaptation practices, tools and technologies encouraged and accelerated; and
  • (Expected Result 4) Evidence base generated - Evidence of effective, efficient adaptation practices, products and technologies generated as a basis for implementing entities and other funds to assess scaling up.
The Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform (ISGAP) is designed to support the development, diffusion and evidence building of innovative adaptation practices, tools, and technologies in developing countries. ISGAP will be establishing an effective and efficient backbone management architecture and network of global best practitioners to:
 
(i)competitively source and screen innovative adaptation project ideas; 
(ii)grant funding and administering to bring selected project ideas to fruition; 
(iii)provision of customized technical and business development capacity building, incubation, and acceleration support; and 
(iv)knowledge management and sharing and result-based monitoring and evaluation. 
 
Leveraging this infrastructure, ISGAP aims to achieve the project objective through the following complementary outcomes:
  1. Development of innovative adaptation practices, tools and technologies promoted and accelerated. Evidence of effective, efficient adaptation practices, products and technologies generated as a basis for implementing entities and other funds to enable scaling up;
  2. Timely and efficient completion of business milestones demonstrated through additional investment and/or support capitalization for scaling;
  3. Lessons learned codified, documented, and disseminated leading to adoption or replication of project introduced innovations.
Following several years of implementing innovative approaches in development, UNDP in Asia Pacific has managed to significantly diversify its partner base, develop new skill sets, and harness new resources. As an important development actor, UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) strives to support countries to design effective solutions to tackle complex development challenges and accelerate action on the progress towards achieving the SDGs, through collaborations with changemakers and other stakeholders in the ecosystem to strengthen the network of knowledge, experience, resources and capacities.
 
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor (PTA) for Climate Change Adaptation, the Project Manager provides effective and efficient management of the ISGAP project through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, management, and monitoring of project activities. The Project Manager applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as, a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. 
 
The Project Manager works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, Communications, and Nature, Climate and Energy team and other teams in Regional Bureaus for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.
 
The Project Manager, in close cooperation with the Nature, Climate and Energy team, will ensure the provision of development services and products (commensurate with the scope of the project) of the highest quality and standards.  
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor (PTA) for Climate Change Adaptation, the incumbent provides effective and efficient support of the ISGAP project through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, management and monitoring of project activities. The Project Coordinator applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. S/he is responsible and accountable to the Project Board for the project results.

Project Management (50%)

  • Lead the overall implementation and management of the ISGAP project;
  • Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of project outputs and products leading to the achievement of expected results;
  • Execute activities by managing personnel, goods and services, training and low-value grants, including drafting terms of reference and work specifications, and overseeing all contractors’ work;
  • Monitor events as determined in the project monitoring plan, and update the plan as required;
  • Provide referrals to business advisory services for project grantees when appropriate;
  • Help enterprises grow and diversify UNDP’s services offering in the space of enterprise development;
  • Provide support for completion of assessments required by UNDP, spot checks and audits;
  • Manage requests for the provision of UNDP financial resources through funding advances, direct payments or reimbursement;
  • Monitor financial resources and budgets to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
  • Monitor progress and plan deviations, and make course corrections when needed within project board-agreed tolerances to achieve results;
  • Ensure that changes are controlled and problems addressed;
  • Manage and monitor the project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required.  Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log;
  • Assess major and minor amendments to the project within the parameters set by UNDP & AF.
Key result: ISGAP project is managed efficiently and effectively. UNDP is recognized as providing outstanding programme and project oversight and supervision support.
 
 
Strategic Leadership and partnership building (20%)  
  • Support UNDP’s work to assist countries in fostering and accelerating locally-led innovative adaptation solutions;
  • Lead project activities related to enterprise development, ensuring excellence in execution
  • Engage key stakeholders in the support ecosystem and pertinent associations within priority value chains;
  • Provide strategic guidance and technical leadership regarding the project's approach to enterprise development;
  • Design, plan, and conduct annual conference for key stakeholders and project grantees;
  • Plan, conduct, and facilitate project board and technical advisory committee meetings; 
  • Draft terms of reference and work specifications, and oversee all contractors’ work;
  • Proactively engage with project grantees to understand their needs; 
  • Provide support to source technical assistance and advisory services to match grantees’ requests;
  • Coordinate with other teams and regional initiatives in the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub;
  • Actively collaborate and engage with key project partners (UNDP Youth Co:Lab, UNDP SGP, Climate Finance Network, UNDP Accelerator Labs) and external partners;
Key result:  New strategic opportunities for ISGAP are realized, UNDP has a trusted leadership role in technical areas of expertise (locally led adaptation, adaptation innovation, enterprise development etc.), and UNDP has strong partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders. 
 
 
Reporting and communications oversight (10%)
  • Perform regular progress reporting to the project board as agreed with the Board, including measures to address challenges and opportunities;
  • Coordinate report submissions to UNDP on a quarterly basis;
  • Coordinate revisions to the multi-year workplan, as needed, as well as annual and quarterly plans if required;
  • Monitor implementation plans including the gender action plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and any environmental and social management plans;
  • Monitor and track progress against the AF Core indicators;
  • Support the Terminal Evaluation process;
  • Coordinate Program-level communications, managed through Climate Change Adaptation Communications lead and in effective coordination with the UNEP/CTCN Communications officer.
Key result:  High quality ISGAP program-level reporting, including on the Program-level results framework. Project-level M&E is carried out in a satisfactory manner for in strong coordination with UNEP/CTCN to maximize effectiveness.
 
 
Learning and Knowledge Management (10%)
  • Support overall Knowledge Management of the project; 
  • Oversee evaluation, capturing, codification, synthesis of lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
  • Peer reviews, comments on, and seeks to improve knowledge management materials; 
  • Contributes to the global Community of Practice and sharing knowledge with relevant countries;
  • Liaises with UNEP, CTCN, other UNDP teams to integrate knowledge management. 
Key result: Extensive knowledge management with the ISGAP Program contributes to replication and upscaling of Program interventions. UNDP is recognized as a learning and knowledge management organization.
 
 

Competencies

Core
 
Innovation
  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Leadership
  • Ability to persuade others to follow.
People Management
  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Communication
  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Delivery
  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
 
Technical/Functional
 
Sustainable Development
  • Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions.
Results-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Collaboration and Partnership
  • Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.  
Climate Change (General)
  • Knowledge of climate change including climate change international regime and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Climate Finance
  • Knowledge of climate finance concepts and instruments and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Knowledge Management
  • Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.
Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Innovative Finance
  • Knowledge of financing for sustainable development and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
 

Required Skills and Experience

Education
  • Master’s Degree in public administration, economics, law, environmental science, finance or related areas;
  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of experience in relevant fields would also be accepted;
  • Certification in project management would be an advantage.
Experience
  • Minimum of 5 years’ relevant and progressive working experience with a Master’s degree, or at least 7 years’ experience with a Bachelor’s degree, in the design, management and implementation of projects and/or working in a relevant position to this post; 
  • Experience in managing complex projects requiring close coordination with the various donors, including demonstrated capacity to manage a wide range of national and sub-national stakeholders;
  • Previous working experience in the field of climate change and/or innovation is an advantage;
  • Previous working experience in enterprise development is an advantage; 
  • Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, governmental institutions, NGO or private sector/consulting firm is a very strong advantage;
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems;
  • Knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices is an advantage.
Language Requirements
  • Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation, and communication skills;
  • Knowledge of other official UN languages would be desirable.
 

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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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