Programme Specialist (Team Leader), Environment in Ukraine (Nationals Only)

BACKGROUND

In Ukraine, UNDP has been working since 1993 with the national and local authorities, public and private sector stakeholders, partners across the UN system, civil society, and local communities to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. Our work is guided and informed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to develop targeted solutions to the country’s development challenges. We work in close collaboration with key ministries, departments, and agencies in a robust, integrated manner through Six Signature Solutions:

1. Poverty and inequality;
2. Governance.
3. Resilience.
4. Environment.
5. Energy; 
6. Gender Equality.

In Ukraine, these Solutions are integrated and targeted with a focus on three programmatic areas of support:

1. Inclusive Development, Recovery and Peacebuilding,
2. Democratic Governance, and
3. Energy and Environment.

All three of these programmes are aligned with the national priorities, which includes accelerating sustainable low-carbon economic growth and attracting green foreign investments, fighting corruption, resilient recovery and peacebuilding of the conflict-affected areas based on the principles of leaving no one behind and building back better, and streamlining digital governance to make all state services accessible electronically.

In this context, and under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Programme Specialist provides overall quality assurance of Country Office’s programme management and delivery within the energy and environment portfolio. 

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Position Purpose

The Programme Specialist (Team Leader), Environment is deemed a key element to the success of this country programme in the assigned thematic area. Under the guidance and supervision of the DRR the incumbent is responsible for the management of UNDP programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned. As such s/he is entrusted with the oversight off the programmatic area covering a wide arrange of issues and programme sub-themes including environment, climate change, disaster risk management etc.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Develops programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:         

• Ensure formulation, design and implementation of Natural Resource Management (NRM), Disaster Risk reduction, Climate Change mitigation projects to build capacity of Ukrainians under the Country Programme Document (CPD). Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones.
• Identifies areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned.
• CO business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management.
• Facilitate NRM sector specific plans and strategies that aim to protect the environment and to use natural resources for poverty reduction and sustainable economic development.
• Manage Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio through ensuring that projects meet prescribed requirements and approval processes including Project Implementation Plans and Project Execution Plans.
• Contribute to development of GEF national and regional projects for funding to address global environmental issues as well as those derived from the implementation of the Blue Economy within the mandates of national policies and obligations of various international environment conventions.

Manages implementation of the overall Energy and Environment portfolio results and management of EE team:

• Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones.
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the CO programme and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme.
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.
• Clears donor reports prepared by Energy and Environment team members.
• Organization of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with the Operations Manager.
• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.
• Support management of projects through preparation of requests for procurement and payments, budget revisions under ATLAS, and following up CDRs and GDRs.
• Manage initiation of a project, presentation to PAC, Atlas finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. Programme Specialist can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects.
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of NIM projects.
• Ensure the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, with attention to the rural women, grassroots communities, and the use of broad participatory approaches in design implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNDAF, CPD, and other documents.

Manages the development of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Manages the development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.
• Foster strategic partnerships for joint programming within and outside the UN system
• Represent the Programme in the consultative meetings within the UN system under UNDAF and with partners and clients.Develop possible options for resource mobilization and for partnerships within the UN system (under UNDAF) and with other relevant donors and institutions in order to encourage co-funding combined programming, avoid duplication and to strengthen impact actives of the programme.
• Manage the team’s work on Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
• Maintain networking at national and global levels with professional colleagues in UNDP energy and environment community of practice and knowledge network environment and natural resources sector to enrich the programme.

Knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Promote innovative programme areas and good practices in thematic area.
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

Ensures gender mainstreaming:

• Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the field of expertise, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behavior, and use the principles of gender responsive communication in line with the UNDP corporate standards.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

• Ensures the organizations of regular unit meetings.
• Review of individual and team’s performance and provision of required coaching, guidance, mentoring and empowerment.

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

Functional & Technical competencies:

• Business management - Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Business management – Partnerships Management : Ability to 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
• 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.
• Business direction and 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.
• 2030 Agenda: Peace - Nature, Climate and Energy : Energy efficiency concepts, renewable energy, access to energy; technologies and practical application.
• Business development - Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
• 2030 Agenda: People - Gender Mainstreaming: Knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues and ability to apply it to strategic and/or practical situations, e.g. integrating into the project/programme cycle, including design, planning, and implementation.

Education:

• Master's degree in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies, sustainable development, environment, green economy, energy, environmental or energy engineering or a related area.
• Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Master’s degree with 5 years or Bachelor’s degree with 7 years of relevant experience in working with environment, green economy, energy, climate change and resilience programmes in the context of a multigovernmental organization.
• Experience in programme management and multilateral development stakeholders.
• 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 and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft (Atlas).
• Demonstrated knowledge of UN/UNDP is desirable.
• Prior work experience in programme is desirable.
• Knowledge of UNDP policies and guidelines is an advantage.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian.
• Knowledge of Russian is desirable.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.