Project Management Support – Specialist

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement to implement the project activities for Small Grants Programme (SGP).

The incumbent of this position will be a UNOPS supervised personnel.

Launched at the Convention on Biological Diversity Convention on Climate Change 12 (CBD COP12) in 2014, the objective of the Global ICCA support Initiative (ICCA-GSI) is to improve the self-strengthening and recognition of indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas (ICCAs) under the auspices of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). For close to ten years, the ICCA-Global Support Initiative (GSI) has worked through an international coalition of non-state actors and partner institutions to strengthen the national enabling environments in target countries to support the appropriate recognition and protection of ICCAs. Delivering the majority of the funds to civil society organizations at the country level, the programme also supports regional learning networks around the world. 

Since its inception, the ICCA GSI has supported 45 participating countries to achieve key commitments under the CBD Aichi 2020 Targets relating to protected areas (Target 11), ecosystem services (Target 14), and the protection of traditional knowledge (Target 18). The initiative provides small grants directly to marginalized local communities and indigenous peoples to build their capacity and empower them to effectively manage and govern their ICCAs for the purposes of ecosystem protection, sustainable livelihoods, and poverty reduction. The initiative contributes to national strategies pertaining to the diversification of the governance arrangements for protected and conserved areas, as well as improved tracking tools to assess the vitality, security and socio-ecological resilience of ICCAs and protected landscapes. 

The ICCA-GSI is funded by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) as a signature solution for the UNDP Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) Local Action cluster, and is delivered at the country level in alignment with the UNDP-implemented GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). In Dec 2022, the BMUV announced a second phase of funding (2023-2028) as a contribution to the new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) recently adopted at the CBD COP15 in Montreal, Canada.    

As the Executing Agency for the SGP and ICCA GSI Phase 1 (2014-2022), UNOPS provides dedicated services to UNDP for administrative, financial, and legal aspects of grant-making and country operations.  In 2020, the BMUV provided top-up funding to the ICCA GSI Phase 1 to support at-risk communities cope and recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The top-up funds, targeted at 45 countries, were made available for the period 2020-2023, with a possible extension until mid-2024. 

The Project Management Support – Specialist will work under the supervision of the Portfolio Manager and in coordination with the ICCA GSI Global Programme Manager (UNDP) and hold specific responsibility for the implementation of the ICCA-GSI initiative. The position will be co-located with the Programme Manager in New York.

This position is supervised by the Portfolio Manager and works with the ICCA GSI Global Programme Manager for the implementation of the programme at the global level. This will involve liaison and coordination work with the relevant SGP country teams and UNDP Country Offices (COs) in the target countries. Support the ICCA GSI Global Programme Manager in the following functions and tasks:

• Keep track of the ICCA-GSI Work Package 1 (small grants) according to the defined indicators in the project document. 
• Monitor that all project activities are carried out on schedule and within budget, identify gaps, and propose solutions as required in order to achieve the project outputs.
• Liaise with SGP country teams and UNDP COs to analyze national contexts and ensure smooth operational and working relationships at the country level.
• Facilitate effective application and revision of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results as appropriate.
• Compile and analyze data to monitor that the project utilizes the available financial resources in an efficient and transparent manner.
• Gather, review and analyze progress reports and financial reports for submission to UNDP as required, following internal administrative processes. 
• Monitor and review the annual work plan execution and budget and, where relevant, make recommendations on the project budget.
• Review and identify operational and financial problems, as well as propose the development of solutions.

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in natural or social sciences, environment and development, economics and other disciplines with emphasis on biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, protected areas, community-based conservation or other related discipline is required
  
  

• Minimum five (5) years of experience providing support with programmes or projects

Language:

• Fluency in English is required 
• Knowledge of French or Spanish would be desirable   

• Contract type: Individual Contract Agreement
• Contract level: I-ICA 2 ( ICS10)
• Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.