Programme Officer - Nature Climate Energy and Resilience

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Uganda has set out an agenda through its Vision 2040, of transforming the country from a largely peasant to a modern and prosperous economy and to achieve upper middle-income status by 2040 by building a people centered, independent, integrated, resilient, and self-sustaining economy. The vision is to be achieved through six successive five-year national development plans. The overall goal of the current and third five-year development plan (NDP III) is to increase average household incomes and improve the quality of life of Ugandans. Uganda has made impressive gains in social and economic transformation and this progress is manifested, inter-alia, in; a) doubling of GDP over the last 10 years, from US$ 17.2 billion in 2010/11 to US$34.4 billion in 2019; b) increase in per-capita income from US$745 in 2012/13 to currently US$825; and c) increase in life expectancy from 54.5 years in 2012 to 64 years in 2017. 

UNDP is seeking to recruit a Programme Analyst to support the implementation of the CPD through one of its constituent programme offers – namely the Nature Climate Energy and Resilience (NCER).  The Programme Officer will work under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Team Leader, Nature Climate Energy and Resilience Programme. S/he will be responsible for management of projects under the NCER programme. The Programme Officer will work in close collaboration with other members of the NCER, the programme management and operations units, the programme staff in other UN Agencies, as well as with the Programme Stakeholders in Government, Private Sector, and Civil Society.

Position Purpose

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader-Nature Climate Energy and Resilience, the Programme Analyst will be responsible for broadly acting as technical lead on Nature Climate and Energy but also providing strategic support to nature particularly on biodiversity financing and carbon markets. This will include; supporting the country office in prioritizing, and designing concept notes and funding proposals in collaboration with other thematic leads; creating strategic partnerships; designing and implementing resource mobilization strategies and providing policy advice to implementing partners. The Programme Analyst will also facilitate knowledge building and management.

The Programme Analyst is also expected to coordinate and regularly interact with other government institutions, as well as development partners including participation in the Environment and Climate Change Development Partner Groups meetings and the UNCT Strategic Priority and Result Group meetings. Additionally, the Analyst is expected to manage catalytic programmes on energy, climate and nature-based financing. This will involve;

• Planning, monitoring, and implementation of budgets and workplans; 
• UNSCDF/CPD, programme/project and government reporting (ensuring alignment with partner and corporate priorities);
• Guides, negotiates, and monitors partner agreements ensuring compliance with partner and corporate requirements;
• Programme and project compliance (including participating in LPAC; ensuring that project document meets the corporate requirements).

Key Duties and Accountabilities

1. Ensures implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• 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;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas of energy and climate change, nature-based solutions and other assigned;
• Country Office business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management;
• Follow-up on project activities implemented under partner agreements, consultancies, or similar arrangements, and ensure their timely and quality delivery;
• Facilitate strategic energy and climate change sector processes and promote the sharing of lessons and experiences with partners;
• Actively coordinate activities with relevant partner institutions such as the NDC Partnership/NDC Cluster members, Ministries of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Water and Environment among others; 
• Ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery of programmes and projects under NCER portfolio;
• Lead the technical implementation and management of ongoing projects, and other activities including research, organizing, and facilitating meetings, preparing technical documents, project briefs and managing the projects on a day-to-day basis.   

2. Manages Country Office assigned programme components, focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• 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 application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
• Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, entering project into Atlas (in small offices), finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. Programme Analyst can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Quantum 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 NEX projects;
•  Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported. Aggregate reports   are   regularly prepared on   activities, outputs, and   outcomes. Preparation of donor reports;
• Follow-up on project activities implemented under partner agreements, consultancies, or similar arrangements, and ensure their timely and quality delivery;
• Prepare and submit quality and timely Progress Reports (quarterly, and annual), annual work plans and budgets, procurement, and delivery enhancement plan for consideration and approval by the Project Steering Committees, and as required by donors and other partners as applicable.

3. Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Analysis and research of information on development partners, 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; 
• 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;
• Lead in identifying and facilitating energy and climate change sector partner engagements including with development partners, civil society, government, and the private sector, alongside, fostering collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and programme implementation.  

4. Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of 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;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues;
• Professional growth through active learning.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Result: 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.

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management 

• Project Management 
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Partnership 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.
• Resource Management 
  • Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
• Monitoring 
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.
• Evaluation 
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Programme and Policy  

• Effectiveness
  • Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis.
• SDG Integration
  • SDG Monitoring and Reporting

Requirements:

Education

• Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences (Environmental Management, Energy and/or Climate Studies, or related area.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field  with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be due consideration  in lieu of Master´s degree.

 Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Minimum 2 years (Master's degree) or 4 years (Bachelor's degree) of relevant experience in Environmental policy design and implementation, with a clear focus on Climate Change, Climate and Biodiversity Finance and energy policies;
• Experience in programme and project management;
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams;
• Sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national staff; 
• Proven programmatic implementation experience with sound knowledge of all aspects of the project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation);
• Excellent skills in fundraising, resources mobilization and donor relations would be an asset;
• Prince2 training and certification, RMG are desirable;
• Verifiable expert knowledge in climate related field, particularly climate and energy finance is an asset;  
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills;
• Strong strive for innovative ideas and practices. 

Language

• Proficiency in oral and written English.

Disclaimer

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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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