Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the lead UN agency on international development, working in about 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and build resilience, focusing on six core areas: poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy, and gender equality.
UNDP in Papua New Guinea is prioritizing environmental protection and climate change adaptation under Outcome 4 of its 2024-2028 Country Programme. The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable natural resource management. It also supports PNG in meeting its commitments under international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework. Additionally, UNDP works on advancing natural capital accounting to better recognize the economic value of ecosystems, ensuring their long-term protection and sustainable use.
The UNDP environment and climate change portfolio in Papua New Guinea (PNG) plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable resource management and climate resilience. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), several key projects contribute to this mission. The Sustainable Financing of Papua New Guineaโs Protected Area Network (GEF 6) focuses on ensuring long-term financial support for protected areas, enhancing conservation efforts, and promoting biodiversity protection. Meanwhile, the Integrated Land Management, Restoration of Degraded Landscapes, and Natural Capital Assessment in the Mountains of Papua New Guinea (GEF 7) aims to restore degraded ecosystems and implement sustainable land-use practices, particularly in mountainous regions, to protect vital ecosystems and mitigate climate change impacts.
Building on these initiatives, the Accelerating PNGโs Sustainable Blue Economy through Strengthened Governance and Investment in Marine Areas (GEF 8) addresses sustainable marine resource management. This project strengthens governance frameworks and promotes investment in marine conservation, supporting PNGโs efforts to develop a resilient blue economy. Together, these projects form a comprehensive strategy for the sustainable use of PNGโs natural resources, integrating land and marine conservation, climate adaptation, and economic development. Through these efforts, UNDP and its partners aim to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability, ensuring long-term benefits for both people and nature.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is home to one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems, featuring vast coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. These ecosystems provide critical services, including food security, climate resilience, and livelihoods for coastal communities. However, unsustainable resource use, habitat degradation, climate change, and weak governance threaten the long-term viability of these ecosystems.
The project, Accelerating PNGโs Sustainable Blue Economy through Strengthened Governance and Investment in Marine Areas, is a six-year initiative implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA). With financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8) and co-financing partners, the project aims to strengthen marine conservation, enhance governance, and promote sustainable economic activities in key coastal and marine areas of PNG.
The project will focus on three key geographic areas: New Ireland Province, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), and Port Moresbyโs Bootless Bay. These regions are biodiversity hotspots facing significant environmental pressures, including illegal fishing, pollution, and deforestation of coastal habitats.
To address these challenges, the project will implement four major components: (1) integrating natural capital accounting into fiscal policies and economic planning, (2) strengthening marine spatial planning and governance, (3) promoting nature-based solutions (NbS) through public-private-community partnerships, and (4) facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building.
The project is expected to improve 3.9 million hectares of marine areas, restore 20,000 hectares of mangroves, and enhance sustainable fisheries while creating lasting environmental and socio-economic benefits for PNGโs coastal communities and contributing to global climate and biodiversity goals.
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Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance and supervision of the Technical Officer, the Community Mobilizer will carry out the above listed tasks.
Providing technical assistance in the implementation of activities at the target sites. Engaging with local government officials and community-based groups, facilitating involvement in project activities. Assisting local entities in organizing and reporting on project activities. Carrying out monitoring and evaluation field visits, ensuring activities are executed in compliance with UNDP SES, and providing feedback to the other project team members. Contributing to the development of annual work plans and budgets. Identifying opportunities for synergies on complementary initiatives and assisting in tracking co-financing. Facilitating communication with local communities, local government units, local businesses, and other local stakeholders. Keeping abreast of local concerns and priorities as well as the socio-economic conditions and trends and relating their impact on the project and advising the other project team members.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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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 improvementsย 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 flexibleย 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 discriminationย
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management ย ย ย ย
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-makingย Digital Awareness and Literacy. Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to ย use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends. Communication. 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.ย Monitoring and Evaluation. Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.Business Development ย ย ย ย
Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, design and facilitate activities, and share and exchange knowledge, information, and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.ย
Administration & Operationsย ย ย ย
Event Management. Support projects with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.ย
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advance University Degree (Masterโs degree) in Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Marine Protected Area ย Management, and/or Sustainable Fisheries Management, Business Development/Management is required. A first level-University Degree (bachelorยดs degree) in the areas mentioned above with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of masterยดs degree.Experience:
Applicants with a Masterโs degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelorโs degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in marine, natural resources management, blue economy, business development, or similar experience is required.ย 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. Experience working with private sectorย Experience in writing reports and analytical documents Experience organizing and delivering trainings and workshops Experience in community development and civic engagementยย
Required languages:
Fluency in English and Tok Pisin 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.ย
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.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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