Vacancy #: 7360 Unit: Oceania Programme Coordination Unit Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Oceania Regional Office, Suva, Fiji Reporting to: Regional Programme Manager, Coordination and Integration Work percentage: 100% Grade: P1 Expected start date: 06 October 2025 Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months) Closing date: 21 August 2025 BACKGROUND The Pacific Islands Developing States are heavily dependent on imported petroleum fuels, which account for well over 80% of commercial energy use within nearly all countries. There has been assistance from a number of agencies over the past 20 years to assess energy issues and options, negotiate improved terms of fuel supply, expand urban and rural electrification, develop renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels and improve the efficiency of energy use. However, these efforts have been largely piecemeal rather than part of broad internally-consistent energy policies and have had limited success.
The objective of this program is to help accelerate the transition within participating Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to energy systems that are ecologically efficient, sustainable, and socially equitable, by: a) supporting beneficiary countries in the development and implementation of environmentally sound, sustainable energy policies; and b) implementing a number of renewable energy pilot projects focusing on ecosystem conservation and livelihood enhancement.
The overall goal is reducing the impacts of climate change through sustainable energy initiatives. The expected outcome is the implementation of pilot projects in SIDS that demonstrate sustainable energy technologies, and management systems for those technologies, that are suitable for wider dissemination in other SIDS in the Pacific and beyond. The Management arrangement consists of a small technical team based at IUCN Oceania to oversee project development and implementation, with technical support through consulting services, supervisory support provided by IUCN, and wide-ranging cooperation with other Pacific sustainable energy activities through memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for agreed joint or complementary activities. JOB DESCRIPTION SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Project Planning, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
โข Develop Annual Work Plan and Budget and provide quarterly updates as part of ORO Programme reporting and tracking of technical and budget tracking and planning process.
โข When required provide donors grants data and analysis as required under the IUCN-AICS agreement and Log-frame and work plan.
โข Provide a wide range of practical advice regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency, including analyses on the economic, social and environmental benefits or otherwise of any energy intervention implemented under the EESLI.
โข Conduct, facilitate and coordinate regional and national training activities, seminars and workshops related to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
โข Assess opportunities for energy sector investments which arise from EESLI or other initiatives and advise PICs on follow-up action required for appropriate investments to occur.
โข As required, prepare analyses, reports and case studies of energy interventions which are practical for small island states, including benefits and costs of various approaches.
โข Conduct monitoring of projects and prepare periodic reports on the performance of the project.
Grant Management and Administration
โข Asses Pacific Island Country (PIC) requests for project assistance, including refining exicting concept proposals in consultation with grant recipients.
โข Finalise grantee tasks, deliverables and budgets to be included in grantee contracts.
โข Draft grantee contracts for review by the relevant parties internally for clearance by grantees in accordance with the IUCN procurement guidelines and procedures.
โข Finalise contract and all annexes and compile the finance questionnaire, due diligence, spending funds form and delegation of authority as appropriate
โข Facilitate the signing of contracts
โข Ensure all contracts are filed and monitor any amendments process.
โข Ensure all grantee technical and financial reports received are validated inn accordance with IUCN policies and procedures.
โข Track grantee tasks, deliverables, budget, disbursements in accordance with approved budgets, workplans and log frames.
โข Screen grantee financial and technical reports against the validation checklist for submission to finance for review.
Stakeholder Engagement, Programme Coordination and Communication
โข Cooperate closely and proactively with the staff of other related energy initiatives such as those implemented by the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP), International and regional organisations, NGOS and Civil Society Organisations, including, where practicable development of joint or co-sponsored activities, workshops, studies, etc.
โข When required attend and represent IUCN at regional and international meetings to share lessons and present programme lessons and best practices on the EESLI project.
โข Actively reach out and support where appropriate and link the EESLI project with other ORO programmes.
โข Support the the Regional Programme Manager as required through engagement across regional network groups, task forces and committees; representing IUCN and EESLI at relevant fora, meetings and workshops at all levels; contribution to IUCN ORO programme planning forums, advisory committees and, project reviews.
โข Carry out other duties appropriate to the position, as directed by the Regional Programme Manager.
Please Note: The above TORs contain the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However, in an ever-evolving organisation such as IUCN staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them, but which are not part of their regular TORs. Where any task becomes a regular part of staff memberโs responsibilities, the TORs should be changed in consultation between the manager, the staff member, and the HR Unit. Any one of the three may initiate the consultation. REQUIREMENTS โข POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Education
University Degree in Natural Resource Management, Climate Adaptation, Renewable Energy Ecology, or a relevant field. An Advanced University Degree or Masters in a relevant field is highly advantageous.
Work Experience
โข At least 6 yearsโ experience in the energy sector at national and/or regional levels in the Oceania region.
โข Proven experience in grants administration, contracting, tracking and project monitoring and evaluation
โข Experience in communicating and collaborating with government administration and civil society organisations in the Pacific Island Countries and French Overseas Countries and Territories, government (national and local/provincial), and national and regional stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes.
โข Demonstrated experience in project management, capacity building and working as a facilitator or trainer in a multi-cultural setting and managing difficult challenges with CSOs on fund management
โข Proficient in using office applications (MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint) and other web-based management systems.
โข Sound English (verbal/written) with eExcellent communication and presentation skills.
โข Proficient in using office applications (MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint) and other web-based management systems
Travel
The position requires regular travel to ACP countries and OCTs in the region and to international meetings and events at a minimum of three missions per year (on average)
Duration and Location
This position is based at the IUCN Oceania Regional Office in Suva, Fiji, with regular travel to project sites across the Pacific Islands. The initial contract is for two year, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the \"Apply\" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
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IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the worldโs largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
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