PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Climate Change Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The CAFI-funded ProCongo Project ProCongo is a joint UNEP–UNCDF programme supported by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) that aims to catalyze private sector-led solutions for sustainable land use, forest conservation, and green job creation in the Congo Basin. ProCongo focuses on building a pipeline of nature-positive enterprises, delivering incubation and acceleration services through local Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs), and facilitating access to catalytic finance. The programme directly supports CAFI’s private sector window by de-risking investments in priority sectors such as forestry, sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and eco-tourism, while ensuring compliance with CAFI’s environmental and social safeguards. Within UNEP, the ProCongo initiative is led by the UNEP Climate Finance Unit (CFU). About the UN-REDD Programme The UN-REDD Programme is the UN's knowledge and advisory platform on forest solutions to the climate crisis. It is composed of three agencies – FAO, UNDP, and UNEP – that work together to form a UN flagship partnership, assisting countries to implement the Paris Agreement, particularly Articles 5 and 6. UN-REDD strives to reduce deforestation, promote sustainable land uses, advance international cooperative approaches to climate change mitigation, and mobilize climate finance to reverse the trend on tropical deforestation. UNEP’s UN-REDD work emphasizes results-based finance (RBF), sustainable forest management, private sector engagement, and improved governance. The Programme Management Officer will help integrate these elements into programme planning, implementation, and monitoring. This position post is located in UNEP’s Climate Change Division and have a dual reporting line to UNEP Climate Finance Unit (CFU) and UNEP’s Climate Mitigation Unit, which manages the UN-REDD Programme. The incumbent will be responsible for the following: ResponsibilitiesA. Programme Implementation and Coordination • The Programme Officer – Congo Basin Joint Portfolio (ProCongo and UN-REDD) will support the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the ProCongo and UN-REDD Programme activities and outputs, working closely with regional and national partners, regional institutions, and UNEP technical teams, ensuring effective programme planning, coordination, implementation, and reporting. • Support the day-to-day implementation of programme activities across both portfolios (ProCongo and UN-REDD) • Coordinate with national executing agencies, implementing partners, and UNEP divisions to ensure timely delivery of activities. This includes daily/weekly coordination with relevant government agencies to ensure Member States are aware of all activities and planned deliverables and are supportive of this (ie. ensure high degree of buy-in) • Assist in the development and review of work plans, budgets, and procurement plans of both programmes. • Support the development and implementation of both programmes strategies, work plans, and budgets. • Coordinate with UNEP HQ, regional offices, and implementing partners to ensure coherent and timely delivery of the programme activities across both portfolios. • Collaborate across the four ProCongo countries with UNCDF, UNEP, government agencies, private sector partners and relevant entities-to ensure alignment with programmes and projects results frameworks, including the CAFI’s Private Sector Framework and UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of Work. • Conduct periodic (bi-annual) reporting to the donor (CAFI) of the ProCongo project as well as internal reporting requirements by UNEP (in IPMR) & liaise with the UNEP CCD finance team to ensure expenditure of ProCongo is in line as agreed with the donor. • Ensure proper follow-up of UN-REDD implementation based on legal agreement and agreed workplan, UN-REDD Results Framework 2026-2030, flag issues in a timely way and suggest eventual adaptive management measures as necessary. • Provide technical guidance and support to countries in terms of day-to-day REDD+ implementation as necessary, as well as in the formulation of country workplan, targeted support, and other outputs. • Provide technical support and capacity development to countries on topics such as REDD+ nesting, carbon market and other REDD+ related issues. • Facilitate UN-REDD-related coordination with FAO and UNDP teams where relevant to Congo Basin countries. • Provides policy advisory support to African priority countries in scaling up sustainable financing for REDD+ activities (upfront and results-based financing). • Seek cross-linkages of other relevant UNEP programmes such as the UNEP GEF Congo Forest Integrated Programme, the IKI-funded Congo Peatlands projectand the Congo Basin Landscape Initiative (CBLI). B. Project Management and Oversight • Monitor implementation timelines, flag delays and suggest corrective actions of UNEP’s deliverables in the ProCongo initiative across the four countries, as well as UN-REDD deliverables. • Support the preparation of project documents, donor updates, internal briefings and Steering Committee/PMU reading materials. • Track compliance with UNEP and donor requirements, including financial and administrative procedures – including periodic monitoring and reporting. • Support operational follow-up on UNEP’s grants to SMEs and service contracts to implementing partners (IPs) • Contribute to the development of new project proposals and funding opportunities. • Monitor integration of REDD+ safeguards (Cancun safeguards and ART TREES requirements), risk management, and social inclusion standards into programme operations and partner deliverables. • Provide technical backstopping on REDD+ relevant topics (carbon markets, nesting, benefit-sharing, MRV alignment). • Assist in identifying and mobilizing technical expertise for REDD+ related tasks (expert TORs, consultancy oversight, inputs to country support). C. Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation • Monitor implementation progress, milestones and indicators for both programmes, • Compile inputs for and contribute to the preparation of progress reports, donor reports. Support data collection and analysis, including by liaising with implementing partners, for monitoring and evaluation purposes. D. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships • Liaise with national governments, regional bodies, civil society, and indigenous organizations to support inclusive programme implementation. • Represent UNEP in coordination meetings, technical working groups, and regional forums. • Support organization of missions, workshops, and regional knowledge events (including ProCongo’s incubation/acceleration knowledge events). • Support consultations and stakeholder engagement processes aligned with REDD⁺ principles of transparency, participation, FPIC, and IPLC inclusion. • Maintain close working relationships with government REDD⁺ focal points, national REDD⁺ secretariats, civil society networks, and private sector actors engaged in forest/climate finance. • Facilitate partnerships with REDD⁺ initiatives to ensure alignment with nationally owned REDD⁺ processes. E. Governance and PMU Support • Serve as UNEP’s day-to-day liaison to the ProCongo Joint PMU. • Support preparations for Steering Committees, Advisory Boards, and governance bodies. • Track follow-up on governance decisions and ensure timely UNEP inputs. • Prepare technical inputs to governance bodies (Steering Committees, Advisory Boards, PMUs) on REDD⁺ progress, risks, safeguards compliance, and opportunities for improved forest governance. • Track decisions related to REDD⁺ finance, safeguards, and technical assistance and ensure timely follow-up. F. Knowledge and Results Management • Contribute to the collection and analysis of programme data and results of both programmes (ProCongo and UN-REDD). • Support the integration of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) findings into planning. • Collaborate with the Knowledge and M&E team to ensure lessons learned are captured and shared. • Contribute to knowledge and learning events under both programmes (GEF regional forums, ProCongo cohort knowledge events). • Draft visibility materials and briefings for UNEP senior management. • Capture and package REDD⁺ lessons learned, good practices, and innovations from different initiatives for regional dissemination through UN-REDD platforms. • Support the development of briefings, policy notes, and knowledge outputs on REDD⁺ finance, carbon markets, nesting approaches, and safeguards. G. Administrative and Operational Support • Coordinate procurement, travel, and logistical arrangements for project activities. • Ensure compliance with UNEP and donor operational and financial procedures. • Maintain project documentation and records in accordance with UNEP standards. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Ensures that requirements, background information used for data analysis are documented. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Strong understanding of programme management principles and environmental governance. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Social Sciences, International Development, public administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work Experience• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project management in international development or environmental programmes is required. • Knowledge of REDD⁺ safeguards, SIS, FREL/FRL processes, carbon markets, or forest governance is required. • Experience with REDD⁺ processes (readiness, implementation, results-based finance) is required • Familiarity with private sector engagement and enterprise support (ProCongo) is desirable. • Experience in the Congo Basin or Central Africa region is desirable. • Experience working with UN agencies, multilateral donors, or regional African institutions is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and French are required. Either Lingala or Swahili or Kikongo or Tshiluba is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).