Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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Project Description
Guided by Lesotho`s National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP), UNDP`s approach as detailed in its Country Programme Document (CPD) emphasizes a commitment to environmental sustainability, inclusive access to energy, and leveraging natural resources for economic development, while placing a strong focus on vulnerable populations. Under the Strategic Plan (2022-2025), environment is one of UNDPโs six signature solutionsโalongside poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, energy, and gender equalityโto support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind, and resilience. According to UNDPโs new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the main objective particularly on the environment is to helps governments protect, manage, and value their natural assets. The UNDP`s signature solution for the environment places nature at the heart of national economies and development. It supports governments in making policy and regulatory decisions that reduce environmental impact, while promoting incentives for environmentally positive decisions and sustainable practices. Working also with governments to promote new technologies options and policies that advance clean energy, and engages vulnerable groupsโlike women in rural communitiesโincreasing their role in conservation and ecosystem management.
In line with the objectives of the aforementioned strategic plan, UNDP in Lesotho is implementing a new project titled โThe Promoting conservation, sustainable utilization and fair and equitable benefit-sharing from Lesotho's Medicinal Plants for improved livelihoodsโ. This is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project aimed at offering a comprehensive approach to implementing the Nagoya Protocol in Lesotho, promoting both environmental conservation and socio-economic development, with a special focus on equity and gender. This project will focus on enhancing Lesothoโs capacity to implement the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), particularly in relation to the use of traditional knowledge around medicinal plants and bioprospecting. The Nagoya Protocol is a key international agreement that aims to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The project has the following three interrelated components:
Strengthened institutional capacity and regulatory framework to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS; Building capacities for bioprospecting and value-addition of genetic resources and ; Gender mainstreaming & knowledge management, and Monitoring and evaluationThe project will deliver global environmental benefits using a participatory approach and ensuring the equitable distribution of benefits among men and women, with at least 19,531 people (9,489 men and 10,042 women) directly benefiting from the project at the local level. This will result in biodiversity conservation benefits over 373,886 hectares. The project will span 5 years with a total investment of $2,913,699 USD, which will be provided by the GEF.
Considering the above, UNDP requires the services of a Project Manager to provide overall supervision and management of this ABS project implementation.
Scope of Work
Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation:
Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the projectโs annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDPโs Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans; Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities; Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met; Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows; Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization; Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.Develop strategic partnerships:
Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners; Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation; Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies; Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners; Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:
Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting; Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management; Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections; Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions; Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities; Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas:
Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia; Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application; Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDPโs engagement in this area; Promote advocacy for UNDPโs work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Project Manager works under the general supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and collaborates closely with the Sustainable Development Specialist and Government Project Director.
Competencies
Core Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ;
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction and Strategy
Strategic Thinking Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPโs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP. System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.Business Development
Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.Business Management
Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals. Communication Ability to 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.Partnership Management
Relationship Management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Education Requirement:
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in in a subject related to biodiversity conservation , natural resources management or genetic resources management public administration or any other related field of study is required, or; A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Minimum years of relevant work experience:
Minimum 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and/or leading and managing biodiversity conservation or natural resources management projects.Required Skills:
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; Knowledge and experience in natural resource management.Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with communities , UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations; Experience in gathering and processing environmental data and information; Experience in managing work teams and supervising technical assessments, reports and technical documents; Knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies.Required Language(s):
Fluency in Sesotho and English 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.
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.
Right to select multiple candidates
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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