Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading knowledge organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-government approaches and nature-based solutions. These efforts help reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods, mitigate conflict, and promote resilient governance systems aligned with peace and security agendas.
Biodiversity finance tools and solutions are important for achieving biodiversity and broader sustainable development objectives. Strengthening the design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions enhances countriesโ achievement of national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans (BFPs) are increasingly recognized as a critical tool to bridge the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (www.biofin.org). The Convention on Biological Diversityโs Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) includes key financing targets, with Target 19 on resource mobilization specifically calling for the design and implementation of national BFPs.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched a global programme to support countries to design national BFPs. These plans include a systems analysis of existing financing mechanisms, environmentally harmful subsidies, drivers of biodiversity loss, public and private expenditures and national financial needs. It includes actions to scale up available funding, phase out harmful finance flows and improve effectiveness of available expenditures.ย
The implementation of the project in Zimbabwe falls under the GEF-8 Umbrella programme. The project will be led by the Project Lead/Senior Finance Expert, supported by a technical team, and coordinated by the Government of Zimbabwe Project Director and National Steering Committee.ย
To implement the GEF8-BFP Umbrella programme, UNDP Zimbabwe is recruiting a national team comprising a Sustainable Finance Analyst a Project Support Associate, a Policy Expert and a Biodiversity Finance Specialist.ย
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure Effective Project Administration:
Oversee the identification, selection and supervision of national consultants and experts, in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office, Senior Finance Expert and the Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit (GPMTSU); Write/review terms of reference for national BIOFIN team members; Supervise the work of national experts and institutions to ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget, and to high-quality standards; facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national team; Ensure administrative requirements and budgets are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations; In consultation with the UNDP Country Office and GPMTSU elaborate/review the work plan and budget and submit draft workplans/budgets timely; Ensure a timely identification of risks in implementation at the national level and communication to the GPMTSU.Facilitate Stakeholder Consultation:
Organize all relevant project workshops in a consultative manner, involving a wide variety of biodiversity finance stakeholders, including the government, private sector, NGOs, donors and academia;ย Discuss with the Ministries of Environment and Finance and other key stakeholders the establishment of a national Steering Committee and follow up on the formal establishment and regular convening of the Committee and develop meeting reports to be shared with Steering Committee, the UNDP CO and GPMTSU; Maintain regular communication with Ministries of Environment and Finance for the development and completion of all reports and products; Liaise the project processes and products with relevant national planning biodiversity and finance relevant processes, such as NBSAP updates and Global Biodiversity Framework implementation; Organize regular meetings of the national team and monthly calls with the Technical Advisor from the GPMTSU; Ensure participation of national team members in regional technical calls;ย Participate in regional and global meeting organized by the GPMTSU.Provision of Technical Advisory Support:
Act as principal technical contact for the project implementation with GPMTSU with regards to all questions and issues that arise during national implementation;ย Provide key technical leadership on all finance issues and assure horizontal integration and consistency of workstreams/studies; Provide overall guidance and quality control for the four main deliverables of the project. Technical support to the national project team to complete all the deliverables of the BIOFIN methodology, in a consistent and high-quality manner;ย Ensure drafts of all work are sent to the global Technical Advisor and GPMTSU regularly to provide backstopping and assure feedback is adequately integrated into national reports; Research and write the sections on subsidies and financing incentives in the PIR according to the guidance provided by the GPMTSU and written guidance documents (especially the BIOFIN Workbook).ยFacilitate data collection and analysis:
Provide technical support for the data collection, analysis, and conclusions of the BER; Support the data collection, modelling, quality checking, and validation of the FNA; Develop a Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) according to the guidance provided by the GPMTSU global BIOFIN team and written guidance documents (especially the BIOFIN Workbook); Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation;ย Signal any delays in national deliverables compared to the workplan to the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU;ย Lead project monitoring, reporting and evaluation at national level, draft monthly and quarterly reports for review by the lead expert and submission to the global BIOFIN team;ย Coordinate the development of workshop reports for the inception workshop and all technical workshops;ย Review all technical reports ensuring alignment of national work with global methodologies such as the BIOFIN workbook and others;ย Liaise with relevant initiatives and programs in UNDP and other organizations in support of the execution of the project, including BIOFIN, the NBSAP support programme, the GEF 7 Early Action Support Programme, the Nature Hub, and other organizations and initiatives;ย Review the final reports of the national Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity expenditure Review, Financial Needs Assessment and Biodiversity Finance plan.Facilitate Communications and Knowledge Sharing:
Develop and implement a communications strategy to effectively disseminate project outcomes, best practices, and key findings to national and international stakeholders through various channels, including reports, social media, newsletters, and public events; Develop with the collaboration of the rest of the team members, of at least one brief overview publication per year, press releases, and web and media products; Contribute substantively to knowledge networks and communities of practice within theย thematic area of the project.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Institutional Arrangement
At the global level, this global umbrella programme will be supported by a Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit (GPMTSU) through a dedicated technical. The Sustainable Finance Analyst is the senior most representative of the NPMU and is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the project on behalf of the Implementing Partner, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision over project staff, responsible parties, consultants, and sub-contractors. The full-time dedicated Sustainable Finance Analyst will head the National Project Management Unit (NPMU) that will be co-located within an appropriate department in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife. The Sustainable Finance Analyst will work under the overall responsibility of the Project Director at the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work. Think Innovatively:ย LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking. Learn Continuously:ย LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning. Adapt with Agility:ย LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process. Act with Determination:ย LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously. Engage and Partner:ย LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships. Enable Diversity and Inclusion:ย LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย
Nature:
Events Management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings):
Ability to manage events, including Venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.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;ย 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.Private sector resource mobilization:
Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.Procurement Management:
The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.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.Partnership Management:
Build and maintain partnerships with widen networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Environment/Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity, Environmental Economics/Finance or a closely related field, is required. ORย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum of 2 years (with masterโs degree) or 4 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant experience in the implementation of environment/biodiversity/natural resources management projects is required; Demonstrated experience in supervising and leading teams is required; Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling web-based management systems is required; Prior experience with UNDP projects would be an asset; Knowledge in environmental or biodiversity related policies is highly desirable;ย Experience in supervising technical assessments, reports and technical documents is desired;ย Previous UN/International organization experience or similar setting will be an added advantage;ย Experience in budget formulation, review and implementation at project level is an asset.Required Language(s)
Fluency in English and Shona or Ndebele 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.
ย