Technical Lead - Environment

UNDP has been present in Malawi since 1964 and supports the government in developing policies, partnerships and institutional capacities to attain national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP Malawi’s Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028 is closely aligned with the Malawi Vision 2063 and the first 10-Year Implementation Plan of the vision to support Malawi in achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. UNDP recognizes the need to enhance capacity for adaptation, recovery and resilience in achieving sustainable development as such UNDP has partnered with Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate change to specifically contribute towards achieving SDGs number 7, 9,11 and 13  through its Resilience and sustainable Growth Portfolio (RSG)

The RSG portfolio supports a range of complementary nationally implemented programmes in the areas of natural resources, environment, climate change,  disaster risk management, sustainable energy and private sector. The portfolio implements through three pillars

1. The pillar focuses on:

• Accelerating growth and innovation through affordable start-up capital
• Expansion of market-led innovation and inclusive business solutions
• Support SMEs and MSEs to expand into new markets, meet quality standards 
• Support youth and women’s entrepreneurship

2. Access to renewable energy

• Support policy and regulations addressing investment in mini-grids, and innovative business models for scaling up rural electrification
• Scale up clean energy mini-grids targeting rural areas
• Improved clean and reliable energy access to critical facilities.

3. Disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and resilience-building

• Early warning systems and timely and reliable weather information system
• Environmental management and green recovery solution
• Healthy ecosystems and nature-based solutions 
• Support for accessing climate finance 

The programming partnership with  Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate change falls under strategic pillar 3 – Disaster Risk Reduction, climate change adaptation and resilience building. The programming portfolio comprise three projects, one approved and two in the pipeline. The projects aim at strengthening environment and climate change policy frameworks; building resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems in the Bua and lake Chirwa basin through integrated ecosystem based approaches while leveraging innovation and private sector for  promotion of sustainable  resilient livelihoods. 

The Programming portfolio is centered on but not limited to the following thematic areas 

• Scaling up Innovative sustainable financing 
• Climate change adaptation, Resilience building - community and ecosystems
• Climate change mitigation, capacity building and systematic observations
• Private sector and innovations 
• Policy Advocacy, governance and knowledge management  
• Support domestification of  international treaties and agreements
• Coordination

The required position is therefore very critical in ensuring that provision of technical project management support, expansion of sustainable strategic partnerships for large programming and general resource mobilization for initiatives that respond to the country’s current and anticipated climate shocks and vulnerabilities is strengthened . The technical lead will work with GoM to among other responsibilities, oversee the development of  two strategic projects of which one will focus on creating and strengthening an enabling policy environment  with community based adaptation pilots within the stated thematic areas while the other will focus on building and strengthening community as well as ecosystems resilience in the bua river catchment. The technical lead will also support and oversee the rolling out and implementation of a recently approved  TRANSFORM project.

Under the supervision of the Director of Environmental Affairs and the Resilience and Sustainable Growth Portfolio manager, the Technical Lead - Climate Change and Resilience will support project management with a focus on but not limited to ensuring that projects are managed efficiently and effectively to achieve intended results and impacts and contribute to the national priorities and vision; analyzing and ensuring adaptive management in response to emerging issues while leveraging on catalytic innovations; ensure linkages with environment and resilience programmes among  stakeholders and  support resource mobilization while ensuring that continuous learning and knowledge management is an integral part of  process. 

In collaboration with the IP, the Technical Lead will provide oversight for UNDP supported environment and climate change projects under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director of Environmental Affairs department and the  UNDP Portfolio Manager for Resilience and Sustainable Growth, the Technical Lead will provide operational and technical advice to project implementing partners and is responsible  for supporting overall coordination. The Technical Lead will work closely with other responsible parties in government, the UNDP Country Office, UNDP Regional Bureaus, and other development partners to promote effective coordination with other investments in environment and climate change

Promotes the strategic direction and provide technical assistance in climate change and environment focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provision of project management and technical assistance to Government on Climate change and environment issues;
• Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the Programme (substantive), tracking use of financial resources in accordance with Govt and UNDP rules and regulations;
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the government institutions, development partners, private sector and civil society;
• Support development of various climate change and environment policy frameworks coordination frameworks, financial mechanisms and monitoring and evaluation systems for climate change and ensuring that they are approved;
• Support Mainstreaming of climate change into other sectors;
• Ensuring that all recommendations and conclusions from the diagnostic studies conducted are implemented;
• Assisting with resource mobilization for the programmes through development of proposals for funding;
• Ensuring gender mainstreaming in all programming; 
• Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs, and outcomes. Preparation of reports;
• Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the project and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of the project;
• Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on Government priorities, strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and stakeholder priorities;
• Support Mainstreaming of climate change into other sectors;
• Ensuring that all recommendations and conclusions from the diagnostic studies conducted are implemented;
• Assisting with resource mobilization for the programmes through development of proposals for funding;
• Ensuring gender mainstreaming in all programming.

Coordination

Lead in development of strategic partnerships and coordination with other key stakeholders 

• Be a liaison for Development Cooperation Groups and other technical platforms; 
• Provide support in organizing and conducting periodic reviews of the national coordination structures for CC and Environment  taking into consideration emerging issues; 
• Organize strategic partnership meeting with GoM and other bilateral development Partners.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Ensures provision of high-quality advocacy and advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to the project and CO policy goals;
• Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linking these to international networks;
• Implementing relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns with key partners; 
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Feeding project results into national policy dialogues, development of strategic cooperation programmes and advocacy campaigns;
• Provide in-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues to be integrated in the programme.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• In liaison with the Programme Analyst at UNDP, provide and update relevant information for project management including Project Quality Assurance, Risk Log Monitoring and M & E through UNDP’s online dashboards; 
• Lead and support results-based management and reporting;
• Initiate project reviews at periodic intervals;
• Identify and foster linkages for the project with potential stakeholders.

Management and Leadership

• Provide ongoing supervision for project coordinators in project implementation to ensure optimum quality of results and value for money;
• Manage any conflicts at sub-national level in line with UNDP policies;
• Maintain outstanding communication skills (oral and written communication skills); 
• Develop and maintain close linkages with relevant sectoral government agencies, UNDP, NGOs, civil society, international organizations and implementing partners of the project, and engage them during dissemination of results and learning from 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

The position is in Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change – Environmental Affairs department and it reports to the Director of Environmental Affairs and UNDP Resilience and Sustainable Growth Portfolio Manager.
 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction & Strategy: 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 Direction & Strategy: Effective Decision Making 

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority area of expertise and resources

Business Management: Results-based Management        

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management: Project Management      

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management: Risk Management            

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management: Partnerships Management           

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2030 Agenda: Planet Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery          

• Crisis and environment