Programme Specialist, Climate Change (nationals only)

Organizational Context

UNDP is a long-term development partner of the Maldives for over 45 years. In the Upper Middle-Income Country context, UNDP country office in Maldives provides technical assistance, policy and technical advisory services to the Government of Maldives in their efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); in partnership with development partners, financial institutions, private sector and civil society. In Maldives, UNDP’s programme priorities and partnerships are defined and operationalized through the Country Programme between Government of Maldives and UNDP to support and contribute to the development priorities and results envisioned in the 5-year Strategic Action Plan. Maldives is currently in the process of formulating its Strategic Action Plan with UNDP support following the change of government in 2023.   

In the current Country Programme cycle 2022 – 2026 (https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/CPD%20Maldives.pdf), UNDP has significantly shifted its programme offer to Maldives around 3 pillars supported by a diverse funding base from government finance, bilateral and multilateral donors, blended and innovative finance, etc.: (i) Integrated Governance Programme focusing on justice sector reform, decentralization and local governance with youth, gender and people with disabilities’ participation; (ii) resilience and climate actions, (iii) SDG finance and fiscal spacing, to enable Maldives to achieve sustainable development by eradicating inequality and poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

Duties and Responsibilities 
 

Provides strategic direction and effective management of the country office programme, focusing on the area of climate change:

Ensures accountability, quality control and effective oversight of the projects

• Provides strategic planning and oversight of the assigned portfolio of programmes/projects and ensures their compliance with programme and operations policies and procedures (POPP) and quality assurance standards.
• Ensures annual work planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of assigned portfolio in line with requirements (e.g., budget revisions, approval of CDRs, etc.).
• Ensures robust oversight and quality assurance of key performance indicators of the portfolio and leads implementation of corrective strategies and measures based on risk-informed analysis and trends. 
• Facilitates and quality assures the project documentation prior to final approval by the Senior Management and ensures proper document management and update in the corporate systems and regional platforms (CPS, Quantum, Vital Signs, etc.) 
• Exercises transaction approval for development projects as delegated in line with the established internal control framework and ensures appropriate separation of duties is in place and maintained throughout the project cycle. 
• Implements Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) framework covering micro assessments, assurance plans and assurance activities, carries out programme/monitoring visits, ensuring appropriate remedial actions are implemented; and ensures the establishment of the tracking mechanism for cash transfers to Implementing Partners/Responsible Parties in accordance with UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations and HACT policies.
• Performs clearance measures (incl. tracking of NIM advances/reimbursements, liquidation of NIM advances, clearance of FACE forms, escalating and advising the CO Management on timely remedial actions required).
• Facilitates assessment of barriers and opportunities to enable private sector engagement and participation and quality assures all required capacity and risk assessments, including private sector due diligence.
• Provides strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Ensures compliance with a cost-recovery system for the services provided in close collaboration with the operations colleagues.
• Facilitates and quality assures the completion of the Vertical Funds project development stage and ensures appropriate separation of duties is in place and maintained throughout the project cycle.
• Ensures adherence to the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) as well as established CO business processes and internal controls, contributes to design of the Standard Operating Procedures on programme and project management. 

Ensures establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships and leads resources mobilization efforts in the area of climate change and resilience:

• Identifies strategic opportunities and leads engagement on potential joint programming with other UN Agencies and entities.
• Ensures development and implementation of CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategies to achieve country programme outcomes related to climate change. Contributes to effective pipeline development in the Office. Ensures effective and timely pipeline management through timely and accurate update of the pipeline management module in UNITY (corporate ERP system).
• Supports deployment of partnership strategies and related actions with a focus on programme portfolio development and the identification of sustainable and predictable funding mechanisms for the implementation of the country programme, including but not limited to Environmental Vertical Funds (GCF, GEF and others).
• Leads and maintains strong partnerships with relevant development partners and government, UN Agencies, IFIs, government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, and civil society in the designated support areas.
• As part of the overall CO partnerships and communications strategy and action plans, develops new project concepts to ensure project documents and financing agreements are developed with high quality and in line with UNDP corporate rules and procedures. 
• Ensures the preparation of analysis and research of information on partners, donor profiles, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing and initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall CO efforts in resource mobilization.
• Leads engagement, networking and mobilization of experts of the international development community, government partners, UN Agencies, and prominent think tanks.
• Leads development of strategies for government cost-sharing in the climate change and resilience area.
• Ensures quality and timely donor reporting and adherence to the conditions and requirements of partnership agreements by programme teams and projects. 

Leads provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitates knowledge building and management:

• Integrates evaluation findings, real-time monitoring data, and applied learning to adaptive programme and project management and policy advisory work.
• Ensures capacity building of national counterparts for effective management and compliance with funding partner’s requirements within UNDP projects.
• Maintains effective network with development partners and Government at the national level and sub-national level and where necessary links up with the corporate Global Policy Network of UNDP and other international development actors.
• Leads the implementation of awareness building and advocacy around UN/UNDP events and supports strategic communications work and knowledge management initiatives. 
• Provides sound and proactive contributions to corporate, regional and CO events, knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Writes and communicates on best practices and lessons learned linked to programme and policy goals.
• Facilitates knowledge building and management especially between the programme and projects and facilitates training for the UNDP staff and personnel and national counterparts on relevant programme issues.
• Contributes to development of training materials and organizes workshops, as required by the supervisor.

The incumbent performs other duties within the functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Competencies:

Core CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)

Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact    

Think Innovatively:   

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems  

Learn Continuously   

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility    

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination       

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results    

Engage and Partner  

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration  

Enable Diversity and Inclusion        

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
   

 

 

Required Skills and Experience

 

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Financing, Environmental Economics, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, International Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development Economics, Economics, International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required. or 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Professional Certification in programme or project management (e.g., PRINCE-2, MSP etc.) is a distinct advantage. 

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience at the national or international level in providing policy and/or management advisory services on nature, climate or energy is required. 
• At least 2 years of the above experience should be in providing oversight and advisory services to multiple complex development projects in nature, climate change, energy, development/climate/nature financing or disaster risk reduction is required.
• Managerial experience in a supervisory role, people management for at least 2 years is a requirement.
• Proven experience and understanding of policy development processes is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in multi-stakeholder facilitation and coordination is desired.
• Prior experience in a UN Agency and/or international organizations is an advantage.
• Experience working with high-ranking officials is an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling web-based management systems is required. 

• Fluency in English and Dhivehi is required.