Project Manager (ASL2) [Open to Tier 1, 2 & 3 applicants]

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts 
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Office/Unit/Project Description

The Republic of Suriname lies on the North-Eastern Atlantic coast of South America, bordering with Guyana to the West, French Guyana to the East, and Brazil to the South. It has an area of 163,820 km2 and a population of just under 600,000. With more than 15.2 million ha of forest cover (93% of its total area) based on data from 2019 (Forestry sector report 2019).Suriname is one of the most forested countries in the world. Historical annual rates of deforestation below 0.1% have allowed the country to be classified as a High Forest cover, Low Deforestation rate (HFLD) country. Forests landscapes provide a multitude of environmental and social benefits, including income and food security for local communities, national income from logging and mining, and global environmental benefits such as climate mitigation and biodiversity preservation. Suriname ́s forests act as a carbon sink, making it a carbon negative country (net carbon capture per capita of 3.3 tons). In addition, Surinamese forests provide a variety of ecological goods, including, for example: timber, game, plant material for making household items, firewood, oil from palm fruits, medicinal plants, liana and leaves as thatching material, and sand and gravel for construction purposes, as well as maintaining key ecological services, such as water protection, soil quality and climate regulation.

Suriname’s forests are part of the Amazon biome. At the regional level, Suriname is located within two of WWF's Global 200 eco-regions, which are considered significant for the conservation of global biodiversity and where continuous forest remains intact (Guyana moist forests and Guyana Highlands moist forests). Surinamese forests host significant levels of biodiversity, which can be attributed not only to this significant forest cover, but also to the large variety of habitats, temperatures, and relatively low population pressures to date. The National Herbarium of Suriname, in collaboration with the National Zoological Collection of Suriname, has identified 715 bird species, 187 moss species, 343 fern species, 318 freshwater fish species, 192 mammal species, 175 reptile species, 102 amphibian species, and 5,100 plant species in Suriname. Approximately 35 to 40% of the plant species and 20% of the animal species are endemic to the Guiana Shield. The IUCN Red List has recorded 83 vulnerable and endangered species in Suriname. To protect this rich biodiversity, important carbon stocks and the many ecosystem services provided by forests, Suriname has already dedicated 13.5% of its total land area to a national protection system to preserve forests and wetlands and is committed to maintaining its HFLD status by expanding protected areas and increasing efforts towards sustainable forest and ecosystem management.

Project context

The project aims to reduce the threats to biodiversity in the Suriname Amazon by securing equitable management of its protected and productive landscapes. Being fully complementary to the ongoing GEF project to improve the environmental management of ASGM, this project targets threats related to ill-planned and illegal forestry and infrastructure, recognizing these as interacting with ASGM. It will do so through integrated approaches that deliver mutually supportive conservation and sustainable livelihood benefits. The project strategy addresses the national scale by strengthening institutional capacities for integrated landscape management and conservation and promoting enabling policies for SFM and nature tourism, among others. Field based project interventions will take place in two target productive landscapes: 1) Saamaka/Matawai landscape; and 2) the Coeroeni/Paroe landscape. The four protected areas targeted by the project include: the Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR), the Sipaliwini Nature Reserve (SNR), Brownsberg Nature Park (BNP), and the Brinckheuvel Nature Reserve (BNR) (see Annex 1 for maps and more detailed descriptions of these areas). The implementing partner (GBB and the responsible partners (LBB, SBB) will contribute to the project objectives with their own funds (co-financing) through the articulation of their strategies and policies for protected areas, forest management and sustainable livelihoods with the activities and outcomes of the project, in collaboration with other public and private agencies. The latter actors will directly contribute to the project with their own funds for activities that contribute to the project objectives in the targeted landscapes and at the national level (CI, ACT, WWF, Tropenbos, SFM Group).

The project will be implemented over a period of 60 months and will be coordinated through a project management team located at the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management in Suriname.

Scope 

The Project Manager (PM) has the responsibility to ensure the effective and efficient day-to-day implementation of the project with assistance from the project assistant Technical and Administrative Monitoring, who supports the implementation and monitoring of project activities. The Project Manager should facilitate the development of the planned activities and work in close collaboration with the ASL Technical experts, the Sub Directorate Forest Management, the Suriname Forest Service (LBB) cq. Nature Conservation Division (NCD), Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB) and other project partners.

Summary and detailed list of key functions

The Project Manager (PM), is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision of the Project Management Unit staff, consultants and sub-contractors and coordination with the implementing party, responsible parties (SBB and LBB) and UNDP. He/she is also responsible for the generation of outputs in direct control of GBB. His/her tasks include.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensure project management and implementation 

• Manage the overall direction of the project.
• Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the approved workplan.
• Coordinate activities of personnel, goods and services, training and low-value grants, including drafting terms of reference and work specifications.
• Project monitoring plan, update the plan as required and take corrective actions.
• Manage requests for the provision of UNDP financial resources through funding advances, direct payments or reimbursement using the FACE form.
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Perform regular progress reporting to the project board as agreed with the board, including measures to address challenges and opportunities.
• Prepare and submit financial reports to UNDP on a quarterly basis.
• Prepare revisions to the multi-year workplan, as needed, as well as annual and quarterly plans if required.
• Coordinate and organize that all necessary documentation for the Project Board meetings, review meetings and evaluation missions are prepared.
• Supervises PMU staff and coordinates the work with the project implementation teams and local or international consultants working for the project.
• Oversee consultants and delivery of quality outputs within the specified time.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of financial reports.
• Liaise and follow up with the responsible parties for implementation of project activities in matters related to project funds and financial progress reports.
• Review project expenditures and ensure that project funds are used in compliance with the Project Document and Government of Suriname financial rules and procedures.
• Participates in or leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Ensure all project-related financial documentation are well maintained and readily available when required.

2. Ensure partnership building and other activities

• Develops and maintains relationships with main counterparts within country (e.g. with government departments, NGOs, farmers’ organizations’, community leaders) to ensure buy-in and successful implementation.
• Maintain linkages with the other regional and national projects, dealing with climate change related issues and identifying opportunities for partnership and collaboration with other agencies, organizations and donors for enhancing the quality of the project.
• Supports capacity building activities in-country undertakes outreach and advocacy activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings and conferences to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Supports the work of the other specialists, including research and data collection, coordinating stakeholder consultations, conducting surveys, identifying strategic partners and synergies.
• Participate in the development, formulation, implementation and evaluation of national activities related to Biodiversity, Landscape and Wildlife management, reviews relevant documents and reports.
• Researches, analyses and presents information gathered from diverse sources related to climate change adaptation; prepares various knowledge products, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Oversight of technical and logistical support to GBB, LBB and SBB in development of grants and monitor their technical performance.
• Oversight of logistical and technical assistance to GBB, LBB and SBB training events (including institutional coordination) and assist in monitoring impact of training on target audiences, including application of UNDP Capacity Scorecard to GBB , LBB and SBB.
• Coordinate the activities for the development of Coeroeni-Paroe assessment and plan, in coordination with VIDS, ACT and ROS.

Facilitate knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation

• Ensure M&E and knowledge resources management.
• Provide guidance on KAP survey targeting relevant stakeholder groups to measure impact of communication efforts.
• Coordinate the development and monitor implementation of detailed work plan for monitoring, evaluation, sustainability and scaling for the project.
• Coordinate the development of livelihood action plan and ESMP.
• Management in monitoring project indicators, stakeholder involvement, gender and ESFM.
• Ensure the timely measurement of project indicators and make results available for progress reports, PIR and external evaluations.
• Assist in the preparation of project progress reports/PIR.

Ensure all project documentation (progress reports, consulting and other technical reports, minutes of meetings, etc.) are properly included in KM system.

• Ensure project information on Amazon conservation and sustainable development, generated by the project, is systematized and publicly available.
• Oversight of PMU-related logistical assistance.
• Supervise grantee selection process, and administrative management of grant contracts and consultancy contracts.
• Coordinate operational management of training and communication events, including travel and workshop venues.
• Gather necessary technical and financial information for the preparation of progress reports and PIR.
• Elaborate and deliver financial information for progress reports, final reports and external evaluations.

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 (has a Technical and Administrative Monitoring project Assistant and) s/he reports to the Deputy Permanent Secretary Forest Management. On a day-to-day basis, S/he will work in close coordination with colleagues of the PMU, the Ministry of GBB, NCD, SBB and the UNDP Suriname Office, local and international consultants, other responsible partners, Key Ministries of the project.

Competencies

Core

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-functional & Technical competencies

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Academic Education   

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent)  in Social Sciences, International Development, Sustainable Development; Natural Resource/Environmental Management, Management, Economics, or a Climate Change related field is required.Or

 A Bachelor’s Degree with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s Degree.

Min. years of relevant Work experience         

A minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant project management experience, with at least one year experience in managing natural resource management related projects 

Desired additional skills and competencies       

• At least 3 years of proven experience working with Government, Civil Society, International Organizations and Donors.
• At least 3 years of experience with donor funded development projects.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and networking skills and establish effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
  • Computer skills, incl. internet navigation and various office applications. A working knowledge of Microsoft Project Planner 
  • Experience and knowledge of UNDP and other foreign-assisted project implementation procedures, including procurement, disbursements and reporting and monitoring is highly desirable;
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PP, Adobe Creative Cloud; etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems. Experience in using facebook and Twitter;

Required Language(s) (at working level) 

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Dutch 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.

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.