Portfolio and Policy Analyst, Climate Change and Biodiversity

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    CONTRACTOR
  • Posted:
    4 weeks ago
  • Category:
    Climate and Disaster Resilience, Environment and Natural Resources
  • Deadline:
    21/11/2023

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
UNDP has supported Montenegro to meet its reporting requirements to international treaty bodies on environment/climate change and increasing and implementing its national climate pledges. UNDP has successfully piloted a number of innovative initiatives to reduce the country’s carbon footprint in the tourism and transport sectors, improve management of natural assets and overall coordination for sustainable development. UNDP’s green and inclusive growth and stewardship of natural resources portfolio foresees piloting and scaling up initiatives to protect nature, promote sustainable use of resources and encourage green growth. At the same time, it is foreseen to strengthen resilience to climate-driven disasters and the institutional capacities, both on national and local level, needed to prepare and implement development strategies that reduce emissions, are resilient to climate change and accelerate sustainable development. Special attention is given to advocacy to increase the participation of women in designing the country’s climate mitigation and adaptation responses. This requires more efforts to understand and address gender gaps in responding to climate change and evolving green labor market opportunities, while protecting vulnerable groups to ensure a gender-just transition.

Country Office is investing efforts in enhancing Montenegro’s capacity to integrate climate change risks into key sectors (agriculture, tourism, water and health) planning and strengthening climate change adaptation institutional coordination framework, expanding the technical capacities of those responsible and involved in adaptation planning, enhance the evidence base required for effective decision making, and define a resource mobilization strategy. In parallel through the Climate Promise UNDP is supporting the analytical work to ensure that the country is able to increase the ambition of the national climate pledge, based on evidence and data supporting such decision.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the respective Team Leader, the Portfolio and Policy Analyst will be responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient implementation and delivery of the results as well as the advocacy based on the achieved results of the portfolio of projects entailing:
  • Enhancing Montenegro’s capacity to integrate climate change risks into planning – development of the National Adaptation Plan – funded by the Green Climate Fund – GCF,
  • UNDP’S Climate Promise: From Pledge to Impact – II stage funded by UNDP.
  • National component of the Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Policy and Institutional Review – funded by Global Environment Facility – GEF.

The Portfolio and Policy Analyst will be responsible for the identification of needs and resource mobilization opportunities and ensuring the facilitation of the design of pertinent new initiatives contributing to green and inclusive growth and natural resources preservation and proper management, inter alia:

  • Strengthening biodiversity through enhanced habitat connectivity and area-based investment, to be funded by the Global Environment Facility – GEF
  • The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Program, National Adaption Plan – Phase 2

In parallel, the incumbent will be responsible for collaboration with policymakers and providing policy advice and strategic inputs to design and develop policies, programs, and initiatives that support green and inclusive growth.

In performing this general responsibility, the incumbent will be required to carry out the following main tasks on a regular basis:

Project management:

  • Manage the implementation of project activities in a gender sensitive manner and contribute to the further development of the project through its promotion and partnership building with the relevant stakeholders and relevant international and local partners;
  • Coordinate resource mobilization activities and negotiate with donors for projects/activities within the framework of the projects and maintaining regular communication with them, and actively participate in the design and development of new interventions;
  • Contribute to the formulation and development of new projects and strategic plans that are in line with the UNDP strategic focus and gender sensitive;
  • Advise UNDP on strategic matters and global developments related to the climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and other related topics;
  • Monitor implementation progress and ensure quality and timely reporting to donors and relevant partners;
  • Maintain regular communication with other UN Agencies, CSOs, international organizations and stakeholders;
  • Ensure successful completion of the projects’ in accordance with the stated outcomes and performance indicators summarized in the project’s results framework and within the planned schedule and budget;
  • Identify and develop interventions in line with national priorities and building up on the existing portfolio of UNDP Montenegro.

Project implementation component: oversee day-to-day project activities:

  • Organize team members and consultants; prepare and assign due tasks, monitor progress on regular basis and facilitate professional development of team members;
  • Ensure that the project work plans are prepared and updated on time and reflect project/s objectives and outputs from the Results and Resources Framework;
  • Ensure timely coordination and recruitment of individual consultants and ensure gender sensitive process;
  • Ensure that procurement of goods and services under the project is undertaken in an optimal quality manner;
  • Supervise and coordinate the contracts of various vendors contracted for the purpose of specific project activities’ implementation;
  • Monitor implementation progress and ensure, results based, quality and timely reporting to project partners and internally;
  • Ensure projects’ and portfolio’s visibility and communication in close coordination with the CO communications team/s
  • In cooperation with the Project Assistant, support the maintenance of complete accounting records of all the project activities (budget, commitments, expenditures, income); ensure proper follow up in relation to project expenditures, approval, and financial reporting;
  • Be responsible for title of transfer of all the assets purchased and used under the project;
  • Monitor the resources being spent i.e. approve requisitions in Quantum, and certify/confirm receipt of goods and services.
  • Advice the respective Team Leader on potential adjustments of actions and procedures in light of changing requirements, issues, risks and needs.

Policy advice, knowledge management and partnership:

  • Identify strategic opportunities for the projects/portfolio to achieve greater development impact;
  • Undertake a comprehensive overview of good international practices in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and other relevant areas and foster similar practices within the portfolio;
  • Provide strategic inputs to drafting policy documents, proposals, and recommendations to national and local decision makers;
  • Contribute to the analytical work of UNDP and ensure high quality knowledge products. Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof within the Country Office
  • Seek and identify partnership opportunities and contribute to the preparation of donor briefings and presentations in support of resource mobilization efforts as appropriate;
  • Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies;
  • Strengthen partnerships with and build capacities of national and local authorities.

With the support of the Country Office Communications, the incumbent will make sure that the Projects/Portfolio take account of principal components of communications/advocacy campaigns in order to:

  • Ensure project visibility by keeping target public informed about projects’ and portfolio’s objectives, results/achievements and their impact on the recipient communities;
  • Ensure that outputs produced by the projects are adequately communicated in partnership with relevant institutions and donors;
  • Contribute to the learning and knowledge sharing within UNDP and among external partners at the country, regional and global levels.

Institutional Arrangement

The Portfolio and Policy Analyst reports to the Team Leader for Inclusive and Green Growth and Stewardship of Natural Resources. S/he works in close collaboration with other members of the programme team, the operations team, UNDP HQs global and regional, other UN Agencies staff, government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, civil society and private sector. The Portfolio and Policy Analyst supervises the Project Coordinator/s and the Project Assistant.

Competencies
Core Competencies
  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning.
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.
People Management competencies:
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
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 – Negotiation and Influence
    • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations
  • Partnership Management  –  Resource Mobilization
    • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
  • Business Management  – Project Management
    • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • Business Management –  Partnership 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.
  • Business Management  – 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.
  • 2030 Agenda: Planet – Nature, Climate and Energy
    • Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resources Management.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
  • Master’s degree in economics, natural science, social sciences, technical science, management, marketing or other related field is required.
  • Bachelor’s degree in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the Master’s degree.
Experience
  • Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in complex project management and negotiations with donors.
  • Experience and knowledge of climate change, green and inclusive economic development, biodiversity and natural resources management is required.

Language

  • Fluency in English and Montenegrin is required.
Required Skills
  • Proficient usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
Desired Skills
  • Experience in managing teams and complex projects/processes that include extensive communication, coordination and facilitation with public and private sector partners, and leveraging financing for activities of common interest;
  • Experience in managing projects of similar complexity and nature, including demonstrated capacity to actively explore new, innovative implementation and financing mechanisms to achieve the projects’ objectives;
  • Experience in facilitating mainstreaming climate change and biodiversity issues into sectoral policies;
  • Experience and knowledge of the approaches and the best practices in catalyzing climate adaptation and biodiversity initiatives;
  • Familiarity and prior experience with UNDP and vertical funds requirements and procedures.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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