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UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others. The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace.

The marine biological diversity of the Kingdom of Tonga is crucial to the well-being of its people and the country’s economy. However, this diversity is under threat from various sources, including habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. The GEF project “Implementation of the Fanga’uta Lagoon Stewardship Plan (Tonga R2R Phase II) and replication of lessons learned from the Tonga R2R Phase I to priority areas in Vava’u” aims to protect Tonga’s indigenous marine species and ecosystems through a holistic Ridge to Reef management approach. This includes strengthened governance, enhanced capacity building, and the development of resilient blue/green livelihoods. The project focuses on conserving wetland ecosystems and implementing an integrated strategy to prevent destructive activities, with the objective of effectively implementing the Fanga’uta Stewardship Plan (FSP) and replicating successful strategies in priority areas in Vava’u. The project consists of three interrelated components: 1) Conservation of critical lagoon ecosystems and catchment management. 2) Governance for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation, and 3) Awareness raising and knowledge management of ecosystem functions and services.

The Project Manager works under the direct supervision of the UNDP Fiji MCO Climate Change and Resilience unit head and collaborates closely with the programme analyst and other relevant country office staff.

The Project Manager will work in close coordination with the Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC). The project manager will be expected to ensure that there is an active dialogue with the  Director of MEIDECC  in terms of providing daily updates regarding the project activities.

The Project Manager’s(PM) primary role is to provide support to the Project Director on project management aspects.  Covering two-thirds of the time. The balance one-third of the time will be spent on providing technical support for key aspects of the project as described below:

• Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation The Project Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of project activities and the delivery of its outputs under the direct guidance of the Project Director. The PM will support and coordinate the activities of all partners, staff, and consultants as they relate to the implementation of the project. This will entail working closely with staff of the MEIDECC, MAFFF, Ministry of Fisheries, District and Town Officers and the Multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (for FSP) and Vava’u Ma’alahi Taskforce Committee to guide the implementation of project activities at the landscape level.  The PM will be responsible for the following specific tasks:
• Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Multi-Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans.
• Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
• Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met.
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
• Ensure that the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and the Gender Action Plan are adhered to during the project implementation; If not, immediately inform UNDP and the Government and identify/discuss solutions;
• Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization.
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.
• Detailed work plans indicating dates for deliverables and budget;
• Documents required by the control management system of UNDP;
• TORs and action plan of the staff and monitoring reports;
• Quarterly reports and financial reports on the consultant’s activities, all stakeholders’ work, and progress of the project to be presented to UNDP (in the format specified by UNDP);
• A final report that summarizes the work carried out by consultants and stakeholders during the period of the project, as well as the status of the project outputs at the end of the project;
• Minutes of meetings and/or consultation processes;
• Yearly Project Implementation Reports/Annual Progress Report (PIRs/APRs);
• Adaptive management of project

Providing Technical Support to the project

• Manage the overall coordination and guidance of the technical aspects of the project
• Lead the preparation of the FSP and Vaipua Channel management/action plans, develop the monitoring plans and oversee the implementation of technical aspects related to FSP and SMA planning and management, conservation and restoration practices, training of field staff, community co-management of wetland resources and community protocols (Output 1.1)
• Technical expertise and responsibility to enhance the functionality of the FSP Secretariat and preparation of TORs and provision of technical guidance to FLC Steering Committee,  and CMCs and district and community committees to enhance their functionality, reporting and monitoring (Output 2.1)
• Coordinate and guide the capacity building and training programs for all stakeholders, including in particular to coordinate and ensure complementarity of training curriculum, training methods and review of training impacts and revision, if deemed necessary
• Technical oversight and technical guidance for the policy and legislative review, support the drafting of amendments, review of district development plans and streamlining monitoring and enforcement mechanisms (Output 2.2)
• Guide and manage the preparation of the Environmental Social Management Plan (ESMP), ensure that it meets the UNEP Social Environmental Standard (SES) guidance (Output 3.4)
• Overall responsible for the development of the information management platform (3.1)
• Develop plans and protocols for inter-agency coordination during the preparation and implementation of the FSP and other management plans for Vava’u (Output 2.1)
• Monitor progress, watch for plan deviations, and make course corrections when needed within project board-agreed tolerances to achieve results.
• Prepare revisions to the multi-year work plan, as needed, as well as annual and quarterly plans if required.
• Prepare the inception report no later than one month after the inception workshop.
• Assess major and minor amendments to the project within the parameters set by UNDP-GEF;
• Support the Mid-term and Terminal Evaluation process.

Developing Strategic Partnerships

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitoring and Reporting on progress in implementing project activities and achieving target sets

• Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of a detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting.
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems and make needed course corrections within agreed-upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management.
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews and end-line assessments and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
• Organize Project Board meetings twice a year to present progress, issues and risks of the project and to seek approval from the Board for the Annual Work Plan; ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials, and minutes of the Board Meetings;
• Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, and initially identify and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions.
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor, and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities.
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Facilitating knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas.

• Identify capacity-building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
• Maintain communications with the Government of Tonga and local communities about progress, future plans and issues of the Project;
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project-related issues. Support the establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for disseminating knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• At the request of the Government and other national partners, prepare ad hoc communication materials to inform the progress of the Project.
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies: