The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives.

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. Following a strategic review process which was completed in June 2022, UNDP Pacific office structure is aligned to the emerging priorities of the office. In this regard, the programme portfolio will include mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around two clusters (i) Resilience and Climate Change; and ii) Inclusive growth and Effective governance, supported by a policy and innovation team, Operations team, Management and Oversight team that provides strategic guidance on  results Management  and compliance entrusted with the corporate alignment, programme finance management and quality assurance,  and strategic communications  team that provides knowledge management and communication support to all programme interventions.

Within the Pacific Office Multi-Country Office (MCO), the Programme team has a responsibility of developing, providing oversight and ensuring adherence to the quality standards of UNDP’s projects and programmes in full alignment with the priorities set out in the MCPD and CF, during the design, implementation, and closure of projects and programme. Programme Staff high level advice to all PICs supported by UNDP on programming, technical issues covered under the MCPD, advocate for UNDP Corporate messages and engage partners including governments, private sector, development partners, civil society organizations, UNDP corporate bodies including regional and Headquarters to coordinate and catalyze knowledge, lessons learning and partnerships to design effective and innovative programmes. Programme team further oversees effective implementation of the multi-country programme and its outcomes and strategic direction of UNDP, contribution to UN cooperation framework. It also plays important role in strategic planning in close consultation with the Management and oversight unit, target-setting, and results monitoring/reporting. The team further ensures that quality principles as per the UNDP policies and guidelines are adhered to during the entire cycle of programming and across management of portfolios. Strategic partnerships support resource mobilization and identify strategic programme areas of cooperation for new initiatives, including joint programming opportunities. Programme team is responsible to maintain effective 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.

In this context, under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (North Pacific, FSM), the Area Project Specialist will innovate development projects in the respective region. They will be responsible for the design of project portfolios and promote the organization’s capacity as a reliable partner with national counterparts. The Area Project Specialist will ensure coordination of sectoral activities with broader country programme.

The Area Project Specialist will directly report to the Deputy Resident Representative (North Pacific, FSM) and will work with the other Programme colleagues in the team. Organigram is shown in the annex.

Innovate, develop, and implement projects strategies and processes:

• Innovate, develop and implement project plans and priorities, encouraging effective teamwork and inclusiveness, and building a team spirit through regular meetings and team events across projects.
• Develop and launch new strategic and project initiatives to establish the programme portfolio in line with the MCPD.
• Ensure UNDP policies and procedures are understood by the project team and implemented.
• Coordinate and facilitate technical decisions on programme and/or project administration and implementation with the aim to promote convergence and integration of the UNDP supported programs, all in close collaboration with the respective Deputy Resident Representative.
• Coordinate major studies, assessments, and evaluation exercises as well as monitoring of UNDP project activities, in collaboration with MPO.
• Ensure synergy and harmonization among the various UNDP Projects in the region/area.
• Coordinate the Assurance function with the Multi-Country Office for effective management of the projects by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the programme progress through monitoring, evaluation and reporting as required.
• Ensure adherence of programme activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations and, at the same time, observing the project timelines, in collaboration with the Operations team.
• Facilitate monitoring of the MCPD including the UNSDCF Country Implementation Plans and Annual Programme Reviews, and projects with project staff, to review project progress, review beneficiary feedback, identify corrective actions required, and capture learning.
• Report to the DRR on the achievement of outputs within the covered region, as well as challenges in implementation, and flag emerging risks in a timely and pro-active manner.
• Coordinate project personnel, consultants, and experts with a view to achieving programme results, nurturing a culture of results with highest performance standards.
• Serve as the security focal point for the area.

Promote the organization’s capacity as a reliable partner with national and international counterparts:

• Lead and prepare regular situation briefs on political, social, economic, and environmental issues to help inform pipeline development and programme priorities.
• Ensures that use of UNDP’s resources is optimized through cross-sectoral planning, implementation, and monitoring. All financial inputs are in line with UNDP’s policies and procedures as well as agreed programme strategies; Programme implementation is regularly monitored and progress, where applicable, evaluated to ensure achievement of the planned results and objectives.
• Review the quality of progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks issues, expenditures, and others as requested) and ensure timely submission of the reports to the relevant instances, such as the project boards and relevant donors.
• Maintain regular communication on relevant issues with the local and international counterparties, consultants, and experts and ensure quality and timely delivery of all agreed outputs.
• Maintain effective internal communication and coordination at field level and effective and proactive communication with relevant MCO units.
• Coordinate and contribute substantively to the preparation of the programme and briefing notes for the field missions to the country by the MCO senior management, global/regional programme advisors, donors as appropriate.
• Drive for local visibility for UNDP in development effectiveness, particularly with donors and/or development partners.
• Ensure that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with the Communication Team in the country office.
• Identifying opportunities for deepening the cooperation and recommending adequate approaches to dealing with different stakeholders based on information on all relevant stakeholders gathered during area programme implementation.
• Provide logistical and other support for MCO donor visits in the geographic area of responsibility.
• Coordinate activities with other UN Agencies for the UN Joint programmes and other development partners, regional organizations and/or CSOs acting in the same geographic and thematic area.

Review, analyze, and align the area programme with UNDP priorities to ensure coordination of sectoral activities with broader country programme:

• Coordinate thematic, portfolio and sectoral activities in close collaboration with the MCO Programme teams.
• Ensure the principles of gender equality, democratic governance, social inclusion, and disaster resilience are effectively reflected in all area programme activities.
• Ensure that gender equality is pursued in all project activities and reflected in work plans, budgets, reports, research, and analyses.
• Facilitate synergies with UNDP projects and programmes on related activities where possible.
• Strive to engage groups and communities in project activities that affect them through participatory processes.
• Communicate project goals and activities clearly to both stakeholders and the wider public.
• Contribute to the whole-of-office corporate annual planning and the end-of-year reporting with the data and key results achieved in the area.

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