Background

a. Purpose

The purpose of the position is to provide technical support to conceptualization and implementation of UNEP programme activities in the Republic of Serbia, under the guidance of Vienna Programme Office and under the umbrella of UNEP Regional Office for Europe.

b. Objective

To ensure results oriented, effective, efficient, and accountable implementation of the UNEP programme activities and achievement of programme results.

c. Background Information

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP has the mandate to keep the state of the global and regional environment under review, in order to inform decision making on the state and trends of our changing environment, and to foresee emerging environmental problems and threats, particularly those of a transboundary nature.

UNEP is dedicated to advancing the environmental dimension of sustainable development, by supporting countries address a range of critical challenges pertaining to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, by reverting challenges into opportunities and promoting the green economy and responsible environmental financing, among other. As such, UNEP contributes with its broad expertise and experience to planning frameworks, including the Common Country Analyses and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF).

While headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP operates in Serbia through its Regional Office for Europe based in Geneva, and Programme Office based in Vienna. Under the UNSDCF between UN and Government of Serbia, UNEP primarily contributes to the achievement of Outcome 1: Serbia harnesses the full potential of a green, sustainable, and inclusive economy. At the same time, while seeking partnership opportunities and synergies to mainstream environmental sustainability also into other Outcomes of the Cooperation Framework by actively engaging with the Office of the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UN Country Team (UNCT) in Serbia, UNEP works on increasing awareness of environmental priorities and influencing national and local planning processes in line with its Mid-Term Strategy and Programme of Work (PoW).

Duties and Responsibilities

Measurable outputs of the work assignment

Overall responsibilities:

• Contribute to the overall implementation of UNEP programme in Serbia.
• Provide technical advice and support in conceptualizing and implementing programme activities.
• Prepare detailed work plans for projects in cooperation with UNEP Project Managers.
• Support UNEP Project Managers in ensuring required standards for outcomes achieved within the specified cost and time limits.
• Liaise with UNEP regional, national, and local partners.
• Organize and coordinate project activities such as workshops, studies and publications, subcontracts, and administrative support.
• In cooperation with UNEP Project Managers develop the scope of the work, TORs and other documentation required to identify and facilitate recruitment of experts and consultants as well as agreements with implementing partners.
• Supervise consultants and subcontractors engaged in delivering aspects of the project’s work plans, as well as provide guidance and reviews of their deliverables.
• Coordinate the field activities among beneficiaries, consultants, services/goods providers, and others.
• Ensure that relevant information and data is captured, documented, analysed and reported in a results-based and timely manner through policy briefs, narrative internal and external reports.
• Identify and ensure synergy with other relevant ongoing/new projects.
• Support development of relevant policy briefs, lessons learned documents, communication materials, website updates, and other relevant publications.
• Maintain good cooperation and coordination between national counterparts, UNEP implementing partners and other stakeholders.
• Maintain regular contacts with beneficiaries to ensure relevance and quality of projects’ outputs.
• Support the partnerships and advocacy activities agreed by the UNEP in the area/sector covered by the project.

Support UNEP representation in the UNCT in Serbia, by providing technical and policy advice to UNEP UNCT focal point, towards strengthened action on climate, biodiversity and pollution

• Take part in UNCT meetings, Cooperation Framework Environment Outcome/ Results Groups, joint programming groups, Programme Management Team, Operations Management Team and other advisory groups, as observer and/or when requested by the UNEP UNCT focal point.
• Facilitate regular communication with RCs and UNCTs.
• Support UNEP-relevant input submission to the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and reporting under the UNSDCF.
• Support liaison with UNEP staff across the Regional Offices and Divisions to ensure UNEP project results are reflected in UNCT planning and reporting processes – including integration in UNSDCF annual workplans, reporting in UN-info, and inclusion in UNCT annual reports.
• Support the development of UNEP’s country engagement plan for Serbia.
• Advise UNEP UNCT focal point on opportunities to advance programmes and projects within the country and the UNCT.
• Support provision of advisory and technical assistance support from Divisions & Regional Offices to RCs/UNCTs based on demand from RCs and UNCTs, e.g. RC speeches, Op Eds, resource people based on needs etc.
• Promote UNEP work in relevant UN-Government country development dialogues and processes (e.g. national food system action plans, VNR preparation, UN-Government roundtables, joint UN policy briefs etc.).
• Support proactive briefing of the RC/UNCT on UNEA sessions and outcomes, MEA COP outcomes and priorities and on other issues related to environment as requested by the RC.
• Identify opportunities and support UNEP engagement in relevant joint UN projects and initiatives on environment.
• If requested by the RC, provide feedback to the annual consultation with the RC to identify contribution to the UNCT and related workplan activity/goal (in line with new UN Management and Accountability Framework).

Provide support in identification of programmatic opportunities and project development:

• Provide technical support/advise on the changes in country conditions, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country’s wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies.
• Provide technical support during development of new projects and programmes by participating in the theory of change development, logframe design and budgeting, including for M&E purposes.
• Contribute to the development of the results-based annual work plans with indicators, baselines and targets, established at outcome, output and activity levels.
• Contribute to the development of pipeline initiatives, while taking into account the alignment of new project proposals with UNEP Mid-Term Strategy, Programme of Work, global Programme Coordination Project (PCP) and regional Corporate Project (CP).

Monitor progress and inform on risks, ensuring that changes are controlled and problems addressed:

• Carry out regular follow-up and monitoring of implementation activities, as well as regular monitoring and reporting on implementing issues, emerging risks/problems and proposals for necessary remedial actions.
• Propose, develop, and implement changes and/or new solutions for the Monitoring and Evaluation framework.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of required reports, including technical and financial reports to relevant parties as well as bi-annual progress and expenditure reports, and final reports as per the requirements of the donors.
• Ensure high quality and accuracy of project and programme results presented in donor reports, corporate reports and communication materials.
• Provide regular updates on the progress to key stakeholders.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits in line with project plans (administrative, technical, and financial monitoring) and actively communicate any relevant information to the Project Manager.
• Collect all relevant financial and other documentation, and control accuracy of reports on the expenditure of the funds.
• Monitor expenditures and prepare budget revisions as necessary; follow up with UNEP admin and finance staff on issues.
• Support the preparation of reviews and evaluations as defined in the project document, as well as subsequent organization and conducting of evaluation missions.
• Maintain regular exchange of information/experience with other projects/team members, cross-learning and sharing results and good practices.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results

• Project results delivered.
• Direction and guidance to Project team provided.
• Dialogue with relevant Ministries, stakeholders and beneficiaries maintained.
• Reports and Workplans developed on time in line with quality standards.
• Project’s activities and achievements captured and presented.
• Team learning and knowledge management.

Competencies

Core competencies

• Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Good application of Results-Based Management.
• Good communication, coordination, and facilitation skills.
• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work.
• Establishes lasting relationships and substantive dialogue with stakeholders.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling ethical standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental sciences, engineering, management, international relations, economics, or related studies.

• Bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience can be taken into consideration in lieu of Master`s degree.
• Postgraduate degree will be considered as an asset.

Work experience:

• Up to 2 years (with master’s degree) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level in similar position, preferably in the environmental context.
• Experience in supporting management of teams and complex projects/processes that included extensive communication, coordination, and facilitation requirements.
• Experience in partnership building at international, national, regional, and local level.
• The following specific experiences will be considered as an asset: experience working in the UN system or other international organizations; experience in managing projects focused on capacity building.

Knowledge

• Excellent understanding of Serbia’s environment sector and related socio-economic context.
• Understanding of current policies and major development challenges.
• Knowledge in the use of computers and office software packages.

Personal qualifications

• Ability to organize and motivate team, deliver when working under pressure and within changing circumstances.
• Excellent writing/reporting and presentation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and team building skills.

Language: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Serbian and English.