UNDP’s mission is to support Viet Nam’s transformation to a sustainable and circular growth model where current and future generations of the country unite to contribute and benefit from its economic, social and natural advancement. UNDP seeks to expand the existing coalition and expertise to accelerate optimized resources management for sustained human development and economic growth and reduction of negative impacts on the environment, thus enabling Viet Nam to become a green and resilient country and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Organizationally, the UNDP CO is divided into two main business tracks (programme and operations) and managed by a Senior Management team consisting of the Resident Representative, the Deputy Resident Representative, and the heads of the three main programme units, which are: (i) the Climate Change, Energy and Environment (CCEEU); (ii) the Governance and Participation; and (iii) the Inclusive and Equitable Growth Team.
The six portfolios under the umbrella of the CCEEU are:

1. Climate and disaster resilience;
2. Green and Low-carbon development;
3. Circular Economy and Waste/Plastic;
4. Natural Resources and Biodiversity;
5. Climate – Health;
6. GEF’s Small Grants Programme.

Over the past years, UNDP has developed a comprehensive Circular Economy and Waste/Plastic portfolio of projects and technical advisory activities to support the Government of Viet Nam in the transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy, in which the transformation of business in seen as a vehicle to drive such change.
On 23 December 2020, The World Economic Forum (WEF), though Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) partnered with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Viet Nam to officially launch a national collaboration platform for plastic pollution action, the Viet Nam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP). The Viet Nam NPAP is a nationally led multi-stakeholder cooperation platform that brings together diverse community members including the Government of Viet Nam, social organizations, the private sector and international development partners. It facilitates initiatives and funding to scale and accelerate in-country partnership that address plastic waste and pollution, while contributing to the nation’s progress towards achieving many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Viet Nam NPAP is working with the Government of Viet Nam to support the government to achieve key national targets as set out in Decision No. 1746/QD-TTg dated December 4, 2019 on approval of the National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030, including reducing plastic waste in marine bodies by half by 2025, reducing marine plastics by 75% and to collect 100% of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear by 2030, and eliminating single-use plastics and non-biodegradable plastic bags from coastal tourist attractions and ensuring that marine protected areas are completely free of plastic waste by 2030. During its first tw years, the Viet Nam NPAP has commissioned scoping and diagnostic exercises to create an evidence-based fact base for all stakeholders, developed a national roadmap for implementation of the national plastic action plan, developed a gender equality and inclusion strategy, and supported the development of a circular economy framework for the plastics sector.

From August 2022, in strong alignment with the overall circular economy portfolio of the UNDP Viet Nam Country Office (CO), the CO will take on the role of hosting the Secretariat of the Viet Nam NPAP. UNDP will work closely with MONRE, WEF, national and international members of the Viet Nam NPAP and other stakeholders to catalyze and accelerate the plastic circular economy across key sectors.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on collaboration between WEF and MONRE exchanged on 1 December 2023 at COP28 to support the implementation of Viet Nam NPAP, witnessed by the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to advance the plastic circularity agenda and address the plastic pollution crisis in Viet Nam during the NPAP’s transition into the sustain phase.

UNDP Viet Nam is looking for a Project Analyst who will be mobilized as a key position of the Viet Nam NPAP project at the CO.

Provide effective management, quality assurance and implementation of activities and deliverables of Viet Nam NPAP project under the financing agreement with WEF and in agreement with MONRE

• Lead and ensure the planning and implementation of priority actions of the Viet Nam NPAP in collaboration with the Government and key stakeholders of the NPAP Leadership Board and Task forces and aligned with the Viet Nam NPAP Action Roadmap;
• Ensure the development and consolidation of the NPAP membership, which will include a leadership Board and Task Forces and a wider NPAP community.
• Lead and manage the NPAP Secretariat team and relevant consultants to ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the NPAP Secretariat and the partnership.
• Lead the engagement with NPAP community and ensuring the effective planning and implementation of NPAP membership activities through meetings, technical workshops, plastic talks and other formats of convening, overseeing the preparation of related meeting contents and logistics arrangements by the NPAP Secretariat.
• Lead the planning and implementation of strategic activities of NPAP that accelerate progress reaching reduction/elimination of plastic pollution leakage goals through policy, business shifts, improved public awareness and sustainable financing mechanisms.
• Oversee the partnership communications and knowledge management for Viet Nam NPAP to guarantee that NPAP serves as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and translating commitment into action.
• Manage and monitor the overall NPAP progress to ensure the qualified and timely deliverables
• Coordinate the preparation of operational and financial reporting of the NPAP Secretariat to GPAP Secretariat (including bi-weekly updates, knowledge exchanges, NPAP quarterly reports, final reports) in line with the Viet Nam NPAP Secretariat financing agreement between UNDP Viet Nam CO and the WEF.
• Collaborate in developing and reviewing reports and issue briefs for relevant stakeholders on plastic waste and pollution.
• Review existing literature, studies, news, and events related to plastic waste and pollution.
• Prepare technical content and moderate/facilitate discussion and dialogues on plastic actions in Viet Nam, especially through Plastic Talk series
• Explore new opportunities to increase visibility of NPAP and mobilize resources from NPAP’s members and partners for achieving NPAP’s objectives.
• Develop and ensure a yearly practical workplans for Viet Nam NPAP with inputs from NPAP community and approved by GPAP
• Support the identification of strategic investment partners and investment opportunities for plastic action.

Provision of policy advocacy to tackle plastic pollution

• Maintain relationships with government agencies, NGOs, and industry representatives and organize relevant dialogues and events to gather inputs and promote collaboration to prepare for informing and advocating relevant policies
• Initiate relevant research to ensure evidence based policy advocacy or law enforcement, ensuring stakeholder feedback is integrated and practical solutions are proposed, such as roadmap for implementing the ban on single-use-plastic (SUP)
• Develop strategy for supporting MONRE during the negotiation and implementation of the Global Plastic Treaty on Plastic Pollution, ensuring alignment with national priorities and stakeholder interests such as development of national action plan for implementation of the Global Plastic Treaty.
• Advocate for policies and regulations to deliver benefit for informal sector such as inclusive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Support the implementation of the study and evaluation work for promoting plastic circular economy

Ensure project implementation, build partnerships & resource mobilization

• Oversee the implementation of central component for GEF7 Project on Marine Plastic NAP:
• Work closely with Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands (VASI), PMU  and other relevant partners for developing and agreeing on workplan, procurement packages and project implementation
• Ensure the quality assurance and implement a robust tracking system of indicators and deliverables of the project component
• Taking advantage of NPAP platform and its diverse stakeholders to identify potential opportunities for development of new projects
• Provide technical inputs and review and suggestion for interventions to UNDP on new project formulation;
• Support the development of new concept notes, project proposals in areas relating to plastic reduction and circular economy.
• Engage effectively with project partners, other stakeholders for resources mobilization for NPAP activity implementation and the coming sustain phase of Viet Nam NPAP.
• Contributing to the project implementation and delivery of the circular economy portfolio of UNDP Viet Nam.

Support the implementation of TCCF Project:

• Collaborate with the project team and project’s partners to implement the project activities
• Perform regular assessment on indicators, quality standards that the project deliverables must meet, role of stakeholders, amended actions and track implementation’s progress;

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).

• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
• Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate 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.

• 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 Development

• Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management

• Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Communication. 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

Partnership Management

• Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding. Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships,
  and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
• Resource mobilization. Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet fundingrequirements
• Strategic engagement. Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework – Technical Competencies (2024) buy-in of high-level vision and objectives