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Office/Unit/Project Description
Ethiopia has underscored the significant role of forests in sustainable development through a range of policies and strategies. Initiatives such as the CRGE strategy, National Forest Sector Development Program (NFSDP), REDD+ Strategy, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and the Ten-Year Forest Sector Development Program exemplify the country’s commitment to leveraging the forest sector for economic growth while addressing environmental and climate challenges at national and global levels. Central to these efforts is the focus on combatting deforestation and forest degradation of carbon and biodiversity rich forests, increasing forest cover through afforestation and reforestation, and restoring degraded areas mainly through Assisted Natural Regeneration techniques. The overarching goal is to enhance the forest sector’s positive impact on community well-being, economic growth, and ecosystem functionality.
The REDD+ Investment Programme II (RIP II) consists of three components: Afforestation/Reforestation (RIP-AR), Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation (RIP-DD), and the Forest Sector Transformation Unit (FSTU). This program, implemented by the Ethiopian Forestry Development and funded by the Royal Norwegian Government, is designed to advance the ambitions of the Government of Ethiopia.
Therefore, the Ethiopian Forestry Development’s RIP II program is actively looking to recruit a highly skilled Programme Specialist to coordinate RIP/AR activities at the national level and maintain the current positive momentum of the program. The selected individual will be entrusted with various responsibilities aimed at enhancing forestry development initiatives in the country. Furthermore, specific qualifications, expertise, and essential skills and experiences required for this role are detailed to ensure the selection of a candidate capable of effectively advancing the program’s objectives.
Scope of Work, Expected Roles, and Responsibilities of the Incumbent:
The primary responsibility of this position is to coordinate and provide guidance on the implementation of RIP-AR II at the national level. Additionally, he/she will work closely with various development partners and government institutions at both the national and regional levels. The incumbent of this position will also have a supervisory role over a team of three staff members.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specifically, the Programme Specialist for RIP-AR II will have the following tasks and roles s/he will be responsible to:
1. Lead and coordinate activities of the staff of the National RIP-AR, SPSF programme:
- Coordinate national stakeholders and development partners in the implementation of the National RIP-AR II;
- Leading to establish and maintain implementation framework for project activities;
- Coordinate, facilitate, support, and monitor the implementation of RIP-AR II activities across six regional states;
- Facilitate dialogue and discussions with development partners for ensuring the continuity of financing (fund mobilization) for the implementation of the National Forest Sector Development Programme;
- Leading the efforts to maintain and enhance the partnership with Sida;
- Mobilize Resource: work closely with UN agencies and relevant stakeholders to solicit resources from GEF, GCF, The World Bank Group, African Development Bank, and other multilateral and bilateral development partners;
- Establish and strengthen partnership with government and non- government organizations for joint resource mobilization and project implementation;
- Facilitate the coordination of policy development processes on issues related to REDD+, forestry and climate change;
- Support the design and implementation of capacity building and investment programs related to REDD+ programs for national and subnational actors for ensuring an effective and efficient REDD+ program implementation;
- Ensure the proper communications and dissemination of information related to Ethiopia’s forest development and land restoration experiences to national and international stakeholders in a transparent manner through appropriate channels (e.g., website);
- Leading and overseeing the establishment of a web-based information system to develop the knowledge management system;
- Ensure proper engagement and participation of stakeholders on REDD+ processes using its governance structures at various levels.
2. Take responsibility and leadership to initiate, manage, and coordinate various activities, such as activity and budget planning, M&E and preparing periodic reports:
- Organize meetings with the national and regional stakeholders as appropriate;
- Support project teams in the delivery of the activities, as needed (including, for example, selection for key activities, holding stakeholder meetings, designing trainings, creating and tracking progress);
- Work with a team of forestry, soil and water conservation, training and research officers, socio-economic and GIS experts in the projects.
3. Build capabilities within programme teams through training, design of implementation/ tracking tools, and coaching on project A/R, ANR, PFM and related livelihoods delivery:
- Identify issues in project delivery and work collaboratively with project teams to identify solutions and help resolve them;
- Liaise across projects, track delivery, and track overall impact towards forest sector/CRGE goals;
- Facilitate the coordination of policy development processes on issues related to forestry and climate change;
- Facilitate coordination meetings with project teams to review overall progress and identify opportunities across projects for shared learning and resourcing;
- Support training for the forest sector development programme;
- Participating in the forest sector’s strategic development;
- Provide support to consultants or partner organizations contracted for assessment and training.
4. Monitor the programme risks as initially identified in the Programme and identify new risks for consideration and decision on possible actions; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Programme Risk Log:
- Identify and initiate technical studies in relation to the implementation of the National Forest Sector Development Programme and RIP (A/R and ANR);
- Lead the harmonization of the different technical planning, monitoring, financial and operational efforts around the forest sector development programme and RIP (A/R and ANR) programme activities at national and regional levels;
- Provide technical inputs to the planning, implementation, monitoring and delivery of operational activities towards the realization of the programme outputs;
- Follow up and monitor the activities of projects.
5. Provide technical inputs during planning for the activities related to rehabilitation of degraded forest lands, afforestation/reforestation and other alternative livelihood and budget in accordance with project plans:
- Ensure broader participation and engagement of the stakeholders and update the plan on a regular basis as required;
- Supervise national FSDP team staff at federal, regional and woreda levels.
Institutional Arrangement:
The Programme Specialist for RIP-AR II will work under the direct supervision of the General Director of Ethiopian Forest Development (EFD) and overall guidance and supervision of the Climate Resilient Environmental Sustainability Unit (CRES) Team Leader.
Competencies
Core Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ;
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management
- Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
- Partnership Management
- Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector;
- Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources;
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
- 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.
Business Direction & Strategy
- Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
- Ability to leverage learning from various of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
- System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment 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.
- Effective Decision Making
- Ability to make decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
Partnership Management
- Relationship Management
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding.
Minimum Qualifications
Education Requirements:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Forestry or a relevant related field is required, or;
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant work experience:
- Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in forestry is required.
Required experience:
- Experience in leading and coordinating forest development and forest landscape restoration programs at a national level is required;
- Proven experience in project proposal development and management experience (development and implementation of annual work plans, financial and technical management of contracts, supervision of consultants, liaison with relevant stakeholders, etc.) is required.
Desired experience:
- At least 3 years of project management experience in forest development and forest landscape restoration areas;
- Proven experience in resource mobilization in the forestry sector from different donors and practical knowledge of resource mobilization processes from GEF, GCF, The World Bank Group, African Development Bank, and other multilateral and bilateral development partners is required;
- Demonstrated team leadership qualities including strong managerial and partner or stakeholder engagement skills, effective strategic plans and strengthening the capacity of public bodies, particularly in forest development and forest landscape restoration program;
- Proven familiarity with and knowledge of the National Forestry Policy and Strategies, the National Forest Sector Development Programme, and REDD+ implementation, along with the ability to design demonstrated activities aligned with national priorities is desirable;
- Proven understanding of the National Forest Sector Development Programme and implications for designing demonstration activities based on national priorities is desirable;
- Demonstrated experience in working with multi-stakeholder teams, ideally representing different government and non-government agencies is desirable;
- Experience in setting up and managing a web-based database management system is an asset;
- Excellent knowledge of the concepts and issues of Knowledge management and Geospatial data management is an asset.
Required Language(s) (at working level):
- Fluency in English is required.
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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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements