Organization Mission

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the result of the merger of the Expanded United Nations Technical Assistance Programme, created in 1949, and the United Nations Special Fund, established in 1958. The UNDP, as we know it today, was established in 1965 by the United Nations General Assembly.

UNDP works in approximately 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so that countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a crucial role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, promote democratic governance, the rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change and connect countries to the knowledge, expertise, and resources to help people build better lives.

UNDP implements various projects in different areas and offers technical, operational and management assistance to its partners through access to methodologies, specialized knowledge, expert advice and a broad network of international technical cooperation.

To contribute to human development, poverty reduction, and national growth in priority areas, UNDP Brazil has the ongoing mission of aligning its services with the needs of a dynamic, multifaceted, and diverse country. Projects are carried out in partnership with the Brazilian government, international financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

Context

UNDP Brazil, within the framework of its decentralized cooperation strategy, has been supporting subnational governments in strengthening inclusive governance and promoting sustainable development. In this context, the Amazonian Project for Sustainable Management (PAGES), a joint initiative with the Government of the State of Maranhão (GEM) and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), focuses primarily on combating rural poverty and environmental degradation in the Amazon region of Maranhão.

The PAGES project is structured around four complementary components aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive development in rural areas of the Amazon. Component 1 – Integrated Landscape Management – ​​focuses on forest conservation, restoration of degraded areas, and strengthening sustainable livelihoods. Component 2 – Development of Value Chains and Basic Infrastructure – focuses on strengthening the value chains of non-timber forest products and improving the infrastructure supporting production and distribution, with a view to income generation and productive inclusion. Component 3 – Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building – aims to expand the technical and management capacities of public institutions and social organizations operating in the territory. Finally, Component 4 – Project Management, Knowledge and South-South Cooperation (SSTC) – ensures governance, results monitoring, knowledge management, and the exchange of experiences with other developing countries.

Component 03 is fundamental to ensuring the effective implementation of public policies, the mediation of land conflicts, and the establishment of sustainable territorial governance. The professional will work directly to strengthen local institutional capacities, contributing to the reduction of illegal activities and the consolidation of a development model that harmonizes rural production with environmental conservation.

With a duration of six years (2022-2028) and a total budget of US$37 million – US$17 million from IFAD, US$16 million from GEM, and US$4 million in counterpart funding from beneficiaries – the PAGES program aims to directly benefit 64,000 people in rural communities in the Amazon region of Maranhão. Among its main objectives are improving livelihoods through sustainable production systems, reducing CO₂ emissions by 6 million tons equivalent, and strengthening environmental governance and legal security regarding land tenure.

The work of the UN Volunteer will be crucial in achieving these results, particularly with regard to strengthening local institutions and building the capacity of key actors. Their activities will be directly aligned with the project’s strategic objectives, contributing to the reduction of deforestation, increasing the climate resilience of rural communities, and promoting a territorial development model that integrates the social, economic, and environmental dimensions in a balanced way. In this way, PAGES represents a pioneering initiative in building sustainable solutions to the complex challenges of the Brazilian Amazon.

Key Responsibilities

The UN Volunteer will perform their duties on demand and under the technical supervision of the PAGES Coordinator, and, when necessary, under the management of the UNDP Project Office Coordinator in Teresina, in dialogue with the Secretary of the Secretariat of Family Agriculture and in alignment with the government agencies involved in the implementation of PAGES, as well as with other stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of the project activities.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for ensuring that the project implements the field activities related to the component effectively and efficiently to fulfill its obligations to GEM and IFAD, paying special attention to decision-making aspects related to the management of their activities, including personnel supervision, coordination between stakeholders, execution of activities proposed in their management, preparation and timely delivery of reports, as well as other responsibilities arising from their position, always in alignment with and observing the decisions of the general coordination.

Specifically, the role involves coordinating actions aimed at providing technical assistance (TA) and other services through partnerships with private sector entities and civil society, with the goal of strengthening the capacities of beneficiaries and their organizations. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen the institutional capacities of state secretariats and agencies, as well as governance spaces, aiming to improve the implementation of public policies related to environmental and land governance and sustainable rural development. The professional will also work to increase land tenure security for family farmers and traditional communities.

The Capacity Building Assistant’s role should be aligned with the actions planned under the PAGES program, as per the agreement formalized between IFAD and GEM, with the purpose of utilizing their capabilities to ensure that activities are executed effectively, efficiently, promptly, and with quality.

a) Ensure continuous communication and direct coordination with the Project’s General and Technical Coordination, guaranteeing the alignment of demands, the provision of relevant information, and collaboration in IFAD’s supervision and implementation support missions.
b) Prepare, systematize, and forward periodic technical reports on the execution of Component 1 to the supervisory bodies and to IFAD/GEM, according to the guidelines of the General and Technical Coordination;
c) Maintain close dialogue with the Project’s specialists to ensure that the actions developed in Component 1 encompass the Project’s cross-cutting themes – knowledge management; traditional peoples and communities; gender, nutrition, and youth, as well as the other components
; d) Technically and administratively coordinate the implementation of Component 3’s activities, ensuring their adherence to the strategic objectives and established guidelines of the Project; provide technical support for the preparation of the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) and the Procurement and Contracting Plan (PCP), contributing with strategic recommendations when requested, ensuring adequate technical guidance, compliance with planning, and quality in the execution of actions;
e) Support the Project Co-executors, state agencies, and governance bodies to improve the implementation of public policies in the areas of environment, land tenure, and sustainable rural development;
f) Provide support and information to IFAD’s supervision and implementation support missions, whenever necessary;
g) Organize and participate in institutional events, such as workshops, meetings, and consultations, promoting the articulation and mobilization of the actors involved in the execution of the Project, especially those who are part of the Advisory Committee;
h) Maintain constant dialogue with the technicians who will work on component 3 – Strengthening Organizations – as well as other contracts that may occur, according to the objectives of PAGES;
i) Support the Project’s Field Units (PCUs), through guidance and training, in activities that promote environmental sustainability and rural development, aligning public policies with local needs and environmental demands foreseen in the Project;
j) Support the creation of partnerships with organizations from various sectors to expand the reach of the services offered and maximize the impact of the actions carried out;
k) To support the preparation and review of terms of reference, work plans, technical reports and other relevant documents;
l) To provide information on performance indicators and results to be achieved by Component 03, in close dialogue with the Project’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team, ensuring the quality and consistency of the reported data; to identify, analyze, and manage operational and institutional risks associated with the execution of the Component’s actions, proposing preventive and corrective measures to guarantee the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the results.
m) To articulate and maintain institutional relationships with strategic stakeholders in federal, state, and municipal public administration, as well as with civil society organizations, research institutions, cooperatives, social movements, and the private sector, in constant dialogue with the General and Technical Coordination, aiming to guarantee the integration of Component 03’s actions.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 5 (five) years of relevant experience in public management, agronomic sciences, agronomy, and related fields with agricultural and non-agricultural productive activities;
• Consolidated experience (five experiences) in public policy management and institutional strengthening, with prior experience in capacity building and technical advisory processes for state and municipal bodies, especially in the areas of rural development.
• Capacity for inter-institutional articulation and building multi-sectoral partnerships, demonstrated by a professional history of working in programs or projects involving governments, civil society organizations, and international organizations;
• Practical and theoretical knowledge of participatory planning processes and integrated territorial management methodologies, with mastery of tools such as actor mapping, context analysis, and mechanisms for social participation.
• Professional experience in contexts of sociocultural and territorial diversity, especially in states of the Northeast region, with sensitivity to dealing with traditional communities, family farmers, indigenous peoples, and quilombola communities;
• Professional experience in public administration at the municipal, state, or federal levels.

Required skills:
• Ability to prepare clear and concise technical documents and reports for rural development projects;
• Ability to maintain up-to-date records and contact lists, as well as manage information in spreadsheets and cloud files;
• Willingness to participate in additional courses and training for continuous improvement.

Desirable Experiences and Skills:
• Knowledge of public policies for rural development, markets and adapted technologies, and other topics present in PAGES;
• Ease of teamwork, conflict mediation, and communication between public sectors, civil society organizations, and family farmers;
• Intermediate knowledge of the Electronic Information System (SEI).

Key differentiators:
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage deadlines in a dynamic environment;
• Ability to provide technical and administrative coordination for complex socio-environmental projects, preferably with proven experience in projects funded by international organizations (e.g., IFAD, UNDP, World Bank), involving multiple institutional actors;
• Ability to evaluate information and propose solutions that contribute to the effectiveness of project initiatives.

Core Competencies

Essential Skills
for Achieving Results – LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors their own work, pays attention to detail, delivers quality work on time.
Innovative Thinking – LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risk, solves problems pragmatically, promotes improvements.
Continuous Learning – LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, seeks feedback.
Adapting Quickly – LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, deals constructively with ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
Acting with Determination – LEVEL 1: Demonstrates drive and motivation, delivers results calmly in the face of adversity, is confident.
Engaging and Collaborating – LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding for others, builds positive relationships.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 1: Values/respects differences, is aware of unconscious biases, confronts discrimination.

Cross-cutting and Technical Skills
Business Management and Strategy
Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans aligned with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on a systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities, and potential risks; connect the overall vision to local reality to create tangible and targeted solutions; learn from diverse sources to anticipate and respond effectively to current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
Systems Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within a process or overall system, and consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.
Futures and Foresight: Ability to analyze past and present information, identify patterns and trends, and use them to inform decisions with a long-term perspective. Be sensitive and able to observe weak signs of change, explore their potential implications, and assess their impact and urgency. Use creativity and imagination to communicate perceptions in an engaging and challenging way to current mental models; ability to develop scenarios and speculative proposals that present visions of the future or turn them into experiences. Being able to facilitate debates and discussions about possible futures; helping people feel comfortable with the discomfort of uncertainty.
Business Development
Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of the principles, methodology, and practices of Collective Intelligence Design.
Business Management
Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, clean, transform, and model data in order to discover useful information, support conclusions, and inform decision-making.

Living Conditions

The activity will take place in São Luís – MA. The security level in Brazil is moderate (3). The United Nations Department of Security – UNDSS Brazil advises a high degree of caution in Brazil due to the high levels of serious and violent crime, especially in large cities. Violent crimes such as robberies, armed assaults, kidnappings and sexual assaults are very high. All United Nations personnel must comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their mission in Brazil.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own accommodation and other essential items. National UN Volunteers are part of the threat insurance plan.

Information about workplace rights and benefits is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator

The full UN Volunteer Service Conditions are available at https://explore.unv.org/cos and https://www.unv.org