Programme Management Officer at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

This post is in UNEP's Economy Division, Energy and Climate Branch, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Climate Mitigation Unit at the Nairobi duty station. Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Energy & Climate Branch and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supervision of Project Implementation of the Enabling Activity Portfolio of Projects:
• Prepares project supervision plans under his/her portfolio for their entire duration and applies adaptive management principles to the supervision of the projects.
• Organizes and manages the project inception meeting.
• Provides oversight to project execution and prepares reports in accordance with UNEP and GEF criteria, rules and regulations.
• Participates or delegates participation when needed, in relevant Project Steering Committees and ensures that Project Steering Committee fulfills its function.
• Regularly monitors project progress and performance and rates progress towards meeting project objectives, project execution progress, quality of project monitoring and evaluation, and risk.
• Monitors reporting by project executing partners.
• Promptly informs management of any significant risks or project problems and takes action and follows up on decisions made.
• Prepares reports in accordance with GEFand UNEP requirements.
• Maintains adequate project-related documentation.
• Applies adaptive management principles to the supervision of the project.
• Assists with the preparation of project revisions.
• Reviews project outputs, provides technical input and ensures quality standards are met.
• Manages any mandatory project(s) reviews.
• Supports the project terminal evaluation when relevant or project final reports.
• Takes responsibility to ensure that project is financially closed in a prompt manner after completion of project activities.
• Supervises and mentors junior professionals, consultants and general service staff.
• Enabling Activity Project Identification and Development:
• Liaises with internal and external partners to identify relevant and eligible project concepts.
• Discusses and clears such concepts with the Senior Programme Officer.
• Consults with UNEP’s Divisions and regional offices as necessary.
• Advises project proponents on how to revise concepts to respond to issues raised by the peer reviewer and other reviews.
• Monitors GEF project milestones to avoid delays and potential project cancellation.
• Addresses GEF Secretariat and Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) reviews and ensures that Project Review Committee recommendations are considered in further project development by the executing agency.
• Works with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the Project Preparation Grant upon approval.
• Supervises Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UNEP and GEF policies and procedures.
• Supports Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UNEP and GEF policies and procedures.
• Verifies that the project proposals meet GEF quality-at-entry standards before submission to Senior Programme Officer and GEF Coordination Office for Project Review Committee review.
• Supports the executing partners in mobilizing Co-financing for the project.
• Upon GEF Chief Executive Officer's approval, works with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the project document.
• Economy Division Knowledge Management and Data Management:
• Identifies and codifies lessons emerging from project implementation.
• Ensures accuracy and completeness of project data in the project information system and the risk management system for all projects under his/her supervision.
• Contributes to project data reconciliation exercises within the Division and with the GEF Secretariat.
• Identifies media and other outreach opportunities and materials and provides project information and materials.
• Participates in events organized by GEF and UNEP to disseminate information on project results and lessons.
• UNEP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) Corporate Tasks:
• Contributes to the GEF Council document reviews as needed.
• Provides input to UNEP and GEF policy and information documents as necessary.
• Identifies opportunities to complement the UNEP Programme of Work with GEF-financed initiatives.
• Represents Economy Division in UNEP and GEF–related meetings.
• Participates in the UNEP Project Review Committees;
• Provides regular substantive backstopping to UNEP senior colleagues and partners, including the regional and liaison offices;
• Provides input to GEF corporate evaluations, country portfolio evaluations, thematic evaluations and impact evaluations and to the preparation of the Management Action Record.
• Maintains the enabling portfolio of projects and risk management records and contributing to UNEP and GEF information and knowledge management.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of concepts, templates, processes and approaches relevant to the Global Environment Facility projects on climate change mitigation reporting to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change. Knowledge and understanding of all cycles of project management. Ability to source, design and develop large climate change mitigation convention reporting projects. Ability to work with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and (Least Developed Countries) LDCs in developing climate change mitigation convention reporting projects. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Engineering, Environment, Economics, Energy, Climate Change, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in the relevant field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience maybe be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in the area of climate change mitigation reporting to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (National Communications and Biennial Update Reports) is required.
• International experience in developing and implementing Global Environment Facility climate change mitigation (non-land use) projects is required.
• Hands-on experience in dealing with a wide range of Government institutions in Least Developed Countries LDCs) and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) is required.
• Experience in managing a large global portfolio of climate change projects is desirable.
• Experience in managing climate change projects and consulting teams in multiple locations is desirable.
• Working knowledge of the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset.