Energy Programme Coordinator

Mid Senior Environment Programme & Policy

Overview

Lead and manage the Energy Programme coordination for UNDP in Sao Tome and Principe.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Environmental Sciences, Engineering or related field is required.
• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and/or leading and managing projects.
• At least 2 years experience in managing projects specifically related to renewable energies.
• Experience in resource mobilization.
• Fluency in English is required. (necessary for reporting to donors and international partners)
• Fluency in Portuguese is required.
• Knowledge of French is an asset and will be valued.

Contract

This is a NPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-10 contracts.

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) is blessed with unique biodiversity and more endemic species per square kilometre than most places on Earth. Its exclusive economic zone, which is approximately 160 times the archipelago's landmass, is a maritime biodiversity hotspot and is home to a large number of unique species. Given its rare natural wealth, around 30 percent of STP's land area has been recognised as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2012. However, the recurring fiscal crisis, driven mainly by the energy sector, stifles growth opportunities.

Like many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), São Tomé and Príncipe faces challenges that include its remote location and geographical isolation, which means that the country has to face high costs of importing and exporting goods, as well as high international transport and logistics costs. Factors such as the small size of the population, remoteness from international markets, high transport costs, vulnerability to exogenous economic shocks and the fragility of terrestrial and marine ecosystems make SIDS particularly vulnerable to biodiversity loss and climate change, as they have no economic alternatives. São Tomé and Príncipe's contribution to global warming is negligible (and constitutes a carbon sink) and its mitigation potential is limited.

The country is highly dependent on imported diesel, which is currently used for 97 per cent of its current electricity production. Fuel costs depend on and fluctuate according to international fuel prices, as the country's average monthly fuel import bill for all uses is around 5 million dollars. The sector weighs heavily on the state budget, with the government contributing 7 million dollars in recent quarters to the purchase of fuel for electricity production alone.1 Electricity tariffs for the end user are high (0.22 USD per kWh), but still much lower than the cost of production (0.34 USD per kWh). This motivates STP to capitalise on its renewable energy resources to mitigate and adapt to its climate-induced vulnerabilities, while ensuring energy security and sustainable socio-economic growth.

The updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for STP includes a conditional mitigation target to be implemented with external support, indicating that STP will reduce around 109 GgCO2 -e by 2030 (equivalent to 27 per cent emission reductions compared to projected emissions for 2030, maintaining the status quo).

UNDP São Tome and Principe has put together a 5-year programme to support the transition to renewable energies in the country that is yielding very good results and leveraging other partners interest and funding. Always aligned with the government sectorial policies and strategies, the major results of this programme, achieved in the last few years include the development of the energy sector regulatory framework, the elaboration of several feasibility studies of mini-hydro power plants in the most promising rivers accompanied by the watersheds management plans, the drafting of the National Training Plan for the energy transition and its partial implementation, the construction of the first solar plant in the country and the installation of the first institutional rooftops in public buildings.

Currently, UNDP is promoting access to clean, just and reliable energy in public facilities such as health centers, will be providing solar energy in businesses, public facilities and businesses in the coming four years . UNDP is also launching the child project GEF-financed Africa Minigrids Program (AMP), that seeks to increase access to clean energy by increasing the financial viability, and promoting scaled-up commercial investment, in renewable energy (RE) minigrids, with a focus on cost-reduction levers and innovative business models. This will be achieved through five outcomes as follows: (i) Stakeholder ownership in a national minigrid delivery model is advanced, and appropriate policies and regulations are adopted to facilitate investment in low-carbon minigrids. (ii) Innovative business models based on cost reduction operationalized, with strengthened private sector participation in low-carbon/renewable energy minigrid development; (iii) Financial sector actors are ready to invest in a pipeline of low-carbon minigrids and concessional financial mechanisms are in place to incentivize scaled-up investment.; (iv) Digitalization and data mainstreamed, across stakeholders, into local minigrid market development; and (v) Monitoring and Evaluation. Increased knowledge, awareness and network opportunities in the minigrid market and among stakeholders, including benefitting from linkages to international good practice.

The project has a duration of 4 years and is expected to bring about the direct commissioning of 0.7 MW in solar photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity and 1.0 MWh of battery storage. The lifetime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction from project activities, particularly investment in minigrid pilots, is estimated at 20,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq) (direct) and 5,500 tCO2eq (indirect). The number of direct beneficiaries is estimated at 21,800 people, of which at least 50% are women, as a result of 4,400 new and/or improved minigrid connections.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation.

• Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans.
• Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
• Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met.
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
• Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization.
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.

Develop strategic partnerships.

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting.
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management.
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
• Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions.
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities.
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

2. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

4. Institutional Arrangement

The Energy Programme Coordinator works under the general supervision of the CESA portfolio manager and more specifically, under the direct supervision of the Energy Specialist and collaborates closely with the UNDP Country Office team to deliver quality results.

Competencies

Core 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

Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy 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

Business Management 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

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

2030 Agenda: Partnerships Sustainable Energy Hub - Renewable Energy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Environmental Sciences, Engineering or related field is required,

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above,in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and/or leading and managing projects.

At least 2 years experience in managing projects specifically related to renewable energies

Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

• Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations.
• Experience and knowledge of capacity building theory and capacity building/assessment methodologies/
• Experience in resource mobilization

Experience in communicating to varied audiences

• Fluency in English is required. (necessary for reporting to donors and international partners)
• Fluency in Portuguese is required.

Knowledge of French is an asset and will be valued

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 11 days ago - Updated 9 hours ago - Source: jobs.undp.org