Expert to support monitoring of performance and safeguards indicators (Ghana project)

Mid Senior

Contract

This is a IPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-10 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all your past positions and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as your contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why you consider yourself to be suitable for the position.

2. Office/Unit/Project Description

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

Climate change mitigation – or reducing greenhouse gas emissions - is essential to fulfilling commitments to the Paris Agreement and limiting the global mean temperature increase to 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels. UNDP, with more than 280 climate change mitigation projects and programs in over 110 countries, is a key actor supporting countries in their emission reduction plans, contributing to ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions. Activities in energy, as well as forests and agriculture, will be critical to meeting global mitigation objectives.

UNDP’s approach to forestry aligns with the SDG 15 and contributes to UNDP's 'signature solution' on environment and nature-based solutions for development. Deforestation and forest degradation accounts for more than 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and it is clear that the stabilization of global temperatures cannot be achieved without reducing emissions from the forest sector. UNDP's Climate and Forests programme supports countries to conserve and sustainably manage forests and ensure sustainable and equitable development paths that lead towards carbon neutrality. More information here: www.climateandforests-undp.org.

Please Click here for full description of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

3. Scope of Work

The objective for this assignment is to support the implementation of Activity 4.3: Project monitoring and evaluation.

To achieve the purpose described above the selected candidate will need to carry out the following tasks:

3.1. Review and refine the indicators in the projectš log frameincluding filling for each the reference sheet below

Indicator Reference Sheet

Objective of the indicator: (At the Project Performance Indicator level)

Project thematic area:

 CREMAs  Shea Parklands  Forest management  Modified taungya system/forest plantation

Indicator description

Definition: provide simple description of the indicator

Unit of measure:

Disaggregated by: mention categories of disaggregation

Justification and management utility: what will it tell us, could be linked to safeguard, could be omitted

Plan for data acquisition

Data collection method: (see attached guidance notes as relevant)

Data source: where exactly will the data come

Frequency and timing of collection:

Estimated cost: if needed and relevant

Responsible unit and individual: who will collect and collate the information?

Data reporting, presentation, analysis and review

Frequency of data reporting:

Presentation of data: table, narrative text, other?

Analysis of data: as needed, if data is more qualitative

Review of data: does someone check it?

Data quality assessment

Date of initial data quality assessment: when will you first see and assess the data samples?

Data limitations and significance: are there significant issues, do we need to drop/change the indicator?

Actions to address data limitations: inclusion for output 1?

Notes on baselines and targets

Baseline: (if relevant):

Target: for indicators with incentives or other targets, pass/fail, traffic light categories, etc

Additional notes:

IF safeguards indicator, what safeguard principle does this indicator monitor?

(list key safeguards of relevance for the indicator)

3.2 Assess, in collaboration with Forestry Commission of Ghana, the project management unit and UNDP to what extent the existing M&E system(s) address(es) the information needs for efficient monitoring and evaluation of the project. Provide recommendations as to how it could be strengthened in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Consider GCF and UNDP requirements, format, data sources and frequency.

Identify capacity gaps and develop a capacity building plan to implement recommendations. Consult in tandem with the Global Shea Alliance, as responsible party for output 2 on monitoring and reporting arrangements, including responsibilities of the responsible party.

3.3 Develop a project monitoring system building on existing systems (for instance take into account the extent of implementation of the national tree registry system in the NSZ). The system will allow to monitor indicators periodically in a highly transparent and geographically explicit way which can be access by allowed users online. More specifically:

• indicators included in the project results framework are monitored annually.
• indicators included in the social and environmental management framework M&E plan are monitored annually.
• Proxy indicators used to assess the project impact in terms of CO2 emissions reductions are monitored annually.
• tCO2 emission reductions achieved by the project are monitored in line with UNFCCC reporting schedules through the Biennial Update Reports and National Communications.

3.4 Support Monitoring of project outputs through;

• quarterly monitoring missions; data collection approaches will strongly feature participatory methods with communities (virtually during COVID);
• Provide technical assistance in the implementation of the capacity building plan for M&E through videoconferences, virtual workshops and training as needed.
• Support the Forestry Commission in the preparation of the annual performance reports to be submitted to the GCF.

See additional details provided in the above link.

4. Institutional Arrangement

With its technical focus within the NCE technical team – Climate and Forests is based in Geneva and led by a Principal Technical Advisor (PTA). The selected candidate is expected to work with the Global Advisor within this team and with the Regional Technical Advisor for Africa.

The selected candidate will be report directly to the Global Advisor on Climate and Forests to whom she/he will be reporting and seeking approval/acceptance of deliverables.

The selected candidate is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the Forestry Commission and Ghana UNDP Country Office.

The Global Advisor on Climate and Forests will facilitate interactions with the Implementing Partner through videoconferences.

Payments will be made on a daily fee basis, subject to number of days completed periodically, and for clearance by the Global Advisor and approval by the Principal Technical Advisor.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and 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.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

5. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Academic Education

Master’s degree in Social Sciences Development Studies, Economics or relevant field

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• At least 5 years experience with formulation and/or evaluation of projects and programmes in the relation with environment, forests, climate change, agroforestry and resource management.
• At least three consultancies/previous work experience on monitoring indicators for complex nature based projects with a range of partners, demonstrate knowledge of environmental, social and climate issues and safeguards; quantitative and qualitative analysis of environmental and social impacts.

Desired additional skills

• Previous experience/consultancy work related to REDD+ or Green Climate Fund Programming is an advantage.).

• GIS and mapping skills

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Proficiency in English and high quality writing skills

Professional Certificates

N/A

6. Travel:

If travel is required, and subject to (local) Covid-19 health permission, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expense in accordance with UNDP’s travel guidance and policy, and the personnel shall receive a per diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org