Latin America and Caribbean Project Specialist

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Internalize new approved projects, respond to executing partner queries, review executing partner reports, provide adaptive management and monitor projects within UNEP's portfolio of medium- and full-sized GEF mitigation projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

10 months.

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. This consultancy is in UNEP’s Economy Division, Energy and Climate Branch, Climate Change Mitigation Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean team, and will be home based. UNEP’s Economy Division works with a portfolio of Global Environment Facility (GEF) medium-size and full-size climate change mitigation projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The projects, which are in different stages of development (concept, design, implementation, closure), are executed by different partners (Ministries, NGOs, etc.). The Economy Division, in its role as implementing agency, provides oversight and ensures adherence to GEF guidelines. Under the supervision of the Task Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean for GEF mitigation projects, the Project Specialist is required to manage part of UNEP's portfolio of GEF mitigation projects in Latin American and the Caribbean. Thematic areas of these projects include those related to sustainable cities, electric mobility, energy efficiency and climate transparency. Specific tasks and responsibilities: The consultant will undertake the following duties: Project management of projects under development • Provide technical input to projects under development; • Revise project implementation plans and ensure development steps are followed; • Revise the project development timeline and provide inputs to ensure project development occurs on time; • Provide inputs to stakeholder consultation processes in the development of the projects; • Prepare the UNEP safeguards identification form; • Prepare the checklist for UNEP’s quality evaluation committee; • Upload GEF-8 endorsement document packages to the GEF portal. Project management of projects under execution • Prepare reports to the Task Manager on the progress and risk situation of projects in the LAC portfolio, and submit to the Task Manager strategy documents to effectively mitigate identified project risks; • Prepare and send half-yearly report templates to Executing Agencies for projects in the LAC portfolio, hold meetings with these agencies and send guidance emails to ensure correct and timely completion of the reports, and review such reports to ensure their timely completion; • Prepare and send project implementation review report templates to Executing Agencies for projects in the LAC portfolio, hold meetings with these agencies and send guidance emails to ensure correct and timely completion of the reports, and review such reports to ensure their timely completion; • Prepare mid-term review (MTR) terms of reference and review mid-term review reports for projects, sending a summary of the MTR to the Task Manager when the review is completed. Prepare an MTR implementation plan to facilitate Executing Agency implementation of MTR recommendations; • Provide inputs for facilitating the technical and financial closure of projects; • Travel to undertake the previous tasks in country, as required and decided by the Task Manager. Project documentation • Develop draft legal agreements for new projects and project extensions; • Prepare documents for UNEP project internalization and revision processes, and provide inputs to ensure completed UNEP clearance and approval processes; • Prepare project supervision plans and risk logs for projects and periodically update them. Request the Executing Agencies to update their procurement plans and review such plans, providing inputs to finalize them; • Prepare project revision documents for technical and financial revisions for projects, ensuring that project revision documentation is complete for UNEP approval; • Review expenditure reports together with the finance team to ensure (a) correct amounts have been charged; (b) expenditures are aligned with project deliverables and thus acceptable; (c) expenditure is not exceeding the budget line allocations and overall budget. Send feedback emails to Executing Agencies in order for the agency to complete the document correctly. • Review cash advance requests in collaboration with the finance team. Provide guidance to Executing Agencies in order for them to complete the document correctly. Portfolio management • Prepare a report identifying measures to enhance the effectiveness of portfolio management tools; • Develop and implement measures to visualize and graphically represent portfolio data for facilitating decision-making; • Develop and implement measures to enhance the effectiveness of the portfolio filing system; • Prepare databases for the uploading of information to the Integrated Planning, Management and Reporting (IPMR) solution system and upload information to the system; • Undertake research to identify ways to enhance the effectiveness of portfolio management and operations; • Develop flowcharts for the development, review and approval of technical and financial documents.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: management, engineering, law, business administration, environmental management, policy, economics, development, climate or development finance, architecture, urbanism, or a related discipline; • A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. • Minimum two years of experience in managing projects related to climate change, environment, transport or development is required; • Experience working with GEF, GCF or UNEP projects is an asset; • Experience in working with national governments of Latin America and the Caribbean is required;

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency (both oral and written) in English and Spanish is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.