Programme Management Support

Result of Service The objective of the consultancy is to support the execution of programme activities for both UNEP’s Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality Subprogramme and Environmental Governance Subprogramme, by providing programme, financial and administrative services. The Programme Management Support consultant shall report directly to UNEP Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality Regional Coordinator and to UNEP Environmental Governance Regional Coordinator.

The Programme Management Support consultant will have the following specific duties:

• Provides programme, financial and administrative support to planning and implementation activities/processes, in coordination with programme/project managers for a large and highly complex component of each UNEP unit programme/project initiatives; including: verification of funds availability, creation and submission of obligations and expenditure requests, such as recruitment, payroll, legal agreements and low value-procurement, ensuring necessary approvals and entry in computerized budget system are timely completed.
• Assists in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation; monitors status of programme/project proposals; takes necessary action to ensure project documents are completed and submitted to relevant parties for approval, in a timely manner.
• Assists in monitoring and reporting activities, in coordination with programme/project managers, such as categorizing, updating, tracking and analyzing a range of data, carries out periodic status reviews, identifies issues and initiates requisite follow-up actions, including timely maintenance of the GEF coordination ‘Anubis’ data base.
• Collaborates with colleagues on performance and financial reporting; provides assistance on reporting requirements, guidelines, rules and procedures and ensures completeness and accuracy of data submitted.
• Assists in drafting sections of workplans, Terms of Reference, documentation for technical meetings and workshops, and performance reports, coordinates review and clearance process with all colleagues involved.
• Prepares, maintains and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases; designs and generates a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, graphic content, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews.
• Assists in the preparation and analysis of programme/project budget proposals; provides assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines; reviews and coordinates submission of programme proposals and budget estimates; proposes adjustments as necessary.
• Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of strategic planning, monitoring and reporting activities, involving extensive liaison with a diverse organizational unit to initiate requests, obtains necessary clearances, processes and follows-up on administrative actions and resolves issues related to implementation.
• Drafts correspondence and communications related to financial and administrative aspects of programme/project administration, including budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit financial information for a variety of periodic reports.
• Collaborates with the knowledge management and communication activities of the programme, including support for preparation of publications, web-based material, and presentations.
• Assists in the organization of workshops, meetings or conferences, including arrangements for participants, logistic arrangements and reporting.
• Verifies accuracy and coherence of financial reports submitted by implementing partners and consultants.
• Attends field trips and meetings and provides logistical assistance, as needed.
• Liaises with key project actors, including high level officers and government counterparts, when required.
• Performs other related tasks, as required.

Outputs: Carry out the activities described in Clause 2 of the Terms of Reference.

Deliverables: A monthly activity report in PDF format describing the project coordination tasks carried out during the month.

Work Location Initially Home-Based, then UNEP ROLAC - Panama City, Panama, once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Expected duration Three (3) months.

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that 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.

The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (ROLAC), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

Additionally, as agreed in the UNEA 5, UNEP results framework is described in terms of a set of integrated interventions measured by relevant indicators, in line with the medium-term strategy. It sets out a theory of change for each of the three strategic objectives of the medium-term strategy, “climate stability”, “living in harmony with nature” and “towards a pollution-free planet”. The results framework sets out the core UNEP areas of work, consisting of three principal areas of action (encapsulated in the climate action, nature action and chemicals and pollution action thematic subprogrammes) supported by two foundational subprogrammes (science-policy and environmental governance) and two enabling subprogrammes (finance and economic transformations and digital transformations).

In this context, and to support the fulfilment of the objectives of: the Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality Subprogramme as one of the three principal areas of action, to optimize human health and environment outcomes through: the enhancement of capacity and leadership in the sound management of chemicals and waste, the improvement of waste management, and the reduction of pollutants released into the air, water bodies, soil and the ocean, as earmarked by SIDA funding; and the Environmental Governance Subprogramme, supported by the Norway Funds and in its role as a foundation to support countries in their development and implementation of the environmental rule of law, including strengthening of legal frameworks on plastics and marine litter legislation, and identification of integrated legal and policy responses that promote participatory and effective environmental decision-making. UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean is recruiting a consultant to provide Programme Management Support for the Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality subprogramme and the Environmental Governance subprogramme.

The incumbent will be supervised by both UNEP’s Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality Regional Coordinator and Environmental Governance Regional Coordinator, for the Latin American and the Caribbean Office in Panama City, Panama; and is expected to work over a three (3) months period, from Monday to Friday, full time (8 hours per day), and to be located in the UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), Panama City, Panama, with an expected initial period as home-based depending on national and international COVID-19 restrictions.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - University degree in business administration, finance, environmental studies or other related areas is required. - Master’s degree in Administration or related area is an asset. - Technical background in related areas is preferable. - Supplementary courses/training in administration and/or environmental issues is an advantage.

Experience: - Minimum of Six (6) years work experience in programme management support functions, relevant for this consultancy. - Experience in the UN, preferably of GEF and/or projects of a multilateral donor projects and in the Latin America and Caribbean region, is required.

Language: - Fluency in written and oral English and Spanish, is required.

Skills: - Effective time management and ability to prioritize and plan own work to meet deadlines and effective organizational skills, is required. - Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi- cultural. Multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, is required. - Excellent ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, in English and Spanish, is required. - Analytical skills are required. - Knowledge of UN activities and administrative processes is required. - Good computer skills (SAP, Microsoft Office, database, email, internet) are required.

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.