Programme Manager

Volunteering IT & Telecom Engineering Programme & Policy

Overview

Coordinate and manage project activities for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

You have:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in international organizations, cooperation, civil society organizations and/or academia.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management.
• Good understanding of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation plans.
• Experience with UNDRR's CRM Initiative is an asset.
• Experience working with UN agencies at a regional level in the Americas and the Caribbean.
• Proficiency in preparing concept notes, background papers, and proposals.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Facilitation and training skills are desired.

Contract

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The assignment will contribute to ensuring substantive progress in the of project activities, including the delivery of high quality outputs aligned with UNDRR’s Strategic Work Plan for the Americas and the Caribbean. It will support effective information flow with local, subnational, national and regional partners, as well as donors, ensuring they remain fully informed of activities undertaken by UNDRR and its collaborating institutions. The role will further advance the articulation and strengthening the technical, conceptual and financial coherence between disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) by improving governance arrangements and conceptual alignment across different initiatives.

A key dimension of the assignment is to ensure that all project activities, outputs, and events integrate gender perspectives and promote participation, inclusion, and equality under the principles of leaving no one behind. The assignment will facilitate delivering timely and accurate project reporting in line with UNDRR and donor requirements. In accordance with the Sendai Framework’s recognition of the role of volunteer organizations, the assignment will include documenting initiatives involving volunteers and related capacity building efforts developed under the programme.

Under the direct supervision of the Risk Knowledge and Climate Change Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Lead the coordination, implementation and monitoring of programme activities around the integration of DRR and climate action processes, liaising with local, national and regional DRR stakeholders in the Americas and Caribbean region under the supervision of the Risk Knowledge Officer and in coordination with relevant UNDRR office staff. • Develop, implement and evaluate the assigned programmes/projects, besides monitoring and analysing programme/project development and implementation. To review relevant documents and reports. To liaise with relevant parties and ensure follow-up actions. • Research, analyze and present information gathered from diverse sources. Lead research on wildfire and extreme heat hazard and risk modelling with a clear focus on disaggregated data to understand the consequences at different population groups (sex, age, disability conditions). • Support the engagement with the Regional Science and Technology Advisory Group (RSTAG) to strengthen the climate risk components within the risk knowledge domain in the Americas and the Caribbean. • Support the review and promotion of coherence analyses between DRR and climate change adaptation plans at national and local levels. • Organize and prepare written outputs (e.g., proposals, work-plans, draft back-ground papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, among others) under the supervision of the Risk Knowledge Officer. • Provide substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., such as proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. • Initiate and coordinate outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; prepare and deliver presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Coordinate activities related to proposal development, work-planning, budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Support with related administrative and logistical work when needed.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Communication Judgement and Decision-making Knowledge Sharing Planning and Organizing Respect for Diversity Self-Management Technological Awareness Working in Teams

Experience in:

• Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management. • International organizations, cooperation, civil society organizations and/or academia. • Good understanding of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation plans is desirable. • Climate financing is desirable. • Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is desirable. • Previous experience with UNDRR’s CRM Initiative is an asset. • Working experience with UN agencies at regional level in the Americas and the Caribbean is an asset. • Working in a multicultural context is an asset.

Skills in:

• Facilitation and training. • Good analytical skills. • Preparing concept notes, background papers and proposals. • Excellent communication skills.

Panama City is classified 'A' Duty Station (Family) and has good infrastructure (health, hous-ing, banking, transportation, telecommunications and recreational facilities) and good supply of goods and services, with no particular health hazards.

In terms of security Panama is relatively safe compared to other cities throughout Latin Ameri-ca and it is rated as security level '1 minimal' whereas for Darién Province (border with Co-lombia) it is security level '2 low'. The city is a communication hub and it is possible to fly to all countries of the region with direct flights and it offers good options for travelling in general. UNDRR-LAC offices are located in the Canal Zone, in a green area outside the city centre called City of Knowledge where most of the other UN Agencies are also located, as well as International Schools, NGOs and research centres, etc.

The cost of living is relatively high for the region (reflected in the post adjustment), especially for housing and health, but it is easy to find accommodation on the private market, including in the area of the office in houses or in the city centre towers in modern apartments. Most of the food is imported except for sea products and some fruits and vegetables. There is a wide range of international schools, several of them offering IBcurriculum including some in the office area.

In terms of recreational activities, Panama being a hub for the purchasing of goods for neigh-bouring countries, the city offers a lot of malls and doing shopping and going to malls is a common week end activity. Cultural offer is limited but there is a good offer of restaurants and a dynamic nightlife. Beaches on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts are reachable within one hour by car or by boat directly from the city and there are some options for hiking too. There is also a relatively good range of sports activities.

For the everyday life it is recommended to have Spanish knowledge as English is not widely spoken in the shops and services. The government offers the possibility for UN spouses to get work permits and provides UN staff members with tax exemption cards for shops and restau-rants. Just like other fast-growing cities, the traffic is heavy at peak hours and considered an issue for people living in Panama City. The climate is hot and humid with a rainy season last-ing 8 months a year.

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Potential interview questions

Added 9 hours ago - Updated 8 minutes ago - Source: unv.org