Programme Support Officer (Biodiversity & Agriculture Management)

Internship

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Background

Overview of the UNDP Vietnam’s Climate Change and Environment Portfolio

The UNDP Climate Change and Environment Portfolio covers the following areas of work: (i) low carbon development and green growth, including sustainable production and consumption pattern; (ii) renewable energy and energy efficiency especially in (sub-) sectors of transportation, construction, chemical fertilizers, pulp and paper and low-carbon bus public transportation; (iii) reducing emission from deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD), (iv) adaptation and resilience to impacts of climate change and natural disasters; (v) natural resources and biodiversity conservation; and (vi) environmental protection.

UNDP support focuses on advocacy, policy research and formation, capacity and partnership building and coordination, technology testing and transfer, piloting models and promoting participation of businesses and local communities.

Interventions are undertaken both directly by UNDP and through national execution projects. Biodiversity and environmental management related projects include: (i) Sustainable Forest and Forest Land Management in Viet Nam’s Ba River Landscape; (ii) Integrated sustainable landscape management through deforestation-free jurisdiction project in Lam Dong and Dak Nong, Viet Nam; (iii) The Biodiversity Finance Initiative: Mobilizing Resources for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development; (iv) Mainstreaming Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation objectives into socio-economic development planning and management of Biosphere Reservice in Viet Nam.

Duties and Responsibilities

This assignment of the Programme Support Officer focuses on providing professional inputs to strengthening the development and management of UNDP Viet Nam’s biodiversity/forestry/agriculture portfolio. Specifically, the Programme Support Officer will provide technical support to the identification, review and formulation of project proposals relevant to the Focal Areas on Biodiversity, Forestry and Agriculture.

The work of the Programme Support Officer entails reviewing available draft proposals, identifying needs for revisions and update of information to ensure appropriate fit with the donor’s guidance and policies. For this, the Programme Support Officer will establish strategic partnerships and working relations with national counterparts and consultants appointed to revise existing and formulate new proposals as relevant. As such, the Programme Support Officer will contribute to implementing the UN and UNDP Viet Nam resource mobilization strategy. In addition, the Programme Support Officer may be engaged in ongoing project initiatives on biodiversity conservation, forestry management, sustainable agriculture management, and agricultural supply chain, conducting knowledge management and research assignments, and providing management oversight and policy advocacy in support of timely and quality delivery. Through the assignment, the selected Programme Support Officer will benefit from (i) enhancing his/her technical expertise in the subject areas; (ii) building and expanding a professional network with development partners and the government of Viet Nam; and (iii) enhancing analytic and organizational skills.

Based in the Climate Change and Environment Unit, and under the overall direction of the Assistant Resident Representative, the Programme Support Officer will report on a day to day basis to the Programme Officer on Biodiversity/Forestry/Agricultre. S/he will also work closely with relevant international technical specialists, programme officers and programme associates in the Unit. In line with UNDP rules and regulations, the Programme Support Officer’s annual performance will be subject to the Performance and Management Development (PMD) process. The PMD evaluation will be conducted by the immediate supervisor, based on self-assessment of the Programme Support Officer.

As a member of the Climate Change and Environment Team (CCE), the Programme Support Officer can be expected to make contribution to the formulation of new projects, including preparing and revising concept notes, managing and conducing consultations with national and international counterparts and consultants, undertaking feasibility studies and research, developing full project documents, and appraisal of project proposals.

As a member of UNDP programme team, the Programme Support Officer is responsible to oversight and implementation of projects assigned to him/her, to ensure quality planning, budgeting, procurement of services and consultants, and oversight of implementation, reporting and monitoring and evaluation for timely delivery of quality results/products.

As a member of UN family in Viet Nam, the Programme Support Officer is expected to make contribution to the implementation of the UN One Plan, advancing UN’s delivery as one (DAO) agenda, enhancing synergies and impacts of UN support in the areas of biodiversity conservation and environmental management. The Programme Support Officer will work in partnership with UN/DP colleagues, Government counterparts, project staff, and non-government organizations, as relevant, to ensure successful programme development and implementation to achieve One Plan results.

1. Building strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy

As a member of the CCE team, the Programme Support Officer is expected to make contribution to formulation of new projects and resources mobilization in the areas of biodiversity conservation, forestry management and sustainable agriculture management, focusing on the following tasks:

• Support the implementation of the UN and CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies, focusing on analyzing the political and development context of Viet Nam in the field of biodiversity conservation, sustainable forestry and agriculture management in relation to global priorities and processes, and identification of new project/program ideas;
• Support to the formulation of new projects, based society based on UNDP’s strategic goals, Viet Nam’s needs and donors’ priorities; and research of information on donors and potential sources of funding;
• Specifically, support to development of a project document for submission to the GEF, including reviewing existing proposals, assessing the need for update of data/information, review compliance with latest GEF Programme Strategy and Focal Area guidance, in close consultation and cooperation with Government agencies and institutions, national and local stakeholders, contracted consultants, as well as NGOs, Development Partners and UNDP technical staff/ advisors in Viet Nam, regional offices and headquarters, as relevant.
• Support maintaining good partnership with the government counterparts, co-implementing partners, concerned participating development partners, and NGOs;

2. Management and implementation of projects and activities

The Programme Support Officer will function as part of the UNDP programme team responsible for project implementation, backstopping UNDP's overall support and quality assurance work of on-going projects in the area of biodiversity conservation and sustainable forestry and agriculture management, by conducting, as relevant and instructed, the following possible tasks:

• Support UNDP Programme Analysts to ensure quality planning (annual, and quarterly work-plans), reporting, monitoring and evaluation of projects;
• Engage in supporting specific project implementation activities, through research and analysis, formulation of TORs for subcontractors’ activities, with relevance to innovative approaches and global best practices on mitigation of cause/impact correlations and mainstreaming of biodiversity/environment and forestry/agriculture/development/livelihood issues;
• Support UNDP Programme Analyst in planning periodical evaluation and impact assessment of the programmes/projects; share lessons learn, and follow up to ensure implementation of recommendations;
• Support preparing aggregate reports on activities, outputs and outcomes, including reports for donors as needed.
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned, make suggestions to incorporate those lessons in programme/project implementation and monitoring;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice, including relevant national, regional and/or global networks.

3. Contribution to the UN reform agenda

The Programme Support Officer will function as part of the UN family in Viet Nam which commits to deliver as one (DAO) approach to enhance synergies and impacts of UN support in the area of biodiversity conservation and environmental management, by conducting the following tasks:

• Participate and contribute to the activities of UN system co-ordination and programming, including UN Result Group on Climate Change and Environment;
• Support UN’s and UNDP’s effort on advocacy and policy dialogue, including participation and contribution to policy-driven research and reviews, and the preparation of briefing notes or concept papers in collaboration with UNDP and project technical staff;

Competencies

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

In this section list all 5 core competencies as well as the most relevant technical/function competencies the role will require along with the appropriate level. Primary competencies are those integral to the position and are the criteria by which a hiring decision would be made. Secondary competencies are necessary but are not critical to the role.

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)

Delivery

Ability to get things done

Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)

Technical/Functional

Primary

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Preparing information for advocacy

Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)

Result-Based Programme Development and Management

Contribute into results through primary research and analysis

Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)

Building Strategic Partnerships

Maintaining a network of contacts

Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Enhancing processes or products

Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Fundamental Knowledge of own Discipline

Level 2: Execute & Learn (Perform defined tasks)

Secondary

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Basic Research and Analysis

Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)

Client Orientation

Establishing effective client relationships

Level 1: Support (Reliable Replication)

Required Skills and Experience

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• Master Degree in Biodiversity, natural resources management, agriculture, economics or related fields

Experience:

• At least two years, preferably three years of experience in program/project development, and monitoring and evaluation, preferably in a developing country and/or in the Asian region
• Good knowledge and understanding of biodiversity/agriculture issues globally and preferably in the Asian region
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in an international environment
• Good organizational and analytical skills, initiative and sound judgment; and the ability to work with minimum supervision
• Good computer skill

Language Requirements:

• Full command of English (writing, speaking, and presentation skills)

Other desirable education, languages and work experience:

Additional qualifications:

• Specific training and knowledge of supply chain or value chain
• Working knowledge/ experiences in developing countries and Asia or in Viet Nam

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org