Project Support Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Timor-Leste is a small half-island country, one of the top ten counties most vulnerable to climate change. Approximately 70% of Timor-Leste’s rural population (840,000 people) is highly vulnerable to climate changes, particularly increasing variability of rainfall and extreme weather events. Lives and livelihoods in the remote interior of the country and coastal regions are both highly exposed. Impacts of intensified extreme events include damage and degradation of decentralized small-scale critical infrastructure, particularly water supply and drainage structures, embankments, and feeder roads and bridges. Damages leave rural populations isolated, lacking basic services. UNDP main goal on its supports is to help countries achieve the 2030 Agenda through partnering with governments, including ministries of planning and finance, and with law-making bodies, the civil society, the private sector, and citizens, among other key stakeholders. UNDP is leading on three priorities of the cooperation framework through its new five-year Country Programme (2021-2025): 1) Economic opportunities and decent work for all (Outcome 2); 2) Resilience to climate change and sustainable management of resources (Outcome 6); and 3) Accessible, accountable and gender-responsive governance systems, institutions and services at the national and municipal levels (Outcome 5). To address some of the issues related to second priority (or Outcome 6) and challenges mentioned above, in 2019, the government of Timor-Leste with the support of UNDP received funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to undertake the Project “Safeguarding Rural Communities and their assets from climate induced disasters in Timor-Leste”. UNDP is looking for a Project Support Officer to support the implementation of the project with a focus on building disaster resilient small scale rural infrastructure. The project objective is to safeguard vulnerable communities and their physical assets from climate change-induced disasters. It aims to address existing institutional, financial and legislative barriers, increasing the climate resilience of vulnerable small-scale rural infrastructure. Six municipalities mainly Baucau, Ermera, Aileu, Viqueque Lautem and Liquica which were selected for the project interventions. The project has the below two inter-related outputs that not only aim to achieve the impact potential, but also to create enabling environment/condition for scaling up/replicating the project impact beyond the immediate target areas.

Output 1: Climate risk information is developed, monitored and integrated into policies, regulations and institutions to inform climate resilient small-scale rural infrastructure planning and management

Output 2: Climate risk reduction and climate-proofing measures for small-scale rural infrastructure are implemented to build the resilience of vulnerable communities in six priority municipalities.

Under the general supervision of the Head of Climate Change Unit and direct Supervision of the Project Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Summary of Key Functions:
• Support in the formulation of Project Strategies and guidelines • Programme Management Support; • Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing.

Support in the formulation of Programme Strategies and guidelines

• In close collaboration with National Environmental and Social Safeguarding, Gender and Inclusion Officers, lead on the preparation of Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIAs) and Environmental Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for all types of rural infrastructure projects. • Take a lead role in refining ordinances, regulations and associated codes and standards to enable climate proofing small-scale rural infrastructure. • Climate risk reduction measures for small-scale rural infrastructure are fully integrated into the planning and budgeting cycles of Village and Municipal development plans • Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines and position papers. • Lead on the research required on any specific topic.

Programme Management Support

• Lead on the implementation and monitoring of the ESIAs and ESMPs by developing the appropriate guidelines, capacity building of the stakeholders, monitoring and reporting. • Organize, compile and process information from donors, Regional Office, and project team, as inputs to various databases and documents; • Compilation and preparation of briefing and presentation materials, speeches, background information and documentation for meetings and missions. • Organization of regular and ad-hoc meetings; preparation of minutes and summaries of actions to be taken; tracking of progress on planned issues; follow-up with focal points. • Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordination of collection and submission of the reports to the Project Manager • Administrative support to conferences, workshops, events. • Drafting terms of reference for the consultants and follow up • Support the project in annual planning, report writing and other briefs as required. • Adherence to appropriate protocol and correspondence guidelines by project team for both internal and external communication. • Lead on the production of case studies/success stories through identification of appropriate interventions, beneficiaries, data collection and write up.

Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Facilitate different trainings proposed under the project including follow up with local training providers and online learning platforms engaged under the project. • Support synthesis of lessons learnt, and best practices related to project management; • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice; • Refining, maintaining and updating the data base for project documents for all components of the project to ensure that all the data is appropriately stored and accessed by the project staff.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

13. Results/expected outputs

As an active UNDP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

1. Project Management Unit (PMU) fully assisted by the Project Support Coordinator with a focus on developing guidelines and Strategies for Environmental and social safeguarding of disaster resilient rural infrastructure . The specific tasks shall include, but not limited to, the following activities: o Based on Generic ESIA/ESMPs supported provided in preparation of the project for the ANLA licencing. Based on learnings, Environmental and Social Safeguards are updated, implemented and monitored at individual infrastructure project level. o Regulations, ordinances and codes regarding rural small infrastructure are updated by including disaster resilience features and integrated into national, regional and local plans. o Guidelines and Position papers prepared by capturing lesson learned, desktop review and research on specific areas.
2. Programme Management Support Provided to all components of the project including but not limited to: o ESIAs and ESMPs implemented and monitored through appropriate capacity building and refining of the guidelines. o All relevant information regarding the project is organised, complied and processed in appropriate databases and documents. o Briefing and presentation material prepared and compiled for meetings and missions. o Relevant meetings, conferences organised, minutes prepared, and action points followed up with focal persons. o ToRs for the consultants prepared and followed up with engaged consultants o Required support provided for annual planning, progress report writing and other briefs as required. o Project Manager assisted in in streamlining the external and internal communication.
3. Knowledge Building and sharing facilitated but not limited to: o Different in person and online trainings facilitated o Synthesis of lessons learnt, and best practices related to project management documented and disseminated o Contributed to knowledge networks and communities of practice; o Refined, maintained and updated the data base for project documents for all components of the project to ensure that all the data is appropriately stored and accessed by the relevant project staff

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement and towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Environmental Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Environment or other relevant field or minimum 3 years for Master’s degree holder in engineering, environmental management and/or disaster Risk Management projects).

• Experience in preparation of environmental and social safeguards for the small infrastructure projects and its implementation. • Proven experience in providing both technical and managerial support to community development programmes • Proven experience in dealing with multiple stakeholders and capacity building • Experience of working in the UN or other international development organization is an advantage. • Experience of work in an Island State is an asset. • Familiarity with UNDP/UN ERP System and relevant working experience is an asset. • Accuracy and professionalism in writing reports and other official documents. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; Ability to work with tight deadlines. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems, preferably PeopleSoft and ATLAS.

Climate: The climate along the coast is relatively warm hot year-round with an annual average temperature of 30°C. There are two distinct seasons: the north-east monsoon season, which runs from November to March, constitutes the rainy season throughout the country. The southeast monsoon season, which runs from March to October, constitutes the dry season with some rain on the southern coast but otherwise dry and windy conditions in the rest of the country. The climate inland with its high mountains can be very cold with an annual average temperature of 15°C.
Health: Public hospital and private clinic provide services to community. Stamford clinic in Dili serves as a recommended medical facility for UN staff. There is a national hospital with some international staff and a limited number of other private clinics in Dili (such as Dili Medical Centre). For more complex medical treatment and assessment, it is necessary to evacuate to neighboring cities/countries such as Darwin or Singapore.
Diet, Food and Water: Most staple foods can be found in the markets such as rice, meat, vegetables, cooking oil, salt and sugar. There is a variety of food ranging from Western to Southeast Asian fare. You can also find several local restaurants with less expensive meals. The price range for a meal can range from $3 to $14+.
Telecommunications: There are three telecommunication providers in country, Timor Telecom and Telcomcel and Telemor. The SIM cards cost $2-3 and pre-paid/pulsa cards range from $1 to $50. Further, depending on UN Agency, you may receive a PIN code to make international phone calls that will be charged to your VLA.
Hotels: The UNV Field unit in Dili will help arrange your initial accommodation in a hotel, at your expense.