Regional Programme Officer

Contract

This is a NPSA-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-9 contracts.

Background

UNDP Regional bureau for Asia Pacific’s SIDA-funded Governance of Climate Change Finance (GCCF) project housed in the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) currently covers Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Tonga and Vanuatu. As domestically mobilized resources remain central to climate action, the key focus of the project is to help these countries with effective and equity-driven allocation and utilization of public finance for climate action as well as the mobilization of innovative finance.

Over the past five years there has been an increase in the interest and capacity of Ministries of Finance to respond to climate change as well as take more integrated approaches to the social, environmental and economic objectives of the 2030 Agenda. With the support form the Swedish Embassy through SIDA, Strengthening Governance of Climate Change Finance to Enhance Gender Equality (GCCF) project has responded to this demand by supporting integration of climate change into public financial management systems, at both national and sub-national levels in the Asia Pacific region.

It is expected that the GCCF will evolve into a Climate Finance Network. This will be a broader programme with an expanded geographical coverage of 16 countries in Asia Pacific and will also cover additional thematic areas like innovative finance.

Under the supervision of the Regional Programme Manager, the Regional Programme Management Officer will ensure the overall project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation to ensure the targets and results are met in appropriate timeframe and the programme is delivered in high quality.

Duties and Responsibilities

E****n****s****u****r****e high quality and efficient management of the Governance of Climate Change Finance programme including workplans and donors’ reports development focusing on the achievement of the following results****;

• Efficient gender-responsive climate change finance programme work plan development.
• Effective project implementation in all levels of activities in close collaboration with the Governance of Climate Change Finance team members from UNDP team both at regional and country levels as well as with other development partners;
• Efficient gender-responsive climate change finance programme’s progress reports and other relevant reports development with Result-based management approach both for UNDP’s internal usage and for submission to donors by working closely with team members at BRH and country offices;
• Timely project progress monitoring toward the expected results using UNDP relevant system to track and monitor work plan and its budget utilisation. Ensure effectively work plan monitoring especially at key milestone of activities and ensure efficient production of progress reports and financial report based on the raw data from UNDP’s ATLAS system;
• Efficient work plan implementation including drafting Terms of Reference for consultants, facilitating multi-donor workshops in full compliance to UNDP’s practice, rules and regulations;
• Effective support on the design of subsequent phase of governance of climate change finance (Climate Finance Network or any other).

E****n****s****u****r****e effective financial resources management, mobilisation, planning as well as results monitoring and reporting of the Governance of Climate Change Finance programme focusing on the achievement of the following results;

• Effective programme’s financial management by ensuring the efficiency of programme’s budget planning, utilisation, expenditures delivery monitoring and management, budget revisions, expenditures correction, and other such necessary functions requiring regular use of ATLAS with close collaboration with GCCF team members and relevant UNDP’s units i.e. Programme Management Unit (PMU), Global Service Support Centre (GSSC), Transaction Support Team (TST);
• Efficient and smooth collaboration and effective communications with UNDP COs and BRH colleagues across all teams especially well as other development partners and Asia-Pacific member countries in order to secure good practice in resources management and mobilization;
• Efficient Technical Assistance management at both national and regional levels to ensure expenditure delivery is well on track as planned;
• High quality donors’ administrative agreements for their contributions and ensure the efficient process of receiving and allocating the contribution to the programme as well as efficiently monitoring of key financial milestone and ensure the donor financial reports are well prepared and successfully submit in a timely manner;
• Efficient costing of the subsequent phase of the GCCF and put in place effective systems for resource transfer to the country offices.

E****n****s****u****r****e efficient operations management (Administrative and Procurement management) by providing effective and efficient programme implementation support focusing on the achievement of the following results;

• Full compliance programme’s business process. Build and maintain good internal relationship with all UNDP country offices and Programme Management Unit (PMU), Transaction Support Team (TST) to ensure the smooth coordination and proper operational process. This includes processing and supervising general support team members to execute all administrative, travel arrangements and procurement process and sharing knowledge and necessary information to all team members.
• Efficient control of internal standard operating procedures in Finance, procurement, administration, logistics, Human Resource, IT service in compliance with UNDP internal control frameworks.
• Timely and efficient procurement process including services and goods i.e. consultants and other related positions recruitments and institutional agreements is processed in a timely manner as well as to ensure the Governance of Climate Change Finance programme’s Procurement plan is well monitored and regularly updated.

Ensure efficient team management and provide Quality Assurance to team’s knowledge management and its products;

• Conduct research, review publications and advocacy materials both at country and regional levels to ensure that they align with the programme’s workplan and oversee the production to ensure that they’re produced in compliance with UNDP’s guideline;
• Provide backstopping and coordinator role for all team member to support the Programme Manager to monitor staff movement, missions and leave plan to ensure the efficient team management.

Institutional Arrangement

She/ He will work under direct supervision of the Programme Manager Strengthening Governance of Climate Change Finance to Enhance Gender Equality (GCCF) who in turn reports to the SDG Finance Advisor.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required skills and competencies

Knowledge on UNDP Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Experience and knowledge in Results-based management and being familiar with IEO evaluation guideline is an asset.

Leadership and Self-Management:

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.

Partnership development and fundraising

• Experience in fund raising, donor coordination and high-level stakeholder engagement is desirable;

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Development Studies, International Affairs, Political Science, Social Science, Public Administration or other related fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) or 2 years (with Master’s degree) progressively responsible experience in regional/international programme and programme management, administration and financial management or related field is required;
• Extensive knowledge of UNDP’s policies, procedures and practice including familiarity of ATLAS operational system is desirable;
• Experience in coordination and support to cross sectoral or regional projects is desirable.
• Knowledge in Development Effectiveness / SDG Finance / Climate Change Finance and/or its related issues is an asset.
• Experiences in full computer literacy: Microsoft Office programmes i.e. MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-Power Point. Website management experience is an asset.

Language Requirement:

• Proficiency in English and Thai with advanced command of speaking and writing is required. Working knowledge of other UN official language is an asset.