Results and Knowledge Management Specialist - Level B Consultancy

Result of Service UNEP’s on-the-ground impact is of quantified and reported based on verifiable data and communicated to donors and global audience in innovative ways.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 2 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy post is located in UNEP / Ecosystems Division / GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation unit.

The GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit within the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Branch fulfils the implementing agency role for UNEP on the Biodiversity and Land Degradation Focal Areas projects supported through Global Environment Facility funds. The unit currently oversees over 100 projects globally. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. The Biodiversity focal area of GEF addresses the loss of Biodiversity and the Land Degradation focal area encourages the implementation of sustainable land management practices.

There is a need for the UNEP to monitor and evaluate its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability in the implementation of projects at a portfolio level in order to improve its performance. Further, it is necessary to quantify and communicate on-the-ground impacts of its work on biodiversity and land degradation. This communication needs to include data on environmental indicators and socio-economic metrics. The initial focus will be on the projects approved during the 5th and 6th replenishment cycles of GEF, as well as ongoing indicator development of the portfolio currently being developed. The current replenishment cycle started in mid-2018 and will continue till mid-2022. The assignment will be most effective if the position can develop and finalise a system to track agreed impact indicators across the portfolio and report against such for the duration of the GEF 7 replenishment cycle and integrate the indicators into the development of new projects (project development continues 12-months after concept approval, so target date mid-2023).

Specifically, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

The RKS position is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall management of common tasks associated with the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation global portfolio. This includes, in particular key tasks associated with the global technical portfolio level programme/project results monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and learning. This also includes reporting and communication of the technical portfolio.

Specifically, the consultant will be required to complete the following tasks:

1. Results and Performance Measurement - Performs review of relevant project cycle documentation, key indicators, and systems required for the development of streamlined reporting and portfolio management tasks; - Contributes to the development and implementation of the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit’s knowledge management strategy in collaboration with relevant staff; - Identify and map users’ needs, and knowledge gaps, and address these through the promotion of collaboration and coordinated solutions development; - Identifies activities and builds on the first phase Theory of Change for the GEF BD/LD portfolio's that integrates UNEP's MTS, latest PoW and GEF Programme Strategy; - Conceptualize a workflow to integrate annual progress towards delivering technical programme/project results against GEF core indicators and the portfolio performance indicators identified above) and the provision of management support across the global technical portfolio. - Align the quantitative and qualitative global technical results data with the expected objectives and outcomes of the technical team and design to support adaptive management. - Contributes to the improvement of the online information services including through testing and feedback.

2. Knowledge Management & Learning - Works closely with the unit staff to provide expert guidance and support to knowledge management and learning tasks; - Scrutinize quantitative and qualitative technical results data for potential gaps, use that information to inform and improve technical strategies and planning, internal policies and procedures; - Provides training and guidance to GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit staff to enable them to share knowledge, access, and retrieve information effectively through KM system; - New learning is generated by the systematic gathering, organizing and analysis of results from both internal and external sources; - Compiling activity-based expenditure, and progress data to generate new information on project efficiency; - Portfolio achievement and impacts are systematically codified, easily accessible, meaningful, and valuable for both internal and external partners. - Report on the progress made by regions and globally in accordance with internal and external requirements. - Contributes to the improvement of other knowledge management and reporting initiatives within the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit including through targeted advisory, platform testing, and feedback. - Designs the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit knowledge architecture to improve consistency in the content creation with a view to facilitating harmonized and integrated content management and reporting. - Identifies relevant communities of practice, knowledge networks and collaboration platforms and publicizes it when relevant.

3. Strategic Partnership Development - Aids the promotion of a knowledge-sharing and organizational learning culture within the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. - Participates in relevant meetings related to knowledge management within the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. - Collaborates with the technical team through pro-active communication support and delivery of key information on reporting systems workflow and management solutions under development. - Liaise with other UNEP partners and technical units to coordinate technical cooperation in order to develop new knowledge and reporting solutions.

Reporting Lines: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Task Manager based in Geneva, Switzerland and the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager of the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit who is based in Nairobi.

Qualifications/special skills Competency: Technical Knowledge: i. Demonstrates sufficient technical knowledge to perform effectively in own specialty. ii. Shares knowledge and is willing to provide support to others who request advice or help. iii. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. iv. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks.

Professionalism: i. Focuses on results; ii. Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently; iii. Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically; iv. Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges, bringing innovative and effective solutions to them; v. Leads and supports team decisions; vi. Facilitates meetings effectively and efficiently; vii. Resolves conflicts as they arise.

Communication: i. Writes and presents clearly and convincingly; ii. Able to communicate effectively verbally and/or in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience to convey information effectively. iii. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Academic Qualifications: i. First university degree in a field related to the environmental programme area in which the post is assigned (biodiversity, natural resources, economics), or equivalent experience is required. An advanced university degree is advantageous.

Experience: i. At least 6 years of experience in sustainable development and implementation of environmental related programmes, projects and activities is required. Additional expertise at the International level is desired. ii. Experience in institutional learning, research, analysis or knowledge management and communication with strong background in analysis and evaluation of development assistance programs and experience in the application of statistical methods is desirable. iii. At least two years of professional Geographic Information System (GIS) experience in conducting spatial analysis and map production is desired. iv. Good knowledge of machine learning, Power Business Intelligence (BI) and GIS applications is an asset.

Language: i. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

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.