Programme Management Specialist (Europe and Central Asia and Arab States Regions)

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS supports the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) which is implemented by UNDP’s Local Action Cluster of the Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) unit of BPPS on behalf of the GEF Partnership. It is executed by UNOPS. The SGP is a signature programme and a central part of the UNDP Local Action Cluster of NCE.

SGP grant making promotes community-based innovation in addressing global environmental issues and improved, more sustainable livelihoods through initiatives led by civil society and community organizations, with special consideration for Indigenous peoples, women, youth and persons with disabilities. SGP has supported over 25,000 community-based projects in over 125 countries in biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable land management protection of international waters, and sound chemicals and waste management. Over the years, SGP has developed extensive partnerships at global, national and local levels. See http://sgp.undp.org for further background information. 

The Nature, Climate and Energy team within the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) in New York exercises strategic, technical and fiduciary oversight for all of its GEF and bilateral partnership activities, including the SGP. Within the NCE, the Local Action Cluster, led by its Principal Technical Advisor, provides the overall global oversight of the SGP, including strategic, thematic, and operational guidance and support to Country Programmes. As the responsible Executing Agency for numerous partnerships, UNOPS provides services to UNDP for human resources, and administrative, financial and legal aspects of grant-making and country operations.  

The Programme Management Specialist (Europe and Central Asia and Arab States Regions)  will work for the Local Action Cluster in Europe and Central Asia and the Arab States (SGP Regional Focal Point) and form part of the SGP Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) and the Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH). He/she will contribute to Local Action cluster strategic objectives as follows: responsibility for execution support to country programmes in Europe and Central Asia and the Arab States; implementation of the GEF Small Grants Programme and other partnerships; supervision of Country Programme staff vis a vis Country Programme Strategy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; as well as identification of upscaling, resource mobilization, and knowledge generation opportunities regarding local actions. He/she will coordinate closely with related projects and programmes in the countries of the region and provide regular updates to the regional NCE team. 

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

• Keep abreast of developments with the GEF and other donor policies and programming directions to support the implementation of international framework agreements and multilateral environmental treaties relating to sustainable development and Agenda 2030, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and other related conventions, particularly in relation to the two regions; 
• Contribute inputs to the GEF SGP and UNDP/NCE discussions and strategies on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs), Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the regions with a focus on green/blue COVID-19 recovery, the blue economy, nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, scaling up and broader adoption, partnership building and networking, policy dialogues and advocacy, sustainable livelihoods, disaster risk reduction and resilience;
• Undertake periodic reviews of the Local Action portfolio and monitor implementation progress in achieving global objectives in the two regions, as specified in the SGP and Local Action global strategies;
• Coordinate technical support to the Country Programmes in the two regions on Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture, Land Degradation and Sustainable Forest Management, Climate Change, International Waters, Chemicals and Waste Management by liaising with the corresponding Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) or other experts.

• Keep track of the Local Action project portfolio in the regions, particularly related to SGP in the two regions, including monitoring of results and information in the database;  
• Identify lessons learned and best practices both at the global and Country Programme levels, and ensure adequate dissemination of the same at the global level in collaboration with the Local Action Knowledge Management team and other relevant staff through development of analytical and case studies of the portfolio and other knowledge management products;  
• Participate in and provide inputs for major evaluation processes, including the periodic independent evaluations of the SGP, as well as country-based evaluations;  
• Provide inputs related to the two regions in the preparation of SGP Annual Monitoring Reports and relevant GEF, UNDP, and other donor documents, particularly sections relevant to the demonstration of impacts; 
• Provide strategic guidance to Local Action Country Programmes on Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and support the preparation of reports;  
• Facilitate up-scaling of Local Action projects by assisting country teams in the development of medium and full-sized projects, country and global policy linkages, and collaboration with other bilateral donors and external partners;
• Work with the partners, including reporting to all relevant donors and partners in relation to the two regions.

• Provide overall supervision and support to Local Action Country Programmes, including SGP, on facilitation of the recruitment of Local Action Country Programme staff, and review and approval of NSC composition for the two regions;
• Coordinate with UNOPS on the financial monitoring and review of programmatic delivery in the two regions (countries to be assessed on a periodic basis);
• Coordinate Local Action Country Programme operations in the regions with the UNOPS team, review relevant documents and reports, identify problems and issues to be addressed and initiate corrective actions, liaising with relevant UNOPS portfolio managers and ensuring follow-up actions;
• Continuously explore opportunities to improve efficiency of Local Action Country Programme operations in the region in collaboration with UNDP COs and UNOPS;
• Maintain regular contacts with UNOPS colleagues on coordination and related policy matters relevant to Local Action; 
• Conduct execution support, monitoring, and trouble-shooting missions to back-stop the successful implementation of Local Action Country Programmes, as relevant;
• Provide execution support of regional portfolios, financial monitoring, and review of regional programme delivery;
• Perform supervisory functions of National Coordinators’ performance as the SGP focal points for the assigned countries in the region.
• Advise Local Action Country Programmes during the preparation and revision of Country Programme Strategies (CPS), and coordinate technical inputs on implementation and monitoring at Country Programme and project levels;
• Advise Local Action Country Programmes on relevant GEF, UNDP and other relevant policies and programmes, and their implications for Country Programme management covering all related technical, policy and operational aspects;
• Coordinate with UNDP NCE Regional Team Leaders (RTLs), Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) and National Coordinators (NCs) on UNDP initiatives and activities at country and regional levels.

• Contribute to Local Action strategy development, facilitating consultative processes in the preparation of proposal development for thematic and regional initiatives; 
• Contribute to NCE Regional strategies, policy or programme support to country offices related to local action, and business planning;
• Act as Local Action focal point and contribute to the discussions in UNDP and with GEF, and other donors and partners regarding community-based approaches and achievements in the two regions; 
• Support efforts to strengthen collaboration between UNDP Local Action and other partners as part of the UNDP mandate to build capacity of civil society and safeguard environmental services for the vulnerable communities and address gender concerns;
• Support and provide inputs to the preparation and organization of SGP Steering Committee meetings and the preparation of GEF Council papers, as appropriate;
• Contribute to strategic planning and development of operational policies and procedures of Local Action management and supervision of Country Programmes at the global level;
• Facilitate the understanding of, and support to, the implementation of decisions by donors and other authorities in relation to Local Action programmes and activities;
• Regularly update the regional NCE team on progress, connect with relevant initiatives and contribute to the regional website.

• Master’s degree preferably in international development, community development, natural resource management, climate change adaptation/mitigation, rural development or other closely related field.

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the design, implementation and/or management of projects and application of integrated community-based approaches to conservation and sustainable development issues.
• At least three  (3) years of related work with civil society organizations in one or more developing countries.
• Working experience in the concerned regions (Europe and Central Asia and the Arab States)  is required.

• Working experience at the field and country levels on community-based initiatives is an asset;
• Familiarity with the work of UNDP, the Global Environment Facility, including the Small Grants Programme, or other similar grant-making programmes is an asset;
• Experience in strategic planning, partnership development, systems analysis, and organization of complex programmes is an asset.

• Fluency in English is required.
• Proficiency in French is highly desired.
• Russian and/or Arabic language would be an asset.

1. Contract type: Fixed -Term Staff Contract
2. Contract level: P3 
3. Contract duration: 'One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'
   
   

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
  
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.


Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.


Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.