Overview
Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to the Government of Lao PDR on sustainable agriculture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), agrochemical lifecycle management, agricultural waste management, and green finance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic guidance, rigorous analysis and advice to the Government of Lao PDR.
- Provide technical input and policy advice and supervise implementation of project activities.
- Advise the Government and UNDP on linkages with other major programmes or projects.
- Draft and review strategic and technical documents.
- Ensure development of cross-project linkages with other relevant UN and development partner projects.
- Facilitate information sharing and dialogue within the donor community.
- Assist the Government in information sharing/knowledge management.
- Systematically record project results and contribute to UNDP/GEF annual reports.
- Provide technical advice, capacity building, institutional support, project management and implementation support.
- Advise and support the development of annual and quarterly workplans and budget plans.
- Ensure participation and involvement of relevant stakeholders in project activities.
- Support implementation of project activities to ensure delivery of resources and results.
- Ensure development of linkages across project outcomes and outputs.
- Advise and update the National Project Director and UNDP on project progress.
- Advise, support and implement Annual Project Reviews, annual audits, mid-term evaluation and final evaluation.
- Support recruitment of competent national and international experts.
- Organize and oversee consultant input, develop detailed Terms of References.
- Liaise with all consultants and project teams to ensure timely completion of deliverables.
- Support and be involved in organizing and facilitating project meetings, workshops etc.
- Identify and develop synthesis of best practices and lessons learned.
- Provide capacity development for key government staff.
- Track and verify GEF Core Indicators and other tools.
- Ensure results of training activities and workshops feed into progress reports.
- Support DOA and UNDP in closing projects operationally.
- Undertake technical oversight daily.
- Support developing initial concept note to mobilize funds.
- Support resource mobilization and provide leadership on sustainable agriculture.
- Support the government and UNDP in strengthening partnership/coordination with key stakeholders.
- Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy.
- Identify capacity building needs and opportunities.
- Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented.
- Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices.
- Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project.
- Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration.
- Performs other duties within their functional profile.
Required Experience
- Minimum 5 (with master's degree) or 7 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant working experience within sustainable agriculture, IPM/GAP, agrochemicals management, chemicals and waste management, environmental management, agricultural economics, and/or relevant field of studies.
- At least 5 years of proven experience in project management, in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
- Experience with project planning and consulting.
- Experience in fostering networks and partnerships.
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
- Prior experience in similar positions in UNDP/GEF programme/projects.
- Demonstrated track record of experience in developing and providing sound policy advice, strategic planning, organizational guidance and critical analysis in relation to sustainable agriculture, IPM/GAP, agrochemicals management, chemicals and waste management, environmental management, agricultural economics, and/or relevant field of studies.
- Experience with community-based agriculture, smallholder farming systems and pesticide lifecycle management.
- Experience in developing and/or reviewing environmental law, policy, guidelines, and strategies.
- Experience with the Stockholm Convention, FAO/WHO International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, FAO Pesticide Registration Toolkit, and SAICM.
- Experience with UNDP Project and Programme and NIM with Country Office Support to National Implementation.
- Previous work experience in Southeast Asia or developing countries.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Protection, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management and Planning, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Sustainable Development, and/or relevant field of studies is required or,
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
