Overview
Oversee the implementation of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) at the country level, including direct coordination of the SGP Programme Associate/Assistant and coordination of the National Steering Committee.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise/coordinate the SGP Country Programme Associate/Assistant and provide guidance.
- Promote and maintain effective teamwork within the SGP Country Programme team, National Steering Committee, and UNDP CO team.
- Prepare and implement annual work plan, including strategic and/or innovative initiatives, with set delivery and co-financing targets.
- Draft annual SGP Country Office administrative and project operational budget proposal.
- Set annual performance parameters and learning objectives for the SGP Country Programme team, assess their performance and provide feedback.
- Keep abreast of national environmental concerns and priorities as well as socio-economic conditions and trends.
- Ensure formulation and implementation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS), and its periodic review and update.
- Manage SGP grant allocations and country operating budget, maintain financial integrity, and ensure timely and effective use of SGP resources.
- Exercise quality control over project ideas and concepts, and monitor programme implementation progress and results.
- Organize periodic stakeholder workshops and project development sessions.
- Work closely with CSOs and CBOs in preparation of project concepts and proposals.
- Authorize and manage project planning grants.
- Oversee ongoing SGP grant projects and conduct periodic project monitoring field visits.
- Plan and serve as secretary to the National Steering Committee meetings.
- Support and closely coordinate with the National Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Group in project proposal review, selection, and approval.
- Foster programme, project, and policy linkages between SGP and other GEF projects, UNDP CO portfolios, and those of other government, donors, and development partners.
- Report periodically to the Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) on programme implementation status.
- Undertake monitoring and evaluation of SGP Country Programme and projects, and grant maker initiatives.
- Perform and coordinate administrative tasks (i.e. procurement, travel) adhering to SGP SOPs procurement rules and regulation.
- Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders and promote the value, comparative advantages, and visibility of the SGP.
- Assess interest and priorities of key donors and other development partners and develop/update and implement resource mobilization and partnership strategy.
- Support SGP grantees in securing co-financing and project level partnerships.
- Document programme/project stories, lessons learned, and best practices.
- Access SGP and other global and regional knowledge, distill best practices and facilitate their dissemination.
- Support capacity building and networking of grantees to facilitate knowledge exchange.
Required Experience
- Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in managing environment / natural resource management projects / initiatives at national or local levels.
- Progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related area at international and/or national level is desirable.
- Proven experience in managing and/or providing services for the design, management and monitoring and evaluation of UN/DP Programmes and/or development projects including results-based management a significant advantage.
- Experience in any of the GEF-SGP thematic areas at the national level highly desirable.
- Proven experience working in a sensitive environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors (e.g. NGOs, CSOs, government, etc.) is desired.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental or Natural Resource Management, Economy, Public Policy, Law, Environmental Economics/Management, Business Administration or a related field is required. OR A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
