Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk, including social and environmental risks, are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

The VF Programme Support, Oversight, and Compliance Unit manages UNDP’s engagement with Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF); and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), and the Adaptation Fund (AF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.  The VF Programme Support, Oversight, and Compliance Unit provides programme support, compliance and oversight support.

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) underpin UNDP’s commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in its interventions. The standards aim to:

• Strengthen the quality of programming by ensuring a principled approach;
• Maximize social and environmental opportunities and benefits;
• Avoid adverse impacts on people and the environment;
• Minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible;
• Strengthen UNDP and partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks; and
• Ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through a mechanism to respond to complaints from project-affected people.

Application of social and environmental standards in development programming are critical to UNDP’s role as the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy, including on SES. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

The SES are an integral component of UNDP’s quality assurance and risk management approach to programming. To this end, UNDP has a global SES Team that is hosted by the Bureau for Programming and Policy Support (BPPS) and involves global and regional SES technical advisors matrixed to the Regional Bureaus or relevant GPN Teams. The SES Team provides advisory and oversight services to UNDP programming, aiming to fuel integration of SES into project design and guiding social and environmental risk assessment and management in compliance with the SES policy.

The SES Team plays a dual function of leading on SES policy functions across UNDP as well as providing oversight and advisory support to priority projects as part of UNDP’s second-layer oversight. Therefore, the SES Team is matrixed to the BPPS Quality Programming Team and the BPPS VF Programme Support, Oversight, and Compliance Unit given the volume of priority projects in the Environmental Vertical Fund portfolio and the enhanced SES requirements of the Environmental Vertical Funds.

The Quality Programming Team within BPPS, provides strategic advice and leadership to enhance UNDP’s programming quality and impact. The Team’s focus is on improving programme, portfolio, and project management (PPM) policies, quality standards and tools, and thus reinforcing UNDP’s role as the UN’s principal development agency. The Team offers strategic advice and policy guidance on corporate policies, standards, initiatives and tools in relation to:

• Programme, portfolio, and project design, implementation, and quality assurance.
• Results-based management and development impact
• Integrated risk management for results
• Transparency and decentralized evaluation
• Private sector due diligence to improve programming outcomes

Position Purpose:

The Head of SES will manage and build the global UNDP SES team hosted by the Bureau for Programming and Policy Support (BPPS) that includes global and regional SES technical advisors matrixed to the Regional Bureaus or relevant GPN Teams. The global UNDP SES Team provides advisory and oversight services to UNDP programming, aiming to fuel integration of SES into project design and guiding social and environmental risk assessment and management in compliance with the SES policy.

The Head of SES will be based in New York, USA, will lead a team based at HQs and in Regional Hubs, and is expected to travel frequently. UNDP staff may be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different duty station as needed.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages cross interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provides leadership and ownership of the SES Policy

• Owner of SES Policy & Procedures: Ensure UNDP maintains a robust set of Social and Environmental Standards that is grounded in UN norms, standards and frameworks and are fully aligned with the equivalent policies of VF funds and other partners as necessary. Lead processes designed to verify the equivalency of various SES policies.
• Ensure SES System Integration: Ensure these standards are integrated into the UNDP’s broader operational frameworks, including programming, procurement, and reporting mechanisms. Ensure and support climate adaptation and resilience-building as integral components of SES considerations
• Strengthen Corporate SES Data Collection and Reporting: Collect data on the SES implementation for use within UNDP’s internal decision-making (e.g. Risk Committee) and external communication with donors, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Include a focus on utilizing modern data analytics tools or platforms for better tracking and reporting SES implementation progress (SES Tracker).
• Risk Escalation: Monitor and facilitate the escalation of SES risks and issues to senior management.
• Policy Feedback and Innovation: Regularly review and update UNDP SES procedures based on lessons learned, evolving risks, and feedback from project teams and affected communities. Ensure engagement with affected communities and stakeholders to improve policy updates and ensure practical applicability. Support the adoption of technology and global best practices in policy revisions.
• Liaise with UNDP’s Accountability Mechanism: Coordinate with UNDP’s Office of Audit and Investigations, Head of Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) and the Lead Advisor for the Stakeholder Response Mechanism (SRM) on relevant policy issues.
• Follow-up on SES audit and evaluation actions: Ensure follow-up and delivery on any corporate SES management actions coming from relevant audits and evaluations.
• Management of global SES team: Manage, lead, and coordinate the Environmental and Social Safeguards and demonstrate cross-unit integration and teamwork;

SES Oversight and Advisory Support for Priority Programming and Escalated Risks 

• CO SES Implementation Plans: Working with Regional Bureaus and Country Offices, support approaches for programmatic and strategic consideration of SES at the Country Office level.
• Screening, Assessments and Management Plans: Advise on the application of Social and Environmental Screening Procedures (SESP) and related assessments and management plans in UNDP interventions, specifically quality assurance/clearance of SESPs and SES instruments for Vertical Fund projects and other priority projects.
• Disclosure and Consultations: Provide advice on effective disclosure and consultation processes with potentially affected stakeholders.
• Compliance: Support programme teams and Country Offices on projects with escalated SES risks and lead enhanced SES oversight missions as necessary. Ensure the speed and transparency of escalated risk resolutions. Conduct preemptive reviews or risk assessments for high-priority projects and portfolios.
• SECU and SRM Cases: Provide SES advisory support in cases being reviewed or investigated by the OAI Social and Environmental Compliance Unit.
• Grievance Redress: Promote and advise on the development of project-level Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) that address complaints about the potential social and environmental impacts of UNDP interventions. Promote digital platforms or innovative tools to enhance GRM accessibility and efficiency.

Lead SES Capacity and Learning 

• SES Guidance and Tools: Continually adapt and build learning-based guidance materials to support effective and efficient implementation. Create a centralized knowledge repository (e.g., an online portal) for case studies, best practices, and tools.
• Training Programs: Develop and deliver training programs for the UNDP staff, partners, and local stakeholders to ensure they understand and can implement UNDP SES requirements.
• Internal Capacity Development: Lead SES capacity-building and institutionalization initiatives across UNDP. Facilitate peer-to-peer learning opportunities within the SES Community of Practice.
• Research and Experimentation: Follow global trends in social and environmental standards and pilot-test new approaches and tools.
• Generate Knowledge and Facilitate Exchange: Ensure strengthened collection of case examples and lessons learned with enhanced mechanisms for SES knowledge capture and sharing.

Lead SES Coordination, Communications, and Outreach 

• Coordination across UNDP: Establish and maintain an “SES Oversight Network” of colleagues across UNDP supporting aspects of SES oversight and advisory support and build a wider SES Community of Practice.
• Coordination with partners: Coordinate with other UN agencies, international financial institutions, and relevant development partners and support efforts to align the social and environmental standards used in development progress.
• Integrated frameworks: Lead the integrated application of UNDP SES in joint programming initiatives with other development partners, including negotiation of SES aspects of partnership agreements.
• Internal Advocacy: Promote the importance of social and environmental standards within the UNDP operations. Promote specific campaigns or initiatives to embed SES awareness in the UNDP’s organizational culture.
• SES Awareness Raising: Engage in advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the SES internally and among the UNDP partners and other relevant stakeholders. Promote alignment with high-impact partners, such as governments, private sector entities, and civil society organizations, to broaden SES influence.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies:

Core  CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)

Achieve Results:

Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:

Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results    

Engage and Partner:

Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management:

UNDP People: Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness: Effectiveness

• Project Quality Assurance

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth

• Social Impact Assessment

Business direction and strategy: Strategic Thinking 

• Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans inline with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business direction and strategy: Systems Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management: Risk Management

• Identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management: Portfolio Management 

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiative with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management

Business Management: Communication

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Policy, and/or related fields is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years (with a master’s degree) or 12 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in the field of environment and climate, with a focus on social and environmental standards, results management, monitoring and evaluation, and/or broader risk management is required.
• Direct experience in preparation and quality assurance of social and environmental safeguards instruments and addressing compliance/grievance cases is required.
• Direct experience in the development of policies, procedures, and corporate systems is required.
• Experience in managing and supporting globally disbursed teams is required.
• Previous work experience in the UN and/or UNDP is an advantage
• Experience working with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) is desirable
• Direct experience with Vertical Fund programming in UNDP is desirable
• Experience in leading communication and outreach on Social and Environmental Standards is an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements