Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The overall goal of the project is to (1) support further implementation of the climate education curricula in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region; (2) disseminate climate education programme in other regions; (3) advance the Climate Box curriculum with new innovative digital and online tools; and (4) support cross-country exchanges and cooperation including student contest on climate change. The proposed Project contributes to the joint effort of the UN Family under UNFCCC’s Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE). This framework promotes education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation for climate action.
Climate change education is key for empowering the youth for climate action. To reduce the burden on the environment and reduce its carbon footprint, the world needs relevant knowledge. Such knowledge and habits must be instilled from an early age so that everyone understands by the time they leave school how important it is to take good care of the natural environment and resources
The project is managed by the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS (IRH) under the UNDP Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) in line with the UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures. IRH Climate and Disaster Resilience Team (CDT) is responsible for the project management, coordination and reporting. National activities will be implemented directly through the UNDP Country Offices in beneficiary countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).
Objective of the Assignment is to ensure effective implementation of the national activities of the regional project with delivery of all the intended outcomes and outputs in accordance with the Project Document within the approved budget for the country.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Coordinator assumes overall responsibility for the successful implementation of all project activities and the achievement of planned project outputs.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Overall project coordination:
- Assume primary responsibility for the daily project coordination both organizational and substantive matters, budgeting, planning, controlling the project expenditures and general monitoring of the project;
- Coordinate project activities to ensure project effective implementation and achievement of all the expected results in accordance with the UNDP Project Document in a cost-effective manner meeting the established internal and external deadlines;
- Coordinate project activities with other related technical assistance projects/programs in Belarus.
- Project administrative and financial management:
- Ensure operational project coordination in accordance with the project documents as approved by the donor (Trust Fund “Russian Federation”), and in line with UNDP rules and procedures applied for DIM projects, including:
- Prepare work plans, including financial plans, in consultation with UNDP IRH and Country office, ensure the plans approval in a timely manner, ensure adherence thereto, revise work plans as required;
- Ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with the approved work plans and budget table, including contracting of consultants and procurement of goods, works and services;
- Assume overall responsibility for the proper handling of logistics related to project workshops and events;
- Prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for national and international consultants and subcontractors in line with and following relevant UNDP procedures;
- Supervise and coordinate the work of the project consultants and subcontractors to ensure their results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP Programming Manual;
- Supervise work of the project consultants and ensure compliance with the agreed plans and delivery and high quality of the results in accordance with respective Terms of Reference.
- Ensure adequate management of the project resources in accordance with the project budget, agreed work plans and the Project Document. Ensures related record keeping;
- Monitor the expenditures, commitments and balance of funds under the project budget lines. Ensure that financial delivery targets set out in the agreed work plans are met.
- Reporting and Risk management:
- Assume overall responsibility for timely reporting on project in accordance with the respective UNDP requirements vis-à-vis indicators in the project framework as per the request of the IRH;
- Prepare and timely submit project narrative annual and progress reports and also as per the request of IRH;
- Monitor risks and project impact indicators as per the project framework;
- Timely undertakes actions to eliminate/reduce risks and issues. Regularly inform UNDP IRH and Country Office on the risks and issues, and actions undertaken to eliminate/reduces these risks/issues.
- Partnership building and Communication:
- Maintain regular contacts with the UNDP IRH and Regional Project Manager, UNDP Country Office and Programme Analyst on project implementation issues of their respective competence;
- Liaise with relevant ministries, other national institutions in order to involve them in project activities as necessary and gather and disseminate information relevant to the project;
- Ensure proper information coverage of project activities and PR in accordance with the respective UNDP rules and procedures; ensure visibility of the Donor in all project outputs;
- Ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders of the project;
- Organize climate-focused regional and national summer camps to promote climate education;
- Present the project at workshops, trainings and other events, including regional conferences for children and educators, to raise awareness and share insights on climate education initiatives
- Knowledge building and knowledge sharing:
- Identify, validate and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project implementation
- Facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;
- Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project
Undertake any other actions related to managing of the project as requested by the supervisors.
Institutional Arrangement
The project coordinator will carry out its duties under the direct supervision of the UNDP Programme Analyst in the field of environment, energy, climate change and disaster risk reduction of Belarus UNDP Country Office and the Project Manager of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS (IRH).
Competencies
Core-Competencies
- Achieve Results:
- LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively:
- LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously:
- LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility:
- LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination:
- LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner:
- LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
- LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
Cross-Functonal & Technical Competencies
- Results-based Management:
- Ability to manage project with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
- Co-creation:
- Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.
- Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity.
- Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing.
- Communication:
- Ability to 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.
- Effective Decision Making:
- Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
- Negotiation and Influence:
- Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations.
- Knowledge Generation Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required.
- Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: Pedagogy, environmental protection management or resource management (or equivalent) and/or business management or related fields will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.
Experience:
- With secondary education, minimum 7 years OR;
- With Bachelor’s degree, minimum 4 years of relevant experience in Pedagogy, environmental protection management or resource management (or equivalent) and/or business management or related fields is required.
Required Skills:
- 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
Desired Skills:
- Experience in Budgeting or Finance (of financial and budgeting processes; effectively financial, human and material resources management)
- Proven experience with implementation of climate change and/or educational projects
- Communication skills/experience to convey project information clearly and professionally to different stakeholders.
- Organizational skills/experience to manage the tasks, resources and deadlines of a project using tools such as calendars, spreadsheets and project management software.
- Problem-solving skills/experience to identify and resolve any problems that may occur during the project and to be able to analyze the situation, propose solutions and implement them quickly.
Required Languages:
- Foundational English.
- Fluency in Russian and/or Belarusian.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.