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.
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Climate Change, the Chief Technical Specialist will ensure effective and timely delivery of Maldives Resilient Reef Ecosystem and Economy for the Future (Maldives RREEF) Programme.
Funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), the goal of the Maldives RREEF programme is to establish sustainable financing mechanisms to support coral conservation and facilitate the development of, and investment in, projects and businesses that sustainably contribute to the resilience of coral reefs and the communities living on these atolls. The programme will engage local private sector actors, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises led by men and women; support the development and deployment of gender responsive incubators and accelerators for coral-positive entrepreneurs and enterprises; promote the use of and access to diverse and innovative financial instruments; and catalyse private sector finance at scale to protect Maldives’ reefs and build the resilience of local communities through expanding coral positive blue economy strategies.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (MCCEE), Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Fuvahmulah Nature Park (FNP), Addu Nature Park (ANP), Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture (MFMRA) as the primary partners. The project will also work closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), Wallacea Trust/Plan Vivo, SME Development Financing Corporation (SDFC), Business Centre Corporation (BCC), Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Addu City Council (ACC), Fuvahmulah City Council (FCC), Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), and MaRHE Center.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist, Climate Change, the Chief Technical Specialist (CTS)is expected to provide technical advice on marine and coral conservation, blue financing solutions for marine protected areas, and technical oversight of the various feasibility assessments for blue finance tools and their pilots. The CTS will also lead in technical conversations with blue financing institutions, insurers, private investors as well as bilateral and multilateral agencies, development banks, and government institutions in designing blue finance transactions (private or blended finance). More specifically, the CTS will provide the following functions:
Ensures provision of high quality of technical advisory services in the programme / project management
- Provide leading role and strategic input into the implementation of programme’s technical outputs.
- Support the Project Manager and PMU in coordinating and supervising activities of national and international experts/consultants to secure timely production of planned outputs and the review of these outputs.
- Provide support in identifying solutions to address emerging gaps in the programme.
Advise and support effective technical oversight in programme and project management cycle including design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
- Coordinates inputs to ensure that women empowerment and gender mainstreaming aspects are integrated and applied in all programme activities from design to implementation, including planning and budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in line with the gender equality strategies of both the donor and UNDP.
- Support PMU in assessing technical, financial, political, operational, and management situations on the ground that affect programme implementation.
- Draft terms of reference and technical work specifications, recruit and supervise technical expertise, and oversee technical contractor’s work, review technical reports, provide feedback, and ensure overall quality of outputs.
- Provide technical inputs into updating the monitoring and evaluation framework of the project in line with the updated fund level indicators.
- Provide technical inputs in the meetings of the Programme Steering Committee.
- Provide technical inputs into the monitoring and evaluation and provide support in the identification of programme issues and implement solutions to bring the programme back on track.
- Support the PMU in monitoring risks and implement all risk mitigation measures, focusing particularly on technical risks related to climate, conservation, spatial planning, and innovative financing.
Provides technical advice and guidance in the development of new initiatives / projects.
- Provide technical advice to national and local stakeholders – including line ministries, development partners, civil society, indigenous peoples, financing institutions, and the private sector – in the technical implementation of activities.
- Share findings from the exploration on future trends, new methodologies/approaches, potential partnership, innovative financing mechanisms, and others within UNDP and with partners for coral conservation and blended finance.
Ensures establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships and leads resources mobilization in the area of climate change and resilience.
- Build and maintain partnerships with technical partners to the programme and identify opportunities for collaboration with potential partners at local and regional levels, including potential investors – philanthropic, private, or public institutions.
- Lead and facilitate consultation and validation workshops with key clients, including UN agencies, other development partners, international partners, and donors to identify key priorities and complementarities between the programme and other existing initiatives in support of the same area.
- Closely coordinate with local stakeholders for context monitoring, information sharing, and creating synergies with existing initiatives.
Provides technical advisory services in the knowledge generation and management.
- Review of relevant policies and development of policy frameworks as well as institutional arrangements for integrated sustainable development.
- Provide technical inputs and support to the development of communication materials and communication strategies.
- Provide technical inputs and support to the development of communication materials and communication between different government agencies, national and international initiatives, investors, and stakeholders.
- Draft presentations, briefing notes, and concept notes on technical aspects of the programme, including nature finance and financing instruments.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary forthe efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
2030 Agenda: Planet
- Climate. Climate change adaptation policy and planning: National Adaptation Plans
- Climate. Climate Strategies and Policy: Financing Strategies, Plans and Investment Frameworks
Business Direction & Strategy
- System 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
- Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
- Customer Satisfaction/Client. Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
Digital & Innovation
- Data analysis. Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making
Partnership management
- Relationship management. Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- An Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Geography, Environmental Services, Marine Conservation, Climate Finance, Economics, or related field 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:
- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in the field of natural resource planning and management, blue economy, blue/climate finance, economics, or marine/coral reefs management is required.
- Proven experience of effective partnership development with local stakeholders, development partners, private sector and financing institutions, civil society community engagement is required.
- Experience and knowledge on marine conservation, coral reef management and marine spatial planning is required.
- Experience and knowledge in implementing blue economy and blue or climate finance is required.
- Experience in designing and establishing sustainable funding mechanisms to sustain protected areas, biodiversity/marine conservation, and blue business models is a strong advantage.
- Experience in leveraging private and/or blended finance for blue impact is an asset.
- Experience and knowledge on demonstrating blue finance certification systems and metrics is an advantage.
- Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills and communication skills are desirable.
- Experience working in institutional development, project development and management for coastal protection and blue economy is a strong advantage.
- Proficiency in standard software applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc. is required.
- Experience in small island developing states (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean and/or Caribbean) )and/or Upper Middle- Income Countries will be an advantage
- Proven experience and strong knowledge of UNDP’s policies and procedures on programme and project management is desirable
Required languages:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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.
Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements