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.

Position Information

Job Title: Programme Specialist (Green and Inclusive Development)
Department: UNDP Lebanon Programme
Reports to: Deputy Resident Representative
Grade Level: NOC
Direct Reports: Programme and Project Personnel
Duty Station: Beirut, Lebanon
Career Track: Professional/Expert
Career Stream: Policy & Programme-Environment
Contract Modality: FTA Local
Contract Duration: 1-year FTA

Background and Organizational Context

UNDP Lebanon provides support in the country across a wide set of areas, with particular focus on the following:

Supporting the design and implementation of a comprehensive reform agenda, as the first and essential step in the country’s process toward reversing the vicious spiral of crises.
Simultaneously supporting the stabilisation of core Government services and providing direct livelihood support through the crisis response programmes.
Work on linking the crisis response with longer-term inclusive governance and green development programming in line with what is feasible given the political context.

The Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative, and the day-to-day supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Programme Specialist serves as the main advisor on the Green and Inclusive Development agenda, with a focus on strategic analysis, advocacy, partnership building and programmatic engagement.  He/she will manage the ‘green’ portfolio, in close collaboration with the rest of the Programme. He/she will also ensure continued monitoring of the programme development and implementation.

The Green and Inclusive Development portfolio works closely with the Government of Lebanon to provide policy support for more effective environmental and energy management.  The programme also works extensively with local communities and civil sector organisations to improve livelihoods through improved natural resource management.

The Programme Specialist will serve as the main interface with the UN agencies on the green and inclusive development agendas and will participate in relevant UN fora and coordination meetings, on behalf of UNDP. He/she is also expected to build partnerships with key government counterparts, as well as civil society organizations and academia on key aspects of UNDP’s agenda and strategic focus.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration..

The key results have an impact on the overall success of the country programme and achieving UNSF/CPD goals.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

Provide high quality analysis to the Country Office’s senior management and ensure the strategic direction of UNDP’s green and inclusive development engagement, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Example of Duties:

• Provide thorough analysis of the environment situation in the country and formulate policy guidance on possible entry points for strategic/programmatic engagement related to green and brown environment.
• Advise on issues that would benefit from high level advocacy efforts in the area of green and inclusive development, including but not limited to climate change, renewable energy, biodiversity, solid waste management, sustainable transport, water resources and management, green jobs, etc.
• Develop and update UNDP’s green and inclusive development support strategy, in view of the unfolding national and local context in Lebanon, and within the framework of the implementation of Agenda 2030.
• Develop strategic and innovative programme areas of cooperation to further the environmental and inclusive development agendas in-country, in line with agreed national priorities and plans, and the implementation of Agenda 2030.
• Design a forward looking and collaborative agenda for thought leadership on the green and inclusive development agendas in Lebanon.
• Form a Green and Inclusive Development working group within the Programme and facilitates dialogue on priority issues and cross-cutting issues with other areas of work.
• Support the preparation/revision and the quality implementation of the Common Country Assessment (CCA), the UN Strategic Framework (UNSF), Country Programme
• Document (CDP), as well as other relevant frameworks such as the Lebanon’s Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) and 3RF.

Ensure the effective management of the Country Office Green and Inclusive Development strategy, focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming – from formulation to implementation – based on the following results:

Example of Duties:

• In close collaboration with the other Programme leads, design and formulate the CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into dedicated interventions in line with the UNDP CDP.
• Ensure the substantive coordination of programme implementation with relevant partners.
• Supervise the Green and Inclusive Development team.
• Coordinates activities of the projects
• Provide strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Programme Specialist shall perform the function of Manager Level 2 in Quantum for development projects transactions approval.
• Lead the effective application of Results-based Management in the design, implementation and monitoring of the results associated with the agreed Governance strategy and related programming.
• Mainstream gender in the overall work of the green and inclusive development programme.
• Follow on audit recommendations and ensures the timely and quality preparation of donor reports, using RBM approach and methodology.

Establish strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization focusing on the following results:

Example of Duties:

• Establish and maintains key partnerships with relevant UN Agencies, IFI’s (including but not limited to: WB, EIB, Kuwait Fund), government institutions, donors, private sector, civil society, and academia to further position UNDP as a lead organization in the areas of green and inclusive development.
• Identify avenues for partnerships with civil society and academia on areas for joint research and/or advocacy.
• Lead the Green and Inclusive Development Team’s effort in identifying opportunities for resource mobilization for UNDP’s strategy in these areas.
• Represent UNDP in key donor fora and other coordination meetings. Participates on behalf of UNDP in selected UN working groups within the framework of the UNSF.
• Promots the operationalization of the UNSF, and UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD), in collaboration with key partners and other UN Agencies, with a view to identifying opportunities for joint programming.
• Proactively communicate on UNDP’s approach, strategy, and results, through media campaigns, public events and flagship publications.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Example of Duties:

• Support the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the Green and Inclusive Development portfolio goals and priorities.
• Act as a resource person in capacity building activities organized by UNDP Lebanon, as targeting internal and external audiences on issues related to environment and inclusive development in Lebanon, within the framework of the implementation of Agenda 2030.
• Act as the knowledge broker/facilitator on all issues related to green and inclusive development, including experts’ identification, referral and comparative experience from other Country Offices in the region.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Programme Specialist (Green and Inclusive Development) guides and supervises the Green and Inclusive Development Programme Unit in the Lebanon Country Office and project staff.

Requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Renewable Energies or related fields; or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• 5 years (with Master’s Degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in
  (a) the provision of analytical, advisory and technical assistance in complex development settings.
  (b) the design, monitoring and monitoring of development strategies/programmes and
  (c) the establishment of effective partnerships with a wide set of stakeholders including national governments, civil society, academia, the UN and private sector.
• Proven experience and substantive expertise in green and inclusive development in one or more of the following areas: climate change, renewable energy, biodiversity, solid waste management, sustainable transport, water resources and management, green jobs, etc. is required.
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative fashion, through multistakeholder processes is required.
• Prior experience in environment strategy/programme development in crisis and transition settings is desired
• Experience in portfolio management and the coordination and management of multiple projects is desired
• Previous UN experience is desired

Language

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core  

• 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

People Management

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• 2030 Agenda: Planet
  Nature, Climate and Energy: Environment: Poverty-Environment Nexus
• 2030 Agenda: Planet
  Nature, Climate and Energy: Green Economy: Green economy and green growth
• 2030 Agenda: Prosperity
  Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility: Debris/Solid Waste Management
• 2030 Agenda: Peace
  Nature, Climate and Energy: Energy efficiency concepts, renewable energy, access to energy; technologies and practical application
• Business Management
  Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• 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 initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment
• Business Development
  Knowledge Generation:Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Keywords

• Development Programme
• Portfolio and project management
• Quality assurance and risk management
• Results based management
• UN Agencies

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements