Job Identification : 12568

Locations : Suva, Fiji

Posting Date : 07/24/2023, 03:48 AM

Apply Before : 08/07/2023, 11:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NPSA-7

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Inclusive Growth

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Contract Duration : 1 Year

Education & Work Experience : Bachelor’s Degree – 4 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 7 year(s) experience

Required Languages : English

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Job Description

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.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

In the Pacific, UNDP provides regional and country support to 10 countries (Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) and regional support to five countries (Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tokelau), together with a total population of 2.4 million.

The financing needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will greatly surpass all current development finance flows but can be also raised from the large amounts of (mostly private) investable resources available globally. Domestic public resources, even in low-income countries, can be increased and spending optimized. Financing solutions provide strategies and means to effectively unlock and direct these sources of finance toward realizing the SDGs.

One such area in which the UNDP Pacific Multicounty Office in Fiji is focusing on is improving integrated access to renewable energy and unlocking the development potential of rural communities through productive use of electricity in line with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

The UNDP Pacific Multicounty Office in Fiji is partnering with the Fiji Government’s Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) and the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) of UNIDO to scale up the operations of FREF and increase the number of rural communities it electrifies using an integrated development model.

Project Context

Access to Electricity: Approximately 96% of Fiji’s population have access to electricity but the remaining 4% are either too far away from the nearest electricity grid or located on maritime islands which are not serviced by the national electricity provider. As such, it is a national priority to electrify the last segment of Fijians and improve energy security of rural communities. Furthermore, there is a need to replace over 2,000 diesel village generators currently in use with renewable mini-grid solutions to reduce dependence on expensive fossil fuel, improve reliability of electricity, and help reduce Fiji’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Access to Clean and Safe Water: With regards to sources of drinking water, the 2017 National Census found that of the total number of households in Fiji, 497 use unprotected wells, 1,926 use unprotected spring water, 15,526 use communal tanks, 8,412 use communal standpipes, 7,382 use untreated borehole, and alarmingly, 4,838 use open surface water that includes rivers, streams, and dammed lakes. There is a need to urgently scale up rural water solutions in Fiji as it is basic human right, enhances WASH solutions, and adds to climate resilience – particularly post disasters.

Access to Digital Connectivity: While almost 95% of Fijians are deemed to be connected to mobile networks, the quality of network service is arguably low and anecdotal evidence suggests that notable percent of the rural population do not have access to productive mobile internet connection as they are limited to 2G or 3G network connectivity at best. This drastically limits the ability for digital solutions such as mobile banking, mobile wallet, tele-health, tele-agriculture, and digital literacy to reach rural and underdeveloped communities.

Integrated Solution: The development challenges related to rural electrification, water and digital connectivity represent a unique opportunity to create a singular programme to address them all using an integrated approach to development. The Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) is a unique delivery mechanism designed to capitalize on this opportunity. However, it requires assistance in unlocking new and additional finance to deliver renewable energy solutions packaged with ‘auxiliary services’ such as desalination plants, mobile connectivity, solar refrigeration and more. FREF has the potential to address systemic development challenges using integrated solutions that align with SDGs 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 13.

UNDP will use its project management, financial management and resource mobilisation networks to help FREF reach its implementation target of electrifying up to 300 rural communities across Fiji using an integrated approach. The Fiji Government will outsource the operations and implementation of FREF over an initial 3-year period to roll out the electrification of a predefined number of rural sites. In this regard, a dedicated UNDP Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established and hosted at UNDP Office in Suva which will work in close collaboration with the FREF Secretariat, the Department of Energy and the Climate Change Division, and any other relevant stakeholder.

The Markets for Change Project is a UNwomen project jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)Pacific Office in Suva, Fiji. The Markets for Change – Fiji, Vanuatu and Vanuatu Project (hereinafter referred to as the M4C PROJECT) is a six-year initiative aimed at ensuring that marketplaces in rural and urban areas in Fiji, Vanuatu and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory environments, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. UNDP implements outcome two of the project which focuses on “improving the socio-economic security of women market vendors through 2 main interventions: 1. Financial literacy and business training through the Continuing Market Business Education.

2. Agricultural productivity training through Improving Productivity and Income for Vendor Farmers (IPI-VF) program.

The Programme Associate will support the M4C outcome two components. The incumbent will be responsible for the management and administration, including coordination and implementation, of the UNDP M4C component, in close consultation with the Inclusive Growth (IG) Unit Team Leader and the M4C/MPTF Project Manager, UNDP Pacific Office in Suva.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of Project Manager and the Project Officer of the for the FREF project. The Programme Associate will have to assess existing and changed socio-economic situations under different scenarios of rural electrification and identify various actions to be taken to unlock the economic potential of rural communities using access to electricity as an enabler. The Programme Associate will be responsible for facilitating field level training and livelihood promotion activities particularly to facilitate community mobilization and coordination in a gender-informed manner to bring in development services and technical support from government and non-government organizations at the site level, and will act as FREF project focal points for community mobilization and empowerment using Product Electricity Uses (PEUs). The role of the Programme Associate will also support gender empowerment for women and girls in rural communities helping them understand PEUs for their development. In summary, key functions of the Programme Associate as an integral member of the project team are:

•  Coordination
•  Training and Awareness Programmes
•  Institutional Development
•  Monitoring and Reporting – in collaboration with the FREF Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.

The Programme associate is also expected to assist in the:

•  implementation of the Markets for Change Program/ Project Activities;
•  Facilitate logistical, travel, procurement, and financial and asset management to the project.
•  Contribute to Knowledge Management and Learning from the project activities.

The M4C Project is implemented across 13 project sites in Fiji, and it covers 4 different divisions ( Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western Division). The different provinces speak different dialects, and are geographically located in the urban rural settings, maritime areas and the far interior highlands of Fiji. The Project team is expected to deliver the services to this challenging geographically located districts. The mode of transportation under different weather conditions, is also a challenge faced by the team to deliver the trainings, or coordinate activities at the rural areas. The Project Assistant is expected to be knowledgeable about the culture, social norms and practices, and to embrace diversity when implementing activities in working with the communities.

Scope of Work

The Programme Associate is responsible for the following key functions: Community level coordination, economic empowerment and identification of Productive Electricity Uses unique to each FREF site. This entails the following:

•  Organize site-specific community groups for group based and individual economic development activities. Coordinating with FREF community engagement partners to build initial community awareness of FREF and seek community endorsement, contribute to preliminary site assessments/surveys, and inform site tender development by providing community specific socio-economic context/data.
•  Coordinate participating FREF partners at the site level to effectively implement FREF projects. This entails working with site-level representatives to implement project activities and complement ongoing activities.
•  Serve as project representative at community level helping FREF project team understand community-based opportunities and issues.
•  Organize and conduct monthly meetings, workshops, seminars, and other meetings in collaboration with community development agencies and partners, including regional and local level Government agencies as well as present monthly progress reports to FREF project stakeholders.
•  Liaise with local government and non-government service providers and promote community groups to establish strong linkages for acquiring services and to undertake advocacy campaigns on policy issues relating to PEUs.
•  Organize programs for community visitors and project stakeholders as required.
•  Conduct community group assessments every six months in collaboration with project partners and share the findings with respective community groups for future improvement

Training and Awareness Programmes to support effective implementing of FREF at community level. This entails the following:

•  Conduct training courses as per the FREF Project work plan to strengthen and sustain community groups and support their economic development ambitions using PEUs.
•  Facilitate community-based programs in consultation with FREF project team and partners.
•  Assist field-level workers of project partners in organizing awareness programs and workshops at community and district levels.
•  Guide and facilitate community groups with the help of FREF project staff to improve their monitoring systems, including energy use monitoring through establishment of community power committees and using monthly report cards that would be sent back to FREF project team, and to ensure use of results from the report cards.
•  Support project staff to monitor community electricity accounts and provide financial management guidance to effectively pay monthly tariffs to use FREF provided electricity.

Livelihood Development and Economic Empowerment. This entails the following:

•  Help FREF supported communities build capacity to prepare PEU initiatives and to access and make the best use of business development/support opportunities available by government and non-government agencies.
•  Support community groups to improve their capacities to effectively raise issues of concern at the local level, and to act as advocates for community members during decision-making related to FREF and broader development as well as to secure necessary support from government and non-government stakeholders.
•  Support livelihood, skills and resource analysis of communities support by FREF. This includes leading the identification of existing and potential business ventures.
•  Provide Business Development Services to various identified and potential social businesses and entrepreneurs in communities supported by FREF. This includes linking the FREF project with other Government and non-government stakeholders to conduct market feasibility analysis and support setting up community cooperatives where needed.

Monitoring and Evaluation Support. This entails the following:

•  Prepare concrete and verifiable targets for project activities, including awareness campaigns, community literacy for responsible energy use, community uptake of PEUs, socio-economic development attributed to FREF interventions, and responsible community governance systems for electricity management and sustainable development.
•  Support the Monitoring and Evaluation Associate to in project reporting to FREF Secretariat, donors, management and relevant stakeholders while ensuring alignment with partner and corporate priorities. This entail collaborating with other project stakeholders and implementing partners; monitoring project donor reporting calendars to ensure timely submission of the donor reports; and leading the preparation of the Results Oriented Annual Reporting (ROAR), Quarterly Programme Reporting (QPR), Annual Periodic Report (APR), FREF Secretariat quarterly reports and other relevant reports as needed for the project.

Lead in the implementation of the Markets for Change Program- outcome 2 activities.

•  Provide project coordination, planning and implementation of the project activities for the economic empowerment initiatives – Financial Literacy trainings, business management training, and agriculture trainings.
•  Provide support in quality control of project activities, including ensuring the preparation of appropriate training materials, assessing impact and effectiveness, tracking outputs and results, and ensure timely and efficient delivery.
•  Attendance at M4C Project Management Committee, and Project Working Committee meetings when required and preparation of presentations to report on activities;

Facilitate logistical, travel, procurement, and financial and asset management to the project;

•  Preparation of events budgets;
•  Timely acquittals and reporting after field visits;
•  Ensure contracted stakeholders follow their contract and deliver on planned activities.
•  Timely provision of support to procure goods and services required by the project, in liaison with the relevant M4C staff and relevant units of UNDP Country Office.

Contribute to Knowledge Management and Learning from the project activities;

•  Compiling, organizing and filing of information and documents, including correspondence and minutes, for reference and use by team members.
•  Document lessons learnt and recommendations to improve activities in the communities.
•  Liaise with Communications support personnel to create Communications Plans for events and to highlight project results;
•  Prepare activity reports, with analysis of project outputs and relevant findings to inform reporting to UNDP Multi country office and UN women. [Quarterly/annual reporting]

Competencies

Core competencies :

•  Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
•  Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
•  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
•  Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
•  Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
•  Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
•  Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: Business Management

•  Operations Management : Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner and knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
•  Project management : Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
•  Risk Management : Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business direction & strategy

•  Effective Decision Making : Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Administration and Operations

•  Reviewing and Reporting : Ability to review and edit documents, ability to produce meeting reports identifying key actions

Business Development

•  Knowledge Generation : Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Finance

•  Financial Reporting and Analysis : Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision-making and performance monitoring. Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Completed Secondary Education is required OR University Degree in Social sciences, Law, International Relations, Political Science or other relevant areas from a recognized university will be given due consideration but not a requirement

Experience:

•  At least 7 years (with a Secondary school education) OR 4 years (with university degree) experience of relevant professional work experience in the areas of social mobilization, community development of working with senior and middle level government officials, NGO staff, entrepreneurs, community leaders and representatives with a Bachelor Degree.
•  Experience working in development organisations and with development projects.
•  Understanding and hands on experience of working for livelihood development. Candidates with experience of successful management of livelihood programs involving market surveys at the community/village level would be preferred.
•  Experience of working with senior and middle level government officials, NGO staff, entrepreneurs, community leaders and representatives

Language requirement :

•  Fluency in written and spoken English is essential

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

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.

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