Job Identification : 13950

Locations : Asuncion, Paraguay

Posting Date : 03/10/2023, 03:22 PM

Apply before : 10/18/2023, 03:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NB3

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean

Contract Duration : 6 months

Education & Work Experience : Bachelor’s Degree – 3 year ( s ) experience OR High School certificate- 6 year ( s ) experience

Required Languages : Fluency in Spanish

Desired Languages : Fluency in English is highly desired

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Job Description

Diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental principles in UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, We promote inclusion as a way to ensure that all staff are trained to contribute to our mission and we guarantee fairness and justice in all our actions. Adopting a “ approach of leaving no one behind ” in our diversity efforts means increasing the representation of underserved populations.

It is strongly recommended that people who identify themselves as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations submit their application. Learn more about working at UNDP, including our inspiring values and stories inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any type of harassment, including sexual harassment, or discrimination. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.

Project Description

The United Nations Environment Program ( UN Environment ) is the main global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The United Nations Regional Office for the Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean ( ROLAC ), located in Panama City, It works closely with the 33 countries in the region, including 16 small island developing States, with a population of approximately 588 million people.The office works to meet the needs of the region and its activities are integrated into the work programs approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly of the UN Environment Environment.

In 2017 the Green Climate Fund ( GCF, ) approved its REDD + policy: a USD 500 million fund endowment, accompanied by a detailed and comprehensive process for countries to request results-based payments ( RBP, ). To ensure a fair allocation of funds, no country can request more than 30 percent of the total reserved fund allocation; in other words, no more than USD 150 million. GCF has assigned carbon from REDD + a value of USD 5 per ton, and an evaluation procedure by score ( scorecard ) by which eligibility is determined and how much will be paid to each country, including a potential bonus of 2.5% for non-carbon benefits ( NCB, ).

Access to GCF payments will be made through Accredited Entities ( AE, ), which must coordinate with the REDD + Focal Points at the national level and with the Designated National Authorities ( NDA, for its acronym in English ) of the GCF. In November 2019 and with the support of UNEP as AE, the Government of Paraguay signed with the GCF a payment agreement for results for 9.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent from deforestation avoided during the period 2015-2017. The Paraguayan government promised the GCF to use the payments received to generate new CO2 emission reductions through the implementation of the National Forest Strategy and Sustainable Growth ( ENBCS ).

The implementation of the Payment-For-Results program [ 1 ] in Paraguay will be carried out jointly with the UN-REDD Program agencies ( UNDP, UNEP and FAO ) in Paraguay, and will be in charge of a Project Management Unit. The program foresees the implementation of a component to strengthen the capacities of state institutions for forest monitoring and management, including the development and implementation of early warning systems for fires and deforestation, territorial planning and the participation of indigenous peoples, private sector and rural communities and the promotion of sustainable forest management and the promotion of good agricultural and livestock practices.The program will also give impetus to the National Climate Change Fund and the creation of economic promotion instruments for the implementation of activities that result in the reduction of emissions from the deforestation and / or degradation of forests, in addition to strengthening the institutions involved in RPB.

Within the work plan of the section that corresponds to UNDP -which totals US $ 7,793,550- are the following 5 results: 1 ) Protected Wild Areas and ecotourism; [ 1.1 ) SINASIP and ASP strengthening plan built and implemented; 1.2 ) Ecotourism strengthening plan prepared and implemented in ASP ]; 2 ) Plan to strengthen the National Forest Monitoring System prepared and implemented; 3 ) Action plans of the National Platform of Sustainable Commodities prioritized and implemented in key areas; 4 ) Plan to strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework designed and implemented to enhance the implementation of ENBCS ; 5 ) Plan to strengthen municipal governance through planning and regulation mechanisms for territorial use designed and implemented.All these results are measures identified in the National Forest Strategy for Sustainable Growth and its Implementation Plan, which contribute to the reduction of emissions in Paraguay.

On the other hand, the Global Food Systems Impact Program, Land Use and Restoration ( FOLUR ) approved in 2019 by the Global Environment Facility ( GEF ) seeks to transform global systems of food production and land use so that the productive areas are better integrated, producing ecosystem services and maintaining natural capital.

FOLUR is made up of a Global Platform for Knowledge of Action ( Global Platform FOLUR ) and national projects that will work together in a mutually reinforcing way. FOLUR will work with multiple sectors: private, government, financial institutions, land administrators, research institutes and civil society, in productive landscapes in 27 selected countries that have the potential to generate sustainable global environmental benefits at scale, including Paraguay.

Paraguay being one of the largest producers of commodities in the world, specifically soybeans and beef, It is key that solutions are found so that the continuity of commodity production does not compromise the sustainability of natural ecosystems and the biodiversity they harbor.

In this sense, the FOLUR Project in Paraguay will create an enabling environment to promote integrated landscape management that links production, conservation and restoration at the municipal level to reverse illegal deforestation and forest and land degradation and move towards conservation and sustainable and resilient use of ecosystems in 2 key biomes, the Chaco and the Humid Forest of the Eastern Region ( BAAPA ) to maintain their biological integrity, diversity and ecosystem services for present and future generations. The objective of the Paraguay FOLUR Project is to promote the integrity of the landscape in two key biomes in Paraguay. For this, the project has been organized into four components: 1 ) Comprehensive Landscape Management; 2 ) Unlinking:sustainable food production practices and value chains responsible for beef and soybeans; 3 ) Land Restoration and Connectivity; 4 ) M&E, knowledge management and improvement from national to global level.

UNDP was assigned to execute the following components and results of the FOLUR-Paraguay project: Component 1. Integrated Landscape Management System, Outcome1.1 Framework for landscape-level land use planning and management enhanced with the integration of national and local governance structures for ecosystem integrity and Component 2. Sustainable food production practices and value chains responsible for meat and soybeans, Result 2.1 Reduction of the environmental impacts of soybean and meat production on the integrity of the landscape in Chaco and BAAPA through sustainable standards of soybean and meat production that agree, adopt and apply throughout the respective value chains.

This contract refers to Administrator of the UNDP component of the projects “ Implementation of the National Forest Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Capacity building and inter-institutional coordination ”, as well as FOLUR.

[ 1 ] REDD + Results-based payments in Paraguay for the period 2015-2017 | Green Climate Fund

Scope of work

The objective of this contract is to have an Administrator/to carry out the operational and administrative management of the UNDP component of the projects “ Implementation of the Forests Strategy for Sustainable Growth, Strengthening of inter-institutional capacity and coordination and FOLUR ” agreed with UN ENVIRONMENT and ICCF and national actors, under UNDP regulations.

The Administrator will provide support in the following responsibilities:

•  Participate in the preparation of the Annual Operational Plan ( POA ) and the quarterly plans and carry out the operational and financial monitoring and monitoring of the projects.
•  Prepare the procurement plan based on the activities established in the POA with its respective budget, and monitor its implementation in a timely manner.
•  Propose and implement the most appropriate procurement strategies for goods and services for the execution of project activities, identifying bottlenecks and proposing the corresponding operating solutions.
•  Prepare and manage the administrative documentation required for the management of Projects ( called to tender for goods and services, purchase orders, payment requests, contract applications, travel documentation: per diem, fuel and others ), in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures and / or the requirements agreed with the donor.
•  Carry out the required budget reviews.
•  Verify and reconcile the Combined Expenditure Listing ( CDR ) sent by UNDP.
•  Verify that all remuneration and other services payments are made in accordance with the terms of the contract or agreement and the corresponding authorizations.
•  Ensure that an adequate and updated registry of Project assets ( equipment, furniture, infrastructure, vehicles is available, machinery and other non-expendable property ) that have been acquired with Project funds.
•  Prepare the financial reports and the corresponding reindeerhips within the framework of the Projects, complying with the regulations of the donor, UN ENVIRONMENT, ICCF and UNDP as the case may be and interact with the instances that may be necessary to ensure the provision of information in a timely manner.
•  Provide administrative support to the work team and coordinate actions and reports with UNDP, the Project Management Unit for Results, FOLUR and other project actors.

Institutional agreement

The Administrator will work under the direct supervision of the General Manager of the projects, and in close coordination with the project teams, with the Project Management Unit for PayPorResults and FOLUR, with UNDP and with the relevant instances of the projects. It will have under its supervision the operations assistants of the Pay for Results and FOLUR projects. Competences

Basic Competences:

•  Achieve Results: LEVEL 2 – Plan and supervise your own work, pay attention to details, deliver quality work on schedule.
•  Innovative Thought: LEVEL 2 -Offers new ideas / opens up to new approaches, demonstrates systemic / integrated thinking.
•  Continuous Learning: LEVEL 2 – Get out of the comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
•  Adaptation with Agility: LEVEL 2 -Adapt processes / approaches to new situations, involve others in the process of change Act with Determination: LEVEL 2 – Able to persevere and deal simultaneously with multiple sources of pressure.
•  Commitment and Collaboration: LEVEL 2- It is a facilitator / integrator, unites people, builds / maintains coalitions / alliances.
•  Allow Diversity and inclusion: LEVEL 2- Facilitates conversations to conclude differences, considers opinions in the decision-making process.

Technical and multifunctional competences

•  Business Strategy / Systemic Thought: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within a general process or system, and to consider how the alteration of an element can impact other parts of the system.
•  Business Management / Results-Based Management: Ability to manage programs and projects with a focus on better performance and demonstrable results.
•  Business Management / Risk Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific objectives.
•  Business Management / Project Management: Ability to identify and organize actions to proactively mitigate and manage risks.
•  Business Management / Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize and supervise the Organization’s business processes to turn its assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
•  General Audit and Research / Key Concepts of Financial Accounting and Finance Management: Concepts and key principles of financial accounting, interpreting financial analysis, managerial accounting, etc.
•  Audit and Research -Research / Concepts, processes and procurement management: Process knowledge and procurement management

Minimum NPSA Ratings

Minimum academic requirements

•  Secondary studies completed is required.
•  University professional with a degree in Public Administration or Business, Accounting Sciences, Economics or related to these terms of reference will be considered favorably, but it is not a requirement.

Minimum years of relevant work experience

•  Minimum 6 years ( with Secondary studies completed ) or 3 years ( with Bachelor’s degree ) of experience in handling budget planning instruments, financial reports and budget monitoring and audits, including the preparation of administrative and financial reports.

Required skills:

•  Computer Skills: Experience in the use of computers and office software packages ( MS Word, Excel, etc. ).
•  Knowledge of the United Nations corporate system will be considered an added value.

Desirable skills and competences:

•  Experience in analysis, monitoring and monitoring of financial project management is an advantage;
•  Financial reporting experience; performance / expense reporting for accountability is an advantage;
•  Experience in budgeting and control is an advantage;
•  Work experience in the management of requests and settlements of cash disbursements to partners and / or counterparts is an advantage.
•  Experience in planning and managing purchasing and contracting processes; procurement plan, execution of listing processes for goods and / or services; preparation of TDRs / technical specifications, comparative tables; support to / contest processes / tenders is desirable;
•  Experience in contract administration and supplier relationship; consulting and supplier services, goods and / or services; payment procedures is desirable;
•  Experience in administrative mission management: purchase of tickets, travel process, etc. it is desirable;
•  Work experience in logistics organization of events, workshops, etc. it is desirable;
•  Work experience in agencies of the United Nations System is highly desirable;
•  Knowledge and experience with ERPs management platforms. Knowledge of the Atlas or QUANTUM system will be valued.

Languages

•  Fluency in Spanish.
•  Fluency in English is highly desirable.

Professional certificates

•  Desirable, project management courses and / or work teams, leadership, planning or related to these terms of reference

Travel

•  Depending on the functions mentioned, field trips could be included.

The following documents should be required of the applicants:

•  Personal CV or P11, indicating the previous positions and their functions, the duration ( month-year ), the requirements, as well as contact details ( mail and telephone number ) of ( the ) candidate ( a ), and at least three job references from previous supervisors. References may also include colleagues.
•  A cover letter ( maximum one page ) indicating why the person is considered suitable for the position.
•  Any other relevant material from your experience such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials may be required.

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 neigh 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 request 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.