Job Identification : 14135

Locations : North Macedonia

Posting Date : 10/13/2023, 09:00 AM

Apply Before : 10/28/2023, 03:59 AM

Degree Level : Advanced/Postgraduate Degree

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NPSA-8

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Nature, Climate and Energy

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree

Other Criteria : Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of qualifying experience will be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree

Required Languages : Macedonian and English

Desired Languages : Other local languages

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Mobility required/no mobility

no mobility required

Job Category : Management

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 development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year. The UNDP office in North Macedonia employs a team of 71 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in inclusive prosperity, environmental protection, and good governance worth over USD 15 million per year. The Environment & Disaster Risk Reduction Portfolio includes projects on climate change, air pollution, natural resources management and disaster risk reduction.

In order to promote the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in the transboundary Prespa Lake area UNDP will implement the EU for Prespa – “Restauration of the natural resource and enhancing sustainable agriculture and tourism” project financed by EUD as part of the overall Action “EU for Prespa”.

Specific Objective of the Project/Action is to instigate a significant change in practices and behavior among policy makers at local level, farmers, private sector, CSO and citizens regarding the management of and the sustainable use of natural resources in the Prespa region which will result in improved quality of life and contribute to economic development by emerging “green” pathways to growth.

The EU investments will contribute to the preservation of the natural capital and restore the damaged ecosystem of Macro Prespa Lake to good ecological status, in line with EU standards. The measures will address the pollution of water and soil, protect endangered species and encourage the sustainability of the local economic and agricultural practices. The farmers, households, and small businesses will be supported to apply good agricultural practices, create small chain value and invest in sustainable tourism services and products respectively. The Project/Action shall also enhance the cross-border cooperation by supporting the creation of a new vision for sustainable development of the Prespa Lakes region.

The main Project/Action partners and beneficiaries are the Municipality of Resen, farmers and farmer associations, households and entities engaged in sustainable tourism from the Prespa region.

The Project/Action shall be implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the Prespa Park Management Committee.

The Project implementation unit will be established in Resen. UNDP is looking for an experienced Project Analyst with a specialization in agriculture or tourism and understanding of the complexity of the environment and nature protection. Her/His tasks include delivering the results specified in the Action Document (Project Document) within the established timeframe and budget, as well as regular reporting to the donor and the main beneficiaries. To be considered for the position, applicants need to demonstrate prior experience in management of relevant development projects.

The Project Analyst will report directly to the Head of the UNDP Energy, Environment & Disaster Reduction Unit. She/He and will manage a project team and will be located in Resen.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensuring effective project management of the assigned project by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational, financial and administrative outputs, while tracking the project progress by monitoring, evaluation and reporting:

•  Managing and coordinating the implementation of the respective activities based on the Action Document (Project Document), including, as needed, supervision and guidance of other project staff, consultants and experts with a view to achieving project results;
•  Developing comprehensive/detailed project work-plans that include all project activities and roles and responsibilities and setting-out corresponding milestones;
•  Monitoring the progress of implementation of project activities and key event schedules observing the work-plans and set deadlines including monitoring of the financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
•  Mobilizing goods and services to support project activities, including drafting TORs and works/product requirements and specifications;
•  Managing and monitoring project risks initially identified, submitting information on the new risks and possible mitigating measures to the Project Board for consideration and updating the status of these risks by maintaining a Project Risk Log;
•  Assuming responsibilities in line with the office Internal Control Framework and act as a `first authority` for Project transactions;
•  Ensuring adherence of project activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations and, at the same time, observing the project timelines;
•  Preparing project progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks issues, expenditures…) and ensuring timely submission of the reports to the relevant instances, such as the project boards and relevant donors;
•  Managing project tracking in QUANTUM in accordance with UNDP procedures;
•  Managing the transfer of project deliverables and assets to national beneficiaries and other project stakeholders.

Building strategic partnerships needed to achieve results and maintaining collaborative working relationships among key project partners, through effective communication, consultation and reporting:

•  Cultivating relationships with the central and local authorities, academia, NGOs, Responsible Parties and other Project stakeholders, ensuring full understanding, cooperation and an appropriate fit of the project activities with the main needs of the beneficiaries;
•  Establishing effective linkages with other relevant projects and initiatives in the sector with a view to developing substantive partnerships and generating synergies;
•  Disseminating project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders.
•  Maintaining strong relationships with the municipality of Resen, farmers, tourism workers, responsible parties and other relevant partners;
•  Maintaining regular coordination and quality assurance of expert inputs and products as well as among project partners to ensure coherence and complementarity of project activities;
•  Identifying opportunities for deepening the cooperation and recommending adequate approaches to dealing with different stakeholders based on information on all relevant stakeholders gathered during project implementation;
•  Maintaining regular communication on relevant project issues with the local counterparties, consultants and experts with an aim to ensure quality and timely delivery of all agreed outputs;
•  Engaging groups and communities in project activities that affect them;
•  Communicating project goals, activities and results clearly to both stakeholders and the wider public;
•  Submitting reports to UNDP, partners and donors in a quality and timely manner;
•  Maintaining good cooperation and coordination with the EU Delegation, and with other relevant donors and international organizations;
•  Ensure effective communication of the project results in close collaboration with UNDP Country office and the EU Delegation;
•  Support the partnerships and advocacy activities agreed by UNDP in the area/sector covered by the project;
•  Organize and ensure analytical reporting and project evaluations and collect and captures lessons learned from the project implementation.

Ensuring Gender mainstreaming within the project:

•  Ensuring gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, researches, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
•  Ensuring gender equality is mainstreamed throughout team, consultant and staff management activities;
•  Ensuring knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in Project knowledge management activities and products.
•  Ensuring collection of gender disaggregated data.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

•  Project activities executed in line with UNDP corporate rules and procedures.
•  Project funds delivered and results achieved in accordance with the endorsed Annual Work Plans.
•  Project staff/ team(s) effectively and efficiently guided and backstopped, as needed.
•  Links with other relevant projects/initiatives established and joint objectives effectuated.
•  High quality reports prepared and submitted on time.
•  Projects work/plans and other relevant documentation for the project timely prepared.
•  Projects progress reports timely prepared.
•  Monitoring plans prepared.
•  Quarterly project reports prepared (e.g. Combined Delivery Report).
•  Indicators, targets and results captured.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Analyst will be engaged on a regular NPSA contract and will report to the Head of the Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit. The Project Analyst will be located in Resen but will need to travel to Skopje as per the requirements of the project implementation.

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

People Management Competencies:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

•  Nature, Climate and Energy: Green Economy; supply chains and green growth
•  Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
•  Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
•  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
•  Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
•  Gender: Gender Mainstreaming

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Master´s degree or equivalent in environmental science, natural sciences, agriculture, tourism or any relevant discipline for the project is required.
•  Bachelor´s degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience will be considered in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

•  Up to 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant professional experience in development project management, programme/project coordination.
•  Experience with liaise and co-operate with government officials, municipal authorities, academic institutions, CSOs and the private sector is an asset.
•  Experience in the implementation of bigger projects run by international organizations as well as large environmental protection/agriculture/sustainable tourism development projects is a strong asset.

Skills:

•  Excellent communications, report writing and analytical skills.
•  Capability for traveling and field work
•  Capability to work under pressure
•  Excellent computer literacy (MS Office; Windows)

Language:

•  Fluency in Macedonian and English (written and spoken) is required.
•  Knowledge of other local languages shall be an asset.

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.

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