Job Identification : 13828

Locations : Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Posting Date : 10/17/2023, 07:45 AM

Apply Before : 11/01/2023, 03:59 AM

Degree Level : Advanced/Postgraduate Degree

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NB4

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Nature, Climate and Energy

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Contract Duration : 6 months

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree

Other Criteria : Bachelor`s degree with 2 years of experience can be taken into consideration in lieu of Master`s Degree

Required Languages : English and Uzbek

Desired Languages : Russian

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 supports the Government of Uzbekistan in revisiting and increasing the ambition of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement in the light of the targets set by the government by 2025.

An important step towards including climate change considerations across national policy areas was the adoption of the Strategy for the transition of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the “green” economy, 2019-2030. Climate change has been addressed, to some extent, in the Uzbekistan Agri-food Development Strategy 2020-2030.

The Government of Uzbekistan is currently implementing Uzbek Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation System (UAKIS) Strategy and Roadmap which aims to provide effective solutions to overcome challenges faced by farmers and agri-food businesses. A range of financial and technical assistance support is being mobilized to facilitate the process, focused primarily upon knowledge development and accelerating learning in the first stages of development. To complement this approach, more direct support for the development and promotion of innovation is needed.

The intention of the EU-funded UNDP UAKIS project is to establish a range of Agri-food Innovation Support and Brokering Services that will play a crucial role in galvanizing local knowledge and capacities and getting many worthwhile practical projects off the ground, accelerating the process by which ideas can be turned into innovations and used by farmers and agri-businesses to respond to the growing threats caused by climate change, boost rural livelihoods and promote sustainable resource use and protection.

The strong focus on inclusion will be followed in developing innovative public-private collaboration models to support small producers. The project will support a systemic change, which will facilitate larger “green” investments in the agri-food sector, and which will ensure inclusive access to related support services and financing.

UNDP is looking for a dedicated person as a Task Manager to manage capacity building program within the UAKIS Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Addressing the existing challenges and the development of a modern, integrated, and flexible support system for the development of agriculture research, education, training, information, and advisory services
•  Contrubute for establishing evidence-based monitoring and evaluation system to feed into decision-making and investment planning process in agriculture sector
•  Support PM in promoting the integration of Agri-food Innovation Support and Brokerage services to the new AKIS support infrastructure as its core component
•  Actively participate in the process of establishing extension service centers in pilot regions, training and equipping extension services and facilities (public and private) to provide useful and usable advice and support on climate risk management, including drought management planning and adaptation technologies
•  Actively participate in ensuring the on a day to day basis the sound and timely implementation of all technical tasks related to operationalization of the UAKIS
•  Support and facilitation of improvements in the policy and regulatory framework
•  Assist PM in building institutional capacity and partnerships among stakeholders
•  Delivery of training, capacity building and technical advice to the members and partners of the agri-food innovation operational groups, and targeted financial support and investments for innovative projects with climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits

Institutional Arrangement

The Task Manager will work under the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator. The incumbent will also receive a substantive guidance from the Technical Lead Advisor in terms of involving appropriate European experience and methodology related to capacity building within AKIS.

The Task Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the project activities related to capacity building of national counterparts, involving in the AKIS development activities. He/or She is accountable for ensuring that proper program, workplan and budget is in place for the capacity building activities and implemented within set timelines, with an effective national team and strong partnerships. Under the Coordinator’s supervision and in consultation with Technical Lead Advisor, Task Manager leads the realization of project capacity building program through activities, ensures contributes to the promotion of gender equality in the agricultural sector. The Task Manager’s scope of work includes monitoring of efficiency of capacity building measures and preparing of detailed reports on outcomes of training.

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 Acumen:
  •  Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome
  •  Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
•  Knowledge Generation:
  •  Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need
•  Monitoring:
  •  Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
•  Evaluation:
  •  Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks –
  •  Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Master’s degree in education, natural resources management, engineering, agriculture, climate change, green development or a closely related field.
•  Bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:

•  Minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in the implementation of capacity building program within the natural resource management/ agriculture/climate change/green development projects.
•  Experience in gender mainstreaming in the context of climate change, natural resources management and other relevant areas is required.
•  Experience in report writing is required.
•  Experience working with international organizations, ministries, national or provincial institutions that are concerned with water/land resources, agriculture, climate change is desirable.

Languages:

•  Fluency in English and Uzbek is required.
•  Good command of Russian is desirable.

Desired Skills:

•  Ability to interact and network with technical/scientific agencies, academia and other stakeholders
•  Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures;
•  Understanding the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
•  Possessing basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
•  Demonstrating good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
•  Presenting information on best practices in organizational change;
•  Demonstrating the ability to identify problems and propose solutions.
•  Creating synergies through self-control.

Travel:

Official travel is expected in pilot regions of Uzbekistan with performing the functions of Task Manager.

Other:

Women candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.