GEF Project Specialist I at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Specific tasks and responsibilities

• Project management of projects under development:
• Prepare concept notes / PIF proposals for the GEF-9 replenishment cycle.
• Prepare SSFAs (including budget and implementation plans) and oversee HR processes (i.e. recruitment of consultants, payments, etc.) for the development of assigned projects.
• Revise project implementation plans and ensure development steps are followed.
• Revise the project development timeline and provide inputs to ensure project development occurs on time.
• Provide inputs to stakeholder consultation processes in the development of the projects.
• Prepare / review the UNEP safeguards identification form and PRC checklist;
• Upload GEF-8 endorsement document packages to the GEF portal.
• Review PPG expenditure reports of assigned projects. Project management of projects under implementation: Develop draft legal agreements for new projects and project extensions;
• Prepare documents for UNEP project internalization and revision processes, and provide inputs to ensure completed UNEP clearance and approval processes.
• Prepare reports on the progress and risk situation of assigned projects in the Africa portfolio, and submit to the TM recommendations to effectively mitigate identified risks.
• Prepare and send half-yearly progress report / PIR / co-finance report / expenditure report templates to Executing Agencies (EA) for projects assigned in the Africa portfolio, hold meetings with these agencies and send guidance emails to ensure correct and timely completion of the reports, and review such reports to ensure their timely completion.
• Prepare project supervision plans and risk logs for projects and periodically update them. Request the EAs to update their procurement plans and review such plans, providing inputs to finalize them.
• Prepare project revision documents for technical and financial revisions for projects, ensuring that project revision documentation is complete for UNEP approval.
• Review expenditure reports together with the finance team to ensure (a) correct amounts have been charged; (b) expenditures are aligned with project deliverables and thus acceptable; (c) expenditure is not exceeding the budget line allocations and overall budget. Send feedback emails to EAs to complete the document correctly.
• Review cash advance requests in collaboration with the finance team. Provide guidance to EAs in order for them to complete the document correctly. 

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: project management, engineering, environment, law, business administration, economics, public affairs, development, finance, or a related discipline;
• A first level degree with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;
• Minimum of two (2) years of overall professional experience is required;
• Experience in managing projects related to climate change, environment or development is required;
• Experience in working with national governments in Africa is required;
• Experience in reviewing project documents, progress reports, workplans, and financial documents (budgets and expenditure reports) is desirable;
• Experience working with GEF or UNEP projects is desirable;
• Experience in working for multilateral or bilateral funding entities in the field of climate change, environment or development is desirable