Programme Management Consultant - Level C at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The UNEP Policy and Programme Division (PPD) is responsible for the organization's strategy and the organization's performance planning, review and monitoring. This position is in the Programme Coherence and Assurance Unit (PCAU) of the PPD and reports to the Head of PCAU. PCAU and the Strategic Planning Unit (SPU) in PPD lead the redesign of the Programme and Project Management manual (PPMM), because of its oversight role over the project cycle in collaboration with staff from the units in charge of supporting and overseeing these processes, including from PPD and Corporate Services Division (CSD), as well as Evaluation and Governance Affairs Offices.

Purpose:

UNEP is in the process of finalizing its new Delivery Model as part of an internal process to prepare for implementation of the MTS 2022-2025. The updated Programme and Project Management Manual (PPMM) also plays a central role in the process and serves as a knowledge product and the main source of information on standard programming, delegation of authority, finance, budget, procurement, resource mobilization, risk management, human resources, legal and communication procedures and guidelines within UNEP. The primary target group is UNEP staff managing and working on projects, including programme officers, administrative officer and finance officers. The updated Delivery Model and the PPMM complement each other and provide guidance e.g. on how to design, manage, implement, and evaluate projects, an overview of the general operational context and UNEP’s mandate. Secondary target groups for PPMM are external stakeholders and parties (e.g. partners, auditors, donors). The PPMM combines narrative as well as visual means of conveying information, it also includes attachments and links to relevant UNEP policies, guidelines, templates, and other resources.

The update of the PPMM started in 2021. As of June 2022, 10 of the 11 chapters of the PPMM have been revised, reviewed internally, and finalized. The chapters have been revised incorporating recommendations from the UNEP Project Cycle Review process and the most up-to-date policies, guidelines, and information. The completion of the first chapter of the PPMM (Delivery Model and Programme Approach) has been put on hold, to allow the alignment with the new Delivery Model, which is yet to be finalized.

Methodology:

The work will entail desk reviews of key documents, key informant interviews and consultations. The following methodology is proposed:

• Integrating Delivery Model elements into the PPMM - The first chapter of the PPMM needs to be finalized in light of the content of the new Delivery Model document. The final Delivery Model will be approximately a high level 10-15 page documents which is written by the separate consultant. This 10-15 page document would then need to be fleshed out in detail in the PPMM.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Revise and update chapter 1 of the PPMM (“Delivery Model and Programme Approach”) to reflect UNEP’s updated Delivery Model.
• Update all other chapters of the PPMM to ensure roles and responsibilities, in particular in relation to concept development, project design and project approvals reflect roles and responsibilities of divisions and regional offices described in UNEP’s updated Delivery Model.
• Update all chapters of the PPMM to reflect UNEP’s use of IPMR, for example in monitoring and reporting if changes are required.

Qualifications/special skills

• Skills: Multilateral and development institutions.
• Risk management and mitigation, including safeguards and gender mainstreaming.
• UN general frameworks and SOPs, including UN Reform.
• Verifiable analytical skills.
• Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Masters or above) in Environmental Science, Project Management, Social Science, Business or Public Administration or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of professional working experience in programme and project design and project management at the international level, including knowledge of the UN system is required.

Experience on:

• Theory of Change and logical framework design and quality assurance is required.
• Previous work and understanding of UNEP's project cycle process is required.
• Experience in drafting guidance and training material at institutional level.
• Prior experience working on programme manual is desirable.
• Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required.

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