Programme Management Officer at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities
Supervision of project implementation of the GEF Africa, Europe and Central Asia portfolio of climate change mitigation projects by:

• Preparing project supervision plans under his/her portfolio for their entire duration and applying adaptive management principles to the supervision of the projects.
• Organizing and managing the project inception meeting with a view to ensure project implementation readiness.
• Providing oversight to project execution and in doing so ensuring that all UN Environment and Global Environment Facility criteria, rules and regulations are adhered to by project partners.
• Participating in Project Steering Committees and ensuring that Project Steering Committee fulfills its function.
• Regularly monitoring project progress and performance and rating progress towards meeting project objectives; project execution progress, quality of project monitoring and evaluation, and risk.
• Monitoring reporting by project executing partners and providing prompt feedback on the contents of the report.
• Promptly informing management of any significant risks or project problems and taking action and following up on decisions made.
• Preparing reports in accordance with Global Environment Facility and UN Environment requirements.
• Maintaining adequate project-related documentation and providing input to the risk management system of the unit.
• Identifying projects at risk, providing recommendations and managing corrective actions; and applying adaptive management principles to project supervision.
• Assisting with the preparation of project revisions, ensuring that project revision documentation is complete and in accordance with UN Environment requirements.
• Reviewing project outputs, providing technical input and ensuring quality standards are met.
• Managing any mandatory project(s) mid-term review and ensuring that recommendations are considered by execution teams.
• Supporting the project terminal evaluation.
• Taking responsibility to ensure that project is financially closed in a prompt manner after completion of project activities.
• Supervising and mentoring junior professionals, consultants and general service staff.

Project identification and development of the regional Africa, Europe and Central Asia Climate Change mitigation portfolio by:

• Liaising with internal and external partners to identify relevant and eligible project concepts.
• Discussing and clearing such concepts with the Senior Programme Officer.
• Consulting with UN Environment's Divisions, regional and liaison offices as necessary.
• Advising project proponents on how to revise concepts to respond to issues raised by the peer reviewer and other reviews.
• Monitoring Global Environment Facility project milestones to avoid delays and potential project cancellation.
• Addressing Global Environment Facility Secretariat and Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel reviews and ensuring that Project Review Committee recommendations are considered in further project development by the executing agency.
• Working with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the Project Preparation Grant upon approval.
• Supervising Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UN Environment and Global Environment Facility policies and procedures.
• Supporting Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UN Environment and Global Environment Facility policies and procedures.
• Verifying that the project proposals meet Global Environment Facility quality-at-entry standards before submission to Senior Programme Officer and Global Environment Facility Coordination Office for Project Review Committee review.
• Supporting the executing partners in mobilizing Co-financing for the project.
• Defending proposals through review process, and managing revisions in response to comments
• Upon Global Environment Facility Chief Executive Officer approval, working with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the project document.

Economy Division knowledge management and data management by:

• Identifying and codifying lessons emerging from project implementation.
• Ensuring accuracy and completeness of project data in the project information system and the risk management system for all projects under his/her supervision.
• Contributing to project data reconciliation exercises within the Division and with the Global Environment Facility Secretariat.
• Identifying media and other outreach opportunities and materials and providing project information and materials.
• Participating in events organized by Global Environment Facility and UN Environment to disseminate information on project results and lessons.

Undertake UNEP and Global Environment Facility corporate tasks by:

• Providing input to UN Environment and Global Environment Facility policy and information documents as necessary.
• Identifying opportunities to complement the UNEP Programme of Work with GEF-financed initiatives.
• Representing Economy Division in UN Environment and Global Environment Facility –related meetings.
• Participating in the UN Environment Project Review Committees.
• Providing regular substantive backstopping to UNEP senior colleagues and partners, including the regional and liaison offices.
• Maintaining portfolio and risk management records and contributing to UNEP and GEF information and knowledge management.
• Keeping abreast of developments in his/her technical field and further develops competencies and skills; and undertaking at least one relevant learning activity each year.
• Preparing his/her annual work plan for result based management with clear goals and indicators.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the Global Environment Facility. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy or Climate Change related field is required. A first-level university degree in the relevant field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience maybe be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in the area of climate change mitigation (non-land use) is required.
• Practical experience in dealing with Government institutions in Africa, Europe and Central Asia is required.
• Working experience with the Global Environment Facility is required.
• Experience in working in an international and multi-cultural setting is desirable.
• Experience working in the United Nations system or similar organization is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and French is required.