Chief Technical Advisor (IPSA11)

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

The project “Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands)” implemented by the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands (GoRMI) in collaboration with UNDP became operational in January 2020 with the objective to address expected impacts of climate change on water security on Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI).

RMI is a small island developing state in the Pacific. The nation is a large-ocean state, with a total land area of only 182 km², spread across over 2 million km² of ocean. There are 24 inhabited atolls and islands, which are mostly remote and lie merely 2 m above sea level on average. There are no rivers, streams or lakes in RMI and the number of small surface ponds is very limited.

GoRMI, with the assistance of UNDP, has developed a project on adaptation to climate change impacts to water supply in RMI. The project is co-financed by GoRMI and Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project will build resilience to the impacts of climate change on water supply, particularly in 24 atolls and islands that are highly vulnerable to drought. The project will invest in improving water security, water resilience and water governance through:

• Water Security – Improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures to increase resilience of water supply in 77 rural communities in the outer islands and atolls accounting for approximately 28% of RMI’s population, including 7,630 (49%) women, currently at risk.
• Water Resilience – Securing groundwater resources from contamination due to inundation caused by wave overtopping of seawater.
• Water Governance – Strengthening the technical capacities of national and subnational institutions and key stakeholders to integrated climate change risks into water governance processes so that management of climate change risks are coordinated, effective, participatory, equitable, and sustained over the long-term when risks are expected to worsen.

The project aligns with GoRMI’s key climate change policies and strategies and has been developed through extensive consultation with government, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and beneficiary communities. The proposed project is aligned with RMI’s NDC and country work programme to the GCF. The NDA has issued a letter of no-objection and the proposed project is aligned with the work programme of the AE (UNDP) selected by the NDA.

This GCF project will be executed by UNDP, in close partnership with the GoRMI, given UNDP’s extensive experience in implementing climate change adaptation projects globally. The project implementation will be led by a team based in Majuro, RMI and Suva, Fiji.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Technical Advisor will work under the supervision of the Project Manager, and work closely with the Team Lead for the Resilience and Sustainable Development Unit and the Project management Unit (PMU) as well as the key government counterparts. Below is the ACWA project’s organizational structure – depicting the reporting line for this position.

The CTA is responsible for, jointly with the Project Manager, oversee the implementation and project management of the ACWA project. In so doing, the CTA is expected to bring in international best practices to the implementation of the project and train the technical personnel in the Project Management Unit (PMU).

Summary of Key Functions:

• Technical oversight of project activities
• Policy advice and capacity building
• Effective project management
• Knowledge management
• Partnership development and advocacy

Technical Oversight and Expertise:

• Collaborate with the Project Manager (PM) in effectively executing project activities and its implementation;
• Serve as the chief technical advisor on adaptation options envisaged in the project document, identify needs for external technical support for effective implementation;
• Liaise with Government, UNDP and other development partners to monitor progress implementation of project activities;
• Provide technical supervision, backstopping and oversight of all aspects of project activities, especially rainwater harvesting system and groundwater well improvement;
• Is responsible, jointly with the PM, to assess project risks (existing and upcoming), implement and monitorall risk mitigation measures during all project phases such as inception, implementation / construction and operation;
• Monitor environmental and social safeguards policy provisions and provisions under the environmental management plan
• Support the PM in liaising with the Government of RMI by providing high quality technical inputs and advisory;
• Support procurement officer for procurement and logistical arrangement of goods and services;
• Support the PM in preparing/organizing the technical materials used in the Project Board Meeting;
• Carry out assessments of the technical, financial, political, operational and management situations on the ground that affect the project implementation and keep the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji and UNDP Regional Hub in Bangkok abreast of the situations;
• Provide leadership in identifying solutions to address existing gaps arising out of assessments;
• Undertake a comprehensive overview of good international practices in the area of rainwater harvesting and groundwater well rehabilitation projects and build similar practices within the project;
• Build and maintain partnerships with technical partners and donors by reporting project progress and identifying opportunities for collaboration;
• Ensure coordination between UNDP and all project stakeholders.

Policy advice and capacity building:

• Identify strategic opportunities for the project to achieve greater development impact through partnership building and adaptive management;
• Provide timely advice to the PMU and key project stakeholders on any major environmental and social safeguards-related issues
• Provide guidance on environmental and social impact assessments, environmental and social management plan, indigenous people plan, free, prior and informed consent and other requirements as part of project implementation on an as-needed basis.
• Lead to set up appropriate mechanism of grievance redress & resolution procedures for hearing and addressing project-related complaints and disputes.
• Build technical and managerial capacities within the PMU;
• Provide technical assistance support and advice to the Partners/Stakeholders, as required;
• Provide other advice as needed to UNDP concerning the evolution and role of the relevant Ministries/stakeholders;
• Participate and actively contribute to the PMU in coordination with the PM;
• Provide policy advice to Government of RMI on water supply security and resilience for remote communities and ensure coherence with the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji portfolio.
• Provision of advice and support on gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) Action Plan and other gender mainstreaming activities.

Effective Project Management in coordination with the Project Manager:

• Strongly support project implementation and management under the overall guidance of the PM
• Provide strategic input to technical, financial and managerial aspects of the project to ensure that activities are in accordance with the Project Document
• Provide input in joint collaboration with the PM and other members of the PMU on the following elements of project management to ensure achievement of targets and results
  • Annual work planning
  • Annual budgeting
  • Procurement of goods and services
  • Budget and expenditure analysis
  • Contractual management
  • Quarterly and annual progress reporting
  • Quarterly operational reporting
  • Provide advice for the annual financial audit
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of project activities, and identify and implement solutions to bring the project back on track, as needed
• Provide strategic inputs into all aspects of project activities
• Coordinate with the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) in the Pacific Office in Fiji to ensure that financial and operational procedures of the project are in line with UNDP rules and regulations
• Perform other duties as necessary to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project.

Knowledge Management:

• Identify, analyze and communicate lessons learned that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects. The duty of identifying and analyzing lessons learned is an on-going one, and the duty to communicate those lessons is on an as-needed basis;
• Share knowledge on the Project and its achievements. Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organizational sharing and learning. Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture
• Produce materials with lessons learnt and best practices and participate in knowledge-based tools
• Contribute to the analytical work of UNDP and ensure high quality knowledge products. Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof with other pillars.

Partnership Development and Advocacy

• Seek and identify partnership to strengthen water security; and oversee the preparation of donor briefings and presentations in support of resource mobilization efforts as appropriate;
• Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies;
• Foster and enhance collaboration with UN partner agencies for an effective implementation of country project;
• Strengthen existing partnerships with decentralized authorities.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management competencies:

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
• Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Water Governance: Integrated Water Resources Management; Climate Change Adaptation: Water Management

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in any Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, Natural Science, Environmental Management or Environmental Engineering or any other relevant field; OR Bachelor’s Degree in Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, Natural Science, Environmental Management or Environmental Engineering or any other relevant field.

Experience:

• Master’s Degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience in managing, overseeing, or being part of large-scale (over US$10 million) water supply projects.
• OR Bachelor’s Degree with at least 9 years of relevant experience in managing overseeing, or being part of large-scale (over US$10 million) water supply projects.
• Team Leading experience.
• Experience providing technical advice and implementing water resource management and development.
• Experience working in institutional development, project development and management and budgeting.
• Ability to lead, conduct, facilitate discussions with stakeholders.
• Experience working in institutional development, project development and management, budgeting.
• Extensive experience managing environmental and social safeguards policy, environmental and social management plan and implementation is required.
• Computer knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point.
• Experience in the Pacific region would be an advantage. Experience working in atolls is desirable.
• Experience in utilizing infrastructure based climate change adaptation approaches is desirable.
• Project management experience in climate change related projects would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with climate change issues is strong asset.
• Be sensitive and respectful to Marshallese customs and traditions

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English (oral and written) is a requirement whilst proficiency in the Marshallese language is desirable.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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