Programme Management Officer

Background Information – Job-specific

The Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) brings together governments and philanthropies to work with partner countries in the region. We support the transition towards modern energy systems that can simultaneously ensure economic growth, energy security, and environmental sustainability. Enabling the transition toward greener energy systems will greatly contribute to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement objectives.

ETP is initially focusing on Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which are the countries in the region with the highest energy demand, a substantial pipeline for fossil fuel-based projects, and a significant and cost-effective potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency. ETP provides High Level Technical Advisory Support, Holistic Support to Governments on financing and technical needs, capacity and skill development and facilitation of dialogues in all related areas.

A Secretariat, incorporated into UNOPS will support the Steering Committee (SC) and facilitate the implementation of SC’s decisions. The Secretariat will operate as per defined Terms of Reference approved by the SC. The Secretariat will undertake day-to-day management and operation of the ETP Fund: (1) it launches Calls for Proposal and carries out proposals assessments; (2) it assists and supports implementing partners; (3) facilitates the design, development and implementation of an overall M&E strategy; (4) monitors progress made by each project during the implementation phase.

The Secretariat will work in close cooperation with the SC, the Advisory Committees, and ETP Secretariat, as well as UNOPS Services. The members of the secretariat will be selected following the UNOPS rules and regulations. Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to organizational needs and structure:

Functional Responsibilities

Reporting to the ETP Senior Program Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for effective, transparent, and efficient management of the Fund’s programs in concert with the ETP Secretariat in its countries of operation, under the Rules and Regulations of UNOPS, and in accordance with the strategy approved by the ETP Steering Committee.

Under the general supervision of the Senior Programme Manager and guidance of the Country Coordinator, the Programme Officerworks in ETP country team and liaises with all elements of ETP Secretariat. The incumbent’s responsibilities include the following:

I. Programme Implementation

A. Provision of support to effective technical, financial, and operational coordination, programming and coordination of the implementation of the ETP’s programs in the countries of operation in collaboration with the country partners and country stakeholders, as defined in the set objectives, performance measures, standards and results expected of these programs to ensure timely and partner oriented services delivery; and supporting any issue resolution arising from the implementation processes.

B. Provision of coordination of and effective building and productive and constructive relationships with the country energy stakeholders in the public and private sectors as well as with civil society, and fostering partnerships with the development partners of the country of operation, and actors active in the energy transition domain, pursuing teamwork within the ETP team and UNOPS; and supporting analysis of political and economic developments in the country, and providing advice and suggestions regarding program directions, challenges and opportunities.

C. Facilitating mobilization and leveraging financial and other resources as well as participating in programmatic and resource mobilization activities of ETP to sustain and scale up its initiatives.

D. Facilitating donor coordination and effectively facilitating knowledge management, sharing and exchanging knowledge on lessons learnt and best practices of ETP’s programme and projects, identifying knowledge and profiling opportunities for ETP and its programs, and assisting in delivery of knowledge events, and identifying communication, profiling and media coverage opportunities for ETP.

II. Team Management Functions

• Support to:

  • provision of necessary guidance and coaching to the implementing partners and contractors
  • promotion and maintaining effective teamwork within the ETP Secretariat and other UNOPS colleagues.
  • preparation of and implementation of ETP’s annual work plan, including strategic and/or innovative initiatives, with set delivery and resource mobilization targets; draft annual ETP’s administrative and operational budget proposals and reports.
  • preparation of program, project, technical assistance notes and reports, notes to file for ensuring robust recording of events, dialogue, and information dissemination.
  • monitoring and evaluation operations of ETP at country level in the context of ETP’s Results-based monitoring framework.
  • programmatic and administrative reporting on the ETP’s activities in accordance with its monitoring and reporting requirements under its Results-based Management Framework and UNOPS reporting requirements.
  • collating annual performance parameters and learning objectives for the ETP team, assessing performance, and providing feedback.

III. Programme/Portfolio Development and Management support

A. Quality Control:

• Keeping informed of national energy transition developments, concerns and priorities and the political and socio-economic conditions and trends as they relate to the ETP and assess their impact on ETP’s work and programme.
• Support formulation and implementation of the ETP’s country work plan and its periodic review and updates and ensure alignment with ETP’s regional work plan;
• Support to management of ETP’s grant allocations and country operating budget, maintain the financial integrity of the programme by ensuring adherence to ETP’s Standard Operating Procedures and UNOPS rules and regulations, and ensure timely and effective use of ETP resources.
• Support and coordination of ETP’s quality control activities over the development and implementation of a portfolio of project ideas and concepts, and closely monitor the programme implementation progress and results.
• Support to managing the ongoing ETP grant projects and conduct periodic project monitoring field review meetings and visits and provide technical and operational support and guidance to ETP grantees, as required.
• Support to visiting missions and facilitating dialogue.
• Support to regular risk analysis and keeping the ETP Secretariat informed on emerging risks and issues in a timely manner.

B. Stakeholder Communications and Liaison support

• Organizing and facilitating periodic stakeholder workshops and project development sessions among partners in energy transition, private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) and local communities, and potential applicants and other stakeholders to inform about ETP and its initiatives.
• Coordinating closely with partners in energy transition, including the private sector and CSOs in preparation of project concepts and proposals to ensure that projects fit with the ETP’s outcome areas.
• Support monitoring of project grants, with a focus on timely achievement of results.
• Coordinate programme and project linkages between ETP’s program and aligned programs under ETP, in the energy sector funded by development partners, planned or underway in the country, and those of other government, donors and development partners.
• Support report to ETP Secretariat and preparation of reports to its bodies on programme implementation status, including support annual monitoring reporting, result and financial reporting, audits, evaluations, and update the relevant UNOPS and ETP databases.
• Assist with undertaking monitoring and evaluation of ETP’s programs and projects, in coordination with ETP Secretariat.
• Perform and coordinate administrative tasks (i.e. procurement, travel) adhering to ETP’s operational manual and UNOPS’ guidelines on procurement rules and regulation; as required for programme implementation;

C. Resource Mobilization and Partnerships support

• Assist and continuously support establishment and maintenance of close working relationships with stakeholders as well as promote the value, comparative advantages, and visibility of the ETP.
• Support assessment of the interest and priorities of key donors and other development partners and develop/update and implement the resource mobilization and partnership strategy to mobilize resources from and develop partnerships with the government, donors and other partners to best leverage ETP resources and develop programme-level partnerships.
• Liaise with the ETP Director and Sr. Program and Fund Managers on emerging opportunities, due diligence processes and funding negotiations
• Support ETP grantees in securing cofinancing, as required, and project level partnerships, and assist in identifying opportunities and resources for sustaining and scaling up projects

D. Knowledge Management

• Support documentation of programme/project stories, lessons learned, and best practices in ETP programme/project development, implementation, and oversight.
• Identify and collate country, regional and global knowledge relevant to ETP, and develop and distill best practices and facilitate dissemination and incorporation within ETP’s programs and to counterparts and partners.
• Support capacity building and networking of grantees, beneficiaries, and stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote uptake through knowledge platforms, knowledge fairs and events.