Senior Programme Manager

Background Information

In 2020 the World Bank approved a USD 37 million Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project to strengthen innovation and coordination of circular economy solutions to plastic pollution flowing into South Asian Seas. The project focuses on three key objectives, (1) improve identification and testing of plastic pollution mitigation solutions; (2) to increase leveraging of policy solutions and public-private sector engagement in plastic pollution, waste and leakage mitigation across the value chain; and (3) to strengthen regional integration institutions.

The responsible agency to implement the PLEASE project designated by the World Bank is the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP). SACEP member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In addition, SACEP serves as the secretariat of the South Asian Seas Programme (SASP), one of 18 such Regional Seas Programmes of the United Nations Environment Program. The regional project would support SACEP to administer relevant project activities via the following insertional structure, which includes a Ministerial Level Governing Council (GC), Consultative Committee (CC), National Focal Points (NFPs), Subject Area Focal Points (SAFP), and a Colombo-based Secretariat.**Purpose and Scope of Assignment**

The Senior Programme Manager will manage the UNOPS team to work collectively with the SACEP PIU in developing required PLEASE project outputs in Component 1 and 3. The Senior Programme Manager of UNOPS and Implementing Partner with the Project Director of the PIU may make minor modifications to the tasks outlined as required, to comply with guidelines and procedures stated in the Project Operations Manual(POM), and improve the quality of the overall outcome. The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for delivering UNOPS implementation support to SACEP Programme Implementation Unit under the Terms of Reference agreed between UNOPS and SACEP and as embodied in the MOU between UNOPS and SACEP. The Senior Programme Manager will provide support to the SACEP PIU in establishing an effective and efficient process of evaluating potential partners within the scope of Component 1 of achieving plastic free seas via block grant disbursement, provide grant management support to the PIU in the evaluation of criteria of block chain recipients and enabling capacity building in grant management to the PIU. The Senior Programme manager will also supervise the infrastructure project manager on the implementation of the SACEP HQ building. Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UNOPS Sri Lanka Country Manager and working closely with the SACEP PIU Director, the Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for:

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationship with the PIU and PLEASE project SACEP PIU, current and potential partners and key stakeholders;

• Support the PIU in internal and external communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of the Programme activities, progress, exceptions;

• Advise the partners on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes;

• Manage the information flows between the SACEP PIU Director, the UNOPS Country Office management and the programme implementation unit;

• Act as UNOPS Sri Lanka’s focal person on the programme’s matters towards the counterparts, including, but not limited to, UN partners, donors, civil society and implementing partners.

Delivery and Performance:

• Implement approved programme plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the SACEP PIU;

• Advising the SACEP PIU on issues such as project, work-package and activity selection for funding and their associated fiduciary management operations, such as budgets, cash flow and expenditure;

• Ensuring principles of human rights, conflict sensitivity, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities associated with the programme, including in the selection criteria of block grants;

• Manage delivery of the programme’s outputs along with the PIU, taking joint responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary;

• Assisting the PIU to manage the programme to ensure performance in the areas of finance (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and procurement operations;

• Monitor and provide guidance on activities to be delivered by the UNOPS team or grants by implementing partners as pre-agreed by the PIU;

• Advise the SACEP PIU and governance structures and UNOPS Executive Management Team of deviations that have or will exceed set tolerances as approved in the programme plan;

• Assist the PIU to identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved;

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers from a fiduciary and contract management perspectives;

• Control risks to UNOPS internal business case and take corrective actions;

• Represent UNOPS at SACEP PIU/ CFP/ Governing Council meetings on behalf of the programme on a periodic basis in order to discuss key issues and propose solutions to fiduciary and operational challenges that arise;

• Monitor progress of the programme at a strategic level and ensure periodic progress and updates are made to the SACEP PIU.

Procedures:

• Ensure that all Programme activities comply with UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR) and other applicable policies;

• Understand and manage the application of the UNOPS pricing policy and related corporate charges to the projects and work-packages funded by the programme;

• On behalf of UNOPS, contribute to the development of work plans for approval by the PIU and SACEP PIU;

• Ensure that capacities of implementing partners are commensurate with funding requirements;

• Together with the PIU understand the structure and approaches of the implementing partners and evaluate and adjust budget appropriately for programme personnel overseeing their activities;

• Ensure that all reporting requirements per the legal agreements as well as internal UNOPS requirements are met;

• Maintain critical programme records/documents on the UNOPS Google Shared Drive (online audit/record retention folder);

• Ensure appropriate measures have been documented in a Closure Plan to facilitate the transition of operations in the final stage of delivery.

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in relevant UNOPS Communities of Practice;

• Actively interact with the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices;

• Provide feedback to HQ Group Leads on policies and supporting guidances with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies, complete lessons learned as per reporting format;

• Contribute to PIUs knowledge management initiatives;

• Further duties may be identified throughout the implementation period.

Personnel Management:

• Managing personnel and ensuring behavior consistent with UN values;
• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted systematically and on time;
• Take part in selection, recruitment and training of the team as required by programme plans;
• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Senior Programme Manager will report to the UNOPS Country Manager Sri Lanka and the Maldives and make contributions as per these TOR. The Senior Programme Manager will also work collaboratively with the SACEP Director General, SACEP Program Director and SACEP PIU. A work plan will be formulated and agreed between the Senior Programme Manager, and the SACEP PIU with clearly defined outputs, milestones and reporting requirements.