Majuro, Majuro, Marshall Islands
UNDP – United Nations Development Programme in Majuro
Job ID: 27443
Practice Area – Job Family: Environment and Energy
Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 16/12/2019
Duty Station: Majuro, Marshall Islands
Education & Work Experience: I-Master’s Level Degree – 7 year(s) experience
Languages: English
Grade: P4
Vacancy Type: FTA International
Posting Type: External
Bureau: Asia & the Pacific
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension
Background
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a small island developing state (SIDS) consisting of 29 coral atolls and 5 single islands. 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.
The RMI is particularly vulnerable to climate change. With its climate influenced by large ocean-atmosphere interactions such as trade winds, El Niño, monsoons and tropical cyclones, and with populations and infrastructure concentrated in small low-lying islands and atolls largest of which is only 16 km2, any rise in sea-level, changes in weather patterns or extreme events have significant and profound effects on settlements, living conditions and the economy.
The hydro-geophysical features of the country significantly contribute to its high vulnerabilities to natural disasters and climate change. Although not RMI is not located within the core cyclone belt, its geographic location is such that it is heavily influenced by storms, king tides, sea level rise, El Nino, reduced annual rainfall and temperature rise contributing to reduction of water security for the residents of RMI.
Droughts and storm waves are the main extreme events that impact RMI. Historical data show a decreasing trend of rainfall quantities, with drought risk respectively increasing. Periods of drought are a common occurrence after an El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The atolls and islands located 10°N and further north receive less than 1,250 mm (50 inches), while the atolls and islands located further south of 7°N receive more than 2,500 mm (100 inches) of rain annually.
Increasing sea level rise and decreasing rainfall characterize RMI’s vulnerability to climate change in relation to freshwater supply. These climate change impacts are likely to exacerbate the risks of freshwater shortages in RMI, challenging the ability of the Marshallese people to have access to safe freshwater resources year-round.
The project ‘Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands’ funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Republic of the Marshall Islands (GoRMI) supports RMI in adapting to increasing climate risks, particularly more frequent and extreme droughts, which impact the country’s drinking water supply. Communities and the households in RMI primarily rely on a single water resource and supply system, which makes them highly vulnerable to risks of water shortages and drought. Despite previous water related investments, the people of RMI still do not have year-round access to safe freshwater supply for drinking, cooking, hygiene and sanitation, particularly under droughts lengthened through climate change impacts.
The ‘Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands’ project aims to increase resilience of water resources for drinking and hygiene purposes in RMI. This will be done by:
- Improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures to increase resilience of water supply in all outer islands and atolls accounting for approximately 28% of RMI’s population, including 7,630 (49%) women, currently at risk.
- Securing groundwater resources from contamination due to inundation caused by wave overtopping of seawater.
- 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 project is aligned with RMI’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and country work programme to the GCF.
The project will be implemented by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji under the UNDP Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) and will be part of the Resilient and Sustainable Development (RSD) team. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Team Leader – RSD, the Project Manager directly supports the effective implementation and management of the ‘Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands’ project.
Duties and Responsibilities
Undertake Efficient and effective day-to-day planning, management implementation and monitoring of project activities and associated results:
- Manage and monitor on a day-to-day basis the project team , including timely implementation, results –orientation and accountability for project results
- As delegated by the – UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji RSD Management, monitor and evaluate performance of service providers and other contractors.
- Oversee the logistical arrangements for the project management team;
- Prepare a detailed work plan, schedule and budget, for approval by the Project Board, and update it on a quarterly basis (or more frequentable if needed);
- Undertake pro-active day-to-day management, including coordination, and implementation of the project activities, following result-based management;
- Coordinate technical inputs in support to planned project activities in consultation with the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji RSD Management, the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor, project team as well as the relevant Government entities;
- Prepare terms of reference (TOR) for services to be provided , prepare technical specifications for the goods to be acquired, and, prepare Statement of Works (SOW) for civil works to be undertaken by individual consultants and/or commercial enterprises to be contracted by the project, for further review by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji RSD Management and the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor;
- Coordinate activities and manage technical, logistical and administrative processes to ensure the achievement of project outputs;
- Support tender committees for the procurement of services/goods /civil works, ensuring the compliance of documentation with the TOR/technical specifications/SOW and project objectives;
- Supervise project finance, logistical, and administrative arrangements, and project related procurement and HR procedures;
- Provide technical advice to relevant project stakeholders to perform tasks related to project activities efficiently and effectively;
- Provide advice and direction on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender and social inclusion (GESI) initiatives in the project, including work plans and project implementation strategy, and, facilitate the creation of an environment to address GESI issues through the project’s activities;
- Manage communications and ensure relevant stakeholders are aware of project activities and progress;
- Prepare a proposal for the transfer of goods/civil works acquired/undertaken with the project resources (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance and replacement);
- Undertake project activities in line with existing UNDP rules and regulations, including related to financial, procurement and administrative aspects, , and, at the same time, observing the project timelines; and,
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- Undertake other duties as assigned by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji –RSD Management.
Undertake day-to-day monitoring and reporting of project activities in close collaboration with project partners and stakeholder:
- Prepare or provide, inputs to, regular reports (quarterly and annually), and ensure timely submission of the reports to the relevant entities, such as the Project Board;
- Monitor and report project progress on as per the project results framework and associated performance indicators and take appropriate action;
- Inform the – UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji RSD Management of any possible deviations from the project plan(s) and advice on possible corrective action.
- Make field visits, including collaborate with local counterparts and/or facilitate arrangements for joint monitoring visits to project sites as per the requirement of the project; and,
- Monitor project risks and support the development of mitigation measures thereof, relaying information to UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji RSD Management.
Align project activities with UNDP priorities:
- Ensure the principles of gender equality, social inclusion and disaster resilience (especially pertaining to Water Security) are effectively reflected in all relevant project activities;
- Ensure that gender equality is pursued in all relevant project activities, including reflected in work plans, budgets, reports, research, and analyses;
- Ensure that accessibility for persons with disabilities is reflected, as appropriate;
- Consult regularly with other relevant UNDP projects on related activities where synergies are possible;
- Strive to engage groups and communities in project activities that affect them; and,
- Communicate project goals and activities clearly to both stakeholders and the wider public.
Support implementation of project visibility and knowledge management activities:
- Contribute to the systematic capacity building of the project team and relevant counterparts through introduction of innovation and best practices, and, facilitate their application to project implementation;
- Capture and disseminate lessons learnt during project implementation;
- Actively engage and promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the project team and between relevant project partners;
- Provide substantive inputs to presentations, visibility activities, advocacy, and other project-related materials, etc.
Competencies
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Delivery
Ability to get things done
Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Results-based Management
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results
Monitoring and Evaluation
Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations
Risk Assessment / Management
Knowledge of risk assessment methodologies and abilty to determine degree of risk and apply to strategic and/or practical situation
Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize action around mitigating them
Quality Assurance
Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled
Strategic Planning
Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission
Data Measurement
Ability to set goals and indicators and to interpret and synthesize results into usable information to inform policy, strategy, and/or action
Brief & Speech Writing
Ability to prepare quality briefs and/or speeches
Research (General)
Knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Master´s Degree in Project Management, Water Engineering, Development Studies, or other Social Sciences, Environmental Management or other similar fields.
Experience:
- At least 7 years of working experience in project or programme management, including as Manager;
- At least 7 years of experience with water security and resilience and/or environmental management;
- Previous experience with the implementation of projects funded by GCF or other environmental vertical funds (e.g. the Global Environment Facility) is an asset;
- Substantial, relevant and practical working experience in RMI or other Pacific Island Countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) or developing countries,
- Experience in an international setting with the UN or with another international organisations an asset;
Language Requirements:
Full proficiency in English is required
Other requirements
Solid experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office incl. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as experience in handling of web-based management systems.
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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Workforce diversity
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