Local recruitment: Project Officer Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African SIDS

Project Officer

Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African SIDS

Financing Agency: Global Environment Facility (GEF)

GEF Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP Executing Agency: Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) in collaboration with GWP

West Africa (GWP-WA) and GWP Central Africa (GWPCAf)

Duty Station: Guinea Bissau

Tenure: 24 months, renewable

1. Background

The mandate of the AUC Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) is to: (a) Initiate, develop and promote continental policies, frameworks, and programs to contribute to agricultural transformation, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment in line with Agenda 2063; (ii) Coordinate implementation of continental policy frameworks and programmes; (iii) Mobilise resources and facilitate capacity building needed for implementation of various initiatives and policies; and (iv) Monitor and report on the implementation by Member States and Regional Economic Communities of policy frameworks, programmes and decisions.

The Department has two Directorates: (i) Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate with two Divisions namely: Agriculture and Food Security Division and Rural Development Division; (ii) Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Directorate also with two Divisions: (Sustainable Environment Division which includes Water and Sanitation, as well as Climate Change; and Blue Economy Division.

To enhance policy coherence at the continental level on Blue Economy, water security and climate change and to strengthen the role of blue economy, water in climate resilience and disaster risk reduction, the African Union Commission is in the process of strengthening its coordination function on blue economy, water, sanitation, and climate change. Increased policy coordination capacity is essential for the AUC to effectively support Member States’ efforts on Blue Economy, water and climate change and implement is High level Pan African commitments, to achieve the AU Agenda 2063.  and goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, SDG Agenda 2030.

2. Support to AUC Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African SIDS

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Global Water Partnership Southern Africa-Africa Coordination is supporting AUC to enhance the Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island States. GWPSA support is provided within the framework of the joint AUC-GWPSA-Africa Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for enhancing coordination function of the AUC and implementing the Continental Africa Water Investment Program.

3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African SIDS” (the “African SIDS Project”) aims to support 6 Africa SIDS located in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean (AIO), namely Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, in their aspirations to move towards sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient blue socio-economic development. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the GEF Implementing Agency in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) as the Executing Agency, while the African Union Commission is the focal custodian of the project implementation. GWPSA will execute the African SIDS Project in collaboration with GWP-WA and GWPCAf.

The Project aims to contribute to realizing a sustainable blue economy in the 6 African SIDS – this will be done through 3 key components 1) improving governance 2) demonstrating Blue Economy and sustainable water and land management actions 3) enhancing knowledge systems for decision making. The African SIDS Project Component 1 will support the development and strengthening, across all participating countries, of the enabling environment for a regional and national transformation towards a sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy. Component 2 will focus on piloting and demonstrating innovation and best practices for a sustainable Blue Economy including addressing issues of sustainable land and water management. Component 3 will support the development and strengthening of information and knowledge management environment that will facilitate access to data and exchange of good practices, both among African SIDS as well as with the wider global ocean/SIDS community.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

GWPSA in collaboration with GWP-WA seeks to hire a Project Officer for the aforementioned project. The Project Officer role, based in the Guinea Bissau, support the Project Coordinator in providing technical guidance and project management on the key project outcomes. The Project Officer will also support the regular monitoring of project outcomes and risks, including social and environmental risks, and the day-to-day management of the project.

This includes the mobilization of project inputs, supervision of consultants, responsible partners and sub-contractors/service providers under the responsibility of the GWPSA and GWPWA, as well as high-level interactions with the Project Board (“Project Steering Committee”) and its members, the wider stakeholder community, lead technical advice and support, and coordinating and promoting coherence and synergies.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Programme management and coordination

• Support and coordinate the organisation of the Inception Meeting and any other technical meetings with the Project Board and the Technical Advisory Group.
• Support in the preparation of work-plans, progress reports and budgets for the project.
• Support in managing the implementation of project workplans and activities and ensure that projects are implemented in accordance with approved project documents and managed in accordance with the signed grant agreement.
• Support country implementing partners in the development of work plans for the demonstration projects and ensure coordination with regional experts.
• Coordinate with Project Partners and experts/consultants that may be hired for the implementation of project activities, ensuring sound contract management and adherence to agreed workplans.
• Support in the necessary documentation for the procurement of services and goods, working in coordination with the GWP-WA Finance Team together with the Project Coordinator and GWPSA Finance and Procurement team.
• Coordinate the project and stakeholder engagements/meetings (project meetings, Steering Committee meetings, stakeholder workshops etc).
• Lead the preparation of relevant documentation (including agenda, concept notes, list of participants, reports) and meeting minutes.
• Provide support to the engagement and consultation processes during the implementation of the demonstration projects.
• Facilitate linkages with the country and provide support as required by the Project Coordinator to country partners.
• Plan and undertake regular communication with other members of the GWPSA as well as GWP-WA regional and national teams and provide relevant updates periodically.
• Facilitate coordination between key stakeholders and partners and provide support as required by the Project Coordinator.
• Work effectively with the communications team and provide the necessary information and reviews to support the development of communication products related to the project.

1. Technical Coordination

• Provide support through the oversight, guidance and coordination of consultants recruited to implement activities and develop deliverables.
• Support in the technical review of project deliverables to ensure quality project outputs and knowledge materials.
• Assist in the collection/research of background information, documentation or data, necessary for the implementation of project activities and preparation of relevant reports or studies, in coordination with external experts and/or Project Partners
• Support the recruitment/mobilization of qualified consultants and organizations needed to provide specific consultancy services or goods; in this regard support the development of Terms of Reference for consultants and service providers defining the technical responsibilities and deliverables expected
• Provide support to the development and implementation of demonstration projects for Guinea Bissau and the other 5 African SIDS participating in the project.
• Provide technical and coordination support to the development and implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Gender Action Plan
• Support the identification, capturing and reporting of key lessons learned and experiences from project activity implementation
• Support the identification and the formulation of the news project ideas
• Support the preparation of GWP-WA reports concerning the project implementation
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

1. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support the monitoring of progress against approved project workplans and budgets, including the identification of plan deviations and the formulation of possible/proposed options to make course corrections when needed to achieve results.
• Tracking activity implementation rate of the project.
• Coordinate with relevant implementing partners the collection of quality data against agreed project indicators.
• Support the analysis of project data to provide feedback to partners and programme team on the projects’ performance based on monitoring data findings.
• Assist the Project Coordinator and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Expert in the coordination and reporting of project evaluations as required (e.g. mid-term and end-line project evaluations).
• Support the M&E Expert in strengthening the capacity of the project team, implementing partners and stakeholders in the application of M&E tools.
• Support the tracking of project risks and the implementation of agreed mitigation measures.

3. Qualifications and Experience

The Programme Officer is required to meet the following criteria:

• Advanced degree (Masters or equivalent) in environmental management or blue economy related discipline: i.e. natural resources economics; water management, marine biology, oceanography, biodiversity or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in blue economy or water management within African SIDS.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders to promote sustainability and environmental awareness
• Demonstrated experience in project management.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
• Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision to prioritize tasking and manage workflow in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team player with proven communication and diplomacy with the ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Experience with GEF funded projects will be an asset.
• Willing to travel frequently within Africa.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.
• Fluency in French is an advantage.

4. Applications

• Candidates should submit their application in English through the online application system and not via email, including a cover letter, a detailed CV and a minimum of three references.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted within 4 weeks after the application deadline.
• Application link: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/hiring/jobs/111
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Questions can be directed to gwpsaprocurement@gwp.org, naidoo@gwpsaf.org
• Deadline: 24 January 2025 17:00 GMT