Job Info
- Job Identification: 24468
- Posting Date: 02/24/2025, 10:41 PM
- Apply Before: 03/11/2025, 04:59 AM
- Job Schedule: Full time
- Locations: Paramaribo, Suriname
- Agency: UNDP
- Grade: NPSA-10
- Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
- Practice Area: Nature, Climate and Energy
- Bureau: Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean
- Contract Duration: 1 Year
- Education & Work Experience: Master’s Degree – 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience
- Required Languages: Fluency in Dutch is required
- Desired Languages: English is an asset
- Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks
Job Description
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
Background
Mangroves are critical for coastal protection as they prevent coastal erosion and help to stabilize coastal land. Mangroves are critical nature-based solution to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels and storms and adapt to climate change. Coastal mangroves can adapt to sea level rise and storms surges by moving inland over time. Suriname is home to 2 percent of the world’s total mangroves. In Suriname, mangrove forests cover 90 percent of the total coastline of 386 kms. The low-lying coastal region is also where majority of the population lives (i.e nearly 90 percent of the country’s population). In short, mangroves play a critical role in physical/geographical and socio-economic aspects of the country.
UNDP has been a key development partner of the Surinamese Government and its people since 1994. UNDP continues to support Suriname through its three broad programmatic areas: Democratic Governance, Social Development, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management. The three programmatic areas are interlinked, integrating nature-based solutions, justice and social services with the engagement of stakeholders that are relevant to all three programmatic areas.
UNDP in partnership with the European Union has been supporting Suriname in preservation and conservation of mangrove forests, especially through the two phases of the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) programmes – phase one: from March 2016 to August 2019 and phase 2: 2020- 2023. In 2024, UNDP and EU launched a new initiative Protection, Restoration, and Sustainable Use of Mangrove Forest (PRSUMF) project (2024 to 2027).
The PRSUMF project builds on the results achieved in strengthening mangrove protection and conservation by the GCCA+ programme. The PRSUMF project aims to support Suriname in building the resilience of target coastal communities through inclusive, gender-responsive coastal zone management, mangroves conservation, and sustainable use. The project aims to achieve this objective:
- By strengthening coordination, legal and strategic frameworks, for integrated coastal zone management, water management, coastal defense, and governance.
- By enhancing the meaningful participation of local communities in the co-management of mangroves and Multiple Use Management Areas (MUMAs) and
- Lastly, by increasing sustainable income generation with a focus on women and youth, from mangrove-based value chains such as honey, fisheries, and nature-tourism.
Through the above approach, the project aims to mitigate some of the impact of rising sea levels, and frequent flooding, and support the country’s population to adapt to climate change by playing a central role in sustainable mangrove protection and use and adopting sustainable economic activities.
The project will be implemented by a project management unit headed by a project manager.
Scope of Work:
The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall delivery of the project – including planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting. The PM will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative / Head of office with assistance from the project team (two Technical Officers, Finance and Administration Officer, Communication officer, and project assistance). The PM will work in close coordination with the UNDP Country Office staff, and other project teams at UNDP Suriname to ensure synergies, coordinated implementation and achievement of project results.
Key functions and responsibilities
Effective and efficient implementation of the project:
- Responsible for day-to-day management of the project, including managing staff, hiring and overseeing external consultants, maintaining working relations with key project partners.
- Coordinates activities related to budget and financing (project preparation and submission, progress reporting, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports.
- Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
- In collaboration with the project team, develop annual workplans and/or revise work plans and project budgets according to the decision of the Board (if necessary), and deliver against work plans.
- Act as focal point and assure excellent communications with donors, government partners (at all levels), implementing partners, etc.,
- Responsible for finalizing baselines and targets of the project based on capacity needs assessment, and update project results and resource framework.
- Maintain oversight of expenditure and ensure both value for money and efficient delivery in line with established targets.
- Lead on Gender mainstreaming into all project activities – including develop and implement gender action plan (as per UNDP and EU requirements)
- Coordinate and organize that all necessary documentation for the Project Steering Board meetings, review meetings and evaluation missions are prepared, in coordination with UNDP country office.
- Where possible, assist with resource mobilization, including through the development of concept notes, project documents and detailed budget plans.
Effective communication of project results and facilitate knowledge sharing
- In collaboration with the Communication Officer and technical officers, collate insights and knowledge, capture and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements, particularly research reports, local success stories, and support publication of background papers, reports, studies etc.,
- Support project contribution to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Strengthen partnership with a range of stakeholders to achieve project results
- Maintain linkages with the donors, and other regional and national projects, dealing with climate change related issues and identify opportunities for partnership and collaboration with other agencies, organizations and donors for enhancing the quality of the project (e.g. with government departments at national and sub-national level, NGOs, farmers’ organizations’, community leaders for buy-in and successful implementation).
- Organize policy dialogues with relevant stakeholders (government, donors, civil society etc.,), coordination meetings
- Organize exchange trips to promote cooperation among relevant stakeholders
Lead project monitoring and ensure timely project implementation and achievement of results:
- Monitor activities of project team and project responsible parties and ensure project activities are in line with the project document
- Monitor and analyse project development and implementation, including coordinating and participating in monitoring missions, conducting field visits.
- Identifie problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions, captured in periodic monitoring reports.
- Participate in or leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
Provide strategic guidance for capacity building, advocacy and awareness activities:
- Support capacity building activities in-country undertakes outreach and advocacy activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
- Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings and conferences to include proposing agenda topics (including national taxation regime on natural resources), identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
- Guide and support the work of the technical specialists and other responsible parties, including research and data collection, coordinating stakeholder consultations, conducting surveys, identifying strategic partners and synergies.
- Participate in the development, formulation, implementation and evaluation of national activities related to Mangrove conservation, protection and sustainable use, Climate Change Adaptation, Integrated Water Resource Management.
- Perform other duties related to the work of the project as required.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangements
The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative/Head of Office and collaborates closely with the Team Leaders and Project Managers and all other CO units.
- 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
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-functional & Technical competencies
| Thematic area | Competencies | definition |
| Business Direction and Strategy | Strategic Thinking | Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. |
| Business Direction and Strategy | Effective decision making | Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications. |
| Business Management | Partnership management | Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies |
| Business Management | Project management | Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals |
| Business Management | Risk Management | Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks |
| Business Management | Customer Satisfaction/Client Management | Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns. |
| Partnership Management | Strategic engagement | Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives |
Minimum qualification of successful NPSA:
| Minimum Education requirements | Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in the fields of environmental management, socio-economic studies, or relevant related fields is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. |
| Minimum years of relevant work experience | Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) years of relevant professional experience, especially in value chain development and MSME development is required. Proven experience in implementing similar projects inclimate change, coastal management, adaptation etc. is desired.Proven experience in supporting projects – with UNDP, donor organization, governmental institutions, NGO or private sector / consulting firm is an asset.Proven ability to work independently and timely meet the delivery dates, as well as availability to communicate frequently with the UNDP CO team and project stakeholders is an asset.Proven track record of excellent computer skills and writing skills is desired. |
| Required Language(s) | Fluency in Dutch is required and working knowledge in English is an asset |
Disclaimer
Important applicant information
All posts in the NPSA categories are subject to local recruitment.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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