National Chief Technical Specialist at United Nations Development Programme: (Deadline 19 January 2023)

Background and Organizational Context

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Development programme (UNDP) Rwanda country office is looking for National Chief Technical Specialist (CTS) to support the effective implementation of the “Forest Landscape Restoration in the Mayaga Region Project”.

The CTS will be based in the office of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) received funding through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to implement the “Forest Landscape Restoration in the Mayaga Region project”. The FLR Mayaga project is a six years’ project implemented since 2020 in four Districts of the Amayaga Region namely Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza and Gisagara. The project is currently in its third year of implementation.

The project designed aims to secure biodiversity and carbon benefits while simultaneously strengthening the resilience of livelihoods, through forest landscape restoration and upscaling clean technologies in the four Districts of Amayaga region

The project has three major following outcomes:

• Forest restoration plans with institutional and legislation frameworks guiding afforestation, natural resources management and agriculture.
• Individual and institutional capacities enhancement for planning and implementing gender-sensitive forest landscape restoration strategies supported by knowledge management.
• Implementation of Forest Landscape Restoration plans to secure 555 ha of natural forests, put 300 ha of forests under participatory forest management, increase productivity of agriculture and plantation forests on 25,000 ha and 1,000 ha respectively; and reduce wood consumption by at least 25%.

It is against this background that UNDP Rwanda is looking for a qualified and experienced national expert to advise REMA on the implementation of the Green Amayaga project.

Scope of Work

The Chief Technical Specialist (CTS), for the “Forest Landscape Restoration in the Mayaga Region Project is responsible for the overall execution, management, coordination, and monitoring of the project. He/she will also advisor the management of Rwanda Environment Management Authority on the effective implementation of other GEF-UNDP supported project at REMA. He/she will contribute to the creation and maintenance of parentship for resources mobilization, monitoring and evaluation, production and sharing of knowledge management on

The Chief technical Specialist’s key function include:

1. Programme management (30%)

• Provide overall technical backstopping support for the assigned project/ programs;
• Provide effective programme supervision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and completion activities;
• Provide advice on best suitable approaches and methodologies for the timely achievement project/Program targets and objectives;
• Provide guidance and technical inputs to the work carried out by national and international consultants and/or companies;
• Advise the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities;
• Coordinate the implementation of recommendation of the audits, mid-term, and final evaluations of the project;
• Develop project/program proposal to upscale the program.

2. Monitoring and evaluation (30%)

• Provide technical support to ensure timely procurement, including but not limited to, drafting ToRs, review of ToRs, review of studies, and ensure contracts under the FLR Mayaga project are well managed;
• Detect potential risks which can hinder the implementation and suggest solutions;
• Assist in planning the implementation of project’s activities, and in adjusting the project Results Framework, Work Plan and Budget as required and in line with corporate requirements;
• Undertake technical review and provide quality assurance of project outputs (e.g., technical reports, studies, and assessments) and field activities;
• Assist in monitoring the technical quality of project M&E systems (including AWPs, indicators, and targets);
• Assist staff and consultants in the conduct of project reviews and evaluations, and in revisions of the implementation strategy and work plans, based on review and evaluation results;
• Advise of the effective methods to collect and analyse the impact.

3. Team management and coordination (15%)

• Timely Review technical documents and studies – offer guidance on how to improve;
• Support in the preparation of the annual Project Implementation Reports (PIRs).

4. Knowledge management and communication (10%)

• Organize an international conference in the first quarter of the last year of the project to promote the work of the project, share successful lessons and interest further investments into the Restoration plans (from donors and the private sector).
• Prepare communication and knowledge about the projects/program
• Provide advice and assist in knowledge management, communications and awareness-raising, and document lessons from project implementation.
• Support the preparation of various written outputs and knowledge products, e.g., draft background papers, analyses, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.

5. Partnership building and resources Mobilization (15%)

• Organize/ prepare for high impact engagements with key stakeholders of then projects;
• Conduct and development tools to engage donors;
• Where requested, advise the Project Management Unit in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs, and other groups to ensure the effective coordination of project activities;
• Develop/review resources mobilization proposal and strategies;
• Design an exit plan, identifying all further support required to sustain the Forest Landscapes Restoration Plans (Ecosystems Rehabilitation Plans) once the donor funding is used up. The strategy should be ready before two years prior to the end of the project to allow fund-raising for its implementation;
• Perform other tasks as may be requested by the Project Manager, the Project Steering Committee, and the senior management of the Rwanda Environment Management.

Institutional Arrangement

The Chief Technical Specialist (CTS) will report to the Director General of REMA who chairs the PSC through the SPIU Coordinator. The CTS will cooperate with the Project Management Unit to ensure the availability of information on progress and performance in the implementation of the project. In the performance of his/her duties, the CTS will work in close collaboration with the UNDP Rwanda Country Office and update on the project’s progress.

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Digital Strategy:  Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives. Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality.
• Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding: Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.
• Critical creative and fore sight applied to audit and investigation: Possess essential critical thinking and foresight capacity to analyze facts to form a judgment and advise the Senior management on the mitigation measures to effectively manage the assigned projects/ programs.
• Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyses and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making. Promote innovation and digital in managing the assigned portfolio.
• Ethics Advice & Guidance: Ability to quickly analyze complex fact patterns and provide comprehensive, sensitive, and confidential ethics advice and guidance

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• An advanced University Degree (Masters) in the area of Environment Management, Water Resources and Environmental Management, natural resource management, climate change adaptation and other related field, and forestry required.

Experience

• 5 years of professional experience in program/project management and coordination required;
• 5 years of experience in projects related to the management of Ecosystem Management and Pollution Management projects and programs including land and water desired;
• Previous working experience on ecosystem restoration region would be an advantage;
• Previous experience with Donor financed projects desired;
• Experience of working and collaborating with developing country governments desired;
• Good understanding of local policies and practices in the environment and climate change sector desired;
• Strong skills in project monitoring and evaluation required;
• Good analytical and writing skills desired;
• Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multidisciplinary team of experts and consultants desired;
• Excellent oral and presentation skills desired.

Language

• Excellent writing skills in English required.
• Fluency knowledge of French is an asset.

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