GEF/GCF Africa Adaptation Project Specialist - Consultant at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Specific tasks and responsibilities

• The consultant will undertake the following duties, in close collaboration and coordination with designated Project Management Assistants and Finance Assistants:
• Task 1: Project management
• Guide the Programme Management Assistants to develop draft legal agreements for new projects and project extensions;
• Guide the Programme Management Assistants to prepare documents for UNEP project internalization and revision processes, and provide inputs to ensure completed UNEP clearance and approval processes;
• Maintain regular communication with Project Management Units (PMUs) at the Executing Agencies, to oversee project implementation progress, provide guidance, identify challenges and initiate corrective actions as needed;
• Review and clear key technical deliverables, and initiate the processing of associated consultancy payments;
• Participate in Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings;
• Prepare project supervision plans and risk logs for projects and periodically update them. Request the Executing Agencies to prepare annual work plans and update procurement plans, providing inputs to finalize them;
• In close collaboration with the Programme Management Assistants, Finance Assistants and Fund Management Officer, review and clear expenditure reports, prepare budget revisions and cash advances;
• Provide inputs for facilitating the technical and financial closure of projects;
• Travel to undertake project monitoring and planning missions, as required and decided by the Portfolio Manager. Task 2: Preparation of project documentation
• Prepare and send half-yearly progress report templates to Executing Agencies, hold meetings with the Project Management Unit (PMUs), send guidance emails to ensure correct and timely completion of the reports, and review such reports to ensure their timely completion;
• Prepare and send GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR) and GCF Annual Progress Report (APR) templates to Executing Agencies, hold meetings with these agencies and send guidance emails to ensure correct and timely completion of the reports, and review such reports to ensure their timely completion;
• Prepare a Mid-Term Review (MTR) recommendations implementation plan to facilitate Executing Agency implementation of MTR recommendations;
• Respond to GEF review comments for projects under development and revise project documents accordingly, with support from consultants. Detailed guidance notes per project summarizing project status and tasks to be undertaken will guide the work of the consultant.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: sustainable development, international development, environmental sciences, development studies or a related field is required;
• A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Minimum five years of experience in managing projects related to climate change adaptation, livelihoods, environment, or development is required;
• Experience in working with national governments in Africa is required; Experience working with GEF, GCF, Adaptation Fund or UNEP projects is an asset.