Project Management Expert at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties:

•  In consultation with the Project Manager, coordinate the planning, implementation and delivery of the day-to day project activities as per the approved GEF CCCD project document, in collaboration with the South Sudan Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) and Botswana’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)
• Oversee adherence to the approved Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan, including providing overall direction of the project, and the timely delivery of quality project outputs, products and reports.
• Preparation and submission of periodic reports (e.g. the annual GEF PIR reports, the semi-annual progress and expenditure reports and the Co-financing reports) through modalities that build GEF substantive reporting capacity of MoEF and other MEA focal offices.
• Coordinate the project’s environmental legal frameworks and EIS working groups, in consultation with the Regional Coordinator for Africa/ project Manager and MoEF.
• Prepare and submit periodic project update reports to the PSC and the UNEP reporting officer.
• Collaborate with UNEP Administration and Finance office in handling all project financial and administrative processes.
• Provide technical coordination for the implementation of the project in line with the GEF approved project document, with a particular focus on building the capacity of MoEF and other project partners.
• Coordinate project activities with relevant project partners including MoEF and other sector agencies, civil society, academia and research institutions and other stakeholders, as well as consultants and working groups.
• Ensure that the project coordination, management and reporting by the PMU is timely and of high quality; as well as meeting GEF and UNEP requirements.
• Draft terms of reference (ToRs) for implementing partners, sub-contractors, consultants for review by the Project Manager and approval by the UNEP AO management.
• Take responsibility for UNEP AO compliance to the approved M&E plan, including the risk mitigation plan and gender integration, and the organization, participation, facilitation, and reporting on the annual Project Steering Committees (PSC) meetings. l) Prepare annual budget and workplan revisions, and follow-up with Early Warning and Assessments Division for their approval.
• Organize and facilitate GEF Project Steering committee (PSC) meetings in collaboration with MoEF and the UNEP Science Division, including the preparation of {SC meeting reports/ minutes.
• Coordinate national activities of consultants recruited to prepare both the Mid-Term Review (MTR) and Terminal Evaluation (TE) project reports in collaboration with the GEF Implementing Agency.
• Identify any additional partnerships for enhanced project implementation, strengthening sustainability, or its replication, including through new co-financing contributions from international, national or local sources to finance project components of the project as these evolve.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Masters' or equivalent) in environmental sciences/ engineering, natural resource management, development studies or a related field is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in national, regional or international environmental projects, with some experience in implementing similar GEF projects in volatile African countries.
• Experience with different aspects of project management including development, planning, implementation, evaluation, supervision of environmental experts and donor relations is required.
• Experience in collaborating with environmental ministries/ actors and governmental institutions in South Sudan or other developing countries is required.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the environmental issues and policies in the Republic of Botswana and South Sudan
• Experience and familiarity with UNEPs GEF funded project's design and implementation modalities in Botswana, South Sudan and other volatile developing countries is highly desirable.
• Experience in managing environmental projects located in Botswana, South Sudan or other developing countries regions with challenging, fragile and security situation as South Sudan would be an added advantage.