INCEPTION PHASE TEAM LEADER

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of nine months and may be subject to extension. Consultants are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her.

Organizational Setting:

The United Nations Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Part of UN Environments’ Division of Ecosystems, the Post-conflict and Disaster Management Branch (PCDMB) works to understand and reduce the impacts of environmental degradation from disasters and conflicts on human health, livelihoods and security. It also emphasizes the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably-managed resources in reducing the risk of disasters and conflicts. From the Balkans to Afghanistan, Lebanon, Sudan and Nigeria, PCDMB has responded to crisis situations in more than 40 countries since 1999, delivering wide-ranging environmental expertise to national governments and partners in the UN family. PCDMB has also conducted post-crisis environmental assessments in 12 countries.
Through its Disasters and Conflicts subprogram, UN Environment provides four main services to Member States and the broader UN system:
• Post-crisis environmental assessments
• Post-crisis environmental recovery
• Environmental cooperation for peacebuilding
• Disaster risk reduction.
PCDMB has project offices in Afghanistan, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, and Nigeria, and these activities are coordinated from the main PCDMB office in Geneva, Switzerland.

UN Environment Sudan plans to implement a second phase of the Wadi El Ku Integrated Catchment Management project in North Darfur with support from the European Union. The purpose of this second project phase is to extend and scale up successful interventions, based on the first phase of the project, with the aim of improving local community livelihoods and stemming the negative cycle of environmental degradation and social tensions in the Wadi El Ku. Phase 2 will expand the geographic coverage of planned interventions both upstream and downstream of the initial project intervention area, and build on and enhance the role of the Catchment Management Forum to assume a more comprehensive watershed management approach.

Specific Tasks and responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of this position are as follows:

· Oversee and quality control inception phase and partner activities;

· Commission, oversee, and quality control the implementation of a project baseline survey;

· Prepare an inception report for submission to the donor, including an updated project framework and budget, a detailed implementation plan, and a summary of baseline findings;

· Define the M&E framework and budgeted work plan for the project (to reflect approaches used in climate smart agriculture projects), so that it is implementation-ready on completion of the inception phase. The framework to be developed with the involvement of project partners;

· Provide training and guidance to project implementing partners so that they are able to implement M&E framework upon completion of the inception phase;

· Through the Project “Technical Committee”, facilitate the full participation of stakeholders, including the State Government, in inception period activities;

· Negotiate and finalise funding agreements with project implementing partners, in accordance with UN Environment legal instruments, and based on detailed work plans and budgets that are linked to specific project outputs;

· Through close liaison with State and Federal authorities and with UN Environment Sudan, ensure that formalities and protocols needed for the smooth implementation of the project are in place;

· Lead the recruitment of national officer and consultant positions in the El Fasher Project Management Unit;

· Equip project offices in El Fasher and initiate implementation of the project procurement plan fulfilling UN Environment requirements;

· Support drafting of the ‘Community Based Organizations assessment’ report;

· Ensure regular liaison and communications with the donor in Khartoum;

· Prepare other reports as required.

Work critical factors involves:

· Building/strengthening relationships with project partners and stakeholders;

· Developing clear concise project documents to enable a smooth start to the project;

· Enhanced integration of other UN Environment projects with the Wadi El Ku Project - Phase 2;

· Align work with government strategic plans, the Darfur Development Strategy, UNDAF, UNCT/UNAMID Integrated Strategic Framework, UN Environment consultation records and technical reports;

· Clear coordination and consultation for the inputs of others and review by stakeholders of the documents.

Expected Results /Deliverables

· Final Project baseline survey and report;

· Project inception report, including, detailed implementation plan and corresponding budget, and a summary of baseline findings;

· An M&E framework defined through a consultative approach;

· Trained partners in implementation of the M&E framework;

· Signed protocols and agreements with State and Federal Government needed to ensure support to Project implementation;

· Signed funding agreements (PCAs or SSFAs) with Practical Action, State Ministries, Forest National Corporation, and the Groundwater and Wadis Directorate, among others;

· A staffed and equipped Project Management Unit in El Fasher.

Competencies:

· Professionalism – Knowledge of general office and administrative support including administrative policies, processes and procedures. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

· Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

· Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

· Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Qualifications:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environment or development related field (natural resources management, IWRM, environment/development economics, law) with proven knowledge of socio-economic aspects of sustainable development

Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in crisis and/or post-crisis settings and in environmental and rural development projects, with at least five (5) years working with host governments and bilateral or multilateral assistance programmes. Proven experience of project cycle management, and team leadership in insecure environments are a requirement, as well as experience in implementing climate smart agriculture projects. Relevant country experience is an added advantage, particularly in arid and semi-arid contexts;
• Substantial field experience and demonstrated ability to deliver in conflict and post-conflict countries;
• Used to working to deadlines and producing material at short notice at times;
• Excellent organizational, decision-making and problem-solving skills;
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve project/organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise

Language:

Fluency in both written and oral English a must. Knowledge of Arabic and the Sudan context a strong asset

Assessment: Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other

assessment methods.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

UN Environment shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8).

For more informtion on UN Envronment, please visit our website: www.unep.org/sudan

HOW TO APPLY:

How to apply

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. It is preferable for applications to be sent in by email with a clear indication of the “Functional Title” associated with the application.

A letter of motivation as well as the P11 form/Curriculum Vitae should be sent by email to:

Chado.tshering@unep.org