Technical Specialist at UNDP

Background

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, as established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is often referred to as “REDD+”. The UNDP REDD+ team is based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support – BPPS. It is part of the Sustainable Development cluster and also works closely with the Climate Change team.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is an international mechanism to reward developing countries for reducing their rates of deforestation and forest degradation, and for conserving, sustainably managing and enhancing forest carbon stocks.

As a signatory to the UNFCCC, and as a REDD+ Country, Kenya is committed to measures to decrease and adapt to the effects of climate change. This is detailed in the National Climate Change Strategy, Climate Change Action Plan and the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).

Launched in 2008, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) provides assistance to developing countries in building necessary capacities to engage in REDD+. Kenya is a FCPF partner country. As a Delivery Partner for FCPF, UNDP plays an important role in supporting countries in their REDD+ efforts. The UNDP Kenya Country Office, through the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Unit (EECCU), will support Kenya to implement the FCPF REDD+ readiness programme. UNDP’s Climate and forests team will provide overall technical advisory support to EECCU, particularly through the regional team based in Nairobi. The regional teams support UNDP’s country offices and partners in their region.

The project aims to put in place mechanisms to enable Kenya to reach its overall REDD+ goal to improve livelihoods and wellbeing, conserve biodiversity, contribute to the national aspiration of attaining a minimum 10% forest cover and mitigate climate change for sustainable development. The project shall be implemented through the National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, in its official role as the coordinator of climate change activities in Kenya.

The REDD+ Technical Specialist will report to the Project Manager and support implementation of this project working under the overall guidance of the National Project Coordinator and working very closely with the Project Management unit team, UNDP (Environment, Energy and Climate Change Team Leader) and the UNDP Climate and Forests team, notably, the Senior Regional Technical Advisor for Africa and other Regional and Global experts.

Summary of the main functions

• Coordinate development of the REDD+ strategy and investment plan;
• Provide top quality technical advice and strategic guidance for effective implementation and results-based management of the Project according to project objectives and stated results as well as with UNDP policies and procedures and the FPCF Common Approach;
• Provide technical support in the delivery of the four outcomes of the Project including substantive inputs into the REDD+ strategy and investment plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate development of the REDD+ strategy and investment plan:

• Develop Terms of Reference (TORs) for the recruitment of consultants for analytical studies, the National REDD+ Strategy and Investment plan following UNDP rules and regulations;
• Identify and evaluate experts, and review reports produced, following UNDP rules and regulations;
• Supervise and coordinate the team of consultants for the delivery of analytical reports;
• Provide support and technical advice to the development of policy options and strategy for the design and implementation of the FCPF project including support on the development of the Strategy and Investment plan;
• Ensure coordination with other international, regional and national REDD+ initiatives in the development of the National REDD+ Strategy and investment plan;
• Ensure timely delivery of the REDD+ strategy and investment plan.

• Support the day-to-day management of the FCPF project through provision of technical advice, including coordination across agencies and with other programmes:

• Contribute to the preparations of semi/annual progress reports to the FCPF, following relevant UNDP and FCPF rules and guidance;
• Provide close and regular backstopping to the Project Manager, the Project Executive Board (PEB) for the implementation of various components of the REDD+ programme;
• Provide advice and technical support to the Project Manager, in coordinating and supervising activities of national and international experts and consultants to secure timely production of planned outputs and the review of these outputs;
• Advise the Project Manager, the PEB, National Steering Committee, National Programme Coordinator on coordination and liaise with stakeholders – including line ministries, development partners, civil society, marginalised communities and the private sector;
• Develop and strengthen partnership and coordination with Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Government and development partners to support the implementation of the Project;
• Explore innovative options that and models that have worked elsewhere to support the National REDD+ development in Kenya;
• Provide advisory support to the REDD+ steering committee to keep abreast with project implementation and strengthen the communications with its members.

• Provide technical support in the delivery of the four outcomes of the Project including substantive inputs into the REDD+ strategy and investment planCoordinate drafting of TORs for consultancies / services;

• Provide strategic guidance to ensure that REDD+ outcomes are fully achieved in the context of the requirements set by the UNFCCC for REDD+;
• Organize and contribute to the organization of high level policy dialogues on REDD+;
• Lead the development of concept notes and significantly contribute to the development of TORs for the other technical outputs, following UNDP rules and regulations;
• Provide timely quality information and technical advice to the Government of Kenya, UN Country Team, implementing partners, line ministries and other partners to ensure effective development and delivery of the FCPF project;
• Communicate on a regular basis with UNDP Climate and Forests Team and the regional technical advisors to coordinate regional and global technical advisory inputs, including through coordination and accompaniment of backstopping missions;
• Provide technical support for project monitoring and evaluation;
• Contribute to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the Country;
• Establish contact and develop strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, scientific institutions as required;
• Participate in Project Management Unit (PMU,) annual work planning meetings and other implementation-related processes.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done

Technical/Functional

Primary

Building Strategic Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Results Based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

Substantive networking

Ability to substantively engage and foster networks with academia, research institutions, and think tanks

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Climate Change

Knowledge of climate change Including climate change international regime) and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Biodiversity and Eco-systems Management

Knowledge of conservation, sustainable use and access and benefit sharing of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Technical Advisory

Capacity to assess scope of request for advisory services, prepare detailed TORs, brief and manage a variety of technical consultants; assess quality of services provided by technical consultants and take remedial measures as appropriate

Secondary

Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share

Monitoring and Evaluation

Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations

Stakeholder Management

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and balance often contradictory expectations, building and maintaining relationships

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in natural resource management, climate change, or environmental sciences environmental science or relevant scientific discipline is required.

Experience:

• Minimum eight (8) years working experience in development, project/program coordination, policy development,
• At least 5 years of experience working with ministries, national institutions that are concerned with natural resource and/or environmental management.
• At least 5 years of expericence working with marginalised communities, civil society and other non state actors.
• Proven experience and knowledge in Development Effectiveness and cooperation, gender equality and its related issues is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent spoken and written skills in English and Kiswahili.

Other:

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP systems, preferably PeopleSoft.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC 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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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