UNDP Recruits National Coordinator - Niger Delta Biodiversity Project

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the below position:

Job Title: National Coordinator

Location: Port Harcourt
Post Level: SB-5
Duration of Initial Contract: Initial duration of one year

Background
In May 2012, UNDP and the Government of Nigeria signed the Project Document for the recently developed ‘Niger Delta Biodiversity Project’. The document engages over a five year period $4,610,000, of which $1,000,000 are core funds from UNDP and $3,610,000 are from the Global Environment Facility. These funds leveraged an additional $9.6 million in commitments from government, Shell Nigeria and the UN through other projects.

This project’s goal is to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of globally significant biological diversity in the Niger Delta. The project objective is “to mainstream biodiversity management priorities into the Niger Delta oil and gas (O&G) sector development policies and operations.”

The project’s three main outcomes designed to achieve this objective are: 1) Stakeholders strengthen the governance framework of law, policy, and institutional capacity to enable the mainstreaming of biodiversity management into the O&G sector in the Niger Delta; 2) Government, the O&G industry and local communities adopt and pilot new biodiversity action planning tools for proactive biodiversity mainstreaming in the Niger Delta; 3) Stakeholders support long-term biodiversity management and the use of these new tools in the Niger Delta by capitalizing the Niger Delta Biodiversity Trust with a collaborative engagement mechanism for local communities, O&G companies and Government at its core.

Each of the three outcomes of this project reflects the project’s (and UNDP’s) focus on strengthening the governance of biodiversity in the Niger Delta.

By mainstreaming biodiversity into the O&G sector of the Niger Delta, the project is strengthening the governance of those resources.

The geographic focus of the project is on the four core Nigerian States within the Niger Delta (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States), which combined encompass an area of 46,420 km2 (the ‘indirect landscape mainstreaming target’). The physical footprint of the O&G company assets within this area is admitted by the industry to be 600 km2, which is considered the project’s initial ‘direct landscape mainstreaming target’

The project will bring improved biodiversity management to these areas indirectly and directly, respectively, as measured by improved state of globally significant species and ecosystems, legal and policy frameworks that incorporate biodiversity objectives, and O&G companies adopting best practice for biodiversity actions.

A key result will be the establishment of a long-term funding mechanism for mainstreaming biodiversity into the O&G sector, called the Niger Delta Biodiversity Trust.

UNDP Nigeria is seeking a qualified National Coordinator to coordinate activities of the project in engaging stakeholders towards the established project objective.

National Coordinator (NC), will be a locally recruited national selected based on an open competitive process. He/She will be responsible for the substantive management of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision over project staff, consultants and sub-contractors. The NC will report to the Projects Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). For all of the project’s substantive and administrative issues, the NC will also in close consultation with the UNDP-Nigeria Environment Department Team. From the strategic point of view of the project, the NC will report on a periodic basis to the Project Steering Committee (PSC). Generally, the NC will be responsible for meeting government obligations under the project. He/She will perform a liaison role with the Government, UNDP and other UN Agencies, NGOs and project partners, and maintain close collaboration with other donor agencies providing co-financing.

Duties and Responsibilities
The National Coordinator will perform the following tasks:

• Supervise and coordinate the production of project outputs, as per the project document;
• Mobilize all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures for nationally executed projects;
• Supervise and coordinate the work of all project staff, consultants and sub-contractors;
• Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project personnel;
• Prepare and revise project work and financial plans, as required by the Chief Technical Advisor and UNDP;
• Liaise with UNDP, FMENV, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities;
• Facilitate administrative backstopping to subcontractors and training activities supported by the Project;
• Oversee and ensure timely submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, GEF, DGA and other oversight agencies;
• Disseminate project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders;
• Report progress of project to the steering committees, and ensure the fulfilment of steering committees directives.
• Oversee the exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned with relevant community based integrated conservation and development projects nationally and internationally;
• Ensures the timely and effective implementation of all components of the project;
• Assist community groups, municipalities, NGOs, staff, students and others with development of essential skills through training workshops and on the job training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities;
• Coordinate and assists scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all field studies and monitoring components of the project
• Carry regular, announced and unannounced inspections of all sites and the activities of the project site management units.

Competencies

• Motivation to work in a multi-cultural environment, with challenging issues.
• Strong believe in the values of the UN and UNDP’s mission in Nigeria.
• Ability to build trust and respect among colleagues/partners, serving as a role model of appropriate attitudes and behaviors for the project to be successful, displaying high level of respect and appreciation.
• Ability to understand the needs and expectations of project beneficiaries.
• Principles and values leading to fair and honest behaviour.
• Leadership: Demonstrating an ability to motivate and inspire others toward achieving a common goal; leading by example, and effectively using interpersonal and influencing skills to help others.
• Strong analytical, communication and managerial skills.

Required Skills and Experience

• An advanced university degree (MS or PhD) in Management or Environmental Sciences;
• At least 7 years of experience in natural resource management or project/programme management;
• At least 5 years of project/programme management experience;
• Working experiences with ministries and national institutions in Nigeria is a plus, but not a requirement;
• Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multi-stakeholder project;
• Ability to administer budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
• Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
• Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
• Strong knowledge about Nigeria’s and the Niger Delta’s political and socio-economic context, in particular at National and Municipal level;
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English.

A service contract (SC) is a modality for hiring individuals under a non-staff contract

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.

Application Closing Date
28th February 2013

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click Here To Apply Online