Project Concept Development Experts at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Project Concept Development Expert

Vacancy code VA/2015/B5002/7391
Level ICS-11
Department/office: GPSO, Water and Energy
Duty station: Home based
Duration: 4 months
Contract type International ICA
Contract level IICA-3

Background Information - WEC

Water and Energy Cluster
Based in Copenhagen, the UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster provides specialized project management services to partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank. Together with partners, the cluster executes projects that support sustainable development by:

• Promoting international cooperation to prevent and reverse environmental degradation of international water systems
• Enhancing the resilience of communities and eco-systems to climate change
• Lowering emissions by bridging renewable energy solutions
• Developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to strengthen climate-resilient development.

Background Information - Job-specific

• The proposed will provide an opportunity for the countries to replicate and upscale the useful results of phase II funding to other areas within the basin using both GEF and their own resources. The efforts will be made to diversity the sources of funds to support the Lake Tanganyika SAP and ABAKIR SP implementation. Also, it will put strong emphasis on the capacity development of the two inter-governmental entities, their coordination and monitoring capacity to coordinate SAP/SP implementation activities and their financial sustainability plan in the near future.
• The consultancy support is required to develop the project concept in the form of Project Identification Form (PIF) and a concrete set of on-the-ground interventions to be reviewed by UNDP, LTA, ABAKIR and the countries and included in the PIF. The full alignment of the proposed project concept and relevant GEF-6 Strategic objectives must be fully ensured in the development of the PIF.

Functional Responsibilities

• The principal component of the contract will be to assist UNDP in developing a project concept for the sustainable development and management of the natural resources in the greater Lake Tanganyika basin through the implementation of the Lake Tanganyika Strategic Action Programme and the Strategic Plan for the Lake Kivu-Rusisi River basin, using the Project Identification Form (PIF)　template within the context of the relevant GEF-6 Strategic Objectives.
• A draft PIF should be ready for review by mid-June 2015. A revised PIF will be produced after incorporating comments by mid-July 2015.
• Upon the finalization of PIF, the consultant is also required to draft a Project Initiation Document, following UNDP template, which will provide the details of the project development process, work plan and budget with TORs for major consultancies required attached as Annexes.

Specific Responsibilities will include:
Situation &barrier analysis (10 days):

• Review and take stock of the extensive existing relevant information on the greater Lake Tanganyika basin (situation analysis).
• Consult with LTA and its member states, ABAKIR and its member states, UNDP and other relevant partners to gather information about their past, ongoing and upcoming interventions/programmes/projects (baseline and co-financing information).
• Gather necessary background information(through desk review and interviews) to complete the situation and barrier analysis.

Proposed interventions and project framework development (5 days):

• Based on the situations and barrier analysis, develop a set of proposed interventions that are in line with UNDP’s comparative advantages and develop a project framework
• Identify a few possible demonstration activities in consultation with the riparian states.
• Identification of co-financing/baseline projects and potential co-financing partners.

Developing PIF (5 days):

• Draft a project concept in the form of the latest GEF-6 PIF template.
• Incorporate comments received from countries, LTA,ABAKIR, UNDP, identified experts, GEFSEC, and any other consultative meetings
• Finalize PIF in close consultation with UNDP and the countries.

Developing PID (5 days):

• Preparation of a Project Initiation Document, following UNDP template, which will provide the details of the project development process, work plan and budget with TORs for major consultancies required attached as Annexes.

Total expected inputs = an estimated 25days:

• All necessary templates and available background documents will be provided to the consultant.
• When/if a duty travel is considered necessary during the assignment, costs for such travel will be financed separately after the authorization by the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Water and Ocean Governance for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Monitoring and Progress Controls:

• The Consultant undertaking this work will liaise closely with the supervisor (UNDP GEF RTA for Water and Ocean Governance), LTA, national and regional stakeholders, and any other identified stakeholders as directed by the supervisor.
• Payments will be made against the technical clearance of the expected deliverables submitted by the consultant (see the payment schedule below).
• The consultancy will commence work on 15 May 2015(or as soon as the contract is signed) and continue until completion but no later than 31August 2015. The consultancy may be extended under mutual agreement between all parties if further work is required and this work would then be reimbursed under the same arrangements as defined above.

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs at the specified timeline as follows:

• Proposed interventions and a set of SAP demonstration options (a minimum of 2 demonstration options per country) by 1 June 2015
• 1stDraft PIF by 15June 2015
• Revised Draft PIF by 13 July 2015
• Final PIF by 24 July 2015
• PID by 31 August 2015.

Final Products:

• PIF, in the GEF-6latest template, outlining the proposed project concept including situation analysis, objective, expected outcomes and outputs, indicative indicators, and proposed outcome-based budget (including indicative co-financing figures)
• PID, in the latest UNDP template, detailing the processes and required inputs to develop a full UNDP project document and CEO Endorsement Request, with work plan, budget and a set of TORs for major consultancy requirements.

Education/Experience/Language Requirements

• Post graduate degree in the Environmental Science, Water Resources Management, Marine Science, Social Studies, Policy Analysis, or related field is required.
• The consultant should have a minimum of seven years of experience in the field of natural resources management. A solid understanding of GEF IW Objectives, Strategic Programs and Monitoring indicators and systems is required. Extended experience in project development based on Logical Framework is also a requirement.
• Past experience in UNDP/GEF project development is highly desirable. Demonstrated experience in working in the development countries, negotiation and consultations with governments, working on the donor funded projects are all expected from the selected consultant.
• Past experience in the greater Lake Tanganyika region is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated analytical skills, clarify in writing, ability in translating abstract concepts into concrete actions/recommendations are all required.
• English proficiency in writing is a requirement. Spoken proficiency in French, Swahili or other local language used in the Greater Lake Tanganyika basin is considered as an advantage.

Contract Type, Level and Duration:

• Contract type: International ICA, lumpsum based on deliverables
• Contract level: IICA-3
• Contract duration: 4 months.

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Application Closing Date
4th May, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online