Job: Programme Officer - Programme Implementation and Results Based Management

Location: Rome
Deadline: Friday, 08 November 2013

UN Campus, Hermann-Ehlers-Strasse 10, 53113 Bonn, Germany Postal Address: PO Box 260129, 53153 Bonn, Germany Tel. +49 (0) 228 815 2800 Fax: +49 (0) 228 815 2898/99 E-mail: secretariat@unccd.int Web-site: www.unccd.int

Vacancy Announcement— Internal/External

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: CCD/13/P/TEMP/01

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8 November 2013

POST TITLE AND LEVEL: Programme Officer – Programme Implementation and Results Based Management, P-3

POST NUMBER: 524573

DUTY STATION: Rome, Italy

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

DURATION OF APPOINTMENT: 4 months, with possibility of extension

INDICATIVE NET ANNUAL SALARY: USD 60,091 (with dependents) USD 56,091 (without dependents)

TEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENT LIMITED TO SERVICE WITH UNCCD

The objective of this Convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification around the world, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. Established by the UNCCD, the Global Mechanism (GM) began its operations in October 1998. As per article 21 of the Convention, it aims to 'increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial mechanisms.' The GM also seeks to attract and channel investments from innovative financial sources such as climate change funds, private sector operations and micro-finance. The Programme Officer will contribute to the implementation of the 10 Year Strategic Framework of the Convention by providing technical backstopping to the management of specific programmes as well as by supporting the GM Evaluation and Donor Relation Programme as detailed below.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the general supervision of the Managing Director and the Director of Programmes of the Global Mechanism, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:

1. Provide substantive support to programme management by:

• Starting up, in close collaboration with the Coordinator for West and Central Africa, the project: 'West Africa: Promoting sustainable land management in migration-prone areas through Innovative financing mechanisms' implemented in cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), including support to:
• refine the project' results based log-frame and selecting performance indicators to monitor and assess the project contribution to the UNCCD 10 Year Strategy;
• refine the project work plan and budget for the first year of project implementation;
• organize the first meeting of the project' Steering Committee as well as the project inception workshop;
• prepare project outreach documents and materials;
• organize operations such as field missions, as well as the inclusion of provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other stakeholders;
• ensure consistency and enhancing synergies and complementarities with on-going initiatives related to SLM and innovative finance, thus ensuring the best use of the financial resources available as well as coherent and coordinated actions in the sub-region; liaise with the IOM office in Rome.

b) Starting up, in close collaboration with the GM Communication Coordinator, the UNCCD/GM project for the 2015 World Expo, including support to:

• refine the project concept;
• liaise with the group of core organizations (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the World Food Programme) involved in the Expo thematic decisions, institutional entities as well as with Italian small and medium enterprises.

• Ensuring, in close collaboration with the Programme Coordinator for South-to-South Cooperation, the technical and institutional liaison with the Italian Development Cooperation and FAO in promoting South-to-South Cooperation and dialogue, in particular with the Small Islands Developing States. 2. Provide substantive support to the GM Monitoring and Evaluation and Donor Relation Programme by:
• Assisting in the liaison with institutional donors in Italy to provide intelligence on priorities and identify funding opportunities;
• Assisting in facilitating the development of new Partnerships;
• Developing, in collaboration with GM's strategic and regional programmes, high -quality and strategic grant proposals and concept note;
• Reviewing project proposals and concept note to ensure consistency with the Results Based Framework of the UNCCD;
• Assisting in ensuring the timely technical and financial reporting to donors;
• Providing analytical inputs and advice on the elaboration of six-monthly internal performance reviews on the implementation of the work programme as approved by COP;
• Assisting in the improvement and update of the results based monitoring and evaluation framework to monitor and assess the contribution of GM's core activities to the 10 Year Strategy. 3. Perform other related duties as required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in project cycle management, environmental economics, international cooperation or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with relevant qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in managing and monitoring multi-partners programmes, report writing, results-based management, and proposal drafting are required.
• Knowledge of procedures governing grants management and reporting is required.
• Experience focused on environmental projects is an asset.
• Experience working with the Italian Development Cooperation and the UN system, and in particular of the UNCCD, is also an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and/or French is an advantage.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
• shows pride in work and in achievements; 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.
• Planning and 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.
• 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.

All applicants are requested to complete a United Nations Personal History form (P.11) form available online at http://www.unccd.int/en/about-the-convention/The-Secretariat/Vacancies-and-consultancies/Pages/default.aspx or at your local UN Office. Interested UN staff members at the level of the post or one level below should attach their last two up-to-date PAS. Provision of the PAS is the responsibility of the applicant, and is MANDATORY for further consideration for this position. Due to the volume of applications all internal candidates and only those external candidates under serious consideration will be acknowledged.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED as per ST/AI/1999/8.

All applications should be sent by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int referencing CCD/13/P/TEMP01. No telephone calls will be returned. Please address your application as indicated above and please do not address your application to or copy it to an individual at the secretariat. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations 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). The Executive Secretary reserves the right to appoint a candidate at one level below the advertised level of the post.

PLEASE INDICATE THE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER ON THE APPLICATION. Date of issuance: 31 October 2013

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