Project Analyst - BIOFIN at UNDP
Background
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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Office/Unit/Project Description:
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global program that has developed and continuously enhances a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans for using financial tools to increase financing, effectiveness, and efficiency of biodiversity management across 41 countries. BIOFIN Program aims to empower governments worldwide to enhance their financial commitments, plans, and solutions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage biodiversity by providing a practical set of steps, tools, and approaches. It seeks to ensure the availability of adequate financial resources for implementing key biodiversity plans, including actions outlined in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans or similar frameworks.
In collaboration with the First Vice President’s Office, UNDP Tanzania is implementing BIOFIN in Zanzibar, currently in its second phase. The program has completed the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) and is finalizing the Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER) and Financial Needs Assessment (FNA), culminating in the Zanzibar Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) approved by the Government of Zanzibar in June 2023. At least three financial solutions have been selected for implementation in Zanzibar.
In Tanzania Mainland, BIOFIN is in its first phase, which will enable full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements. This involves the design of the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) to analyze current policies, institutions, finance mechanisms, and tools related to biodiversity and ecosystem services. The Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER) establishes a baseline of historic and current biodiversity expenditure levels and future projections, while the Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) provides a detailed costing of key biodiversity policies and plans. Finally, the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) addresses all dimensions of financing biodiversity.
In this context, UNDP seeks a Project Analyst to oversee all in-country operations, manage workplans and budgets, and facilitate collaboration with the national team and external partners. The Analyst will establish and maintain implementation mechanisms, organize workshops and activities, and closely monitor project progress, ensuring adherence to quality standards and deadlines. They will also work closely with experts to design the BFP and submit regular reports on project activities and progress. The Analyst is expected to demonstrate sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religious, racial, national, and age-related aspects.
Scope of Work
The Project Analyst (the “Analyst”) will be responsible for the overall management of in-country activities, ensuring a proper work plan and budget is in place and implemented within set timelines, with an effective national team and strong partnerships. Key duties and responsibilities include:
1.Oversee the management of BIOFIN in-country activities
- Supervise the selection, management, and performance of national consultants and experts in collaboration with UNDP CO and the Global BIOFIN Team; draft or revise terms of reference for national BIOFIN team members;
- Develop and revise work plans and budgets in consultation with UNDP CO and the Global BIOFIN Team, submitting timely drafts for bi-annual budget revisions; ensure alignment with project objectives and deadlines;
- Direct the activities of national experts and institutions to ensure timely delivery of outputs within budget constraints and quality standards; provide guidance and oversight to the national BIOFIN team.
2. Provisional of Multi-year Work Plan and Budget
- In consultation with the UNDP CO and Global BIOFIN Team and supported by the UNDP CO, Sr. Finance Expert, ensure the provisional of the revise work plan and budget and submit draft work plans/budgets timely for the bi-annual budget revision process.
- Signal any delays in national deliverables compared to the workplan to the UNDP Country Office and the Global BIOFIN Team.
3. Organize all relevant programme workshops and meetings.
- Preparations of workshop in a consultative manner, involving a wide variety of biodiversity finance stakeholders, including the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and academia;
- Organize bi-monthly meetings of the national team and monthly calls with the Technical Advisor from the global BIOFIN team. Ensure participation of national BIOFIN team members in regional technical calls;
- Develop workshop reports for all technical workshops;
- Assist with research and write and edit sections of technical reports as required;
- Review all national-level deliverables to ensure quality and consistency with the BIOFIN process.
4. Facilitate the organization of national Steering Committee meetings,
- Assist in the preparation of steering committed meeting undertake the same for any other proposed coordination mechanism, and write meeting reports to be shared with UNDP CO and UNDP BIOFIN global;
- Lead programme monitoring, reporting and evaluation at the national level, draft bi-annual reports for review by UNDP CO before submission to the global BIOFIN team.
5. Risk Management
- Ensure timely identification of risks in implementation at the national level and communication to the global BIOFIN team and UNDP.
6. Any other duties assigned by UNDP that have direct relevance to the programme.
- Ensure any other duties assigned by UNDP is competed within the agreed timeframe.
Institutional Arrangement
- The Project Analyst will work closely with the UNDP Country Office Programme Specialist, Energy and Climate Change to ensure implementation mechanisms such as a National Steering Committee and technical working groups are established and meet regularly, that all planned workshops, technical studies, and other activities are organized promptly, and that they meet expected quality standards.
- Maintains professional relationships with supervisors, co-workers and clients.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Effectiveness: Project Quality Assurance
Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols
Resource Management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
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Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organizational /project’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
Result based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Communications: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Effective decision making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Environment/Natural resource management, Biodiversity, Economics or Finance, or a closely related field is required. OR
- A first level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in the above fields in combination with additional 2 years of experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.
Experience
- Up to 2 Years (with Master’s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in project management, with a focus on biodiversity conservation and finance is required.
Desired skills
- Proven track record of collaborating with international and national stakeholders, including experts and institutions in the field of biodiversity.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build effective relationships with team members and external partners.
Desired experience and skills
- Strong analytical experience/skills to gather and process data related to biodiversity financing and conservation efforts.
- Proven Knowledge of relevant laws, policies, and frameworks related to biodiversity conservation and finance.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating biodiversity finance projects.
- Prior proven support to the implementation of UNDP projects in the area of biodiversity, including biodiversity financing and conservation.
- Prior experience in working with multiple partners and stakeholder.
Languages
- Proficiency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
Disclaimer
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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and
misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected
candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background
checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and
principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not
discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality,
ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age,
language, social origin or other status.
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