Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the communication, analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors. We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in India.

The Climate Change, Resilience and Energy portfolio at UNDP is currently working in various thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster management and resilience; and access to clean and efficient energy. The following projects have a strong component on climate change adaptation-

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) project – on “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities” (now referred as GCF Coastal in text) supports the Government of India and the state governments in the project states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra, to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). The project combines GCF grant finance with significant leveraged co-finance from central and state governments to shift the paradigm towards a new approach, integrating ecosystem-centered and community-based approaches to adaptation into coastal management and planning by the public sector, the private sector and civil society.

The project supports the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the nodal departments of the target State governments, to enhance the resilience of the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, in the coastal areas of India to climate change and extreme events, using an ecosystem-centered and community-based approach in three target states. This project as well contributes towards the achievement of climate priorities outlined in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008), the State Action Plans, as well as commitments outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (2015).

The project works at national, state and community levels to enhance capacities for ecosystem- based approaches to climate change adaptation and enable climate policy and finance shifts to catalyze climate action in all of India’s coastal states and union territories.

The project will enhance the resilience of coastal communities throughout India, through the implementation of interventions under the following inter-linked outputs:

Output 1: Enhanced resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their services. Output 2: Climate adaptive livelihoods for enhanced resilience of vulnerable coastal communities; and

Output 3: Strengthened coastaland marine governance and institutional frameworks for climate resilient management of coastal areas.

The above will be achieved through following:

Conducting vulnerability assessment of the coast to inform planning of ecosystem- and community-based adaptation interventions in 13 coastal states.
Conservation and restoration of coastal ecosystems for increasing ecosystem resilience in 3 states.
Building climate resilient livelihoods and enterprises through value chains and strengthened access to markets in 24 landscapes.
Improving capacities of local communities for community-based adaptation and climate- adaptive livelihoods in 24 target landscapes.
Network of institutions for enhanced climate resilience and integrated planning and governance in all thirteen (13) coastal states.
Integrating ecosystem-centric approaches to climate change adaptation into public and private sector policies, plans and budgets, and scaling up finance for EbA in 13 coastal states.
Knowledge management for coastal resilience
UNDP is also currently implementing a project in close partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and ClimateChange namely GreenClimate Fund Readinessand Preparatory Support Programme (GCF Readiness) Phase II. Through this programme, GCF provides comprehensive support to developing countriesto realize the objectives of the UNFCCCand the
Paris Agreement by providing resources for strengthening institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks to identify a transformational long- term climate action agenda for developing countries.
The GCF Readiness Programme also provides funds to developing countries for the formulation of national adaptation plans (NAPs) and/or other adaptation planning processes. This may include support for subnational adaptation plans and/or sectoral adaptation planning processes.
The NAP has been a timely addition to India’s adaptation efforts, as the NAP process has the potential to become the principal organizing vehicle through which national adaptation planning and implementation efforts (many are already in place through various national sectoral programmes) will be monitored, evaluated, and communicated to ensure steady progress and the needed visibility.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Specialist will support the implementation, project management and monitoring of the abovementioned projects-GCF Coastal, GCF Readiness, and preparation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The candidate will ensure effective and smooth functioning of project operations at different levels (UNDP, Government and State Nodal Departments), consistent services delivery and constant evaluation and readjustment of the operations to consider appropriate changes in the operating environment as and when needed during implementation of the project.

The Project Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Adviser and Team Leader, Action for Climate and Environment, UNDP.

Technical Support

Provide technical support to the Project management Unit (and Government Stakeholders on the overall implementation of project activities under the three projects: GCF Coastal, GCF Readiness and the NAP.
Coordinate with the respective National and State level project management units for preparation, finalization and implementation of the Annual work Plans
Establishing linkages with similar existing projects such as similar UNDP-GEF/GCF projects, Coordination with other initiatives supported by the UN.
Policy analysis and technical support towards project’s alignment and coordination with other adaptation initiatives supported by UNDP, other UN Agenciesand the World Bank.

Monitoring and Operations

Monitor activities of the Projects and ensure accurate and timely reporting as per donor/ UNDP guidelines.
Coordinate activities such as research studies, state level assessments, training workshops etc.
Oversee project procurement and ensure timely contract management and payments.
Oversee financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines. Ensure effective financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines.
Support in implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation plan designed for the project and develop of strategies for sustainability and upscaling the project activities.
Manage and track contracts with project partners and flag any potential risks and suggest its mitigation measures. Analyse risks and opportunities.
Facilitate review meetings with partners and field visits to track progress made in implementation of the project and take corrective action as required.
Prepare progress reports for UNDP and GCF, prepare presentations and other documents for project steering committee and review meetings as required by UNDP.

Communication and Outreach

Support communication and outreach to synthesize lessons learnt and provide substantive guidance and support to develop knowledge products and guidance based on best practice, focusing on coastal and marine ecosystems, governance and climate resilience and adaptation.
Support in setting up a platform for dialogue/ exchange of experiences on coastal and marine governance amongst South Asian countries.
Provide services under the UN Solutions exchange platform for setting up a community of practice.
Any other responsibility related to the project assigned by the Head of Climate Change, Resilience, Biodiversity and Chemicals Management, UNDP.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and strategy

System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management

Communication: 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. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Partnership Management

Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

2030 Agenda: Planet

Nature, Climate and Energy: Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Natural Resource Management, Climate Change Adaptation: coastal resilience

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree (master’s degree equivalent) from a recognized institution in life sciences/zoology /environmental science/sustainable development/ Social sciences/ public policy or project. OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of demonstrated work experience as a Project manager/coordinator/ or similar role with relevant experience at the national level on climate change and related programmes.
Demonstrated experience of information and interpretation of flowcharts, schedules, and step-by-step action plans.
Prior experience of risk management and quality assurance control is an asset.
Demonstrated experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ NGOs/ UN/ Civil Society on similar assignments will be preferred.
Prior experience and knowledge of the work environment and professional requirements of international organisations and national and state governments is an asset

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English and Hindi is required
Remuneration starting at INR 27,84,347 (Annual) / INR 2,32,029 (Monthly) as per the salary scale depending on qualifications and experiences. The remuneration is excluding 8.33% pension amount paid over and above the salary.

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