Location: Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby)
Closing date: 03 May 2008
Job Description

Project Title: Department of Environment and Conservation Capacity Strengthening Project

Expected starting date: 1 June 2008

Brief Project Description:

UNDP in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is supporting the Government of Papua New Guinea’s Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) mainstream environment issues in national development process. Our support seeks to strengthen and develop capacity within DEC to enhance organisational performance and functional capacities as the national regulatory agency responsible for environmental management in PNG. This is critical to bridge the gaps between various natural resource sector agencies to embrace the government’s vision of promoting environmentally sustainable economic growth.

UNDP PNG’s support is through the Department of Environment and Conservation Capacity Strengthening Project with the main objective to strengthen Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC capacity to mainstream environmental considerations into national development planning process in order to contribute to the achievement of the MDG 7; Ensure Environmental Sustainability.

The expected outcomes of the project are:

I. Strengthen Department of Environment and Conservation capacity to mainstream environment sustainability principals into natural resources related sector policies and programmes to achieve National MDG7 Initiative;
II. Forge long term internal and external partnerships to promote and achieve environmentally sustainable development in PNG

In addition to activities supporting capacity strengthening and development for environmental mainstreaming, the project also aims to support Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC by providing strategic policy advice and options on programming to build partnership with donors -, bilateral and multi-lateral partners for resource mobilisation. Of particular importance is to assist Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC build its network with Global Environment Facility as one of the key partners to provide grants for environmental management programmes/projects. This is vital for Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC as it provides additional resources to develop national capacity in PNG to manage the environment and natural resources; integrate environmental sustainability dimensions into national poverty reduction strategies and development frameworks; strengthen the role of civil society, private sector and local administration in promoting environmentally sustainable development. PNG stands to benefit greatly from its national allocation under the current GEF-4 Resources Allocation Framework through the Pacific Alliance for Sustainability Programme (PAS).

UNDP PNG is therefore seeking a qualified and motivated candidate for a UNV volunteer assignmnet as Resource Mobilisation and GEF Specialist to be based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea with the Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC. The incumbent should posses in-depth expertise in the field of environment/natural resource management, and be of such calibre that she/he can effectively engage with government officials to provide advanced strategic resource mobilization advice on environmental mainstreaming policies and programming. The candidate should also have a solid background in contributing to the planning, designing and formulation of GEF projects.

Functions/Key Responsibilities

UNDP PNG Deputy Resident Representative and direct supervision of Secretary of the Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC (National Project Director) the UNV volunteer will be responsible for:

- Have the overall responsibility for developing project proposals that are in line with nationally endorsed environment project priorities under PAS;
- Provide leadership in coordinating and managing GEF project proposal development processes (including stakeholder consultation) and its submission to GEF in close liaison with Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC/UNDP/GEF and other relevant stakeholders;
- Supervise and coordinate the collection of baseline information and data and its analysis in preparation of GEF submission; ensure information and data are consistent and validated; prepare substantive briefs to the National Project Director (NPD) on other key baseline studies to be carried out in line with project proposal development;
- Maintain and ensure close liaison within Department of Environment and Conservation providing technical inputs into the drafting of GEF project briefs; in particular with the incremental cost calculations, the development of project log frame (project goal and its objectives, strategies, components and its outputs and activities), the development of project budget framework, and project communication, monitoring and evaluation plan, project execution and management arrangements;
- Coordinate technical reviews and provide substantive feedback from various internal and external UND/GEF review processes including the STAP review;
- Collaborate with DEC and UNDP on external and internal analysis for assessing opportunities for resource mobilisation by providing substantive inputs for partnership building and developing resources mobilization strategic plan. Conduct donor roundtables in close consultation with appropriate counterparts in government, bi-lateral and multi-lateral partners, private sector, NGOs and civil society;
- Develop a detailed Partnership and Resource Mobilisation Strategy with planning and monitoring tools to implement the strategy as referred in the Draft Paper on Resource Mobilization for Environment. Assist Department of Environment and Conservation with further identification of emerging sources of funding; assessment of their current usage and future potentials (including partners’ needs and priorities, perception of Department of Environment and Conservation by its current and potential future partners and projection of UNDP’s added value and potential role of supporting Department of Environment and Conservation);
- Facilitate knowledge building and sharing through identification and formulation of lessons learnt and recommendations to be integrated in broader Department of Environment and Conservation knowledge management on capacity building efforts;
- Contribute to the preparation of project’s quarterly progress reports through providing inputs of his/her activities

Promotion of Volunteerism

UNV volunteers are expected to promote volunteerism and engage in volunteering activities. As such UNV volunteers are encouraged to:

- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and other publications and taking active part in UNV activities;
- Get acquainted with traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host community.
- Reflect on and integrate into their work plan activities that will be undertaken as part of their assignment in order to promote volunteerism for development (V4D)

Specific ways to promote volunteerism during the assignment and within working hours include:

- Networking and building relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and supporting and/or participating in local volunteering initiatives;
- Encouraging, mobilizing and supporting co-workers, fellow UNV volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in the development of their community;
- Contributing articles/write-ups on field experiences and submitting them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
- Initiating and/or participating in local volunteer groups. Assisting them in submitting stories, experiences to the World Volunteer Web site;
- Reflecting on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
- Promoting or advising local groups in the use of OV (online volunteering), or encouraging relevant local individuals and groups to use OV whenever technically possible.

Qualifications/Requirements:



- Masters Degree or equivalent in Environmental Science/Natural Resource Management, Economics, Social Science, International Relations, Development Studies or related field;
- More than 7 years relevant experience in programme design, management and implementation and resource mobilization at a national or international level (developing country experience will be an advantage);
- Proven experience in networking, partnership building and resources mobilization during project design, monitoring and evaluation of environment projects;
- Knowledge about the GEF and donor community is necessary
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication and presentation skills in English

Conditions of living:

The duty station will be PNG’s capital Port Moresby with field visits to other provinces as required. Port Moresby is accessible by air through Singapore, Manila, Tokyo, and several cities in Australia. The climate is tropical. A great range of information on PNG and Port Moresby is readily available from a variety of sources on the Internet. Partly due to prevailing high levels of crime and violence, Papua New Guinea is currently in Phase II of the United Nations Security Management System restricting the general movement of UN staff working in the country. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative will provide detailed information on living conditions in PNG upon request. The International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) has classified Papua New Guinea as ‘Hardship D’ duty station as of January 1st 2004. There are very few entertainment facilities. There are however no cinemas and theatres. Shopping facilities are limited but adequate for the Port Moresby population and do offer a range of local and imported items. There are local food markets but one would need to be vigilant to own safety while grocery shopping. All international staff is entitled to a one-week R&R in Brisbane/Australia every 12 weeks and a home leave every 12 months. Medical services are adequate to basic needs, and professional services in Australia can be arranged for serious conditions.

The road network in Port Moresby is of a reasonable standard but maintenance costs of motor vehicles are relatively high. There is a local bus service but it would be advisable to own a private motor vehicle to move around Port Moresby. For weekend leisure activities, there are limited destinations around Port Moresby. There are however attractive tourist destinations in other provinces, which are mainly accessible by air.

Conditions of Service

A 12-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to US$ 2,192 for single person, US$ 2,442 for person with one dependant, and US$ 2,642 for person with two or more recognized dependants; settling-in-grant; life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares; resettlement allowance of US$ 150 per month of satisfactory service.

The United Nations Volunteers programme is committed to ensuring gender equity among UNV volunteers and welcomes applications from women.
Vacancies Contact
Please reply by email, enclosing a CV (Resume) and marking "SRE/RM-GEF/PNG" in the subject field of the message, to: volvacancy@unvolunteers.org
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.