NATIONAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR - CLIMATE CHANGE (NATIONALS ONLY) (RE-ADVERTISEMENT)

Climate change presents the most profound global threat to humanity in this era. There is scientific evidence of warming in Zimbabwe. A set of climatic extremes show that the monthly highest daily maximum temperatures for most of the country are on the increase, by about 2oC per century and the percentage of days with low temperatures is decreasing at a rate of about 15 days/century. Droughts and floods have become common in Zimbabwe causing suffering of millions of people in particular women and children, posing a serious threat to agriculture and food security and reversing development gains. Zimbabwe is particularly vulnerable to climate variability and change as over 60% of its population lives in rural areas and is dependent on climate-sensitive livelihoods in particular rain-fed agriculture and livestock. A comprehensive multi-stakeholder and well-coordinated national response is urgently required. It is against this background that a programme on “Strengthening national capacity for climate change in Zimbabwe” has been designed involving several Government line Ministries, UN agencies, donors and civil society and private sector. The overall aim of this programme is to strengthen national capacity for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Zimbabwe. A National Programme Coordinator- Climate Change, to be based at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management is required for the day to day implementation of the programme. S/He assumes responsibility for effective management and successful execution of the climate change programme towards achieving the intended results. S/He works on the programme on a full time basis and will be recruited locally.

Duties and Responsibilities

Managerial Functions Oversight of programme-funded personnel and provide necessary guidance and coaching; Provide leadership for a technical team drawn from participating UN and donor agencies; Supervise and coordinate consultants on different assignments and ensure production of quality reports; Direct and motivate programme team. Programme Management Prepare annual and quarterly workplans and budgets for the programme; Ensure that financial and technical progress reports are compiled on a quarterly and annual basis on activities, outputs and outcomes of the various programme components; Prepare donor reports in accordance with donor rules and regulations; Report periodically to the Board on programme implementation status, including financial status; Exercise the secretariat role to the Programme Board and ensure that the Board is provided with all necessary documentation relating to programme implementation; Conduct periodic programme field monitoring visits and provide technical and operational guidance to implementing partners and beneficiaries; Draft Terms of Reference for Missions and Consultants; Under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management process commitments of resources for inputs including staff, consultants, goods and services and training; Ensure timely consultations with UNDP and other donor stakeholders to ensure their optimal input into the various programme processes so as to build strong and sustainable partnerships; Coordinate the development prioritization and effective implementation of the programme’s annual work plan and budget exercises, with the ability to work effectively with focal points of participating institutions, donor representatives and the programme board; Manage the risks including the development of contingency plans; Prepare end of programme report; Prepare Lessons Learnt report. Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation Maintain constant liaison with implementing institutions, UN Agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; Lead efforts to build partnerships for the support of outputs indicated in the Programme Support Document; Research on climate funding windows and assist Government, NGOs and private sector partners to access resources in support of programme implementation and to cover the resource gap indicated in the Programme Support Document; Identify opportunities and areas eligible for GEF support and mobilise the necessary co-financing from Government, donors and other partners to best leverage GEF resources; Mobilizes external partnerships to support programs and activities. Knowledge Management Keeping abreast of climate change negotiations framework in relevant fora (mostly within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Kyoto and post-Kyoto, Copenhagen and Post-Copenhagen negotiations) and advising relevant Ministries and partners of any implications on the programme; Organise periodic climate change stakeholder dialogue workshops; Guide the development and implementation of the national climate change communication strategy; Document lessons learned and best practices; Access global best practices, share them with other local and international stakeholders and ensure incorporation into the programme planning stages; Ensure programming is informed by programme audit and evaluation findings, formulating a detailed action plan for implementation of audit/evaluation recommendations.

Competencies

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills; Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices; Possesses an ability to undertake results-based management and reporting, and to produce high-quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating evolving needs; Possesses an ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impacts and results for the stakeholder and responds positively to feedback; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure; Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills and ability to effectively work with international organizations, donors, NGOs and private sector; Proven ability to manage financial, human and material resources in project contexts; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education Advanced degree in environmental fields, environmental economics, relevant natural or social sciences. Experience A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience in Climate Change Adaptation and Environment. (Experience of working with UNDP is desirable but not essential); Extensive project management experience, with skills in facilitation and coordination, and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner; Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments; Experience of hiring and managing consultants/ project staff is desirable; Strong knowledge of climate change issues, principally adaptation and mitigation measures and the Clean Development Mechanism/Carbon Finance is highly desirable. However, demonstrable in-depth knowledge of carbon-related sectors, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency or forestry, is equally valued. Also, an in-depth understanding of the impacts of climate change in Zimbabwe is desirable; Familiarity with the global debate on climate change and experience in multilateral environmental debates and dialogues and processes; Experience in advising on climate change and energy policy development a major asset [with specific focus on adaptation, risks and vulnerability and/or carbon financing, carbon markets). Language Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this post.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.