Chief Technical Specialist (Poverty Reduction & Climate Change)

Background

Natural resources and environmental degradation in Mozambique has serious economic implications, as some 17% of the GDP is the yearly economic loss due to environmental degradation and the inefficient use of natural resources.  Nine percent of the GDP is the estimated cost to remediate these damages and yet only 1.4% of GDP was the average environmental expenditure for the period 2007-2010.[1] Mozambique is also the second most exposed African country to the impacts of climate change and other adversities due its geographical location. As a consequence of Mozambique’s high level of vulnerability and relative lack of adaptive capacity, climate change brings huge economic costs, on top of existing poverty reduction and development needs. Mozambique’s National Climate Change Strategy (ENAMMC) was launched in 2012, and covers the period 2013--2025. Recognizing that the country’s persistent environmental management and climate change issues need to be urgently addressed to create wealth and alleviate poverty, the UN Mozambique has been engaging with the GoM on a number of initiatives to strengthen  pro-poor environmental mainstreaming, the initiatives includes as the Green Human Development, the UNJP Green Economy, the Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI), Africa Climate Adaptation and Food Security, the Adaptation on the Coastal Areas and other new initiatives on land degradation, extractive industries and energy and natural resources management. The main goal of the projects is to contribute to the achievement of Mozambique’s UNDAF goal number 3: ‘Ensuring a sustainable and effective management of natural resources and disaster risk reduction that benefit all people in Mozambique, particularly the most vulnerable’. The focus of the projects are on mainstreaming pro-poor sustainable Environment Natural Resource and Climate Change (CC) management for national development into planning, budgeting and investment and regulatory frameworks through strengthening government capacities at all levels The integration of poverty, environment and climate change concerns has further advanced significantly in Mozambique with the support of the UN projects including mainstream those issues into development planning at all levels and into budgetary processes, so as to help achieve concrete development gains and a ‘greener’ development. However, addressing them in a coordinated, inclusive and informed manner remains a chief challenge. To substantially promote sustainable pro-poor investments and public resource allocations  in related sectors in such a way that it yields the highest poverty reduction gains require further work, same is the case with  increasing revenues from these sectors, including for the implementation of poverty-environment and climate change priorities at all levels. This is a gap that needs to be bridged urgently at the risk of constantly squandering investments made and of undermining poverty alleviation efforts. In addition, national capacity to envision, design, plan and budget for implementation, through broad inclusive processes, new development paths which lead to a ‘greener’ development also needs strengthening. It is essential that UN’s support to the Government of Mozambique is well-coordinated and target various ministries in particular Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) in order to promote pro-poor sustainability. Hence the UN and the Government of Mozambique has in 2014 agreed on a Project for the period 2014-2017 that integrates GHD, GE JP, PEI and ACAFS under the same umbrella working towards four common outcomes: Consolidated policy and regulatory frameworks for a coordinated implementation of pro-poor sustainable management of natural resources; Enhanced implementation of pro-poor sustainability through national development and budget frameworks; Improved use of science for decision making based on improved environmental information systems; Enabled local participation in planning processes and decision making for pro-poor sustainability. To support the successful implementation of the Project, UNDP Mozambique is recruiting an International Chief Technical Adviser (CTA). The post will be based at MICOA and will be under the direct supervision of the National director of planning and Studies in the Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs, MICOA, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Planning and Development and Ministry of Finance, under the overall supervision of the UNDP Country Office. The Chief Technical Advisor will support this ongoing policy engagement, by providing top quality technical advisory services to the Government counterparts, as well as others, towards the project implementation for sustainable development pathways which take into account the specific conditions of the Country. [1] PEI Economic Study +PEER Rationale of the post: A Chief Technical Advisor is crucial to ensure the provision of high-level policy advice to the Government of Mozambique in the area of sustainable development, as well as the timely and successful implementation of UNDP’s and PEI Africa project on the environment/CC/ poverty portfolio. The CTA will provide guidance and technical advice to the implementation of the project, strengthen advisory role into policy and improve resource mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Mozambique Country Director, in close cooperation with the Crises Prevention Recovery, Environment and Poverty Head of Unit in the UNDP Country Office, the Chief Technical Advisor will be responsible for providing technical advisory and management support in the area of pro-poor Environment, Natural Resource and Climate Change (ENR-CC) management to the Government of Mozambique, specifically for budgeting, monitoring and planning, and cross sector coordination for pro-poor sustainable development. The chief technical advisor will be based in the Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), where the CTA will work under the functional responsibility of the National Director of Planning and Studies in MICOA and closely working with the staff of MICOA, MoF, MPD and other key stakeholders as required. MPD and MoF are key partners and a very close working relationship with these ministries is expected. A summary of the CTA’s expected key functions are listed below: Provide technical advisory support to ensure consistent project implementation with a prime objective to implement sustainable pro-poor ENR-CC objectives in national, sector and district plans, budgets and monitoring frameworks. Substantially contribute to institutional effectiveness, to be achieved through higher quality programmes, better project planning, design, monitoring and evaluation, underpinned by stronger results-based management (RBM); Provide pro-active technical advisory support consistent with pro-poor sustainable development mainstreaming best practice, with a strong focus on the sustainable use of ENR to reduce poverty, particularly gender related poverty; Provide support to the project team in strategic planning, preparation and execution of work plans and budgets and the improvement of procurement process; Lead on the technical design of activities - including methodology - and for the preparation of Terms of Reference for consultancies, plus lead in the assessment of consultancy applications as well as the technical review of consultancy outputs. Provide technical advisory support to MICOA, MPD, plus key ministries to improve the capacity for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of pro-poor sustainable ENR-CC objectives in policies, plans and regulatory frameworks at national, sector and district level. Provide technical assistance to MICOA & MPD on planning and policy development and implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation to substantially reinforce action on pro-poor sustainable development, green economy, natural resource and land management, biodiversity and ecosystem services; Provide technical advice and capacity support on the development of regulatory frameworks on renewable energy, energy efficiency and pro-poor sustainable management of mineral resources; Provide support to MPD & MICOA on evaluation of poverty reduction impacts, including social and economic gains, stemming from sustainable ENR-CC management related policies, support in developing relevant methodologies, institutional capacities and lessons learned with this regard; Provide support to the GoM in integrating and using poverty-environment/green economy related indicators and natural capital accounting in statistic strategies and frameworks; Provide support for improving cross-sector co-ordination mechanisms relevant to pro-poor sustainability mainstreaming and support sectors and districts to accelerate implementation of such objectives. Provide technical advisory support to the MoF for institutional capacity development - to improve budgetary and other investment allocations for the implementation of sustainable pro-poor ENR-CC objectives and to increase the revenue potential from natural resources sector. Support strengthening capacity of MoF to integrate pro-poor ENR-CC sustainability in planning, budgeting and national monitoring systems and in all steps of the annual and medium-term budgeting processes; Support development and implementation of pro-poor sustainable investment frameworks for ENR-CC and measures for increasing and sharing of revenues from natural resource sectors; Support the design of specific assessments of proposals to increase MoF allocations for pro-poor sustainable ENR investments–for example through cost benefit analysis; Support the implementation of the recommendations from SUNRED studies related to the MoF, in particular in relation to budget coding for ENRM and CC. Ensure that poverty and gender elements for sustainable development are appropriately reflected in Government processes and in the outcomes of the SUNRED including ensuring poverty-gender impacts. Ensure that the project activity design includes a clear focus on the poverty side of pro-poor sustainability mainstreaming including gender elements; Support enhanced inclusion of poverty assessment in GoM planning, decision-making and M&E processes and tools, including through advice on multi-dimensional poverty indicators; Support the testing and scaling-up of public-private initiatives that can increase livelihood opportunities from productive capacities based on technologies that are sustainable. Facilitate experience sharing, identification of innovative initiatives, improved coordination with other stakeholders and with donors in the poverty and ENR-CC sectors to enhance project synergies and mobilize additional resources. Initiate and substantially contribute to South-South cooperation and international dialogue to support exchanges and information sharing with other countries facing similar challenges and initiatives trying to address those; Substantially contribute to knowledge management; Develop partnerships and interact with other UN agencies in Mozambique and provide technical inputs in line with government priorities to the development, implementation and revision of the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP), Country Programme Document, Country Programme Action Plans, etc; Establish and coordination partnerships with international financial institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, government institutions, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders; Actively engage in relevant donor and government working groups. (E.g. Environment, Agriculture etc) and facilitate relevant donor coordination mechanisms. Keep in-country donors fully briefed on SUNRED progress, pro-actively identify and pursue potential resource mobilization opportunities in the area of pro-poor sustainability mainstreaming, ENR-CC management, Energy and Green economy; Facilitate improved coordination of various UNDP and UNEP projects and activities related to pro-poor environment and ENR-CC management and green economy. Advise UNDP on significant policy measures undertaken by the Government of Mozambique in the field of sustainable development, particularly on natural resources management, green economy and climate change, and propose appropriate support strategies on the part of UNDP. Impact of results: Strategic coordination, resourcing and action in the area of Environment, Climate Change and Natural resource management across the Government of Mozambique; Improved strategic planning, budget processes, results-based management and work planning and reporting for thematic projects at MICOA and partner ministries; Improved formulation and effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects within the portfolio; Effective partnerships and advocacy between MICOA, MPD, MINAG and other relevant Ministries and UN Agencies and other development partners built and sustained.

Competencies

Corporate competencies: Demonstrates integrity in accordance with the values ??and ethics of the United Nations; Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP; Demonstrates sensitivity and adaptability to diversity of gender, race, religion and nationality; Treats people fairly without favouritism. Functional Skills: Knowledge management and learning; Promotes knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office; Knowledge of UNDP program and operational issues; Excellent analytical and organizational skills. Works actively to further the development of personal skills and learning in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies new knowledge in the exercise of its functions; Has knowledge of policies and programs of UNDP / UN linked to environment, poverty, natural resources and climate change adaptation. Development and operational effectiveness Ability to lead and contribute to strategic planning, change processes, results-based management, planning and communication activities; Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; Ability to apply theories of development according to the specific country context to identify creative and practical approaches to overcome the challenges that may arise; Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with UN agencies and other main constituents, advocate effectively and communicate sensitively with stakeholders. Management and leadership Focus on impact and results for recipients respond positively to requests; Ability to establish effective working relationships in a multicultural team environment; Approaches consistent work, energy and positivity and constructive attitudes; Demonstrate strong communication skills oral and written; To build strong interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers; Demonstrate effective resource management, planning and organizing programs; Demonstrate resourcefulness, initiative and maturity in the treatment of issues; Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines; Good understanding and actual practice of capacity development of institutions. Communications and Networking: Excellent oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors; Excellent written communication skills, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality reports; Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of national and international institutions, parliament, government and non-government; Excellent inter-personal skills and the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multinational, multi-stakeholder setting,  and a demonstrable ability to motivate people and work in a team setting; and, Substantial level of self-organization, being methodical, sets priorities, meets deadlines and pays attention to details.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:           Advanced University Degree in Environment and Natural Resources mainstreaming, Economics with focus on development, Natural Resources, Environment, International Relations, Development, or other relevant areas. Experience:        At least seven years of work experience in the field of environment, climate change, energy and natural resources management linked to project management; Extensive experience working with governments, bilateral and multilateral development organizations and civil society; Experience in advising on country planning and budgeting processes; Good understanding of poverty/ environment assessments, including gender elements, and incorporation of poverty reduction in programmes and projects. Experience with multi-dimensional poverty indicators preferable; Good understanding of international experience and best practices in the mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues into national development processes including budgets; Experience of field work in developing countries, especially on poverty linked climate sensitive issues; Experience of UN/Development Agency programming modalities; Solid knowledge of development issues in Mozambique and the region or other regions; Proven relevant work experience in the African context on issues of sustainable development, poverty, natural resources management and climate change; Excellent knowledge of computer software in full Microsoft Office equipment and office technology; Proven strong communication and advocacy skills, ability to work in a complex environment; Excellent analytical, organizational and negotiation skills. Language Requirements:             Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Portuguese

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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.

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