Project manager

Strengtheneing Multi-Sectoral Management Approach to Critical Landscapes (SMSMCL)

Position Information

Reports to: Project Director (PD) through the Assistant Project Director (APD)
Position Status (duration of service): 1 year renewable based on performance assessment

Programme Description

This project will assist the Government of Samoa to achieve the long-term goal- “Samoa’s productive landscapes are protected and sustainably managed to mitigate land degradation and to increase soil carbon sequestration so as to contribute to poverty alleviation and mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts”, as well as to contribute to global environmental benefits by overcoming barriers identified.

Land and water resources in Samoa are under threat from pressures such as:

• Land use changes
• Unsustainable harvest of products
• Pollution
• Invasive species
• Extreme weather events

The primary objective of this project is “to strengthen local capacities, incentives and actions for integrated landscape management in order to reduce land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions and promote nature conservation whilst enhancing sustainable local livelihoods”.

The project will produce two Outcomes:

Outcome 1: Communities and farmers are able to undertake and benefit from integrated land and water management on their traditionally owned lands (composed of different ecosystems and agriculture, fisheries and livestock production systems)

Outcome 2. Strengthened national enabling environment to promote integrated landscape management through local households and communities.

Organizational Context

The project will be implemented over the course of 5 years, beginning in 2014. UNDP will be the GEF Implementing Agency and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) will be the project’s lead Implementing Partner and responsible party.

The project will be nationally executed as per UNDP National Implementation Modality (NIM) procedures. According to UNDP guidelines on National Implementation Modality (2011), the Government is responsible for the management and delivery of programme activities to achieve project outcomes/outputs. Government regulations, rules and procedures therefore apply to project implementation to the extent that they do not contravene the principles of the Financial Regulations and Rules of UNDP.

Project monitoring and evaluation will be conducted in accordance with established UNDP and GEF procedures and will be provided by the project team and the UNDP Country Office (UNDP-CO) in Apia with support from the UNDP Regional Center in Bangkok.

Functions/ Key Results Expected

• Provision of strategic direction to the Project Management Unit including;
• Provide strategic direction and guidance to the Project
• Undertake day-to-day management of the Project
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Knowledge Management
• Project Reporting

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• University Degree in Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, land management, Economics, or Social Sciences is a requirement
• A Master’s Degree on the same fields would be an asset

Experience:

• Specialist in sustainable land management (SLM) in a technical capacity, specifically on issues related to integrated land management, climate change, forestry, biodiversity, agroforestry and water management.
• More than five years of experience (or seven years of experience plus first level university degree in lieu of the above required masters degree) in management environment projects, with a good understanding of integrating gender and similar cross-cutting priorities.
• In-depth and proven knowledge as well as experience in the area implementation of development initiatives, policies and programmes relating to natural resource management, including impacts on environment related to human development and poverty reduction.
• Proven practical experience of Results Based Management (RBM), with sound knowledge on LogFrame and Project Cycle Management (PCM).
• Experience working with communities, government and UN agencies, and NGOs.
• Excellent computer skills (key MS applications) and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken Samoan and English