Papua New Guinea: Provincial Project Officer - Simbu (Chimbu)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

Papua New Guinea (PNG) joined the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in 2012, embarking on a partnership to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth. GGGI's presence in PNG, established in 2018, supports the government's integration of climate-resilient green growth (CRGG) strategies and the execution of green growth projects through mobilization of climate finance and investments.

The GGGI PNG main office is embedded within the Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA), government of PNG, with presence in the Center of Excellence for Financial Inclusion at the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea, and at the sub-national level within Enga, New Ireland, and Milne Bay Provincial Government Administrations. GGGI PNG Program is scaling up its activities with the support from Australia, New Zealand, USA, and France for inclusive green economic growth for PNG over the next five years with a target to mobilize USD 500 million in climate investments and scale up climate resilience and green growth planning at national and subnational levels. 

GGGI PNG currently has seven national and five regional active projects, with the four-year AUD 20 million Australian DFAT-funded Climate FIRST project as its flagship initiative. Launched in March 2024 and concluding in February 2028, Climate FIRST is poised to expand PNG's access to climate finance. It focuses on engaging seven provinces sub-nationally and bolstering the institutional capacity and coordination necessary for mobilizing climate finance. The project aspires to scale up PNG’s access to climate finance through global climate funds, innovative financing mechanisms, increased private sector climate financing and investments, and the development of MSMEs in green businesses.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Provincial Project Officer (PPO) will be based in Simbu Province. This position has a dual role, s/he is responsible for provincial coordination of the GGGI work and the management of the related government and stakeholder relationships while at the same time applying conceptual knowledge in support of project/component design and delivery. S/he will work closely with the PNG Country Representative and project managers of GGGI to provide a wide range of operational and technical support. S/he will play a critical role in the delivery of program and project outputs of GGGI by acting as the focal point for GGGI within Simbu Province.

PURPOSE

 The PPO will be the liaison agent of the provincial government. S/he will be responsible for but not limited to: 

• Be the focal point of GGGI to the relevant provincial government counterparts and be responsible to develop and maintain good and effective relationships and collaboration.
• Support GGGI's work performed at the national level and carry forward GGGI's work within the province.
• Implement a specific part of a project, monitor budget, and seek strategic direction from the GGGI Country Representative.
• Understand project cycles and implement project outputs accordingly to ensure deliverables are achieved on time. This may include gathering and analyzing data, while monitoring project outputs, and providing necessary technical assistance to relevant stakeholders when required.
• Assess quality of delivery and identify and address any potential challenges in close collaboration with national counterparts to build mutual understanding and coordination on project activities.
• Facilitate the creation of material that will enable the provincial government administration to develop institutional memory on relevant project thematic areas.
• Compile thorough case studies and other illustrative materials which give practical guidance to project development at the provincial level.
• Be responsible for provision of sound and timely support to the local government and create visibility of the organization in the relevant province as a trusted advisor to the Government of Papua New Guinea.

ENGAGEMENT 

The PPO with the advisory support of the GGGI Country Team will:

• Ensure the design and delivery of a high-quality and timely collaborative program, consistent and integrated with the national and local level PNG program and project activities.
• Serve as the organization's liaison to provincial government counterparts, fostering and managing effective relationships. The PPO will create visibility of the organization in the province as a ‘Trusted Advisor to the Government of Papua New Guinea’, while supporting the facilitation of discussions between the Government and various stakeholders. 
• Engage in meetings with the provincial administration, the provincial climate change committee or similar, and other key provincial stakeholders, representing the relevant and applicable GGGI country program activities for the province.
• Responsible for extracting and assembling briefing information for the relevant PNG program activities to support the effective participation of GGGI in the province.

DELIVERY

 The PPO will, with the advisory support of the GGGI PNG Team:

• Work closely with the GGGI teams including internal staff in country, regional and headquarter levels, and consultants and firms to ensure the design and delivery of high-quality program and project activities in a timely fashion.
• Understand project methodologies and provide a wide range of contributions supporting delivery of components/workstreams in the PNG country program activities.
• Engage in provincial stakeholder and sector development mapping and analysis and support facilitation of discussion between Government and various stakeholders.
• Capture, collect, provide, and present data and information on lessons learned, best practices, pictures and success stories of the PNG program and projects in the province. 
• Propose recommendations to improve the project delivery and quality of results in the province. These include results against project plans, gender action plans and financial expenditures.
• Assess delivery issues in consultation with the provincial counterparts to build mutual understanding and coordination of PNG Program and project activities in the province.
• Support the GGGI PNG Team in developing robust PNG regional and provincial pipeline of bankable project proposals which are guided by provincial climate resilience and green growth priorities and pitch them for financing to investors in the private sector and donor communities.
• Support the project manager(s) in preparing project workplans and budgets, including monitoring and reporting plans that are relevant to the province on a regular basis where required (monthly, quarterly, six-monthly, annual).
• Collect feedback from stakeholders to enhance awareness of the GGGI PNG Program and project activities in the province including gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) activities and action plan.
• Contribute to maintaining a database of external and internal stakeholders, and collect, develop, and disseminate information relevant to the type of stakeholders in the province.
• Work closely with project team stakeholders in the province to develop and disseminate project products that are relevant for the provinces including communication and knowledge products.
• Support the organizing of climate change meetings related to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of country program and project activities (including among others, the Climate FIRST project activities, outputs, and outcomes in the province).
• Carry out other technical tasks related to the project which may be assigned by the GGGI Country Representative.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced academic degree in the field of Environment, Sciences, Economics or Social Sciences and/or another relevant area.
• Minimum of five years of experience in sustainable development, green growth, or climate change and climate vulnerability. Experience in Papua New Guinea and or small island countries is highly desirable.
• Experience with Government ministries / agencies, bilateral and multilateral donor organizations, and other stakeholders including private sector, NGOs, and communities, is essential.
• Knowledge on national and provincial development, climate change and environmental policies and projects, social and environmental safeguards, inclusive development and/or other relevant technical areas
• Experience in developing and implementing development policies and strategies on the ground, including working with provincial administrations to plan for and implement economic development policies and projects;
• Experience working and/or living in the province highly preferred.
• Experience in project management and procurement.
• Flexibility, responsiveness, and ability to manage multiple activities to tight deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams; has stakeholder engagement, client relationship, and consensus building skills;
• Experience working with communities, particularly indigenous peoples and integrated village development is highly desirable;
• Experience of requirements and procedures of international financing institutions including multilateral and bilateral donor organizations is an advantage.   
• Must be fluent in spoken and written English. Report writing skills is essential and familiarity with Tok Pisin is an advantage

FUNCTIONAL

• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision to meet tight deadlines. 
• Excellent multi-cultural literacy and interest in being a part of an international team working in an evolving and entrepreneurial environment.
• Excellent communication (both written and oral) and facilitation skills.
• Innovative thinker, able to see opportunities across different sectors/disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams; has stakeholder engagement, client   relationship, and consensus building skills.
• Leadership, teamwork, and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Willingness to relocate to one of the provinces and ability to travel within the province and to Port Moresby when needed.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Excels problem solving, asking questions and seeking support when needed, easily shares information and knowledge with others both internally and externally.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport, promote creativity and innovation among staff and resolve conflict easily.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Be able to lead where needed and support the Country Representative to make sound decisions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is an X8, national grade level in GGGI's salary scale. For X8 PNG national grade, the base salary starts from USD 35,721. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. 

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members