Project Officer (Natural Sciences)

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 2BASC 0001PA

Grade : P-3

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Sarajevo

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 04-NOV-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Duration of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (UNESCO Regional Bureau), the direct supervision of the Head of the Sarajevo Antenna of the UNESCO Regional Bureau, and in close coordination with the Head and Programme Specialist of Science Unit, as well in cooperation UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), the incumbent will support the coordination and management of the project “DIKTAS II – Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) of the Dinaric Karts Aquifer System: Improving Groundwater Governance and Sustainability of Related Ecosystems”. 

The objective of the project is to implement the main steps outlined in the “Global Framework for Action” for setting the basis of sound groundwater governance in the Dinaric Karst region. This approach and vision perfectly adhere to the conclusions reached by the countries in South-East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia) sharing the DIKTAS as enshrined in the Strategic Action Programme for the DIKTAS prepared by the relevant countries and recently endorsed at ministerial level. The Project’s objective is to catalyse effective multi-country cooperation for the sustainable management of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System and its ecological resources by strengthening national and regional groundwater governance frameworks and institutional capacities.

 
The expected outputs of project are the following: 

1. Facilitating multi-country cooperation.
2. Institutional strengthening for improved groundwater governance.
3. Monitoring Karst waters and dependent ecosystems.
4. Focus on areas of transboundary influence and of special concerns.
5. Awareness raising and gender mainstreaming. 

 
Within this framework, the incumbent shall:

Long Description

Coordination

• Establish and maintain close coordination with the national authorities’ offices and national and regional consultants for the implementation of the project’s activities.
• Coordinate and provide support for the recruitment and selection of project personnel (consultants and sub-contractors), including drafting Terms of Reference (ToRs), overseeing all the contractors’ work, and ensuring compliance.
• Coordinate and oversee preparation of the substantive and operational project reports, ensuring timeliness and alignment with the project’s plan and budget.
• Draft, review and finalise progress reports related to the project’s implementation. 
• Liaise with the project’s Finance Officer and Communication Officer.
• Provide support to the Project’s Steering Committee (PSC) by preparing documentation for its meetings and ensuring accurate reporting.
• Assist implementing partners in engaging with stakeholders and the targeted beneficiaries as applicable.
• Assist in liaising with the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) counterparts as applicable and appropriate.

Long Description

Project Management

• Provide support to partners and take responsibility to implement project activities as assigned by supervisors.
• Draft Calls for Proposals and TORs for contracts for review by regular supervisors and closely follow contracting processes to ensure compliance with relevant administrative rules for procurement, monitor contracts progress and liaise with contractors. 
• Ensure compliance with the project monitoring and reporting obligations, review project documents and support the finalisation and submission of related documents.
• Support the preparation and management of project’s meetings and events, managing logistics, facilitating discussions, and ensuring follow-up actions.
• Contribute to activity planning and monitor progress against the approved workplan.
• Supervise and coordinate the timely production of high-quality project outputs.
• Oversee the work of all project staff ensuring timing and quality of outputs.
• Prepare, revise and submit project work and financial plans as required by Project Board and UNDP.
• Monitor financial resources and ensure the accuracy of quarterly financial reports with UNESCO’s administrative staff.
• Manage and update the project risk log, submitting new risks to the Project Board when necessary.
• Report progress of project to PSC and ensure the fulfilment of PSC directives.
• Encourage staff, partners and consultants on the promotion of the inclusion of women and young experts ensuring gender considerations are integrated into all aspects of the project, from activity design to hiring and outreach. 
• Provide top-quality technical advisory services, including facilitation of capacity and knowledge building, where the technical responsibilities include oversight across all the project’s components.
• Ensure consistency between project activities and those provided or funded by non-beneficiary countries participating to the project and other donors.
• Provide technical oversight to subcontractors and facilitate training activities.
• Ensure the timely submission of required reports, including the Inception Report, Project Implementation Report, technical reports, and financial reports.
• Facilitate the exchange of experiences and lessons learned with relevant community based integrated conservation and development projects, both nationally and internationally.

Long Description

Communication

• Facilitate effective communication among partners and stakeholders.
• Cooperate with the respective implementing partners to ensure the project’s visibility, in line with the communication and dissemination plan.
• Prepare content for public information products, including news items, social media posts, infographics, audio-visual and outreach materials.
• Prepare briefings, presentations, speeches and talking points.
• Represent the project in national and international conferences, workshops or other events related as delegated by the supervisor.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in hydrogeology/engineering applied to hydrogeology and/or other related disciplines. 

Work Experience

• Minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience in the application of hydrogeology to international development projects, 
• Proven experience in the management of multinational interdisciplinary projects focused on integrated national and transboundary water resource management strategies.

Skills and Competencies

• Good knowledge of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System and/or water-related issues and cooperation scenarios in South-East Europe, especially in the targeted countries. 
• Leadership, managerial and coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate the implementation of large multi-stakeholder projects, including financial and technical aspects.
• Proven ability to effectively manage diverse technical and administrative teams, and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across various sectors and at all levels, build long-term partnerships with collaborating agencies.
• Ability to administer budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff and all groups involved in the project.
• Ability to coordinate and supervise multiple Project Implementation Units in their implementation of technical activities in partnership with a variety of subnational stakeholder groups, including community and government.
• Demonstrated familiarity in GEF International Waters and specifically in the Balkan region.
• Demonstrated familiarity with transboundary waters issues and national priorities in the Balkan region.
• Demonstrated familiarity with priority issues in the Dinaric Karst system in the region, including water sector, environmental sector, national and regional institutional structures and future development plans.
• Demonstrated familiarity with modern integrated approaches to groundwater and related ecosystems, including application of European Union: The Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) and its Groundwater (Daughter) Directive to national priorities.
• Familiarity with institutional, economic, technical, and social mechanisms for improving water resources management, capacity building and curriculum development approaches for multiple levels of stakeholders.
• Mechanisms for incentive-based pollution abatement and enforcement; social marketing and stakeholder education approaches for specific stakeholder groups across sectors and countries, including gender mainstreaming.
• Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills with the ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Advanced IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets, visual presentation tools, video-conference platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in developing communication strategies, tools and contents in relevant contexts.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with and in multicultural teams.
• Cultural sensitivity, integrity, negotiation skills.

Language 

• Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Experience in working for or with other national and/or international development cooperation agencies.
• Experience/participation in implementation of the Global Environment Fund (GEF)-funded projects.

Skills and Competencies

• Good knowledge of UNESCO’s mandate, programmes (with special focus on natural sciences) and its operational processes.

Languages

• Knowledge of other national languages spoken in the targeted Member States. 
• Knowledge of another official UNESCO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish). 

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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