Environment and Natural Resources Management (NRM) Officer

Over the last 20 years, Cambodia has attained impressive economic growth. Yet, the rapid development has increased pressure on natural resources and biodiversity in rural areas and led to increasing levels of waste and air pollution in urban areas. Degradation of natural resources has adversely impacted rural livelihoods and reduced capacity for climate change adaptation and mitigation, including REDD+.1

In 2017, the Government consolidated protected areas totaling more than 7 million hectares (or 40 percent of total land). A number of other legal and policy measures are now in place to promote environmental sustainability. The primary need now is to assist national efforts to successfully translate these policy measures into action.

Among others, UNDP Cambodia will support the government to promote a green and circular economy through sustainable waste management, improved energy efficiency, and adoption of clean energy. 

UNDP Cambodia also supports the government for sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity conservation while strengthening the capacities of local authorities and community-based organizations to improve rural livelihoods, food security and effective climate responses. In particular, UNDP Cambodia introduce and promote GEF, BIOFIN2 and Payment for Ecosystem Services initiatives as incentive-based innovations that strengthen watershed restoration, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.

In partnership with the Government the Environment Portfolio, under the Policy and Innovation Hub (PIH), aims to leverage private sector investment for scalable climate change-resilient and mitigation initiatives and a circular economy.

The NRM Officer will work under the overall guidance of PIH and direct supervision of Policy Specialist on Environment, Biodiversity and Environment.

Note:

1. Forest cover declined to 48 percent (2016) from 73 percent (1965), UNDP HDR 2016. A total of 2.96 Gt of carbon is stored in Cambodia's ecosystems (MoE UNFCCC submission 2017).
2. Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), http://www.biodiversityfinance.net/

The Environment and Natural Resources Management (NRM) Officer will support international and national Policy Specialists in carrying technical and programme support in the areas of environment and NRM.

Summary of key functions:

• Coordinate project support for the government and stakeholders for the ongoing works related to environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation;
• Coordinate the policy dialogue processes on environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation with government, development partners, private sector and CSOs;
• Contribute to UNDP in the process of programming and pipeline formulation related to environment and NRM issues;
• Partnerships building and knowledge management.

1. Coordinate project support for the government and stakeholders for the ongoing works related to environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation:

• Design roadmaps and annual work plans of activities related to environment and NRM;
• Design and coordinate key activities related to environment and NRM which the government and UNDP should focus on in partnership and consultation with relevant stakeholders;
• Develop ToRs of, and supervise relevant consultants and provide quality assurance;
• Prepare quarterly and annual project progress reports to the government, UNDP, and Project (PB) according to their respective reporting guidelines/ requirements;
• Organize project board meetings and take lead in ensuring that recommendations made by the board are implemented;
• Monitor and keep track of project implementation progress;
• For project assigned, ensure fund are made available and proper use of project resources.

2. Coordinate the policy dialogue processes on environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation with government, development partners, private sector and CSOs:

• Collect, compile, analyse and interpret environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation related data, thorough research of the evidence-based issues in the country and production of relevant reports including National Human Development Report;
• Preparation of analytical document and background information on environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation for the policy debates within the overarching UNDP policy framework;
• Support policy dialogue on environment, NRM and biodiversity related issues with the government, development partners, civil society, the private sector; contributions to development of policies as relevant;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks through identification of best practices, lessons learned, and other related communication materials.

3. Contribute to UNDP in the process of programming and pipeline formulation related to environment and NRM issues:

• Identify areas of UNDP comparative advantages in the field of environment, NRM and biodiversity related issues whenever relevant;
• Assist the Policy Specialists to formulate project concept notes and full project documents including information materials in consultation with relevant stakeholders among others;
• Contribute to the resource mobilization with donors, private sector, government and other global and regional resources;
• Facilitate consultations required for the including Internal Project Appraisal Committee meeting, Local Project Appraisal Committee Meeting.

4. Partnerships building and knowledge management:

• Coordinate and support the preparation of inputs from the CO to policy briefs/position papers that address environment, NRM and biodiversity concerns, in collaboration with other practices such as governance, poverty reduction, gender, and capacity development;
• Identify opportunities for strengthening partnership with key stakeholders on environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation under the guidance of the policy specialists;
• Coordinate and organize stakeholder meetings/events/workshops to discuss priority issues within environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation with key stakeholders;
• Assist the Country Office to explore the potential for private sector partnerships on environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation and opportunities for carbon/environmental financing;
• Assist the policy specialist running and evaluating campaign relating to NRM, biodiversity and environmental financing;
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and communications in the areas of environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of UN environment and NRM activities in the country, including short, medium and long-term planning, improved business results and client services.  

They also impact on increasing Governments’, partners’, and civil society and communities’ awareness and knowledge of environment and NRM to development, and on the ability for environment and NRM a plans and sectoral policies. Accurate analysis, presentation and knowledge sharing promote timely positioning and readjustment of UNDP programme management.

Core Competencies:

• Promoting Ethics and Integrity / Creating Organizational Precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, Creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy / Advancing Policy Oriented Agenda: preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts

Results-based Programme Development and Management: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Analyses country situation to identify opportunities for project development
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly

Building Strategic Partnerships: Maintaining a network of contacts

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyses and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
• Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners

Innovation and Marketing new Approaches: Enhancing processes or products

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
• Documents bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes effective solutions
• Embraces new approaches

Resource Mobilization: Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

• Analyses information/databases on potential and actual donors
• Develops a database of project profiles.  Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors

Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing: Basic research and analysis

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing
• Develops awareness of the various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates the same in his/her work
• Analyses the requirements and synthesizes proposals
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Organizational Leadership and Direction

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals: Preparing information for global advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate

Client Orientation: Establishing effective client relationships

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Actively supports the interests of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly

Education:  

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in environment and NRM, environmental science or related disciplines.

Experience:

• Master with at least 2 years or Bachelor with at least 4 years of relevant work experience on issues related to environment and NRM, biodiversity conservation;  
• Experience in development, policy and research work in the area of environment and NRM, biodiversity conservation, and related issues. Prior project management experiences are an asset;
• Experience in working with multi stakeholders including the government, NGOs, private sector, and CSOs;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written Khmer and English.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.