Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

 Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Preliminary top-down estimates of the global financial gap for biodiversity range from US$ 100 to 400 billion annually and detailed bottom-up assessments in participating BIOFIN countries validate this significant financial need and have helped identify finance solutions required to achieve the Aichi Targets and biodiversity related SDGs. In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity and sustainable development goals. But since countries have not approached the issue of biodiversity finance in a comprehensive manner, the choice and adoption of finance solutions has remained experimental and opportunistic. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen a countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – is a global programme that developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management in 41 countries. BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Significant enhancement and scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s second phase (BIOFIN Phase II) enables some BIOFIN countries to complete the design and implementation of priority finance solutions. At the central level, knowledge management platforms will be expanded and additional guidance produced for most valuable finance solutions. The extension of BIOFIN phase II (BIOFIN Phase II extended) will allow all BIOFIN countries (41 in total, including Uganda) to implement their Biodiversity Finance Plan until 2025.

During BIOFIN Phase I, Uganda achieved the following deliverables: the Biodiversity Finance Policy and Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) and the National Biodiversity Finance Plan (NBFP).

BIOFIN Phase II in Uganda will be implemented by the UNDP Country Office, in close collaboration with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). 
Phase II involves the implementation of biodiversity finance solutions, and Uganda will initially explore the possibility of  implementing two finance solutions related to developing an ecosystem index and ecological fiscal transfers (EFTs) in the country,  and scaling up an institutional framework for bottom up biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and management. These areas of work were identified during the course of the three main assessments – PIR, BER, and FNA – and elaborated in the National Biodiversity Finance Plan. These two finance solutions aim to show significant or relatively rapid results in providing additional resources to government, in particular  local governments, for biodiversity management. The selected activities may include the provision of technical or advocacy support for developing biodiversity indexes, for various ecologies, guidelines, laws and regulations, revising taxes and fees, the identification of legal thresholds, removal or reduction of biodiversity harmful incentives, certification processes, public-private-partnerships, voluntary agreements, awareness raising campaigns, and behaviour change through education and training measures. A list of possible finance mechanisms and solutions of Uganda can be found on the BIOFIN website.

Scope of Work:

The National Project Coordinator (the “Coordinator”) will be responsible for the overall management of in-country activities, ensuring a proper workplan and budget is in place and implemented within set timelines, with an effective national team and strong partnerships. The Coordinator will work closely with the UNDP – Country Office Team Leader Nature, Climate, Energy and Resilience and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to ensure implementation mechanisms such as a National Steering Committee and technical working groups are established and meet regularly, that all planned workshops, technical studies and other activities are organized in a timely manner, and that they meet expected quality standards. This officer, while appointed by UNDP CO and reporting to UNDP CO, would sit in NEMA, and also report into NEMA Key duties and responsibilities include:

Duties and Responsibilities

Management:

  • Oversee the identification, selection and supervision of national consultants and experts, in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office, UNDP – Country Office Team Leader Nature, Climate, Energy and Resilience and the Global BIOFIN Team and write/revise terms of reference for national BIOFIN team members;
  • In consultation with the NEMA, UNDP Country Office and Global BIOFIN Team and supported by the Finance Assistant, elaborate/revise the work plan and budget and submit draft workplans/budgets timely for the bi- annual budget revision process (30 June and 31 December of each year);
  • Supervise the work of national experts and institutions to ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget, and to high quality standards; facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national BIOFIN team;
  • Oversee the work of the Finance Assistant to ensure administrative requirements and budgets are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations;
  • Organize all relevant programme workshops in a consultative manner, involving a wide variety of biodiversity finance stakeholders, including the government, private sector, NGOs, donors and academia.
  • Discuss with the Ministries of Finance, Environment and other key stakeholders the establishment of a national Steering Committee and follow up on the formal establishment and regular convening of the Committee, undertake the same for any other proposed coordination mechanism, and write meeting reports to be shared with NEMA, UNDP CO and UNDP BIOFIN global.
  • Ensure a timely identification of risks in implementation at the national level and communication to the global BIOFIN team.
  • Organise bi-monthly meetings of the national team and monthly calls with the Technical Advisor from the global BIOFIN team. Ensure participation of national BIOFIN team members in regional technical calls.
  • Assist in programme related activities, where required. These may include planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips and other programme related activities.
  • Maintain records of meetings, decisions, actions among others
  • Any other duties assigned by NEMA and or UNDP that have direct relevance to the programme.

Reporting/Communication/M&E:

  • Signal any delays in national deliverables compared to the workplan to the NEMA, UNDP Country Office and the Global BIOFIN Team.
  • Lead programme monitoring, reporting and evaluation at national level, draft bi-annual reports for review by  NEMA and UNDP CO before submission to the global BIOFIN team.
  • Develop workshop reports for all technical workshops.
  • Develop briefing notes, case studies, press releases, web articles and other media products as required.
  • Assist with research and write and edit sections of technical reports as required.
  • Review all national level deliverables to ensure quality and consistency with the BIOFIN process.

Key deliverables (products and processes):

  • Detailed BIOFIN Work Plan and Budget agreed by all major partners.
  • National Steering/Advisory Committee formed and operational.
  • All consultants and team members recruited and delivering to schedule, while working relations between team members are clarified and effective.
  • Lines of communication and working methods agreed and functional.
  • Reporting and updates provided to UNDP and government.
  • Planned activities are carried out in line with timelines and required quality standards.
  • All workshops organised in line with workplan and well documented.

Institutional Arrangement:

  • The Biofin Coordinator will report to the Team  Leader -Nature Climate Energy and Resilience. The organogram is attached.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1:

  • Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2:

  • Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1:

  • Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1:

  • Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3:

  • Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1:

  • Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3:

  • Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Digital and Innovation - Portfolio Design and Management:

  • Ability to identify leverage points in systems and design interventions that address them. The value of the interventions are determined not in isolation, but as part of the overall portfolio and their coherence.
  • Ability to design processes that extract learning on an ongoing basis from existing portfolios, so that learning accrues over time and new options for action are continuously generated.
  • Build a learning ecosystem around a complex development challenge: being able to mobilise a variety of stakeholders and help them learn and work
    together. Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.

Finance - Development Finance Expertise:

  • Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g., social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance.

Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking:

  • Ability to conduct problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Direction and Strategy  - Business Acumen:

  • Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

Business Management - Portfolio Management:

  • Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced University Degree/Master’s Degree in environment/natural resource management, biodiversity, economics/finance or a closely related field. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above areas, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

  • Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience, preferably in the implementation of environment/biodiversity/finance projects.
  • Prior experience with UNDP projects would be an asset.
  • Experience in collaborating with international and national experts and institutions.
  • Exposure to environmental issues or biodiversity highly desirable, but not required.
  • Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office)

Required skills:

  • Advance Writing skills
  • Ability to gather data and process information
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to network among the national team and beyond to other national institutions
  • Problem solving skills

Desired skills:

  • Ability to work as part of multicultural team
  • Excellence computer skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Maintains professional relationships with supervisors, co-workers and clients

Required Language(s):

  • Fluency in English
     

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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