OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station: Tashkent

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : Level 4

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 01-NOV-2023

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The National Coordinator provides support to the Project Management Units (PMU) in the UNESCO Almaty Office and liaises with project partners. Main tasks are to assist in and contribute to successful implementation of the two UNESCO projects funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF) called “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in the Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) called “Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacio-nival Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change” in Uzbekistan.

The National Coordinator will be responsible for contribution to implementation of the projects and achieving quality programming and development outcomes of the projects in Uzbekistan.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the UNESCO Office in Tashkent, in close coordination with the GEF Project Manager and GLOFCA Project Officer, the Incumbent shall act as a National Coordinator in implementing the AF and GEF Project activities in Uzbekistan by carrying out the following duties and responsibilities:

Projects Management Support:

1. Assist and advice the management in the overall implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Projects in compliance with overall objectives, specific objectives, expected outputs, outcomes and activities at country (Uzbekistan) level.
2. Act as a liaison for day-to-day problem solving and support.
3. Assist in trouble-shoot common problems and report more complex issues to the Project Managers in the Almaty Office and follow up until resolved.

Projects Coordination:

1. Coordinate the administrative activities of the project including mobilizing staff and international consultants, maintaining project files, requesting purchases for goods and services, ensuring submission of project deliverables, and close-down in coordination with Administrative Unit of Tashkent Office.
2. Perform administrative tasks for the projects including contracting arrangements, vendor creation and update, procurement management according to UNESCO rules and in coordination with Administrative Unit of Tashkent Office.
3. Undertake travel if and as needed, upon the request of the Project Management Teams.

Detailed tasks decription

Contract Management:

1. Initiate requests for approvals; coordinate submissions for contract modifications and coordinate all other requests for contract support.
2. Draft routine contractual documents using approved templates.
3. Identify and synthesize potential issues and present possible solutions to the Projects Managers and project teams.
4. Monitor compliance with contract and regulations and assist project partners as needed.

Activities support:

1. Assist in the strategic planning of country-level activities in accordance with the Projects work plans and in close coordination with the Project Officers and projects management teams.
2. Support the Tashkent Office and the Project Management Team at UNESCO Almaty in organizing and follow-up of the Projects-related meetings, events, and missions to Uzbekistan.
3. Support all organizational arrangements for the Projects activities and Project-related meetings at country level – both online and offline.

Development and Reporting:

1. Serve as country-specific information provider around client knowledge, partnering and local staffing.
2. Provide inputs to the narrative annual reports, Project Performance Reports, SISTER reports, other briefings, information notes, talking points, etc. as requested by the Project Managers, pertaining to the project activities in Uzbekistan.
3. Upon request of the Head of Tashkent Office, contribute to the activities of the environmental Results Group of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Uzbekistan.

Visibility and Awareness:

1. Serve as a Project liaison to national counterparts, country-level civil society organizations and other country-level stakeholders.
2. Contribute to awareness raising with regard to the projects’ objectives and activities. Provide information to country-level stakeholders as well as the general public.
3. Coordinate country representation in all project-related activities, events, meetings by liaising with national partners and ensuring their participation.
4. Provide inputs and necessary information for the Project Knowledge Management Platform as requested by the Projects Managers and the Projects Communication Expert.
5. Contribute to the communication efforts of the Project management team to ensure the Projects’ visibility at country level.

Long Description

Long Description

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, environment, sustainable management of natural resources, climate related studies, disaster risk reduction and/or other fields closely related to the position. An advanced university degree may be replaced by a first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and at least two (2) years of additional relevant work experience

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in implementation of projects and programmes in natural sciences related field
• Strong experience in working and collaborating with government entities and other national stakeholders and in the public participation development process

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English and good knowledge of Uzbek (oral and written)

Skills/Competencies:

• Knowledge of Results Based Management and competence in contribution to managing programme activities
• Good understanding of the thematic areas covered by the Projects
• Ability to synthesize performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as ability to set priorities, to ensure compliance to rules and administrative guidelines, to analyze and respond to routine and non-routine issues
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats and to develop appropriate strategies and mechanisms to address them
• Ability to establish good working relationships with internal and external colleagues, experts, partners and stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels
• Knowledge of ethical and behavioral expectations, sound judgement, and high standards of integrity, discretion and confidentiality
• Good communication, problem solving and planning skills

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience:

• Experience in UN or other international organization
• Demonstrated solid knowledge (academic or professional) in the sustainable management of natural resources, environment, climate change adaptation, with an emphasis on disaster risk reduction in Central Asia as an asset

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of Russian (oral and written)

Skills/Competencies:

• Knowledge of UN procedures, rules and regulations
• Working level knowledge of any other Central Asian national language is an asset
• Strong administrative skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Flexibility to adjust to changes in demands, new situations, or approaches
• Ability to take initiative, with strong analytical and organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with sufficient level of autonomy
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate information clearly and tailor communication style to diverse audiences
• Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and external partners from diverse backgrounds

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

ASSESSMENT

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