Job Description

Details:Mission and objectives:As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDPs mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDPs mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of Indias national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet. UNDP Indias current Country Programme, 2018-2022, is in its final year of implementation.Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable, and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.Context:The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem & land restoration, disaster management and resilience, and access to clean and efficient energy.The Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity pillar of ACE is supporting the Government of India in meeting national development objectives along with commitments under important multilateral environment agreements especially the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The programme/projects under the pillar have been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), National and State level planning for land restoration and biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration through enhanced restoration, promotion of nature-based livelihoods and One Health approach.UNDP is supporting the Ministry in the implementation of a GEF -7 project Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India. The project aims to achieve land degradation neutrality by creating additional carbon sinks through an ecosystem-based approach for restoring degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands, and surface water bodies. It involves enabling institutional frameworks and policies for integrated sustainable land management practices and up-scaling landscape-wide practices in 3 states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh contributing to the national target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded lands by 2030.The project being implemented over a period of five years will lead to the following outcomes: (1) Enhanced national, state and district-level enabling frameworks incentivizing SLM practices and supporting participatory multi-sector platforms to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation; (2) Integrated participatory landscape design and financing models established in support of avoidance, reduction and reversal of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and negative impacts of climate change to generates multiple sustained environmental and economic benefits; (3) Improved capacity for LDN monitoring, assessment and reporting to UNCCD in support of LDN target setting and evaluation of capacities of partners; allowing government institutions and other agencies to better document, analyse and disseminate effective intervention strategies for restoring productive landscapes and replication of best practices at national and state level, and at international level through improved South-South cooperation, knowledge and adaptive management.UNDP seeks to engage the services of a Landscape Project Officer to support the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Landscape Project Management Unit in implementation of the project. S/he will work under the supervision of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).Task description:Under the direct supervision of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and State Project Officer. The Landscape Project Officer will perform the following tasks:

• Assist the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), State Project Director (SPD)/Nodal Officer in planning, coordination, implementation of the project activities in accordance with the project document and results framework.
• Assume full responsibility at the landscape level for implementation of the project activities.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with all the stakeholders including the National Project Management Unit, State Project Management Unit, Landscape level Committees with respect to project activities in the state.
• Coordination with relevant line departments and technical institutions working on land and forest management and sustainable livelihood issues in the project landscapes.
• Develop landscape specific annual work plans and ensure accurate and timely reporting to State Project Management Unit, and UNDP for activities of the project in the state.
• Organize, facilitate and participate in the periodic review meetings including Landscape Level Committee, State Project Steering Committee meetings on monthly basis.
• Support SPMU in developing the Terms of Reference for hiring the consultants/ institutions/consultancy firms to be hired to undertake project activities and help the state government/UNDP in contracting processes.
• Identify capacity development needs of implementing partners, district level line departments, community members, and stakeholders. Arrange for necessary trainings for the same.
• Collate and provide inputs for timely submission of Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Progress Reports, Project Implementation Report and mid-term progress reports to MoEFCC and UNDP, based on inputs from the landscape and state.
• Liaison with district level departments and other state departments for convergence with on-going schemes/programmes of the central and state schemes for leveraging co-financing and resource mobilisation.
• Collection, Presentation and Sharing of best practices and dissemination of the knowledge products with key stakeholders and community members.
• Track and manage project expenditure at the landscape level.
• Manage and track contracts with project partners and flag any potential risks and suggest its mitigation measures. Ensure timely contract management and payments.
• Assist the DFO/SPD/UNDP in the independent Mid-term and Terminal Evaluation of the project.
• Any other tasks and responsibilities related to the project assigned by the DFO/SPD/UNDP.

Requirements:project management and coordination

• Experience of working with international organizations, NGOs/ INGOs including the UN in implementation of projects
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc.
• Ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues (and reports where inappropriate).
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work with minimum supervision and handle tight deadlines.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

Competencies and values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Working in Teams

Area(s) of expertise:

• Community development
• Development programmes
• Natural and life sciences

Required education level:Bachelor degree or equivalentOther information: The assignment will be based in Chhindwara and will involve frequent travel to the project villages. Chhindwara is a district in Madhya Pradesh and is located in the South-West Region of Satpura Range of Mountains. It lies at an elevation of about 2,200 feet (670 metres) above sea level on an upland plateau south of the Satpura Range, about 35 miles (55 km) west of Seoni. It has a subtropical climate with hot and dry summers and cool winters.The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to the UN Volunteer is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs.For more information on entitlements please read the Conditions of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).For information specific to your assignment, please see below:

• Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 58,346.66
• Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR)
• Relocation costs: $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV)
• Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): INR 4862.22 for each month served, paid on completion of contract
• Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts
• Annual leave: 2.5 days per month
• Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources

United Nations