Background

• UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.

• UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

• In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans.

• The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a National Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country's economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country's national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.

• The implementation of the project in Suriname falls under the GEF8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will be coordinated by the Environment Policy Specialist with the support of a technical team and in coordination to a government project director and the National Steering Committee.
 
• For the implementation of the GEF8-BFP Umbrella program at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a national team composed of a Policy Expert   a Project Support Associate, and a Biodiversity Finance Associate.

• The Project Associate -Biodiversity Finance will support the production of the Biodiversity Expenditure Review, the Financial Needs Assessment and the development of the Biodiversity Finance Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the BIOFIN Global team and direct supervision of the Project Lead, the Project Associate - Biodiversity Finance is expected to support the production of the Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), the Financial Needs Assessment (FNA), and support the development of the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) following the guidance provided by the latest version of the BIOFIN Workbook and with detailed data.

The Project Associate- Biodiversity Finance will also, as much as possible, support all other national outputs, including the Policy and Institutional Review. The Project Associate -Biodiversity Finance will also support the assessment and development of detailed feasibility studies for priority finance mechanisms in the BFP and the production of a summary for Policy Makers. The Project Associate Biodiversity Finance should provide input on the feedback on the BIOFIN methodological framework.

Project Associate- Biodiversity Finance will collect, explore, and work on national and subnational level budgeting data and biodiversity expenditures of different organizations, agencies, ministries, NGOs, and private sector actors for the production of the BER. For the Finance Needs Assessment (FNA he/she will produce a detailed, realistic costing of key biodiversity policies and plans – generally focused on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).  

The Project Associate- Biodiversity Finance will produce drafts and analyses that will be reviewed by the Environment Policy Specialist and ultimately validated by the BIOFIN Global Team.

1. Support the Biodiversity Finance project team to ensure effective project planning and implementation. 
• Compile and summarize information and data for the formulation of project work plans, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements, and on other specific project related topics or issues. 
• Provide comprehensive support in all aspects of project implementation in accordance with the project documents, annual work plans and other agreements between UNDP and responsible partners. Ensure quality of delivery by consultants, beneficiaries, and contracted companies; and communicate findings to the supervisor. 
• Ensure compliance of project business processes with UNDP Project Operational Policies and Procedures (POPP) and UNDP Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). When necessary, provide guidance to project staff on business processes, administrative and other requirements and procedures. 
• Support mainstreaming gender equality in the project implementation, including in data collection and compilation. Prepare gender equality background materials for use in discussions, briefings, and correspondence. 
• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery that includes organizing/coordinating project events and selecting appropriate venues, coordinating project procurement procedures, maintaining project records and files, recruiting project team members, and supporting contracting activities.

2. Support partnerships and resource mobilization. 
• Establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with the relevant UN Agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners, and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project. 
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with partners, project counterparts, stakeholders, and beneficiaries; and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insight. 
• Support creation of high-quality information and visibility of the project activities among the stakeholders; and ensure careful selection of communication tools and tailoring the messages to take into account the overall socio-political and development context in host countries. 
• Undertake horizon scanning and explore opportunities for resource mobilization in consultation with direct supervisor.

3. Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation. 
• Support implementation of the project monitoring system in alignment with its Monitoring and Evaluation framework to ensure effective information sharing, provision of feedback, and elaboration of high-quality progress reports. 
• Collect, analyze and present information for monitoring and evaluation of project implementation against project targets as well as for audit purposes. Identify gaps in implementation and provide support in bridging those gaps in consultation with supervisor and partners. 
• Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, roundtables, and conferences within the project. 
• Assist in implementation of effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan in place.

4. Support monitoring of previously identified and emerging risks. 
• Regularly monitor expenditures and commitments against the project budget and relevant plans, and provide finance-related information to support project implementation. When necessary, recommend corrective actions and draft various correspondence concerning finance, operations, and budgetary issues. 
• Prepare and consolidate required project reports on a timely basis and in line with monitoring and reporting guidelines and donor requirements.

5. Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project. 
• Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity building activities, including to the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action. 
•  Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project. 
•  Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Associate-Biodiversity Finance will be under the direct supervision of the Environment Policy Specialist (National Project Lead). Suriname will have, as part of the National Project Management Unit (NPMU), a full-time dedicated Environment Policy Specialist, a full-time Project Associate, and a consultant team, comprised of Technical/Policy Lead, Policy and Institutional Review, Finance Specialist, Environmental Finance Expert, and others, as needed.

UNDP shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the project.

Competencies

Achieve Results:
LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

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 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies  

2030 Agenda - Nature:    
• Ecosystems and biodiversity

Business Development - Knowledge Generation:    
• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management - Monitoring and Evaluation:     
• Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; 
• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
• Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
• Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. 
• Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Digital  - Data storytelling and communications:    
• Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

Digital - Data Governance:    
• Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies

Data - Data Collection:
• Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey  Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data).

Data - Data analysis:    
• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements
    
• Secondary education is required. Or 
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree) in Finance, Public Administration, Economics, Business Administration, Management, or a related field field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Min. years of relevant work experience     

• A minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible in Finance, Economics, Administration, Management or related field.

Required skills 
    
• Proven work experience with international and national experts and institutions.
• Proven previous experience in supporting analyses and drafting reports related to policies and public finance.
• Proven ability to prepare publications, reports, and presentations.
• Proven Knowledge of key software packages (MS Office)

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
    
• Experience in project management, project (financial) reporting, and communication skills would be an asset.
• Exposure to environmental, climate issues, biodiversity, or public finance would be an asset.
• Familiarity with the functioning of the government of Suriname would be an asset.
• Familiarity on impact and result for the client and responding positively to critical feedback is an asset.

Required Language(s) 
    
• Fluency in Dutch and English is required. 

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

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