GEF Project Sustainability

Result of Service

Better integration of sustainability and improved quality of UNEP GEF projects.

Work Location

Kenya

Expected duration

2 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organization Setting: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP is one of three original, founding implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), alongside the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GEF also partners with 15 other Agencies to help developing countries and those with economies in transition to meet the agreed incremental costs of measures designed to achieve global environmental benefits in six focal areas: biological diversity, climate change (both mitigation and adaptation), international waters, chemicals and wastes management and, land degradation. UNEP’s Policy and Programme Division consolidates the policy, programme, monitoring, gender and social safeguards functions of UNEP as well as its engagement with the United Nations system and key global processes. The GEF Coordination Office has the overall accountability for UNEP GEF corporate activities. It coordinates, monitors, and tracks the GEF portfolio, and serves as a key adviser to the Senior Management Team on GEF policy and operational related matters. It acts as a facilitator to assist Divisions in programming and delivery of GEF Portfolio, ensuing coherence and consistency. The GEF Coordination Office seeks to engage a consultant to improve the integration of sustainability perspectives and strategies within project design, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that project outcomes are sustained well beyond each project’s completion. The consultant will undertake a review of selected projects, identifying best practices and/or gaps in sustainability planning, and recommending practical solutions. Furthermore, the consultant will be responsible for delivering a tailored training session for UNEP project development teams and GEF Task Managers, working in close collaboration with key units, including the Evaluation Office, to ensure a more consistent application of sustainability principles across future projects. Additionally, the consultant will prepare a guidance paper, incorporating real project examples and offering practical insights, which Task and Portfolio Managers may refer to in order to enhance the sustainability of project and programme outcomes going forward. The consultant will report to the UNEP GEF Coordinator on all aspects, working closely with the GEF Portfolios across the three technical divisions. A technical reference group, which includes a representative from the Project Review and Oversight Unit, may also provide inputs on the deliverables. Duties and Responsibilities: Deliverables are: 1. Project Review and Analysis Report: The consultant will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of selected projects, focusing on their appraisal, midterm review, and terminal evaluation. The report will assess how sustainability has been integrated into project design, monitoring or project implementation and adaptive project management. The report will explore definitions, measurements and metrics of exit strategies, and their applications in other UN entities’ GEF projects. The report will identify key gaps and findings related to sustainability planning and execution. 2. Training Seminar for UNEP Project Development Teams: The consultant will design and deliver a comprehensive training session for UNEP project development teams, focusing on: i. Strategies to strengthen sustainability beyond project completion and with a particular emphasis on the concept of exit strategies. ii. Other sustainability topics will be addressed such as designing and planning for the replication and scaling up of approaches demonstrated to be effective through the project etc. iii. How to apply adaptive management during project implementation to mitigate risks to sustainability (e.g., political change). iv. Potential role of co-financing. The session will explain how exit strategies differ from project completion and closure processes and will address the unique challenges and considerations related to exit strategies in environmental projects. A relevant case study will be presented, illustrating an effective exit strategy, with an analysis of the challenges encountered during project closure and how the exit strategy helped mitigate risks. 3. Guidance Paper: The consultant will develop a guidance paper that outlines best practices and provides practical recommendations for improving sustainability in project design. This paper will include real-life project examples and offer actionable insights to help project managers better integrate sustainability considerations both at the design stage and during project implementation to support the endurance of project outcomes beyond project completion.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in International Development, Economics, Environmental Management, or a related discipline is required. A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in project management and project design is required. Experience working on environmental projects is desirable. Academic/research experience is desirable. Demonstrated experience in delivering technical training sessions is desirable. Strong documentation and report writing skills is desirable. Proven communication skills, including excellent presentation abilities in English is desirable. Familiarity with GEF programming is desirable. Proficiency in standard software packages, including PowerPoint, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of another UN Language is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.