Programme Officer, Capacity Building and Innovation, P-4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management (SLM). The Convention aims to address the challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD) through international cooperation and partnerships, with a focus on sustainable development and improving living conditions in affected areas. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is one of the major goals of the UNCCD, consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under target 15.3. LDN is about ensuring that the amount of healthy and productive land resources remains stable or increases over time, compensating for land degradation by restoring and rehabilitating degraded lands. Article 19 of the Convention stipulates inter alia, “Parties recognize the significance of capacity building — that is to say, institution building, training and development of relevant local and national capacities — in efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. They shall promote, as appropriate, capacity- building.” Since the adoption of the Convention, Parties to the UNCCD have agreed on several decisions that focus on strengthening the ability of countries, particularly developing nations and affected areas, to implement sustainable land management practices and address the challenges of DLDD. Capacity Building is therefore an integral part of the effective implementation of the Convention at all levels (i.e. national, sub-regional, regional and global). Within the Secretariat, the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) unit functions as the hub to facilitate and realize the capacity building and innovation initiatives across the Convention. The STI unit also serves the two subsidiary bodies of the Convention, namely the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the (CRIC), and the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) as well as its Science-Policy Interface (SPI). The unit supports the national reporting to track the progress countries are making towards the implementation of the Convention. The STI unit links scientific knowledge with implementation, planning and policy development, with the aim to ensure that findings and opportunities produced by science are effectively channeled to benefit field activities to implement the UNCCD. The Capacity Building and Innovation Programme Officer will play a leading role in the conceptualization, design, development, and management of the implementation of the Secretariat’s capacity building, development and innovation programme. The Officer will also spearhead the development of pathways for an innovation-driven UNCCD seeking to facilitate and strengthen the diffusion of innovative solutions to achieve the objectives of the Convention and a land-degradation neutral world. Furthermore, the officer will act as the UNCCD focal point for the Joint Rio Conventions Capacity Building Initiative aiming at strengthening the capacities of relevant national institutions, individual policymakers and practitioners to integrate and foster synergies among the Rio Conventions.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the STI Unit, the Officer will undertake the following duties and responsibilities: Leads the implementation of comprehensive capacity building, development and innovation strategies aligned with the Convention’s mandate, objectives and associated COP decisions.

• Formulates and executes the organization’s innovation roadmap that will stimulate an innovation-driven UNCCD, aligning it with the Convention’s mandate, associated COP decisions and long-term goals.
• Coordinates the execution of capacity building, development and innovation initiatives across different units in the Secretariat, ensuring they are effective and sustainable. In particular, support the UNCCD National Reporting process by developing e-learning materials and substantive support during in-person and online regional workshops.
• Engages and collaborates with UNCCD National Focal Points (NFP’s), UNCCD Scientific and Technological Correspondents (STC’s), members of the Science Policy Interface, multi-national partners and other stakeholders at the national, subregional, and regional levels – promoting South-South, North-South, and Triangular cooperation and partnerships, to effectively realize the capacity building, development and innovation programmes of the Convention.
• Conducts overall mapping and identify gaps in skills, systems, and resources that hinder organizational effectiveness in implementing capacity building, development and innovation programmes of the Convention. In this regard, develops tailor-made training interventions and skills development programmes at the individual, institutional and system levels addressing these gaps.
• Leveraging on the theory of change, the notion of Critical Realism and others, promotes and embeds an innovative mindset throughout the Secretariat by encouraging and co-developing novel and creative solutions drawing from a wide range of innovative approaches, frameworks, and methods.
• Leads the identification and research of trends, technologies, and business models that could create new opportunities for the effective implementation of the Convention.
• Further develops existing tools used for Capacity Building and Innovation, and the resuscitation of the UNCCD Capacity Building Marketplace (CBM) and e-learning platform in consultation with other units of the Secretariat.
• Leads and coordinates the full cycle for capacity building and development projects and interventions and develops innovative solutions, ensuring timely and cost-efficient delivery of project outcomes in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Supports countries as appropriate in the periodic review and update of their national action plans (NAPs) to ensure they reflect and incorporate new priorities (e.g. LDN), relevant scientific findings, promising innovative solutions, and strategic policy developments to remain effective in the face of changing environmental and socio-economic conditions.
• Coordinates and conducts training workshops, lectures, seminars, delivers presentations and promotes advocacy on topics/activities related to DLDD.
• Coordinates the involvement and substantive contributions of the UNCCD in the Joint Rio Conventions Capacity Building Initiative.
• Performs any other job-related activity required to achieve the goals and objectives of the unit and secretariat.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or another specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• JUDGEMENT/ DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decision prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact of others and on the organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decisions; Makes tough decisions when necessary; Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental management, development studies, business administration, management, economics, law, social sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in natural resource management, sustainable development management, programme management or related areas is required. Experience in working in developing countries, preferably within the United Nations Common system or in international institutions is desirable. Experience in environmental management is desirable.

Languages

• For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language would be considered an advantage.

Application instructions

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