Background

This is a Re-Advertisement. Applicants who have applied earlier for the same vacancy will be given due consideration subject to meeting all criteria as listed in the job vacancy. Kindly do not re-apply.

High Range Mountain Landscape (HRML) in the Western Ghats mountains of peninsular India is a globally significant biodiversity region. Its key attributes are: a) high levels of endemism and biological diversity; b) Important Bird Area; c) presence of globally threatened species of fauna and flora; d) part of one of the five viable breeding centre of tiger in India; e) harbour the largest global population of Nilgiri tahr and a significant population of Grizzled Giant Squirrel (both threatened species); f) catchment of three major river systems of peninsular India; g) strong eco-cultural affinities; and h) support important economic sectors like cardamom, tea and tourism. At present, HRML is a complex mosaic of land uses where conservation, economic production and livelihood requirements assume equal primacy and profoundly influence each other. These contribute to competitive use of natural resources and affecting vital ecological processes. The rapidly altering developmental context, demographic contours, resource use configurations place a challenge for HRML’s long term ecological sustainability and livelihood security. The existing planning and policy framework, as well as the institutional arrangements in HRML are inadequate to address biodiversity conservation from a landscape perspective. The project aims to put in place a collaborative governance framework for multiple-use management of HRML. The project will attempt a paradigm shift from current sector-based planning to an approach for integrated multiple-use management of mountain landscapes to deliver global environmental benefits. The project aims to achieve this through the following Outcomes: a) Effective governance framework for multiple-use mountain landscape management in place; b) Multiple-use mountain landscape management is applied securing the ecological integrity of HRML; and c) Strengthened capacities for community based sustainable use and management of wild resources.
The project region covers 2190 sq. km spread across three districts of Kerala viz. Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur in Kerala.

UNDP aims to engage a Project Officer to support the National Project Director, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Head, NRM and Biodiversity, UNDP, in implementation of the project. S/he shall assist the NPD and UNDP in coordinating with MoEFCC, State Government, technical agencies and other relevant stakeholders for effective implementation and monitoring of the project. S/he might need to travel for project related activities to monitor and track the progress of the project implementation.
As this is a full-time position, PO cannot hold any other assignment, during this assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The PO will be responsible for the following technical, administrative and managerial tasks:

• Provide technical, managerial and administrative support to the NPD, and UNDP in coordinating and conducting project related activities (trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, NPSC meetings etc.);
• Assist the NPD and UNDP in coordinating with the State Government, Consultants and other relevant agencies and stakeholders on the implementation of the project and will assist NPD in all administrative, budgeting, planning and general monitoring of the implementation phase;
• Work closely with the State Project Manager for preparing component wise progress report, budget expenditures, payment documents, compiling financial reports and other documents as required by NPD and UNDP;
• Keep regular contact with project experts and consultants through the State Project Manager to inform them the project details and changes, edit reports and other documents for correctness of form and content;
• Work closely with the State Project Management Unit to get expenditure reports, utilization certificates, monitoring reports, workplans, quarterly and annual reports on timely basis
• Support NPD in facilitating flow of funds from MoEFCC to the state under the project
• Perform any other administrative/technical/financial duties as requested by the IGF (WL)/NPD and Head, NRM and Biodiversity, UNDP.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelors’ Degree in Environmental Science/ Natural Resource Management/ or related field with excellent academic record is essential.
• Masters’ Degree in Environmental Science/ Natural Resource Management/ or related field is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience at state or national level in community based conservation or natural resource management programme
• Experience of working in mountainscapes and seascapes
• Close familiarity with the roles, activities, and priorities of the Government of India, and particularly the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other national partners, with regard to natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, agriculture, sustainable land management and/or wildlife crime management
• Close familiarity with the operations and rules of UNDP is desirable
• Fluency in Hindi and English, in reading, writing, and speaking.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Good understanding of environmental issues such as landscape approach, wildlife conservation, , natural resource management and sustainable livelihoods
• Superior skills in organization and management, including past experience with planning, tracking, evaluation, and supervision of consultants and/or employees
• Strong skills in financial tracking and budget management
• Deep understanding and experience of working on landscape based approach projects in the country
• Good communication (written and oral), interpersonal and presentation skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Proficiency in MS-Office, especially PowerPoint, Excel and Word; Advanced knowledge of spread sheet, database management and research skills will be an asset.
• Ability to work independently and deliver time sensitive tasks assigned.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the country.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Malayalam
• Excellent drafting and verbal communication skills.

Source:https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=26093&hrs_jo_pst_seq=1&hrs_site_id=2