The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with Governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
UNDP Angola Country Office supports the Government of Angola, as well as civil society, in pursuing the country’s national targets for the Sustainable Development Goals. Working within the framework of Angola’s national development plans, UNDP focuses its action on three strategic priorities : employment, health and climate change. Such action is informed by cross-cutting interventions in the areas of governance, gender equality and innovation.
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and in close cooperation with the Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development Cluster Head and the Governance Cluster Head, the Environment/DRR Programme Specialist is responsible for the management of the UNDP Angola Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction portfolios. S/he analyzes trends in the environment, especially biodiversity, climate change and Chemicals&Waste sectors as well as DRR, leads formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities, and provides policy advice within the overall portfolio to the Government and the CO.
The Programme Specialist also leads, supervises and coordinates activities of project staff implementing related projects. The Programme Specialist works in close collaboration with the operations team, programme staff, UN Agencies, UNDP HQ staff, government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme development and implementation.
The purpose of the Programme Specialist: Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction position is to ensure strategic coherence, programmatic impact and operational compliance of the Country Office’s nature, climate, energy (NCE) and resilience portfolio.
The Programme Specialist: Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction provides thought leadership in planet pilar. He/she contributes to policy dialogue and resource mobilization efforts alongside the national authorities, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), International Financing Institutions (IFIs), other multilateral and bilateral donors and the United Nations (UN).
He/she participates in the formulation, management and evaluation of programme or project activities within his/her portfolio. The Programme Specialist provides oversight and quality assurance of UNDP’s NCE and resilience projects.
in line with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP). He/she will therefore work closely with UNDP Country Office programme and project personnel, as well as Operations and Finance teams.
The Programme Specialist works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Interior – National Commission for Civil Protection, Provincial Governments, Civil society, UNDP Regional NCE team, Specialized Regional Hubs (e.g. Energy, Resilience), IFIs, as well as the UN Country Team.
- Thorough analysis and research of the contextual, political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to core UNDP Angola environment and DRR policies, strategies, plans, and frameworks
- Identification of areas for support and interventions within the environment and DRR sectors, especially biodiversity, climate change and chemicals&waste
- Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues, and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
- Support in development of policies and institutions with Government and other strategic partners.
- Lead the formulation of new projects in line with agreed results within the CPD/CPAP in the thematic areas of environment and DRR
- Effective application of monitoring and evaluation tools
- Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies
- Coordination of programme implementation with HQ, Regional Offices and other UN agencies
- Promotes synergies and ensures coordination of programme implementation with other thematic areas (Poverty, Governance)
- Introduction of performance indicators/success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones
- Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to the Project Advisory Committee (PAC), entering project into Atlas, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review
- Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions.
- Aggregate reports regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports
Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and design and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy for the Environment and DRR sector, including with GEF and GCF, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Designs and implements the Country Office’s strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation plan related to health in order to achieve Country Programme outcomes
- Aggregates reports on activities, outputs and outcomes; prepares donor reports, using Quantum +
- Analyses and researches information on donors; produces substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation; identifies opportunities for initiation of new initiatives; actively contributes to the overall Office efforts in resource mobilisation
- Promotes effective partnerships with the Ministry of Health; Provincial governments; the Country Co-ordination Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund grants; the UN joint Team on HIV; USAID; PEPFAR; the European Union; International Financial Institutions; and other bilateral and multilateral donors.
- Identifies and pursues opportunities for joint programming with other UN agencies
- Consolidates strategic partnerships with civil society organisations, including key populations associations and representatives.
- Pursues partnership opportunities with academia as well as the private sector, including health technology companies.
Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management support focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven environmental and DRR issues.
- Guide the production of knowledge products (studies, technical exchanges, etc) that can be used to inform best practices and government policies in the sector
- Actively contribute to global knowledge networks in thematic area
- In connection with other countries (SSTRc), identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned to be potentially adapted to the Angolan context.
- Support to development of policies and institutions that will address key challenges in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:
The Programme Specialist: Health will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative. As Head of the Health Unit, he/she will manage one Programme Associate (to be recruited). In close consultation and collaboration with Project Coordinators, he/she will have the following responsibilities:
- Establishes/consolidates and monitors the annual Health Unit’s workplan
- Provides guidance, supervises and coaches personnel placed under her/his supervision
- Manages personnel performance and development objectives (PMD) and ensures personnel’s well-being
- Supervises and leads programme support personnel; coordinates activities of projects’ personnel
- Represents UNDP at official meetings and functions and undertake all other delegated tasks under those functions.
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
People Management
Motivate and Direct
- Create and communicate a compelling vision and purpose.
- Align people and resources with organizational vision, strategy, objectives.
- Understand and proactively builds the team/organization culture.
Manage Performance and Ensure Accountability
- Ensure regular conversations with people about work.
- Provide positive and constructive feedback.
- Discuss poor performance in a timely manner
- Provide praise and recognition, as well as ensure accountability
Lead with Humility
- Be authentic and transparent, act with integrity
- Be accessible and available to team members they lead
- Encourages debate and discussion, creating a culture where people are comfortable to challenge.
- Senior leaders and feel listened too.
- Be modest, giving credit for success to others and admit own shortcoming.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
External Relations and Advocacy
- Resource mobilization
- Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
Business Management
- Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
- Risk Management
- Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
- Partnership Management
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Business Direction & Strategy
- System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s. Objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground and creating tangible solutions.
2030 Agenda
- Planet: Nature, Climate and Energy
- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
- Biodiversity and Ecosystems
- Water Resources Management
- Energy efficiency concepts, renewable energy, access to energy; technologies and practical application.
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science/studies, energy, engineering or related natural or social science (Geography, Economics, Development Studies, etc.)
- 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
- Good knowledge of current sustainable environmental development and DRR issues.
- Experience and strong understanding of GEF and Climate Change funding and implementation procedures.
- Proven programmatic management experience with sound knowledge of all aspects of the project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation).
- Experience of working with UNDP or another UN agency would be an asset.
- Experience in working effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams is desirable.
- Experience in fundraising, resources mobilization and donor relations would be an asset.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is desirable.
Language Requirements
- Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese required.
- Proficiency in English required.