International Technical Adviser and Monitoring-Evaluation

Result of ServiceThe consultant will provide reliable technical and strategic assistance and coordination of programme/project planning and preparation activities. Process work and requisite follow-up accomplished under some supervision. Seek advice from and report to supervisor as needed. Accurately prepare reports. Consistently apply appropriate policies, guidelines, and procedures effectively and promptly. Liaise with colleagues and concerned parties both internally and externally. Work LocationMauritania Expected duration5 years Duties and ResponsibilitiesUNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit oversees the implementation of GEF funded projects for UNEP at its headquarters in Nairobi. In this context the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Mauritania hereafter) has acquired funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to implement a project entitled \" Integrated Management of Protected Areas in the Arid Regions of Mauritania (IMPADRA)\". The project will be executed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD) through its Directorate for the Protection and Restoration of Species and Environments (DPREM). The main objective of the project is: to enhance the conservation of key species in Mauritania through the creation and sustainable management of a new Protected Area in the arid Wilaya of Adrar. The project will: Support the establishment of a new Protected Area (PA) in Adrar Wilaya to improve the conservation status through project support to enable the designation and registration of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) to contribute to the creation and effective management of a new PA in the Wilaya of Adrar Support the establishment of financial sustainability mechanisms for sustainable and effective management of the PA to address the barriers identified such as lack of institutional frameworks at local level to support capacity development for improved integration of communities in sustainable management of natural resources. Ensure knowledge management and gender mainstreaming at developing robust and gender-sensitive communications, monitoring and knowledge management plan for the project, which will also be critical in inspiring pro-environmental behaviour in ensuring ownership and sustainability. The consultant will report to the GEF Task manager in the Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit/ Ecosystems Division at UNEP Headquarter, Nairobi, Kenya, who will evaluate the outputs of the consultant with a second reporting line to the Directorate for the Protection and Restoration of Species and Environments (DPREM)/Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD). Workplan The overall work plan will be agreed upon between the consultant and the Directorate for Protection and Restoration of Species and Environments (DPREM) and the UNEP Task Manager, in the Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit supervising the consultant. Objectives, output expectations and performance indicators The consultant will provide a monthly output report to the Task manager, Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. Accomplishment of the consultant’s functions will be based on, but not limited to, the following:  Technical Assistance: Provide technical and strategic assistance to the Project Management Unit, Project Steering Committee (PSC) and other project counterparts in areas of PA project sustainable implementation.  Monitoring and evaluation: develop a system/mechanism of tracking project results and performance; identify data sets to be collected in line with the project outcome and output indicators; data collection sources  Administrative: provide technical Advice in respecting UN Environment Programme project technical and financial management procedures and serve as the second co-signatory of cheque and provide written clearance on all issues engaging the project with due respect of the project planned activities and Cooperation Agreement between UNEP and the Ministry. Ensure that the Project Executing Agencies follow all the clauses set in the Project Cooperation Agreement with UN Environment Programme. Specific tasks and responsibilities The consultant is expected to work closely under the overall guidance and supervision of the national Project Management Unit, and in close collaboration with the UNEP Task manager; to perform the following:  Design and develop a project management plan, annual work plans, monitoring progress reports, providing quality assurance for outputs, and ensuring that annual, mid-term and end-of-project targets will be met  Track best practices and lessons learned on PA and facilitate project planning and implementation to ensure that full use is made of global and national lessons learned, and best practices to achieve the project goal of realizing sustainable PA management within the landscape context, securing biodiversity and ecosystem services  Draft the Terms of Reference for consultants and sub-contractors, and work closely with the Project management Unit to select various consultants and partners  Facilitate the work of all consultants and sub-contractors, ensuring timely and quality delivery of expected outputs, effective synergy among the various sub-contracted activities, and integration of project outputs into Government work.;  Track key strategic and policy issues related to biodiversity, protected areas, institutional strengthening processes, and appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems and knowledge management systems  Organize and facilitate the Project Steering Committee meetings and work closely with the Project Management Unit in preparing the inception report, Project Implementation Review / Annual Project Report, and technical reports for submission to UNEP, the GEF, other donors and the Government, as required.  Work closely with the PMU in mobilizing staff and consultants in the conduct of a mid-term project review, and in undertaking revisions in the implementation programme and strategy, based on evaluation results.  Draft a policy briefing papers and technical reports to support decision-making processes, advocacy and knowledge management.  Track the performance of the project activities and outputs against expected results and adjust implementation processes to ensure the project is progressing towards the intended outcomes.  Analyze the impact of projects and facilitate learning by documentation of best practices and use this information to support decision-making processes.  Track program progress, projects’ expenditure against approved budgets, anticipate any deviations and recommend and take action on relevant and required adjustments.  Develop Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the project.  Develop tools for field monitoring after review of project documents.  Conduct regular field monitoring visits to project sites and develop quarterly monitoring reports and work closely with Project Coordinator in ensuring that all reports meet the requirements.  Develop and evaluate Capacity Building Trainings (if required) and prepare training evaluation reports.  Maintain records of project documents and keep track of major achievements.  Collect and consolidate the progress of the project against targets of Work Plan and Indicators of Logical Framework.  Conduct meetings with project partners/stakeholders to assess their role in the implementation of the projects.  Identify gaps (if any) and make recommendations for improvements in project implementation process. 4.3 Outputs Deliverables 1 Project management plan Q1 2 Annual work plans Q1 Q4 3 Monitoring progress reports Q2 Q4 4 Best practices and lessons learned on PA reports Q1 5 TORs for consultants and sub-contractors Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 6 Project inception report Q1 7 Project steering committee meetings report Q4 8 Project Implementation Review (PIR) Q3 9 Annual and half yearly technical project reports Q1 Q3 10 Half yearly technical project reports Q2 Q4 11 Project midterm review report Q4 12 Project review reports Q2 Q4 13 Policy briefing papers and technical reports Q1 14 Project monitoring and evaluation plan Q1 15 Tools for field project activities monitoring Q1 16 Monitoring & Evaluation report Q1 Q3 17 Capacity building and trainings evaluation reports Q1 18 Project major achievements reports and outreach papers Q1 Q3 19 Project terminal technical report Q4 20 Draft legal agreement and other duties upon request Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced University degree in engineering, geography, biometrics, biodiversity science, biodiversity management, environmental science, assessment and related research, development or related scientific disciplines is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional 2 years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • At least 4 years of professional experience, of which at least five are at international level in environmental information and monitoring systems / tools and as many years of experience in project Monitoring & Evaluation is required. • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting is required • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects is required • Excellent knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit, UN experience, especially in managing or supporting project monitoring on sustainable management of genetic resources and natural resources is required. • A good knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, IT tools and participatory assessment tools as well as their applications is required. • Ability to produce high quality reports, publications and project proposals is required • A good understanding of challenges linked to biodiversity conservation versus natural resource use, and particularly in the field of biodiversity conservation, PA in the sub- region is desirable. • Experience in supporting a Ministry of Environment on a GEF project (development or implementation) is desirable • Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral change is desirable. • Build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written French and English is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.