Background
In Jordan, the plastic sector plays a vital role in the country's economy, but it also leads to severe plastic pollution due to mismanagement. While in Jordan existing regulations address downstream aspects of plastic pollution, such as collection and recycling, there are currently no proposed upstream solutions to shift from Single Use Plastic (SUP) economy to a more sustainable approach in the F&B sector. This project aims therefore to implement upstream activities in the following four key areas, in compliance with the strategy set by the Global IP on circular solutions to plastic pollutions.
Improving Regulatory Framework to ban specific SUP categories, enacting standards to increase the percentage of recycled material in plastic containers and standardizing the concept of \"biodegradability.\" Promoting the shift to Sustainable Packaging: by encouraging the transition of the Food and Beverage sector toward sustainable packaging production, demonstrating also alternatives to SUPs in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, food stores etc. Developing Financial Support for SMEs in establishing sustainable packaging businesses.ย Promoting consumer awareness and behavioral change towards sustainable consumption practices.The project will focus on cities in the Middle and Southern regions of Jordan, including Amman, Zarqa, Russeifa, and Aqaba. It will foster innovativeness through the establishment of an incubation program for enterprises to develop sustainable solutions, , and will also explore innovativeness in green financing schemes, taking into account Islamic rules in developing financing facilities, and by adopting market analytics methodologies to promote the consumersโ shift toward reusable packaging.ย ย
In terms of Global Environmental Benefits (GEB), the project intends to eliminate the production and use of 5000 tons of SUPs from the Food and Beverage sector, with the associated reduction of 17,000 tons of GHG and 0.625 g Teq of U-POPs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the UNDPย Team Leader of Sustainable Green Pathways and Inclusive Growth Portfolio and the Programme Analyst, the Project Manager is expected to perform the following responsibilities and duties:
Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation.
Manage the overall activities of the project. Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the approved workplan. Execute activities by managing personnel, goods and services and trainings, including drafting terms of reference and work specifications, and overseeing all contractorsโ work. Monitor events as determined in the project monitoring plan, and update the plan as required. Provide support for completion of assessments required by UNDP, spot checks and audits. Manage requests for the provision of UNDP financial resources through funding advances, direct payments or reimbursement using the FACE form. Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports. Monitor progress, watch for plan deviations, and make course corrections when needed within project board-agreed tolerances to achieve results. Ensure that changes are controlled, and problems addressed. Perform regular progress reporting to the project board as agreed with the board, including measures to address challenges and opportunities. Prepare and submit progress and financial reports to UNDP on a quarterly basis. Manage and monitor the project risks โ including social and environmental risks - initially identified and submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log. Capture lessons learned during project implementation. Prepare revisions to the multi-year workplan, as needed, as well as annual and quarterly plans if required. Prepare the inception report no later than one month after the inception workshop.ย Assess major and minor amendments to the project within the parameters set by UNDP-GEF. Monitor implementation plans including the gender action plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and any environmental and social management plans. Monitor and track progress against the GEF Core indicators. Lead stakeholder dialogue with external partners relevant to the project implementation.ย Coordinate and liaise between the project partners and key stakeholders to ensure harmony in approach and consistency in implementation.ย Participate, contribute and to the project on the country and global levels to introduce the project, delivering on results and sharing data and knowledge.ย Prepare regular progress reports for donors, stakeholders, and policymakers. Document lessons learned and best practices for future initiatives.Contribute to the Regulatory framework aimed at reducing plastic waste generation strengthened and supported through a clear chain of responsibilities.
Identify and involve key stakeholders such as government bodies, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations. Facilitate consultations and workshops to gather input on regulatory needs and responsibilities. Collaborate with legal experts to draft or revise regulations and guidelines. Ensure alignment with international best practices and standards. Design public awareness campaigns to promote compliance with the strengthened regulatory framework Work with media and communication teams to disseminate information. Mediate conflicts between stakeholders regarding roles and responsibilities. Address potential barriers to implementation, such as resistance from certain sectorsEnsure the full engagement of theย private sector to implement innovative approaches on the avoidance of SUPs
Contribute to the Fiscal policies and innovative financing schemes to support circularity of plastic products in the F&B sector implemented.
Work with policymakers to develop financial or tax incentives for private companies adopting sustainable practices and ecofriendly products. Provide technical support for adopting environmentally friendly technologies, such as advanced recycling systems or eco-design.Facilitate knowledge management, lesson learning and coordination with the global project carried out.
Gather insights, experiences, and best practices from project implementation.ย ย ย ย ย ย Documenting key findings, methodologies, and outcomes. Create technical reports, case studies, and guidance documents. Ensure and maintain an online repository for all knowledge materials. Organize forums or webinars to share knowledge among stakeholders. Facilitate workshops to discuss lessons learned with stakeholders and team members. Align these lessons with global best practices. Establish a communication schedule (e.g., monthly updates) with the global project team. Share periodic progress reports, findings, and lessons learned. Actively participate in the local project in global coordination meetings. Facilitate exchanges between local and global teams to share tools, methodologies, and data. Track the dissemination and usage of knowledge products. Document coordination activities with the global project. Train project staff and stakeholders on knowledge management systems. Build the capacity of the team to use lesson-learning frameworks effectively. Address delays or bottlenecks in information exchange. Ensure gaps in knowledge dissemination or uptake are identified and addressed promptly.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.ย
Institutional Arrangement
In this context, the Project Manager (PM) will work under the UNDPย Sustainable Green Pathways and Inclusive Growth Portfolio. S/he works under the guidance and supervision of the Sustainable Green Pathways and Inclusive Growth Portfolio Team Leader and in close collaboration with team members. The Project Manager will also act as a supervisor to the project associate NPSA-6 and techncialย Associate NPSA-7.
Competencies Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย 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 demandsย Act with Determination:ย 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 inclusivityPeople Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicatedย site.ย
Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย Thematic Area