Programme Analyst – Partnership for Sustainable Development

Background Viet Nam (VN) consistently showed robust economic growth until December 2019, with its rate of GDP growth among the highest in the world. According to the Sustainable Development Report 2019, VN’s SDG index ranked 54^th out of 162 countries, compared to 57^th in 2018. In 2019, VN embarked on the formulation of its Socio-Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) 2021-2030, the Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025, and preparation for the Party’s Congress, which will set strategic directions for the country’s development in the next 5- and 10-year period. Key challenges for VN include the government’s ability to address development priorities while dealing with increasing economic complexity and uncertainty, rapid changes in trade, value chains, acceleration of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, climate change, and natural disasters. VN is among the top 10 countries hardest hit by weather disasters. GHG emissions are increasing very quickly, and are expected to triple by 2030. In addition COVID-19 has been posing increasing challenges worldwide since early 2020, and Viet Nam is not an exception. The private sector is a key agent of growth in Viet Nam, making significant contributions to GDP and job creation: micro, medium, and small-size enterprises contribute about 40% of GDP, and generate about 70% of jobs. UNDP has been partnering with businesses to enhance their actions and contributions to reduce climate change and environmental pollution, and would like to refashion its relationship with this dynamic sector to unlock new avenues for resource mobilization, investments, and action for a sustainable climate and environment. UNDP continues to remain a trusted partner in development thinking and planning, providing policy advice, and assisting the country in accelerating the achievement of the SDGs, including through the Programme Portfolio of Climate, Energy, Environment, and Health. UNDP Viet Nam’s Climate, Energy, Environment, and Health portfolio covers:

Climate and disaster resilience;
Climate change mitigation: greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and climate nationally determined contributions (NDC);
Sustainable energy;
Circular economy, waste, and plastic;
Natural resources, forestry, and oceans; and
Environmental protection, persistent organic pollutants and chemicals, and health.

This portfolio currently has more than 30 staff members, 30 ongoing projects, and a total budget of 75 million USD. It is continuing to grow, and is now in need of expanding its partnerships for more impactful sustainable development in Viet Nam. UNDP Viet Nam is looking to recruit a new Programme Officer (PO) to lead partnerships for development, with a focus on partnerships with businesses and the private sector to enhance their actions and contributions towards green, low-carbon, climate- and disaster-resilient, and environmentally friendly development in Viet Nam. The PO will work closely with technical officers/analysts and other staff members of UNDP Viet Nam as well as the International/Regional Technical Advisors at Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH). Duties and Responsibilities The Programme Officer has three functions:

Build effective partnerships with development partners, especially private sector entities and youth, for inclusive societies, resilience to future shocks, and low-carbon/green growth aligned with the SDG agenda.
Effectively develop and manage/implement projects in accordance with the UN/UNDP’s established rules, regulations, and practices;
Provide support to programme coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy.

1. Build effective partnerships for sustainable development in Viet Nam:

This function entails building and maintaining strategic partnerships with the government, the private sector, and other stakeholders for strategic programming, synergies, and sustainability of UNDP support, and includes the following:

Lead the development and implementation of an action plan for effective partnerships with businesses and the private sector to promote their actions and contributions towards Viet Nam’s climate, energy, and environmental objectives;
Develop the necessary tools and mechanisms to track businesses’ and private sector entities’ actions, contributions, and progress toward the achievement of their/the Government of Viet Nam’s commitments in the areas of climate, energy, environment, and natural resources;
Promote and facilitate thematic innovation platforms for micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) to access information on effective climate-smart technologies, finance market niches, green products, and value chains to develop and expand their green and climate-resilient businesses;
Promote innovative finance and climate finance to support scalable climate-resilient and/or green growth potential;
Identify opportunities for testing and scaling up best practices and proven ideas/solutions; deploy/scale up tested models and solutions that contribute to equitable and inclusive societies, resilience to future shocks, and green growth, aligned with the SDG agenda;
Contribute to the development of government policies/regulations that will support the acceleration of actions across nature, climate, and energy, realizing Viet Nam’s ambition of its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

2. Effectively develop and manage/implement projects, aiming to achieve the following results:

Proper and effective planning, organization, management, implementation, and M&E to ensure timely achievement of quality results;
Effective application of results-based management (RBM) tools in management; establishment of management targets and monitoring of the achievement of results, including establishment of performance indicators/success criteria and regular updates on baselines, targets, and milestones in the Project’s results and resources frameworks;
Coordination of inputs from participating partners and advisory services to the project management unit (PMU) for timely preparation and approval of the project work plans;
Analysis of the project situation: financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions, in full compliance with Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) guidelines;
Participation in the recruitment and procurement processes and coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercise, mid-term reviews, and closure of the Project;
Exercise risk management, including timely implementation of mitigation measures and updates to the risk log and integrated work plan (IWP) in the Atlas system;
Participation in and facilitation of project audits, spot-checks, and follow-up on recommendations, with exceptions reported to the supervisor in a timely manner;
Preparation of regular aggregate reports on activities, outputs, and outcomes, including technical progress, to UNDP and donors as required;
Quality documentation of the Project’s lessons learnt and best practices; quality publication of technical reports, policy briefs, and results;
Ensuring synergies and coherence between the Project and other interventions by UNDP Viet Nam;
Regular briefings and timely reports to the supervisor on any exceptions to facilitate timely action and informed decisions.

3. Support the Team Leader in programme coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy:

Identify opportunities for enhanced programme synergies and coordination; assist the Team Leader in implementing actions to ensure synergies and coordination among projects and interventions;
Promote documentation of best practices and proven solutions/tested ideas for evidence-based advocacy and programme development;
Support the Team Leader on preparation of briefings, advocacy messages, and speeches for policy dialogues and high-level events;
Support the Team Leader in formulating, facilitating, coordinating, and guiding flagship policy analysis, research, and publications;
Act as the focal point of the CEE Team for relevant UN Result Groups/Working Groups; this will include active participation and contribution to the UN/UNDP’s regular reports on outputs and outcomes, as well as outcome evaluations, under the framework of the UN Framework for Sustainable Development in Viet Nam;

Competencies

*Core*
Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work	Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them
Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow	Level 6: Ensures teams are resourced for success and empowered to deliver
People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction	Level 6: Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity
Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform	Level 6: Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen
Delivery Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement	Level 7: Sets strategic goals and builds the means to achieve optimal service delivery and organizational excellence

*Technical/Functional*
Results-Based Programme Development and Management Competency Definition	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda Competency Definition	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Building Strategic Partnerships Competency Definition	Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches Competency Definition	Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Resource Mobilization Competency Definition	Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Competency Definition	Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Competency Definition	Level 7: Navigate & Guide: Charts a course for a systems approach to continuous learning, adaptation, and excellence, creating institutional imperatives to realize progress within across the relevant profession
Client Orientation Competency Definition	Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s degree in Environment, Natural Resources, Economics, Business Administration, or related fields.
At least ten (10) years of progressively relevant professional experience in programme development and management, building partnerships, and advocacy;
Hands-on experience in planning, management, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Extensive knowledge of natural resources, environment, climate, energy, agriculture, and related subjects;
Proven networking skills, ability to interact with senior officials, and work in a team;
Excellent communication and organizational skills;
Good knowledge of gender equality and civil society participation are advantageous.
Full fluency in English and Vietnamese.
Excellent knowledge of office IT equipment and social media applications.

Disclaimer Important applicant information All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment. Applicant information about UNDP rosters Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Deadline: 8/11/2020 Application link: https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=33364