Myanmar: Integrated Land & Seascape Management Specialist, Myeik

Jun 2, 2018 | UNDP
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UNDP is implementing the 2013 – 2017 Country Programme in Myanmar with the aim of promoting local governance, growth and sustainable development with emphasis on rights-based approaches to programming, gender sensitivity, inclusiveness and equity. This goal is pursued through three complementary programme pillars: Pillar I on local governance, Pillar II on environmental governance and disaster resilience, and Pillar 3 on democratic governance.

UNDP is currently developing the new Country Programme (2018-2022) which is focused on achieving two outcomes: 1) Sustaining peace through national reconciliation and building an effective democratic state, 2) Promoting more inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth and development. The Country Programme will be implemented through integrated programming to better address the interlinkages between peacebuilding, governance, natural resource management/resilience and balanced, inclusive growth and the vertical linkages between sub-national and national structures.

UNDP formulated the project titled 'Ridge to Reef: Integrated Protected Area Land and Seascape Management in Tanintharyi' in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) over the period October 2015 to December 2016. The project was approved by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Fund on April 2017. The project duration is six years with funding of US$ 5.25 million from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

The project objective is to 'secure the long-term protection of key biodiversity areas in Tanintharyi through integrated planning and management at land and seascape scales, with interconnectivity from ridge to reef'.

The project is composed of four interrelated components:

Component 1: Integrated land and seascape planning and management in Tanintharyi Region

Component 2: Strengthened management and threat reduction in target proposed PAs and surrounding land/seascapes

Component 3: Emplacement of the National Biodiversity Survey Framework and geospatial platform for integrated land and seascape management

Component 4: Prototype National Biodiversity Survey Framework and geospatial platform operational within Tanintharyi Regional Government

Duties and Responsibilities

In close collaboration with and under the technical guidance and oversight of the Senior Technical Advisor (ILSM), the ILSM Specialist will support the quality and consistency of the project's approach towards developing and implementing a framework for integrated land and seascape management in the Tanintharyi Region. This will be achieved through the provision of technical advice, guidance and support for landscape planning and implementation to achieve the project's objectives.

Specific roles and responsibilities include:

Contributes to and provides guidance on key project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes Provides strategic and technical advisory services to project partners in land and seascape planning and management in Tanintharyi Region to achieve coordinated and integrated project implementation Promotes sharing of project information and knowledge of thematic focus areas relevant to the achievement of project results

1. Contributes to and provides guidance on key project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes

  • Facilitate and guide development of annual work plans and budgets for Components of the project in collaboration with responsible parties/implementing partners
  • Facilitate and guide the compilation of progress and technical reports for project activities in line with project reporting requirements to UNDP and the GEF
  • Coordinate implementation of the project's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan to ensure the measurement of progress against ILSM indicators
  • Support effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes by ensuring that project workplans, inputs and reporting are linked to the project results framework, and that progress against indicators is monitored and updated
  • Contribute to quarterly work planning and project review processes
  • Consult and seek inputs from the Government of Myanmar, UNDP/GEF and other partners to ensure that the project is implemented in a timely and effective manner towards the achievement of results;
  • Support a learning approach to project implementation, through feedback from progress reports, lessons learned, technical studies and stakeholder consultations in guiding adaptive changes to project strategy and workplans, budget allocations and implementation arrangements to optimize accomplishment of the project objective and outcomes.
  • Assist the Senior Technical Advisor and the Project Manager to ensure effective coordination of project activities

2. Provides strategic and technical advisory services to project partners in land and seascape planning and management in Tanintharyi Region to achieve coordinated and integrated project implementation

  • Coordinate with the responsible parties for implementation of project activities and provide necessary backstopping including site visits where necessary
  • Support the Senior Technical Advisor in the secretariat functions of the Regional Advisory and Coordination Group (RACG) and support the organization and management and required follow up of RACG meetings;
  • provide information and guidance required for decision-making
  • Support the promotion of inter-institutional cooperation within the conservation and related sectors around areas of mutual interest and concern;
  • Assist the Project Manager in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs and other groups to ensure effective coordination of project activities;
  • Play a role in the development of strategies to secure new partnerships and mobilize additional resources based on programme requirements and emerging opportunities.
  • Network with other relevant agencies and projects on ILSM issues and establish linkages for learning and sharing experiences and developing synergies.
  • Develop strategies to secure new partnerships and mobilize additional resources based on programme requirements and emerging opportunities.
  • Assist in promoting inter-institutional cooperation within the conservation and related sectors around areas of mutual interest and concern;
  • Support the Senior Technical Advisor and the Project Manager in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs and other groups to ensure effective coordination of project activities;
  • Undertake monitoring to ensure that intended biodiversity conservation outcomes of the project are attained;

3. Promotes sharing of project information and knowledge of thematic focus areas relevant to the achievement of project results

  • Advocate for UNDP with Government counterparts and ensures access to best available expertise;
  • Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organization sharing and learning;
  • Support capacity-building of national counterparts;
  • Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
  • Assist in assessing immediate and future training and extension needs to watershed management, environmental conservation and socio-economic development for communities and measures to address these needs, including organizing on the job training, seminars and workshops.
  • Promote thematic and sectoral synergies and coordinate project activities with the rest of the UNDP programme

Impact of Results

The key results will have an impact on the overall success of the Ridge to Reef: Integrated Land and Seascape Management Planning in Tanintharyi Region Project and to the achievement of outcomes outlines in UNDP's Country Programme.

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development
  • Builds knowledge in at least one practice areas
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues, in the areas of biodiversity conservation, environmental governance, climate change adaptation, climate risk assessment, water resources management, food security, poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
  • In-depth practical knowledge of development issues in the context of Myanmar
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
  • Ability to negotiate with partners and internal units; ability to identify and analyses trends, opportunities and threats to the implementation of the project
  • Excellent drafting and presentation skills
  • Ability to plan and organize work programme
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision
  • Ability to apply Resource Mobilization and partnerships building theory to the specific country context
  • Strong IT skills

Management and Leadership

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback
  • Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation
  • Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills with diverse culture and traditions
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
  • Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

  • At least 2 years of work experience in the related field of work.
  • Previous experience with UN projects is an asset
  • Sound understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihoods, and associated issues;
  • Sound understanding of integrated sustainable land and seascape management, climate change adaptation and community development;
  • Very good knowledge and experience of results-based management and project cycle management;
  • Very good inter-personal skills;
  • Very good computer skills;
  • Languages - Essential: English