Programme Management Associate

United Nations Office for Project Services

New York, United States of America

The Programme Management - Associate facilitates the delivery of the programme activities with a focus on support with the implementation of the Equator Prize and related events and activities. The incumbent would coordinate the overall delivery and implementation of the Equator Prize work to allow the programme to effectively shine a spotlight on the success of local and indigenous groups that contribute to sustainable development at the grassroots level; to develop the capacities of local and indigenous peoples in the Equator Prize network; to inform policy and foster knowledge exchanges amongst local and national policy makers; and to document Equator Prize winners’ best practices. 

This role comprises management of the outreach and communications efforts, liaison with and support to organizations nominating for the Equator Prize, management of the selection process identifying the winners, and preparation of community representatives for their travels to New York to participate in the Equator Prize Award Ceremony and associated activities, among others. 

The Programme Management - Associate would also advance the NfD program by contributing to the development of knowledge products and by working on facilitating connections between Equator Prize winners and other stakeholder, to further promote nature-based solutions for sustainable development by improving the value chain and increasing livelihoods of local communities.

The assignment is supervised by the Manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

Duties and responsibilities include:

  • Outreach support: Implement detailed outreach strategy for the Equator Prize (e-mail outreach, social media, research on additional contacts, liaison with previous winners etc.); provide technical support to nominations and management of inquiries; provide support to communications efforts such as creation and dissemination of social media materials.
  • Support to selection process: Handle nominations for the Equator Prize, provide technical support to the members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC); ensure nominations are evaluated correctly and in a timely manner; provide support to the organization of the Technical Advisory Committee meeting; manage translations.
  • Support to due diligence process: Conduct desk top review to verify information provided by shortlisted organizations and liaise with referees.
  • Support case studies production: liaise with case study writers, editors, and local communities to ensure the proper gathering of materials and feedback, and the finalization of case studies about nature-based solutions.
  • Support to travel preparations: Support Equator Prize winner representatives in their travel preparations for New York for the Award Ceremony or to other locations/venues to attend relevant events or international conferences.
  • Support the coordination related to ensuring the participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities (“IPLCs”) in national/regional and global policy events to make inroads in the UN system or other political bodies to advocate for human/civil/Indigenous rights, civil society engagement and inclusion, and nature-based solutions advancement for sustainable development.
  • Support IPLCs to actively participate in global conservation and development conferences and side events (e.g. by CBD, UNFCCC, WCC and UNCCD) by convening dialogue, identifying appropriate participants, summarizing key issues, providing supporting evidence and materials, preparing speakers for presentations, rehearsal of interventions, and supporting them for travel.
  • Support the organization and coordination of global and national or local Equator Prize ceremonies and other capacity-building events.
  • Support partnerships between the Equator Initiative and other international organizations, foundations, private sector companies, Indigenous groups, local communities, subject matter experts, UNDP offices worldwide, internal UNDP partners (GEF Small Grants Programme and other initiatives supporting local development initiatives) and other UN agencies.
  • Support to procurement processes to source external vendors for events, dialogues, workshops and to direct funds to Equator Prize winning communities.
  • Support to Equator Prize community dialogues: Help organize community dialogue workshops, including logistical support, volunteer management, interpretation, etc.
  • Support the drafting of written outputs and knowledge products: e.g., publications, newsletters, toolkits, sections of reports, concept notes, presentations, social media posts, interviews, podcasts, etc.
  • In partnership with the Learning for Nature team, support the production and full delivery of webinars, training, workshops and other learning or capacity-building events tailored to IPLC constituencies. Topics may include economical transformations, green entrepreneurship, supply chains, commodities, fundraising, private sector partnerships, MSME finance, basics of community video production, communications skills for IPLCs, nature-based solutions, advocacy for Indigenous peoples, mapping for biodiversity, land and tenure rights, community forestry, mangrove restoration, sustainable agriculture, local green energy, and others.  
  • Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Education/Experience/Language requirements:

candidates With No United Nations Or Unops Experience Are Strongly Encouraged To Apply:

Education:

  • Secondary education/High school diploma is required.
  • University degree (Bachelor’s or Master’), preferably in international relations, sustainable development, environmental management/sciences, social/political science, business and management, or other related disciplines, will be considered an asset and may substitute for some of the required years of experience.

Required Experience:

  • Minimum six (6) years of experience working in business administration, legal, finance, project or programme management, human/civil/indigenous rights, local economic development, or civil society engagement and education, is required.
  • Strong computer literacy required as well as experience using software packages such as MS Office, internet research
  • Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply):
  • Prior experience (e.g. through internships or voluntary work) in international affairs, supporting international events, communications and/or local development is considered a strong asset.
  • Prior experience working at the local level on sustainable development, indigenous and/or human rights issues in developing countries would be an asset.
  • Prior experience developing, coordinating, and convening large events such as award ceremonies, flagship events or capacity-building workshops would be an asset.
  • Prior experience in developing educational materials, webinars or training would be an asset.
  • Prior experience in international affairs, microfinance, communications and/or local development is considered an asset.

Language:

  • Fluency and excellent writing ability in English is required.
  • Fluency or proficiency in additional languages such as French and Spanish is considered a strong asset.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=24629#2