Under the authority of the UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa, the overall supervision of the Regional Head of Natural Science Unit and the direct supervision of the Project Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for leading the project “Strengthening local communities’ adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change through sustainable groundwater exploitation in Zimbabwe” funded by the Adaptation Fund.
The objective of the proposed project is to increase local communities’ adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change through sustainable groundwater utilisation for food security and other productive uses in rural areas of Zimbabwe.
To achieve this, the project will implement an array of actions starting at national to local levels. These include:
(i) Strengthening technical, institutional and human capacity for improved and sustainable utilization of groundwater at national and local level;
(ii) conducting comprehensive assessments of groundwater resources in two poverty-stricken and highly vulnerable sub-catchments of Lower Gwayi and Upper Save and develop sample plans for improving climate resilience through sustainable groundwater utilization;
(iii) Strengthening the capacity of water and land management institutions in Lower Gwayi and Upper Save sub-catchments by developing integrated catchment management plans that promote groundwater use whilst protecting groundwater resources;
(iv) Piloting and demonstrating concrete climate change adaptation measures based on sustainable groundwater utilisation by diversifying and strengthening the livelihoods of the most vulnerable population in Lower Gwayi and Upper Save sub-catchments; and
(v) Compiling and disseminating lessons learnt from the project to facilitate future upscaling and replication of good practices in groundwater extraction and management. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is the executing partner and the project will be implemented for 4 years from June 2023 to June 2027.
Duties and Responsibilities
Project Implementation:
- Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the project to ensure the achievement of project targets and results.
- Coordinate with the project team, the project steering committee and other implementing partners to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
- Coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication, capacity building, Monitoring and Evaluation, and risk management plans for the Project.
- Provide secretariat role for the project steering committee.
- Maintaining collaborative working relationships among key project partners, partners and the Adaptation Fund Secretariat.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Coordinate the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Steering Committee and Adaptation Fund and in UNESCO’s overall reporting system.
- Ensure that Adaptation Fund and UNESCO reports are prepared according to UNESCO’s standard operating procedures and quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to AF; and ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines.
- In collaboration with the technical project staff, UNESCO and the Government, identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Project Steering Committee.
- Undertake project-related missions to the field sites to support implementation and track progress;
- Keep the Project Steering Committee updated with regard to project implementation, progress, opportunities, and challenges.
- Monitor risks and ensure compliance with fund requirements.
Qualifications and Experience
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of Water Resources Management, Natural Sciences, or Earth Sciences.
- Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in project implementation in the field of natural sciences and or related fields;
- Relevant experience in the project management cycle;
- Demonstrated professional experience with project management.
- Advanced university degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in the field of natural sciences.
- Training in project management and/or environmental and social risk assessment.
- Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).
- Experience at international level, i.e. within the United Nations common system or International Organizations.
Competencies and Skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy;
- Ability to work with a wide range of partners, including national and local authorities, academia and relevant United Nations Agencies and NGOs;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Ability to work in a multicultural team with respect and sensitivity for diversity
- Good IT skills including knowledge of MS office programmes (i.e. Word, Excel, Office.etc).
- Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the United Nations System.
- Knowledge of United Nations work in the field of natural sciences and/ or related fields.
- Communication (C)
- Accountability (C)
- Innovation (C)
- Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
- Planning and organizing (C)
- Results focus (C)
- Teamwork (C)
- Professionalism (C)
- For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
How to Apply
To Apply Use Link: https://careers.unesco.org/job/National-Project-Officer/773515402/
Deadline: 20 July 2023
