UNDP in partnership with Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan is implementing a project on “Supporting Climate Resilience and Transformational Change in the Agriculture Sector in Bhutan’ funded by Green Climate Fund. 

Given its geographic location and mountainous terrain, Bhutan is vulnerable to climate change impacts, particularly on agricultural infrastructure, production and supply chain. Over the past years, Bhutan has experienced changes in the timing, frequency and intensity of rainfall as well as changes in temperatures. These changes have consequently led to wetter wet season damaging critical agriculture infrastructure and causing landslides disrupting market access, and drier dry season causing drought affecting timely crop cultivation. These impacts have a major bearing on 58% of the smallholder farming households, and in a sector that is critical for the Royal Government of Bhutan’s (RGoB’s) goals of food self-sufficiency and inclusive green socio-economic development.   

Given these specific challenges arising directly from the climate change impacts, the project seeks to enhance the resilience, through three complementary outputs:

• Promote resilient agricultural practices in the face of changing climate patterns;
• Integrate climate change risks into water and land management practices that affect smallholders; and
• Reduce the risk and impact of climate change induced landslides during extreme events that disrupt market access.

The project will be executed by the Ministry of Finance with technical support and oversight by the UNDP country office, Bhutan. 

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager, Environment and Livelihood Programme based at UNDP, Bhutan, the incumbent will be responsible for actively supporting the implementation of the project in close coordination with similar project portfolio (s) at UNDP and Project Management Unit established at RGoB, including different agencies responsible for direct implementation of different project outcomes/outputs. 

Summary of key functions:

• Support in the technical design and implementation of the project;
• Provide technical assistance for effective monitoring, evaluation and timely reporting;
• Facilitate knowledge building and management; and
• Contribute towards provision of high-quality technical advice and building of partnerships

Support in the technical design and implementation of project activities

• Support the Project Manager and PMU of RGoB with technical advice in the day – to – day management of the project; 
• Support PMU and Project Manager with oversight of the project’s technical activities, and where possible suggest solutions; 
• Support the PMU and project team in the formulation and review of activity to inform project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) with clear physical and financial deliverables in accordance with the Project Document;
• Identify areas for technical inputs, manage and oversee the work of consultants as and when required; 
• Identify bottlenecks in project implementation, update the status of project risks by maintaining a project risk log and keep the PMU and UNDP abreast of the issues and develop solutions for on time redressal;
• Organize Technical Advisory Committee/Project Board meetings at least twice a year to present progress, issues and risks of the project and to seek an approval from the Board for the Annual Work Plan; ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials and minutes of the Board Meetings;
• Identify opportunities for the project to achieve greater impact and synergies through partnership as well as through seeking collaboration across UNDP’s program/projects. 

Provide technical assistance for effective monitoring, evaluation and timely reporting

• The incumbent, working closely with Project manager and Project M & E Officer will ensure:
  1. The establishment of effective monitoring and reporting system on project implementation and results tracking;
  2. In organizing/conducting quarterly and annual progress review with focus on the project technical aspects and submitted to UNDP and PMU;
  3. That the activities proposed in the AWP are technically feasibly/qualified by working closely with Project Technical Advisory Committee (TAC);
  4. Preparation/review of technical reports/briefs for Project Board’s appraisal/approval/consideration; 
  5. Preparation and implementation of project communication plan;
  6. Preparation of periodic Annual Performance Report (APR) in close collaboration with PMU to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund and other corporate reports. 

Facilitate knowledge building and management

• Ensure that the Project systematically builds capacities of the Government through the introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation;
• Ensure capturing and dissemination of lessons learnt including evaluation outcomes during project implementation and coordinate with the PMU and UNDP for wider dissemination;
• Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned.

Contribute towards provision of high-quality technical advice and building of partnerships:

• Ensure, with support from the PMU, that technical outputs are reviewed to meet the highest technical standards and quality; 
• Establish, maintain and facilitate strategic dialogue between UNDP, project staff and Government officials at central and local levels, in project´s areas of work;
• Advocate UNDP with relevant stakeholders and build partnerships with donors, technical agencies and other development partners;
• Provide inputs to UN coordination platforms and participate in meetings, as required.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Management

• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Cross Functional Competency

• Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations
• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies