SGP National Coordinator (Open to internal and external applicants)

Overview

Oversee the implementation of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) at the country level, including supervision of staff and coordination of the National Steering Committee.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and provide guidance to the SGP Country Programme Associate/Assistant.
• Promote and maintain effective teamwork within the SGP Country Programme team, National Steering Committee, and UNDP CO team.
• Prepare and implement annual work plans, including strategic initiatives and delivery targets.
• Draft annual administrative and project operational budget proposals.
• Set annual performance parameters and learning objectives for the team, assess performance, and provide feedback.
• Formulate and implement the Country Programme Strategy (CPS), and its periodic review and update.
• Manage SGP grant allocations and country operating budget, ensuring financial integrity and adherence to SOPs.
• Exercise quality control over project ideas and concepts, and monitor programme implementation progress and results.
• Organize stakeholder workshops and project development sessions.
• Work closely with CSOs and CBOs in preparing project concepts and proposals.
• Authorize and manage project planning grants.
• Oversee ongoing SGP grant projects, conduct monitoring field visits, and provide technical and operational support to grantees.
• Plan and serve as secretary to National Steering Committee meetings.
• Support and coordinate with the National Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Group in project proposal review, selection, and approval.
• Foster programme, project, and policy linkages between SGP and other GEF projects, and with government, donors, and development partners.
• Report periodically to the Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) on programme implementation status.
• Undertake monitoring and evaluation of SGP Country Programme and projects.
• Perform and coordinate administrative tasks such as procurement and travel.
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders and promote the visibility of SGP.
• Develop and implement resource mobilization and partnership strategies.
• Support SGP grantees in securing co-financing and project-level partnerships.
• Document programme/project stories, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Facilitate dissemination of best practices and knowledge exchange among grantees.
• Ensure sound SGP programme results and impacts aligned with national strategies and priorities.

Required Experience

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in managing environment / natural resource management projects / initiatives at national or local levels is required.
• Progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related area at international and/or national level is desirable.
• Proven experience in managing and/or providing services for the design, management and monitoring and evaluation of UN/DP Programmes and/or development projects including results-based management a significant advantage.
• Experience in any of the GEF-SGP thematic areas at the national level highly desirable.
• Proven experience working in a sensitive environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors (e.g. NGOs, CSOs, government, etc.) is desired.

Qualifications

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental or Natural Resource Management, Economy, Public Policy, Law, Environmental Economics/Management, Business Administration or a related field is required; OR A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

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