PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. Its Climate Change Division promotes sustainable development and supports a transition towards climate stability by addressing mitigation and adaptation gaps. This role is situated within the Climate Change Adaptation Unit in Nouakchott, Mauritania, supporting a project focused on strengthening ecosystem and population resilience in northern Mauritania, and will be based within the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

Job Purpose

The Programme Management Officer will support the delivery of project objectives for "Strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and populations in four regional hubs in northern Mauritania." This involves providing technical guidance, identifying interventions, and managing project activities in consultation with stakeholders. The role requires reviewing country-specific development plans, assembling data for project planning and reporting, and ensuring adherence to UNEP rules and regulations. The incumbent will assist in resource programming, budget control, and monitoring project progress, identifying challenges and proposing solutions. They will also undertake missions to project sites, provide coaching to partners, and maintain information systems for monitoring and reporting. Furthermore, the role involves documenting best practices, providing technical inputs for project outputs, and performing other assigned duties related to the project's goals.

Responsibilities

Manage and provide technical support for project delivery, aligning with adaptation planning efforts. Consult with stakeholders to identify interventions and approaches, reviewing country-specific development plans and socioeconomic data. Assemble and edit data for project planning, reporting, and negotiation, considering various project design and management methods. Ensure compliance with UNEP financial and administrative regulations, supporting timely delivery of project results. Assist in resource programming, budget estimation, and expenditure forecasting, monitoring resources against planned activities and recommending remedial actions for delays. Conduct site missions to provide technical guidance and coaching to partners on implementation and reporting, identifying and resolving challenges. Monitor project activity progress by analyzing work plans, reports, and data, aggregating field reports and M&E results to prepare recommendations. Identify problems, propose solutions, and follow up on implementation to meet targets. Facilitate the development and maintenance of information systems for monitoring and reporting. Document and share good practices and lessons learned. Provide technical inputs and quality review for project outputs like studies and assessments. Coordinate the adaptation policy process by contributing to terms of reference, policy briefs, and research materials. Organize and represent the project in meetings, seminars, and workshops. Establish and maintain links with national, regional, and local stakeholders, including authorities, NGOs, the private sector, and media. Maintain communication with UNEP specialists, briefing them and partners on project matters. Act as the national technical focal point, ensuring project and donor visibility. Draft and edit communication materials, news releases, and official correspondence. Collect and analyze data using visualization methods to support planning, decision-making, and reporting.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressive experience in project management (design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting) and technical advisory support for climate change adaptation, environment, or sustainable development in Mauritania is required. Experience in a multicultural setting or the UN system is desirable. Experience with Mauritanian ecosystems, national/sector policy development, integration of environment into planning, institutional assessment, capacity building, and data analytics is also desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning and Organizing, Teamwork, Knowledge of climate change adaptation, ecosystem resilience, sustainable development, data analysis and interpretation, project management, technical advisory support, stakeholder engagement, communication, and reporting.

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