National Project Assistant Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – EnGenDER Project

The physical impacts of climate change and natural hazards are being seen to compound pervasive structural inequalities and socioeconomic vulnerabilities since gender equality and human rights are given insufficient consideration required in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and in disaster risk, recovery, and response. While this is a general pattern where women and girls face a disparity in terms of (amongst other things) access to economic participation, nuances exist in each country in the needs and vulnerabilities of women, men, girls, and boys, which warrant more detailed investigation and articulation.

Women and men typically respond and react differently at various stages of disaster and recovery; and the groups with the least knowledge and capacity to take short-term measures to limit impacts from climate-related disasters are often the most affected. Thanks to the generous contribution from Government of Canada and the UK, EnGenDER seeks to further integrate gender equality and human-rights based approaches into disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change (CC) adaptation and mitigation, environmental management frameworks and interventions. EnGenDER will also identify and address some of the gaps to ensure equal access to DRR and climate change and environmental solutions for both men, women, boys, and girls in nine Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname).

Appreciating that the nine participating Caribbean countries are at different stages of removing barriers to gender equality and integrating gender-based analysis into climate change, as well as disaster recovery, this project aims to ensure that climate change and disaster risk reduction actions are better informed by an analysis of gender inequalities, and decisions are taken to ensure that inequalities are alleviated rather than exacerbated. These underlying gender inequalities (specific to each country context) are compounded by increasingly intense and frequently experienced climate change and disaster risk within Caribbean societies. EnGenDER therefore aims to empower governments to take ownership of their disaster risks and exposure with better national arrangements to deal with possible large-scale recovery needs, including improved shock responsiveness in national systems and better social protection finance tools for the most vulnerable. As such, the project’s ultimate outcome is improved gender-responsive climate and disaster resilience including for women and girls and key vulnerable populations[1] and future generations in the Caribbean.

The EnGenDER project will support CC, DRR and environmental management interventions in the 9 Caribbean countries by leveraging sector-level entry points (e.g., National Action Plans (NAPs) and National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)), specifically supporting implementation and/or upscaling of countries’ priority actions. This project will analyse and prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable with respect to climate change adaptation and mitigation in priority sectors, including increasing their resilience in key livelihood sectors. It will also improve institutional capacities for delivering services effectively for the most vulnerable to accelerate post-disaster recovery and mitigate risk. By using a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach, the project also aims to contribute to the achievement of several SDGs (2, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16).

In this context, UNDP wishes to engage an experienced consultant, who can provide administrative, technical, and monitoring support to the overall portfolio of activities of the EnGenDER project in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

[1] An online survey completed by 108 stakeholders in the target countries have identified the following groups as very vulnerable: women, older men, boys and girls, and persons with disabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the EnGenDER Project Manager with additional guidance and support from the Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, Technical Specialist-Climate Change, the National Project Assistant (NPA) is expected to support technical, administrative (including logistical arrangements) and monitoring actions relating to project implementation, execution, and reporting.

As such the individual, will undertake the following tasks related to the implementation of the EnGenDER project:

Provide technical assistance and coordination capacity to the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the successful implementation and timely quality reporting of EnGenDER project activities (This includes but is not limited to the development and implementation of the Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (SASAP); the development of the Offer of Complementary Funding (OCF) proposal; Implementation of recommenced interventions; Recovery interventions; Communications activities and all reporting and evaluation related activities).
Provide technical support including assistance to follow up on procurement processes, logistics, monitoring and full project implementation.
Provide technical advisory services to ensure that delivery to clients and beneficiaries meets UNDP quality standards and are progressing towards intended Outcomes (relating to the Results Framework of the project).
Support the identification, formulation, development and monitoring of all EnGenDER activities, in close collaboration with the Technical Specialist-Climate Change and the Monitoring and Evaluation. Analyst (as well as other Project Management Unit (PMU) team members), located in Barbados.
Facilitate consultation with local stakeholders and partners, coordinate with Implementing Partners, such as UN Women and CDEMA.
Report to the supervisor (or designated member of the PMU) on a regular basis providing a clear overview of the activities completed, challenges and shortfalls as well as effective alternatives of solution. This includes weekly and/or biweekly updates.
Ensure close coordination with the relevant government counterparts in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the EnGenDER PMU for the development and execution of assigned tasks and planned activities.
Support event planning (physical and/or virtual) for project related workshops and meetings

Competencies

Good analytical, organizational and management skills, including proven experience in coordinating with national stakeholders and expert teams, organizing multi-stakeholder consultation processes, documenting results, and possessing effective communication skills (based on work experience).
Good understanding of national policy and institutional structures, and ability to advise on institutional capacities and relations.
Able to support, motivate and liaise effectively with communities and community groups.
Sound cross-cultural, gender-awareness, interpersonal and networking skills.
Ability to work and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders in the government, private and non-governmental sectors
Previous work experience in a UN organization or knowledge of the national government system is desirable
Demonstrable computer skills including Word processing, spread sheets, PowerPoint
Proven ability and experience in workshop facilitation

Required Skills and Experience

At least a Bachelor’s degree on Social Sciences, Project Management, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Reduction, or related field

At least 2 years of experience in Project Management, DRR, CCA, Environmental Science and Management, Recovery, and/or social-related activities