Project Coordinator - EESL Project

Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP helps Kazakhstan honor its Paris Agreement commitments by supporting the expansion of the "green economy" to tap into new opportunities for jobs and businesses. It partners with other United Nations agencies to provide technical expertise to translate strategies into action, establish a monitoring framework for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and develop plans for transition to green energy, land management, climate-proof agriculture, biodiversity, reforestation, disaster risk reduction, and waste management. By catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private), UNDP delivers client-focused solutions that respond to immediate, mid and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities, and; by leveraging on-the-ground presence and networks, we unlock bottom-up solutions towards lasting impacts at the country level, benefitting most disadvantaged and leaving no one behind.

The UNDP-GEF Project “Energy Efficient Standards, Certification, and Labelling for Appliances and Equipment in Kazakhstan” (EESL Project) is a GEF full-sized project that was conceived as one of the “child projects” of the GEF-funded United for Efficiency (U4E) programme. The U4E is a global effort supporting developing countries and emerging economies to move their markets to energy-efficient appliances and equipment. The EESL Project aims at filling both regulatory and informational gaps by supporting the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in developing and implementing minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and high energy performance standards (HEPS), as well as an energy efficiency labelling system. MEPS and HEPS will transform the market in concept, as MEPS define a new floor, pushing the entire market upward, while HEPS and labels define a new ceiling, pulling the market toward accelerated innovation.
Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Coordinator is responsible for the management and implementation of the EESL Project, including technical coordination and mobilization of Project resources, supervising Project personnel, consultants and subcontractors. The Project Coordinator will be tasked with the day-to-day management of the EESL Project activities, as well as dealing with material, financial and administrative reporting. The Project Coordinator will apply an integrative manner and closely coordinate with the Project experts, as well as other ongoing and future projects and initiative for building synergies, towards achieving outcome results as well as performance indicators specified in the Project Document, in accordance with the required quality standards and within the specified time and cost constraints. This will require linking indicators to the workplan to ensure results-based management. On institutional aspects, the EESL Project will closely communicate, coordinate and work with the National Project Director and the Department for Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency Improvement under the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other relevant government bodies and stakeholders.

Management of a designated Project in accordance with UNDP Program and Operations Policies and Procedures, and UNDP Kazakhstan Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

Supervise and coordinate the Project and ensure results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP POPP. Bear responsibility for the day-to-day management of the - both organizational and substantive issues - budgeting, planning and overall monitoring of the Project;
Supervise the performance of the project team members including experts to ensure that all tasks are executed in order to meet the objectives of the project;
Develop Annual Work Plans in accordance with the Project Document and ensure adherence to the multi-year Annual Work Plan, and conduct budget revisions as required;
Support the work and decision-making of the Project Board by providing timely, detailed, and accurate information to the Project Board`s members. Prepare Project Board meetings to share progress updates and by documenting decisions and follow-up actions;
Coordinate an exit strategy at least 6 months ahead of the project closure date; ensure closure of the project is done per the established procedures;
Provide policy advise and support capacity development of national counterparts through transfer of generated knowledge i.e., procedures, manuals, guidelines and systems for implementation.

Monitor progress and manage risks, ensuring that changes are controlled, and problems addressed, report on progress and issues:

Develop Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for tracking and evaluating progress against the agreed targets.
Monitor expenditures of financial resources to ensure compliance with rules and procedures and accuracy and reliability of financial reports; ensures preparation of budget revisions as necessary; follows up with the National Project Director and the Project Board on issues;
Monitor Project progress to ensure that it is in accordance with the timetable set out in the Project Document and preparation of regular updates to Project Board on project progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems, and proposals for necessary remedial actions;
Ensure that the indicators included in the project results framework are monitored annually in advance of the GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR) submission deadline so that progress can be reported in the GEF PIR. Prepare the GEF PIR;
Collect and manage project data as required by the M&E Plan;
Coordinate and facilitate meetings that will arise as the result of partnerships with different project partners, and organize field visits to the project partners participating in implementation to monitor the project progress and discuss and clarify the related issues;
Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial report;
Monitor financial contributions of partners;
Monitor and manage the project risks; inform the Project Board on emerging issues and risks, update the issue and risk logs;
Ensure reporting to National Project Director/Project Board is prepared timely and the reports are meeting the standards;
Support the preparation of reviews and evaluations as defined in the Project Document - Mid-term review and Terminal Evaluation processes;
Prepare progress and final Project reports and papers;
Assess major and minor amendments to the project within the parameters set by UNDP-GEF;
Monitor implementation plans including the gender action plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and any environmental and social management plans of the project;
Monitor and track progress against the GEF Core indicators;
Ensure appropriate filing and availability of required documentation for the audit purposes;
Perform all tasks in ATLAS Management Information System related to the Project Coordinator’s position.

Create synergies with other income generation or inclusive prosperity initiatives in the country or other UNDP initiatives to maximize the project impact:

Collaborate intensively with all project stakeholders, including other projects to maximize the impact of UNDP’s interventions that will contribute towards achievement of the expected outcome under the UNDP’s Country Programme Document 2021-2025;
Maintain good cooperation and coordination with national counterparts, project partners, and other stakeholders (donor community, international finance institutions, private sector);
Maintain regular contacts with beneficiaries to ensure relevance and quality of project’s outputs;
Actively identify and mobilize new partnerships and funding sources (resource mobilization) for new projects and initiatives, ensure blending of resources to achieve scalable impact;
Establish records with contacts, pursue networking and information sharing and follow up on partnership-related issues;
By providing project level information, contribute to the development of pipeline initiatives primarily under the themes covered by the Project.

Communication, knowledge management and learning:

Maintain close working relations and regular contacts with the Government partners on the implementation of the Project within the relevant competencies;
Ensure adequate flow of information, discussion and feedback among the various stakeholders of the Project;
Regular exchange of information/experience with other projects, cross-learning and sharing results and good practices;
Contribute to the development of high-quality knowledge and visibility products;
Share Project’s best practices and lessons at different national and regional platforms.

Ensure Gender mainstreaming within the project focusing on achievement of the following results:

Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analysed in detail;
Ensure gender equality is mainstreamed throughout team, consultant and staff management activities;
Ensure knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in Project Knowledge management activities and products.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Coordinator will report to the Programme Specialist/Head of EE Unit on all programmatic and administrative issues of the Project. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for liaising with the Government, UNDP and other UN agencies, NGOs and other Project partners as appropriate. The Project Coordinator supervises the Project Experts/ personnel engaged within the project.

Competencies
Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management Competencies:
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy - Business Acumen:
Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome
Knowledge and understanding of the operational frame
Works in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
Business Direction & Strategy - 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
Business Development - Human-centered Design:
Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process
Business Management - Results-based Management:
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Management - Project Management:
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Management - 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
Partnership management - Relationship management:
Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

Master’s degree in the social, environmental, engineering sciences, or other related sciences.
Bachelor’s degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience can be considered in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Experience:

Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of working experience in managing/coordinating projects/programs in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency or climate change mitigation or certification and labeling of products.

Languages:

Fluency in English, Kazakh and/or Russian is required.

Desired Skills:

Additional years of work experience as a manager/coordinator in project implementation in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency or climate change mitigation or certification and labeling of products.
Working experience and familiarity with the regulatory and institutional setup of the Government of Kazakhstan about energy efficiency, standards and labelling for appliances.
Working experience with ministries and/or other national institutions, and ability to work effectively with fellow partners at all levels and with all groups.
Working experience within the UN system in implementing development projects.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
Hiring Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.