Project Analyst (Climate Resilient Agriculture)

Main Purpose:

Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Management and implementation:

• Facilitate implementing the project in Bihar in close coordination with the State Project Officer (Odisha and Bihar) and the National Project Manager (NPM) through planning, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of all the project activities in Bihar.
• Provide technical inputs for demonstration of climate resilient agriculture in Bihar and other project States (especially Odisha).
• Liaise with government departments, local authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate project implementation in Bihar.
• Establish linkages with relevant technical institutions and Civil Society Organizations working on agriculture, NRM and climate change issues in Bihar.
• Develop appropriate training and capacity building modules on climate resilient agriculture and natural resources (land, water, forests) and conduct trainings/ workshops to build capacity of different stakeholders in the project States.
• Facilitate developing the State specific annual work plans and ensure accurate and timely reporting on the activities and their progress in Bihar.
• Prepare technical reports and documentation for submission to the National Project Manager and other stakeholders of the project.
• Coordinate with the national team and other state project teams under the project to share lessons and experiences.

Ensuring the project monitoring and review, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Facilitate contract management of the partner CSO and flag any potential risks and suggest their mitigation measures. Ensure timely contract management, deliverables and related payments.
• Undertake review meetings with partners and field visits to track progress made in implementation of the project and take corrective action as required.
• Review quality and consistency of reports and deliverables by partner institutions/ responsible parties including financial reports from all project partners,
• Ensure effective financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines,
• Facilitate with the partner CSO to prepare quarterly and annual project progress reports; provide necessary information and inputs for preparing presentations and other documents for review meetings like project steering committee to the SPL and NPM.
• Facilitate and participate in the periodic review meetings and discussions related to project implementation, monitoring and follow-up.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and strategy

• Strategic thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP s mission and objectives, based on systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can
  impact on other parts of the system

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management

• Communication: 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
• Monitoring and evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate clients upcoming needs and concerns.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master s degree or equivalent) in Agriculture/Agri. Engineering/Environmental Science or related field is required.
  OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor s degree) from a recognized institution in Agriculture/Agri. Engineering/Environmental science in combination with two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a master s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
  of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a bachelor s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in programme / project management.

Desired skills:

• Demonstrated experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ NGOs/ international organizations / Civil Society on agriculture and natural resource management.
• Demonstrated experience of projects programmes on climate resilient agriculture.
• Demonstrated experience on planning for natural resource management structures.
• Demonstrated experience on training and building capacities at sub-national level on agriculture and natural resource management.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Hindi is required.