Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0 UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1 Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2 UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP's Strategic Plan.

UNDP is an accredited Implementing Agency for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund and the family of funds such as the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBBF). As an Implementing Agency, UNDP offers countries highly specialized services for eligibility assessment, project formulation and due diligence, co-financing mobilization, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, and knowledge management.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) harbors exceptional marine biodiversity of global significance, including the highest marine biodiversity richness of the Pacific Ocean. The country's 3.12 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone encompasses 13,840 km² of coral reefs, 4,200 km² of mangrove forests and extensive seagrass beds, supporting more than 500 species of stony coral and 1,635 reef-associated fish species. Despite this extraordinary natural endowment, PNG's coastal and marine ecosystems face severe and accelerating threats from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, destructive fishing practices, coastal pollution, climate-induced coral bleaching, habitat conversion, and governance failures.

This project 'Accelerating PNG's Sustainable Blue Economy through Strengthened Governance and Investment in Marine Areas' (PIMS 9532, GEF ID 11262) is a child project of the GEF-8 Blue Green Islands (BGI) Integrated Program. With a total GEF grant of USD 16.76 million and co-financing of over USD 43.2 million, it represents a major GEF-funded marine conservation investment in PNG.

The project aims to strengthen the protection and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems through four integrated components:

1. Integrating Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) into national economic planning.
2. Strengthening governance through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).
3. Demonstrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and innovative public-private-community partnerships.
4. Ensuring robust Knowledge Management and learning, linking PNG to the global BGI platform.

Through these interventions, the project aims to place 3.9 million hectares of marine areas under improved management, restore 20,000 hectares of mangroves, move over-exploited fisheries toward sustainable levels, and avoid 19 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions, while directly benefiting 10,000 people, at least 50% of whom are women.

The project operates in three critical seascapes: the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), New Ireland Province (NIP), and Bootless Bay (National Capital District & Central Province), reflecting diverse ecological and governance contexts.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The CTS will report primarily to the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR), Environment and Climate Change Portfolio, UNDP PNG Country Office and liaise with the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub Regional Technical Advisor for Ecosystem and Biodiversity.
• The CTS will work in close collaboration with the national project team (Project Manager/Coordinator, M&E Specialist, Gender-Safeguards Specialist, Communications Officer, Community Mobilizers and Technical Specialist ), as well as with other international advisors engaged under the project.
• The CTS will maintain regular communication with the BGI IP Global Coordination Project team and the UNDP Planet Hub technical advisors at the Bangkok Regional Hub.
• The CTS will be office-based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with travel to the three target geographies (NCD, New Ireland Province and AROB) as required and approved by the UNDP Country Office.
• The CTS will be given access to all relevant project documentation, databases and information systems necessary for the execution of tasks under this assignment.
• The CTS will be provided with office space and standard equipment at the Project Office in CEPA and UNDP Country Office in Port Moresby.
• Given the regional and international nature of the assignment, the CTS is expected to be reasonably flexible with availability across different time zones for coordination with the Bangkok Regional Hub and BGI-IP global project coordination teams.

The Chief Technical Specialist (CTS) will provide overall technical leadership, strategic guidance, and quality assurance for the project. The CTS is the project's principal international technical expert, responsible for ensuring that all interventions are of the highest standard and coherent across all outcomes and geographies. S/he will provide critical capacity building to the Project Manager, Project Management Unit (PMU), and the national Implementing Partner, the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) – to ensure that the project meets GEF, UNDP and Government of PNG requirements throughout its lifecycle.

Primary responsibilities include:

1) Strategic Technical Leadership and Quality Assurance - Lead technical oversight and ensure high-quality implementation aligned with international best practices.

• Provide substantive technical leadership and oversight across all project outcomes, ensuring that the integrated approach to blue economy, MPA governance, NbS and NCA is coherent, evidence-based and aligned with international best practices.
• Prepare and/or review all major technical documents, terms of reference, analytical reports, baseline assessments and knowledge products produced under the project.
• Review and provide high-quality technical inputs on deliverables produced by consultants and sub-contractors, ensuring they meet UNDP, GEF and national government standards.
• Ensure consistency and coherence of technical approaches across the three target geographies (NCD/Central Province, New Ireland Province and AROB), adapting approaches to local ecological and socioeconomic conditions while maintaining methodological consistency for results aggregation.
• Provide technical guidance on ecosystem assessment, MPA management effectiveness, MSP framework design, mangrove/coral reef/seagrass conservation and restoration strategies, and NbS business model development.
• Provide technical guidance on the design and implementation of natural capital accounting (NCA) exercises, including application of the UN SEEA Ecosystem Accounts framework to coastal and marine ecosystems.

2) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptive Management - Guide project monitoring, risk management, reporting, and adaptive management processes.

• Ensure that the indicators included in the project results framework are monitored annually in advance of GEF Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) submission deadlines and provide substantive technical inputs to the annual GEF PIRs.
• Oversee and guide the implementation of the project M&E plan, including periodic appraisal of the project's theory of change and results framework with reference to actual project progress.
• Oversee and guide the design of surveys, assessments and monitoring protocols commissioned for evaluating project results, including GEF Core Indicators and METT/OECM tracking tools.
• Provide guidance to Technical Officers and Community Mobilizers for conducting field-level M&E activities, and carry out project site visits to appraise on-the-ground progress and validate written reports.
• Manage and monitor project risks, identifying critical issues and proposing mitigation measures; update the project risk register in coordination with the Project Manager.
• Guide and assist the Project Manager in adaptive management processes, including revisions to multi-year workplans as needed.
• Guide and assist the Project Manager in preparing for, participating in, and responding to the mid-term review (MTR) and terminal evaluation (TE) of the project, including preparation of management responses.

3) Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening - Strengthen capacities of the project team and partners through technical training and support.

• Design and deliver on-the-job training for the Project Manager, PMU staff and CEPA counterparts on technical and programmatic aspects of the project, including marine biodiversity monitoring, MPA governance, MSP frameworks, GEF reporting requirements and UNDP programme management standards.
• Build national capacity in NCA methods and application, ecosystem-based fisheries management, marine spatial planning and sustainable blue economy business models.
• Provide strategic input to strengthen the capacity of national partners to sustain project results after the close of GEF funding, including supporting the development of financing mechanisms, institutional arrangements and policy frameworks.
• Provide technical advocacy among key stakeholders at national and sub-national levels, including assisting government units and service providers in the design and implementation of project interventions.

4) Partnerships, Coordination, and Knowledge Management - Support coordination, partnerships, knowledge exchange, and participation in technical platforms.

• Liaise with the BGI Integrated Program global coordination platform, GEF-funded projects active in PNG and the Pacific region, and complementary initiatives implemented by co-financing partners, promoting synergies and collaboration.
• Participate in national, regional and international fora as appropriate, including technical working groups, GEF community of practice platforms and UN inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
• Capture lessons learned during project implementation; coordinate with the Communications Officer to provide technical inputs to the development of knowledge products, including brochures, policy briefs, lessons-learned reports and case studies.
• Provide technical inputs to the development and dissemination of outreach materials and ensure that knowledge management activities support scaling up of project results.
• Participate in project board meetings, technical steering committees and other project governance mechanisms on an as-needed basis.

5) Resource Mobilization

• Provide strategic guidance on resource mobilization and financing opportunities to support implementation and long-term sustainability of project interventions.
• Support engagement with development partners, financial institutions, private sector actors and other investors to promote sustainable blue economy investments and partnerships.
• Provide technical inputs to the development of concept notes, investment cases, funding proposals and blended finance opportunities linked to marine conservation, NbS and sustainable coastal livelihoods.
• Facilitate coordination with relevant government agencies and partners to align project investments with national blue economy priorities and financing frameworks.

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 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the 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.
• Systems 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 other parts of the system

Business Management

• Project Management; Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Communications; 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.
• Partnership Management; 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

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature; Ecosystems and Biodiversity

2030 Agenda: People

• Gender; Gender and Environment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree) in Marine Biology, Ocean Governance, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Ecology, or a closely related discipline is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree) in the above fields in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with Master's degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in the following areas:

  Marine biodiversity conservation, Marian Protected Area (MPA) management, marine spatial planning and/or sustainable fisheries management, with demonstrated in-country experience in the Pacific Islands region and/or Papua New Guinea.

  Project advisory and backstopping support to GEF-funded or similar international development projects, including technical quality assurance, results-based management and PIR reporting.

  Stakeholder engagement and capacity building with government counterparts, civil society, indigenous and local communities, and private sector partners.

Required skills:

• At least 5 years of demonstrable experience in an advisory or CTS role with a major international organization.
• Proven Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems.

Desired Skills:

• Experience developing or implementing projects with financing from the GEF Trust Fund (including GEF-8 or equivalent generation) or Green Climate Fund, particularly in the biodiversity focal area.
• Experience with natural capital accounting (NCA) using the UN SEEA Ecosystem Accounts framework applied to coastal or marine ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of NbS and/or blue economy business models in the Pacific Islands or comparable island developing state contexts.
• Prior experience working with or in Papua New Guinea or the Melanesian Pacific.
• Experience with FPIC processes, IPLC engagement standards, UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and gender-responsive approaches in conservation programming.
• Experience working with UNDP or similar international organizations is highly desirable; familiarity with UNDP POPP

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Tok Pisin or other official PNG languages is an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.