Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
Viet Nam boasts a remarkable biodiversity that places it 16th among the world's most biologically diverse countries. The nation's diverse topography, ranging from lush forests and expansive wetlands to rugged mountainous regions, fosters a rich array of ecosystems. Vietnam's biodiversity remains a global treasure, contributing not only to the nation's ecological resilience but also enriching the world's natural heritage. However, conserving Viet Nam’s biodiversity has been acutely challenging due to habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, urbanization, pollution, and the impacts of climate change. Conservation efforts, both governmental and non-governmental, are underway to address these threats and promote sustainable practices.
Safeguarding biodiversity is integral to realizing Viet Nam's objectives outlined in its national sustainable development and socio-economic development strategies. Viet Nam joined the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994, and its initial National Biodiversity Action Plan was endorsed by the Prime Minister in 1995. Recently, in early 2022, Viet Nam approved its latest National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to 2030 with a vision for 2050, aligning with the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Over the years, Viet Nam has strived to drive institutional changes as well as promoted sustainable use of natural resources for local and indigenous communities through improved legislations and community-based projects. Vietnam’s NBSAP 2030, Revised Law on Environmental Protection in 2020, Law on Biodiversity in 2018 (originally issued in 2008), and Law on Forestry in 2017 have been monumental in pushing for a much more progressive agenda in tackling the biodiversity crisis exacerbated by developmental challenges. These efforts underscore Viet Nam's ongoing commitment to biodiversity conservation in tandem with its broader developmental aspirations.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among other national and international partners, has played a crucial role in supporting Vietnam's commitment to preserving its unique ecosystems, ensuring the continued survival of its diverse flora and fauna, and uplifting adjacent local lives that are deeply connected with the cultivation of natural resources for sustenance. The Climate Change and Environment Unit (CCEU) under UNDP Viet Nam has focused on developing strategies, policies, and initiatives to safeguard the world’s at-stake ecosystems and promote sustainability, while addressing the impacts of climate change through mitigation and adaptation.
UNDP is steadfast in its mission to safeguard biodiversity and enhance local livelihoods by channeling our support toward an enabling legal environment for effective biodiversity management, facilitating cross-sectoral exchange and learning regarding important monitoring, gender mainstreaming tools, as well as targeting on-the-ground developments including but not limited to fishery co-management, sustainable livelihood models, capacity building for stakeholders across all levels, and payments for ecosystem services.
Against this background, UNDP Viet Nam has been working closely with relevant ministries, institutions, provinces, and other stakeholders to design and implement projects/initiatives on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including:
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) has been one of CCEU’s key programs on biodiversity conservation. BIOFIN is managed by UNDP and is implemented in 40 countries. Guided by a global steering committee representing its partners, BIOFIN aims to develop a methodology to quantify the biodiversity finance gap at the national level, to improve cost-effectiveness through mainstreamed biodiversity into national development and sectoral planning, and to develop comprehensive national financial plans. Upon entering the second phase of BIOFIN, the initiative builds upon the successes and lesson learned during the first phase of formalizing Policy and Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), Financial Needs Assessment (FNA), and Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) to implement the following 5 financial solutions:
Other than BIOFIN, our efforts encompass strengthened policy-science-practice interface and strategic partnerships, ensured comprehensive readiness of Viet Nam’s NBSAP by 2030 in alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework, promoted harmonious human-nature co-existence under the framework of Biosphere Reserve, integrated management of the Ba River basin landscapes, as well as enhanced nature-positive tourism practice.
The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) project phase II in Viet Nam continues to build on the key findings of phase I’s publicized “2021 Viet Nam’s first National Ecosystem Assessment.” For Phase II, the project aims to facilitate a fruitful BES Platform that strengthens the interface among the ‘policy’, ‘science’, and ‘practice’ communities, to successfully roll out models of Payments for Wetland and Marine ecosystem services at the provincial and site levels, maximize robust national engagement with IPBES, and support the provincial implementation of Viet Nam’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to 2030, vision to 2050.
The GEF7 Early Action Support on the Global Biodiversity Framework (EAS GBF) project sets out to fast-track Vietnam’s current National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) readiness to fully realize the expectations of the GBF by 2030, with a vision to 2050.
The GEF8 Umbrella Program to Update the NBSAP and Prepare the 7th National Biodiversity Report, being complementary to the GEF7 project, aids in the effort of revising the NBSAP in alignment with the GBF as well as updates the 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, as agreed to at COP15.
The “Mainstreaming natural resources management and biodiversity conservation objectives into socio-economic development planning and management of Biosphere reserves in Viet Nam” project (BR project) aims to address multiple development challenges threatening the sustainability of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Vietnam’s Biosphere Reserves by strengthening coordinated planning in terms of national and provincial policymaking on socio-economic development, promoting sustainable natural resources management, facilitating biodiversity conservation and restoration, and fostering transformative livelihood models.
The “Sustainable Forest and Forest Land Management in Viet Nam’s Ba River basin landscape” (Ba River Project) is designed to promote holistic, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder governance of the Ba River’s resources. This includes establishing and operationalizing a comprehensive planning and landscape management approach that harmonizes socio-economic development, sustainable management of forest resources, improved land management, and provision of incentives like Payments for Ecosystem Services to enhance the participation of local, forest dependent communities in conservation of biodiversity within the Ba River basin.
The “Promote Wildlife Conservation and Responsible Nature-Based Tourism for Sustainable Development in Vietnam” project aims to create the necessary enabling regulatory environment, mainstream biodiversity into the tourism sector through enhanced cooperation between ministries and provincial departments, encourage private sector investment through public-private partnerships, and enable local communities to benefit from nature-based tourism products and services through enhanced livelihood opportunities, a deeper appreciation of biodiversity values, and contribution to its conservation and monitoring.
As the portfolio expands, UNDP is seeking to recruit a Project Analyst to provide implementation and management support to the activities of the biodiversity projects and initiatives.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
UNDP’s biodiversity projects are aligned with Outcome 2 of the UNDP Country Programme Document for Viet Nam 2022-2026 – People in Viet Nam, especially those at risk of being left behind, will benefit from and contribute to a safer and cleaner environment resulting from Viet Nam’s effective mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction and resilience building; promotion of circular economy; provision of clean and renewable energy; and sustainable management of natural resources.
The Biodiversity Project Analyst shall receive the overall guidance from the Team Leader and report directly with the Program Analyst in Natural Resources and Biodiversity.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The work entailed in this NPSA includes (i) providing technical inputs to on-going interventions and future design of the Biodiversity Portfolio’s interventions; (ii) facilitating critical partnerships and stakeholders’ coordination to ensure the timeliness of project delivery; (iii) overseeing the development and implementation of new projects or initiatives under the Biodiversity Portfolio; iv) resource mobilization for designing new projects in biodiversity conservation. The contracted individual will report to the UNDP Programme Analyst.
In summary, expected tasks are detailed as follows:
Project Implementation
Task 1: Provide technical inputs to on-going interventions of the Biodiversity Portfolio’s interventions
Task 2: Facilitate stakeholders’ coordination to ensure the timeliness of project delivery
Project Development and Resource Mobilization
Task 3: Provide technical inputs to the development of new projects or initiatives under the Biodiversity Portfolio
Task 4: Effective formulation and development of projects for resource mobilization
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:
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Management
Digital & Innovation
General (across the functions)
Required Skills and Experience:
Education:
Experience:
Required Languages:
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Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
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