National Technical Project Officer (Hanoi, Vietnam) contract Full Time

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station: Hanoi

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : Level 4

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Hanoi Time) : 20/10/2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

1. Background

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized international agency that was founded in 1945. Through its activities within the fields of education, social and natural science, culture and communication and information, UNESCO is actively contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, UNESCO’s Medium Term Strategy 2022-2029 and the 2022-2026 One Strategic Plan of the UN in Viet Nam.

UNESCO’s Natural Science sector focuses on implementing major programmes related to freshwater, ecological, earth and basic sciences while also promoting innovative technology and capacity-building initiatives in these fields. Within the framework of the Natural Sciences sector, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), founded in 1975, is a long-term programme executed in successive eight-year phases. IHP is the only United Nations intergovernmental programme devoted to water research, management, and related education and capacity development. In Vietnam, UNESCO is implementing IHP’s Phase IX: Science for a Water Secure world in a changing environment 2022-2029, to help strengthen national capacity to address water security and climate change related challenges.  

Within the framework of IHP phase IX (2022-2029), UNESCO Vietnam has been implementing  projects in the fresh-water field, including the project “Enhancing sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia – Mekong river Delta Aquifer”  funded by The Global Environmental Facility  (GEF), to be implemented during 2024-2028 in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The UNESCO Office in Vietnam is looking for a National Technical Project Officer to coordinate the implementation of the UNESCO’s project components in Vietnam during 2024-2028.

Only Vietnamese nationals will be considered for this position. The position will work on a full-time basis at UNESCO’s Country Office in Hanoi. The initial appointment may be extended upon fund availability and performance.

B. Key assignments

Under the overall authority of the Head of the UNESCO Ha Noi Office and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Natural Sciences Unit, technical guidance of the Regional Technical Advisor, and in close collaboration with UNESCO HQ in Paris and relevant UNESCO Offices (Bangkok and Phnom Penh), the National Technical Project Officer will provide support to plan, coordinate and implement the project ““Enhancing sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia – Mekong river Delta Aquifer”  funded by The Global Environmental Facility  (GEF) in partnership with the FAO, to be implemented during 2024-2028 in Vietnam within the framework of IHP IX programme.  She/he will be expected to provide technical advice and support to activities implemented by UNESCO on the ground in Viet Nam, including creation of national workplans; provide support for the monitoring, and regular reporting on the progress of the project against annual work plans, project M&E indicators, GEF core indicators and identify issues that need urgent attention in the country by the regional Project Steering Committee; and contribute with colleagues of other UNESCO offices to sub-regional coordination of the project activities.

Project implementation

• Work closely with national counterparts, (particularly including the Department of Water Resources Management – Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) to ensure all project activities in compliance with Laws and regulations of Viet Nam;
• Responsible for the implementation and day-to-day coordination/management of the project in Vietnam, under the supervision of the Chief of Natural Sciences Unit in Hanoi and in coordination with the Regional Project Manager/Technical Advisor, ensuring the achievement of the project objectives, the implementation of the proposed activities and production of the outputs/deliverables as per the approved project document and work plans and in accordance with UNESCO’s rules and regulations;
• Coordinate the preparation of the annual national workplans in close collaboration with the Natural Science Team Lead in Hanoi, Regional Technical Advisor, international partners and national counterparts, and ensuring regular monitoring of its implementation,
• Coordinate and organize activities in Vietnam, mobilize experts, both from UNESCO and external national and international consultants, and all arrangements related to the project/activity implementation, in consultation with regional project teams and the counterparts, ensuring all key stakeholders are informed on a regular basis on progress of the project as appropriate;

• Undertake the appropriate communication and dissemination of information to ensure projects visibility, as well as accountability.
• Develop and maintain partner relations with the concerned ministries, national counterparts, including civil society organizations if appropriate; Liaise, maintain regular and good communication with project partners, participating agencies, governmental counterparts, and other partners as required, to ensure due accountability and efficient implementation.
• Ensure the synergy of other project implemented in Vietnam, including the project “Groundwater resources in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Collaborative management to increase resilience (Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, Viet Nam)” funded by the Adaptation Fund and other relevant projects;

M&E and Reporting

• Responsible for the monitoring, and regular reporting on the progress of the project against annual work plans, project’s M&E indicators in Vietnam, and identify issues that need urgent attention by the regional project teams and counterparts.
• Support the Responsible Officer to monitor the financial and administrative aspects of the project implementation in Vietnam and, in consultation with the Finance & Administration Section of UNESCO Ha Noi Office and the relevant sections at UNESCO;
• Report on the progress of activities/project in Vietnam on a regular basis to the Natural Science Team Lead;

Other tasks

• Assist the Chief of the Natural Sciences unit in water related activities under the IHP IX progamme in Vietnam and provide support in developing relevant projects;
• Perform other tasks, as deemed appropriate by the Head of UNESCO Ha Noi Office and the Chief of Natural Science Unit.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in in a subject related to hydrology, hydrogeology, and/or natural resource management or environmental sciences, such as water resources management, water sciences, etc. or any relevant field is required; specializations in water cooperation, are most desired;

Work experiences

• At least five (5) years of relevant progressively professional experiences in working on natural resource management and/or transboundary water resources management, hydrology, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), water-related hazard/ risk reduction, as well as climate change adaptation and resilience, and/or relevant fields
• At least 3 years of experience working with ministries, national or provincial institutions that are concerned with natural resource and/or environmental management.
• Sound knowledge of the major development issues with regards to environment, water resources and climate change in Viet Nam;
• Proven experiences in coordination and/or managing development projects, particularly at national level;
• Demonstrated experience and skills in project management.
• Demonstrated experience in partnerships management related projects.

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent computing skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and related programmes;
• Strong interpersonal, communication and networking skills;
• Highly organized and self-motivated;
• Capacity to collaborate and positively engage with a range of partners and beneficiaries, including national/local authorities as well as key stakeholders in civil society, national and international NGOs;
• Demonstrated personal sensitivity and commitment to the values and principles of equity, gender equality and cultural diversity;

Languages

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent written and spoken Vietnamese.

• PhD’s degree in relevant field mentioned above will be a plus.
• Sound knowledge and/or experiences of the major development issues with regards to environment, water resources and climate change in Mekong delta is a plus;
• Experiences in ODA projects’ management in Vietnam is a plus;
• Experience working on inter-governmental and/or inter-agency processes is desirable.
• Prior UN experience or international organizations is an asset;