Project Finance Officer

Applications are being invited from suitable qualified individuals to fill the following individual consultancy to support the implementation of the Government of Jamaica/Global Environment Facility/United Nations Development Programme project titled “Learning by doing Preparation of Fourth National Communication and Second Biennal Update to the UNFCCC”: Project Finance Officer

BACKGROUND

1.1 In keeping with the commitments under Article 4 paragraph 1 and Article 12 paragraph 1 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), each Party must provide periodical reports to the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. Reports shall be prepared based on the Guidelines for the Preparation of National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I of the Convention adopted at the 10th Conference of the Parties and are contained in Decision 17/CP.8.

1.2 Jamaica submitted its initial National Communication (NC) to the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC at the 6th Conference of Parties in The Hague, Netherlands in November 2000. The Second National Communication was submitted at the 17th Conference of Parties in Durban, South Africa in December 2011 and the Third National Communication at the 24th Conference of Parties in Bonn, Germany in 2018.

1.3 The first Biennial Update Report (BUR) was submitted in 2016 at the 22nd Conference of Parties held in Marrakesh, Morocco.

1.4 The Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation is Jamaica’s Focal Point to the UNFCCC and the executing agency on behalf of the Government of Jamaica. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Funding was based on the Operational Procedures for Expedited Financing of National Communications from Non-Annex I Parties (GEF/C.22/Inf.16).

PROJECT SCOPE

2.1  The key outcomes of the enabling activitie to prepare Jamaica’s Fourth  National Communication and Second Biennial Update Report are the following:

1. Fulfil reporting requirements under Article 12 of the Convention with respect to national communication from Non-Annex One Parties and decisions adopted in Doha to enable the preparation of BURs.
2. Further strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of Jamaican institutions to implement the Convention, as well as providing support for the integration of climate change considerations into national and sectoral development priorities.
3. Enhance the capacity and efficiency for the continuous preparation of national communications and biennial update reports.

2.2  The project will also achieve the following:

• Continue the implementation of awareness activities on climate change that interact with targeted audiences of various age groups including students, teachers, teacher trainers, government officials, members of the private sector, non-government organizations, civil society, and the general public, improving women’s participation.
• Build a national consensus to facilitate activities to mainstream climate change issues into relevant social, economic, scientific and environmental policies, programs and strategies, while integrating a gender approach, in particular, those for low carbon development and adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change.
• Assess the vulnerability to climate change of additional communities that will be identified and prioritized for potential adaptation options in a series of case studies. A gender approach will be incorporated in the community-based assessments where the most vulnerable groups have been identified as women, children and the elderly and the majority of the households are headed by single mothers.
• Strengthen the capacity of Jamaica to participate in the ongoing climate change negotiations under the UNFCCC which will enable more effective representation on the international level for Jamaica and other small island developing states.
• Respond to the identified gaps and constraints identified in the process of drafting the Forth National Communication

OBJECTIVES

3.1 The Project Finance Officer will be responsible for the financial and administrative management of the project activities and assists in the preparation of quarterly and annual work plans and progress reports for review and monitoring by UNDP.

SCOPE OF SERVICE AND KEY ACTIVITIES

4.1  The Project Finance Officer will have the following responsibilities:

• Responsible for providing general financial support to the project;
• Take own initiative and perform daily work in compliance with annual work schedules;
• Assist project management in performing budget cycle: planning, preparation, revisions, and budget execution;
• Provide assistance to partner agencies involved in project activities, performing and monitoring financial aspects to ensure compliance with budgeted costs in line with UNDP policies and procedures;
• Monitor project expenditures, ensuring that no expenditure is incurred before it has been authorized;
• Assist project team in drafting quarterly and yearly project progress reports concerning financial issues;
• Ensure that UNDP procurement rules are followed during procurement activities that are carried out by the project and maintain responsibility for the inventory of the project assets;
• Perform preparatory work for mandatory and general budget revisions, annual physical inventory and auditing, and assist external evaluators in fulfilling their mission;
• Prepare all outputs in accordance with the UNDP administrative and financial office guidance;
• Ensure the project utilizes the available financial resources in an efficient and transparent manner;
• Ensure that all project financial activities are carried out on schedule and within budget to achieve the project outputs;
• Perform all other financial related duties, upon request

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

5.1  Associate Degree in Finance, Business Management, or related fields;

5.2  Experience related to Project Implementation

5.3 A demonstrated ability in the financial management of development projects and in liaising and cooperating with government officials, NGOs, etc.;

5.4  Self-motivated and ability to work under the pressure;