Project Manager, Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Propject (PM-PIGGREP)

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is an independent intergovernmental agency that provides assistance and technical advisory services to Pacific Island countries, territories and administrations in the protection and management of their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development for present and future generations. The organization is based in Apia, Samoa and has a total staff body of about 70 comprised of about even number of professional and support staff. SPREP has a total annual budget of about USD8 millions. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories and 4 developed countries 1 . SPREP has a current staff establishment of more than 70 staff.

The Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP) is a 5-year project financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the implementing agency, and executed by SPREP. PIGGAREP aims to reduce the growth rate of emissions from Greenhouse Gases (GHG) from fossil fuel use in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) through the removal of the barriers to the widespread and cost effective use of feasible renewable energy technologies (RETs). It consists of various interventions that will contribute to the removal of the major barriers to the widespread utilization of commercially viable RETs. The project is expected to bring about in the PICs: (1) Increased number of successful commercial RE applications; (2) Expanded market for RET applications for power generation and productive uses; (3) Enhanced institutional capacity to design, implement and monitor RE projects; (4) Availability and accessibility of financing to existing and new RE projects; (5) Strengthened legal and regulatory structures in the energy and environmental sectors; and, (6) Increased awareness and knowledge on RE and RETs among key stakeholders.

The PICs are currently heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with petroleum accounting for an estimated 90% of the commercial energy consumption. Petroleum consumption is largely responsible for the GHG emission in the PICs. A regional synthesis of the PICs GHG inventories from their first National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) highlighted that the GHG emission per capita in the PICs is almost 25% of the global Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions per capita arising from fossil fuel combustion. Most of the GHG emissions in the PICs are from the combustion of fossil fuels for power generation and in transportation. Power generation is only from fossil fuel in some PICs and the transport sector runs 100% on fossil fuel.

RETs have been known in the region for more than three decades; however, there has not been a comprehensive regional effort to promote them for mitigating GHG emission. Although a number of small-scale rural renewable electrification and energy efficiency projects have been carried out in the PICs over the last two decades, their impacts in terms of reducing the growth rate of GHG emissions have been minimal.

Studies carried out during the project preparatory stage indicated that the PICs could reduce the CO 2 emissions by at least 2 million tons by 2015 by utilising commercially viable RETs. However this potential cannot be fully realised unless barriers identified during the preparatory phase are removed.

The PIGGAREP is the first attempt in the PICs to comprehensively address the inter-related barriers to the widespread utilisation of commercially viable RETs. It is a collective attempt to address the technical, financial, market, institutional, policy and awareness barriers at the same time since they are interrelated and intertwined. The PIGGAREP will therefore involve a high degree of coordination with related activities of national, regional and international stakeholders.

1 American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Sates of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The Project Manager (PM) PIGGAREP will be responsible and report to the SPREP Director or his designated representative through the Manager of the Pacific Futures Programme. He/She will liaise with the PIGGAREP National Coordinators, PIGGAREP Country Teams, Task Specialists and the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) as well as the UNDP Principal Project Representative (UNDP Samoa), in coordinating the implementation of the annual work plan for the project. The work plan will provide guidance on the day-to-day implementation of the project activities and on the integration of parallel co-financing initiatives. He/She will be responsible for the day-to-day project implementation, which will be fully in line with UNDP execution procedures, as described in the UNDP Results Management User Guide , and for the achievement of project development objectives. He/She will also be responsible for providing to UNDP all required reports, including the submission of work plans and financial reports. The SPREP, on the advice of the PM, shall recruit as appropriate experts to undertake activities at regional and national levels in cooperation with the participating PICs and the PAC. The PM will supervise project staff including Task Specialists, consultants and an Administrative and Financial Officer (AFO) who will assist with the delivery of project activities. The PM shall be responsible for all substantive, managerial and financial reports from the project. An important element of the PM's role is to ensure that work under the PIGGAREP is integrated with SPREP's wider strategic Programme functions.

The PM will consult and coordinate closely with the Resident Representative of the UNDP country office in Samoa or his/her designated representative on developments and progress on the project. In particular, he/she will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Assume overall responsibility, through SPREP's accountability structures, for the day-to-day management and implementation of all project activities and ensure the realization of project objectives in accordance with the UNDP Project Document and UNDP’s Results Management User Guide .

• Assume responsibility for all the reporting obligations of the project to UNDP, including inception phase report, annual work plans and budgets, quarterly progress and financial reports, Annual Project Report(APR)/Project Implementation Review (PIR) reports, multi-partite review meeting papers and annual project audit reports, and all other reporting requirements as per standard UNDP/GEF procedures.

• Ensure effective coordination of all PIGGAREP activities, both incremental and baseline (particularly co-financed) activities.

• Lead the implementation of the inception phase of the PIGGAREP, including the finalization and approval of the project planning matrix (log frame), as well as in the finalization of the annual work plans and targets based on the approved log frame.

• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the activities described in the annual work plans.

• Coordinate with the PIGGAREP National Coordinators the tracking, and if and only if necessary the adjustment, of the agreed project annual targets stated in the project monitoring plan.

• Assume responsibility for all project consultation meetings including meetings with the National Coordinators, Task Specialists, donor roundtable meetings, multi-partite review meetings, an Inception Phase workshop and annual meetings of the PAC.

• Coordinate the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the results of the agreed baseline activities and demonstration schemes, and all other co-financed parallel activities of the project.

• Coordinate regional and sub-regional studies and activities with the Task Specialists and the PIGGAREP National Coordinators.

• Coordinate and manage all procurement requirements for UNDP/GEF-funded services and supplies (e.g., contracts and consultancies in the project, including reviewing consultancy reports).

• Facilitate liaison and networking between and among the 11 PIGGAREP Country Teams, regional organisations including members of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP), key stakeholders and other individuals involved in project implementation.

• Foster and establish strong links with all project partners, particularly those who are implementing and/or funding co-financed activities and other related programmes and projects in the PICs, in particular the proposed UNDP-GEF Medium Size Projects (MSPs) in Palau (SEDREA), RMI (ADMIRE) and, Vanuatu/Fiji/Samoa (PESTRAN).

• Ensure regular and timely receipt of progress reports on the various parallel funded activities of the project.

• Assume overall responsibility for the widespread dissemination of PIGGAREP best practices and experiences as well as highlighting GEF’s and UNDP’s roles in the project.

• Ensure the PIGGAREP is consistent with the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change and the Pacific Islands Energy Policy (PIEP).

The PM is responsible for the submission of the following deliverables, among others:

• Project Inception Report (including the approved Project Planning Matrix, Annual Work Plan for First Year, and Annual Targets for the success indicators) ;

• Relevant deliverables from consultancies such as resource assessment reports, feasibility study reports, performance reports on the hardware demonstration reports, etc;

• Progress reports on the implementation of all project activities (incremental and baseline).

Required Qualifications and Experience

Essential

Highly Desirable

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration: Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with a possible renewal for a further 3 year period depending upon the officer’s performance during the first term, continuity of related programme activities and availability of funds.

Grade: Appointment will be at the Grade J of SPREP’s authorised salary scale for professional staff.

Salary: The basic salary range for this position is expressed in International Monetary Fund Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The salary range is from 36,687 SDRs to a maximum of 48,802s (including COLDA, see Cost of Living Differential Allowance below), depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. Currently, the equivalent salary in Samoan Tala is SAT$148,604 up to a maximum of SAT$197,678 per annum (including COLDA).

Adjustments: Professional staff salaries and appropriate allowances are paid in Samoan Tala and adjusted every month based on the monthly average in the value of the SDR relative to the Samoan Tala (SAT) at the time the salary payment is processed. SDR movement however is limited to within 5% above or below a reference point set annually. Remuneration is paid monthly in SAT equivalent. The international currency exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD1.00 = SAT2.76.

Term: For those recruited from outside Samoa, the term begins from the day the appointee leaves his or her home to take up the appointment. Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical examination, as well as a 6 months’ probationary period. An appointment is terminated by (i) completion of term of contract (ii) one month’s notice by either party (iii) without notice by either party paying one month salary in lieu of notice or (iv) dismissed with or without notice as a disciplinary measure

For staff recruited from outside Samoa, the following applies:

Relocation Expenses: SPREP will meet certain appointment and termination expenses for professional staff recruited from outside Apia, Samoa, including transport and accommodation en-route for the appointee and accompanying dependent(s) between home and Apia, and return, by the shortest and most economical route. This includes:- economy class airfares; and- reasonable cost of packing, insuring, shipping and unpacking furniture, household and personal effects as follows:- 6m3 for the staff member;- 2m3 for dependent spouse;- 1m3 for each dependent child; and- up to 20 kilos of excess baggage for the appointee (and family) if recruited from outside of Apia.

Establishment Grant: A lump sum, of SDR1,100 is payable upon taking up appointment and arrival in Apia.

Temporary Accommodation and Assistance: On arrival in Apia, the appointee and dependent(s) are entitled to temporary accommodation at a suitable hotel or other fully furnished accommodation for up to 6 working days.Appointee will be assisted to settle into Apia. This will include help in finding suitable rental accommodation.

School Holiday Travel: One return economy class airfare between the place of education or recognized home and Apia each year (except the last) to enable a dependent child being educated outside Samoa to visit parents, or either parent to visit the child.

Home Leave Travel: One return economy class airfare home after completing 18 months of service (for a 3-year term) except the last year, for the appointee and dependent(s).

Privileges and Immunities: SPREP remuneration is tax-free for non-citizens or non-residents of Samoa, including duty-free importation of household and personal effects which have been owned and used by them for no less than six months, within 6 months of taking up appointment.

Repatriation allowance: The appointee is entitled to a repatriation allowance equivalent to two week’s salary, upon successful completion of contract.

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:

Cost of living differential allowance: Cost-of-living differential allowance reflects the difference in the cost of living between Suva and Apia. This allowance is reviewed periodically based on data determined by an independent reviewer.

Education Allowance: Education expenses maybe reimbursed against actual receipts for dependent children, to cover up to 75% of the actual cost of tuition and boarding fees only. Currently the allowance is up to a maximum of Samoan Tala $15,600 per annum per dependent child, with a maximum of Samoan Tala $46,800 per annum per family of 3 or more eligible children.

Housing Assistance: A rental assistance of 75% of the rent payable in Samoa for expatriate executive furnished housing is a component of remuneration for all professional staff. This supplement is currently under review.

Annual Leave: 25 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 50 days).

Sick Leave: 30 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 90 days).

Other Leave: Provisions also exist for maternity, family (compassionate and paternity) and special (without pay) leave.

Duty Travel: SPREP meets travelling expenses at prescribed rates necessarily incurred by staff required to travel away from Apia on official business.

Personal Accident Insurance: All employees are covered by SPREP’s 24 hour Life and Personal Accident Insurance Policy.

Medical Insurance: All employees and their dependents are entitled to have all reasonable medical, dental and optical expenses met by SPREP or by SPREP’s medical insurance scheme.

Superannuation: An expatriate contract staff member will receive a superannuation allowance of 7% of basic salary. For local contract staff, SPREP will pay 7% of basic salary to the Samoa National Provident Fund.

Definitions:

“Dependent” means the financially dependent spouse or dependent child of an employee.

“Dependent child” means an employee’s unmarried legally and financially dependent natural or legally adopted child who is:- under the age of 16 years; or- under the age of 19 years if undertaking full-time study at a secondary school; or under the age of 22 years if enrolled and undertaking full-time study at a university or other tertiary institution; or mentally or physically incapacitated.

“expatriate” means a professional staff member, not a citizen or permanent resident of Samoa, who resides in Samoa only by virtue of employment with SPREP.

Equal Opportunities: SPREP is an equal opportunities employer. Men and women are equally eligible for all posts in SPREP.

General: Appointment will be under the terms and conditions of SPREP’s Staff Regulations, a copy of which will be made available to the successful applicant.

Applications

Applications must address selection criteria and be accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details (birthdate, sex, nationality, marital status, number of dependents and age/s, health status, home address, and full contact numbers); qualifications and experience relevant for the position; previous and current appointments with salaries, names and contact addresses/numbers/E-mail of three professional referees who are prepared to provide testimonials. References, if available, are to accompany your application from three recent employers and/or supervisors. In addition, application should include copies of academic qualifications. Application should also indicate how soon you are available to start if successful, and must be addressed to:

The Director
SPREP                      Telephone: (685) 21 929
PO Box 240                Fax: (685) 20 231
Apia, Samoa               E-mail: SPREP@sprep.org

Closing Date: 28 February 2007.

Previous applicants do not need to re-apply. Late applications will not be considered.

Post Description: Project Manager, Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project (PM-PIGGAREP)

Background

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Required Qualifications and Experience

Essential

Highly Desirable

For staff recruited from outside Samoa, the following applies:

For ALL professional staff, the following applies:

Applications